We are pleased to introduce our new Employee Spotlight section where you have an opportunity to read from some of York House School’s newest additions.

Meet Ross Petersen, Science Teacher, Senior School

Ross Petersen, Science Teacher, Senior School

What has impressed you most about the students at York House School?
The girls are appreciative of the efforts educators and staff make to enrich their learning. A “thank you” goes a long way in life, and demonstrates humility. At the end of every class, the girls pass on a “thank you” to the teacher. Positive feedback is under-emphasized in society, and when combined with great work habits and integrity, is quite progressive.

What inspires you most about the subject that you teach?
Everything! As you read this sentence, infinitesimally small chemicals are shutting across infinitesimally small cellular spaces in your brain, enabling you to translate these words, form ideas about the writer, and reflect. Science is about the pursuit of truth and meaning, and unraveling the mysteries of nature. The forever-discovery nature of science, when combined with the tranquility and inspiration of being in nature, makes science a seamless and inspirational fit pour moi.

What are you most looking forward to at York House in the coming months?
Building genuine relationships with staff and students. This is perhaps the best part of being an educator. Morning coffee, a casual high five, or smile in the hallway over a shared experience. I’m also excited to integrate these humanistic qualities with compelling activities and discussions in and out of the classroom. Last but not least: as per the grade 8s, “some more explosions” too.

What is something that people might not know about you that you would like to share?
Bowl cut, freckles and an Indiana Jones… leather… fanny-pack. Go team.

What is your favourite book of all time and why?
The truth is, I have read one traditional book in my life. I believe it was called “Terror at the Zoo.” I read it in Grade 5 as a choice read in a mandatory reading block. But yes, I do read non-fiction in the form of academic research papers. At some juncture, I may become the novel type. Maybe. But for now, hiking and science journals bring me inspiration.

On October 18th, York House welcomed this year’s new parents and staff at the New Parents’ Dinner.

This year’s harvest theme brought a warmth to the school on a rainy Tuesday night. New parents, staff, and administrators began the evening with a cocktail reception in the Senior School Atrium followed by dinner in the Rand Gymnasium.

Once the guests were settled at their tables, New Parents’ Committee Chair and York House alumnae, Lisa Crossfield welcomed guests with a speech about her experience as a new parent at the school last year. Our Head of School, Chantal Gionet thanked our new families for coming together and talked about the strength of our York House community.

We were treated to speeches by the Head and Vice Head Girls of the Junior School, Risa and Sophie, as well as Senior School Head Girl Maggie, all of whom spoke of their experiences as new students when they started at York House.

Gillian Smith, President of the Parents’ Association, welcomed the new parents as members of the association and encouraged them to become involved in school events, such as the Bid Night, Father Daughter Dinner Dances, and the various volunteer opportunities that the PA has throughout the year.

A delicious short rib dinner was served by our student ambassadors as well as some of our new girls who did a fantastic job of serving and clearing plates for each course.

After a welcome by our Chair of the Board of Governors, Suren Sanmugasunderam, the evening ended with the ‘New Parents’ Movie’ which featured each one of the new girls.

A huge thank you goes out to the New Parents’ Committee, which organized the event, and to the many volunteers who helped to transform the gym on the morning of the 18th.

We are pleased to introduce our new Employee Spotlight section where you have an opportunity to read from some of York House School’s newest additions.

Meet Jenn Skelding, Assistant Director, Junior School

Jenn Skelding, Assistant Director, Junior School

What has impressed you most about the students at York House School?
The young women of York House are articulate, confident, creative and kind. In the classroom, playing four-square on the yard, or on the volleyball court, I notice that our girls demonstrate respect for others and love to laugh together. I have enjoyed observing them settle into a new school year with a joy for learning. Many young mathematicians excitedly tell me that math is their favourite subject and I have seen our girls persevere through an excellent struggle to solve a problem. I am looking forward to many “ah ha!” or “light bulb moments” as our girls discover their limitless capacity to enact change through critical thinking and innovation!

What inspires you most about school leadership?  
I love to learn. I have been a leader of learning for 23 years. To some, that seems like a long time in school! What I have come to realize is that every year, I have a new opportunity to begin afresh! There are always new learners looking back at me. Young, or young-at-heart, there is always something new to learn and new relationships to build. As a leader of learning, I want people to feel safe, respected and that we are always moving forward, knowing more, and doing better. School is a place of synergy! When people come together motivated to learn in a purposeful way – anything is possible! To this end, YHS 2030 is what drew me to York House and speaks to my heart: “Our mission is to empower young women to be active global citizens with the courage to act on their beliefs and make a difference.”

What are you most looking forward to at York House in the coming months?
I am cherishing this time making connections and building relationships. I value the conversations I have had getting to know our girls. I look forward to connecting with parents on the King Ed Lay-by and school events. Learning alongside our teachers offers me a glimpse into their passion and their heart for teaching. I would also like to extend a “thank you!” for allowing me to feel so welcome!

What is something that people might not know about you that you would like to share?  
I am a Mom to three amazing children: Hannah, 19 and studying at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Reid, 16 and getting taller daily and driving (eeks!), and Leif, 14 and playing as much basketball as he can. My husband, Bernie is a Presbyterian minister and our whole family (including our little dog, Teebo) is loving the west coast vibe and activity!

What is your favourite book of all time and why?
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen is my all-time favourite read! I re-read this classic at least once every two years along with watching the BBC, Hollywood, Bollywood and modern web-based vodcast versions. My family can quote significant lines from the book and every Christmas, I am treated to a special Austen inspired gift – last year it was a mug that says “Mrs. Darcy”! I love this book for the strong, intelligent and quick-witted heroine, Elizabeth. She is flawed and often wrong but Elizabeth is quick to reflect and adjust. I am never away from home without an Austen novel in hand.

Volleyball

Gr. 8 Volleyball

Congratulations to our Gr. 8 Volleyball Team who defeated WPGA to win bronze medals at ISA’s. The Tigers lost a tough semi-final game to Southridge before beating WPGA for bronze. Congrats to the entire team and thank you to Mr. Bester and Ms. Baldiserra for their work with the team. The girls still have a couple more weeks of their season before playoffs in November.

Congratulations to the Jr. Volleyball Team who placed 4th at ISA’s at Brentwood College. The Tigers lost two very close games, one in the semi-final and again in the bronze medal game. Regardless of placing, the girls played great volleyball and the results are great for YHS, especially when one recognizes that three Gr. 9s and five Gr. 10s play on our Senior team!

Sr. Volleyball

Head coach, Mike Lodeweyks, and Assistant Head Coach, Noble Kelly, took our Sr. Volleyball Team to Okotoks, Alberta, to Strathcona-Tweedsmuir School, for the annual Western Canadian Independent School Volleyball Championship the weekend of October 15th and won silver! The girls were ranked number one after playing all the other teams in the round robin. Although they had won in their previous game against Rundle College, they lost to this team in the final game. The girls should be incredibly proud of their accomplishment at this tournament! Special congrats to Gabby, Gr. 11, who was awarded Best Passer of the tournament. York House has attended this tournament since it’s origin in 1972.

Field Hockey

Varsity Field Hockey

Despite the weather, our Tigers had an amazing weekend. Our Varsity Field Hockey Team placed 4th at the Glenlyon-Norfolk School Friendship Cup in Victoria on October 15 . They defeated schools from BC and Ontario to place 1st in pool play; unfortunately, they lost two close playoff games to finish 4th. Special thank you to the coaches and to Mr. Cropley for all of his coaching, bus driving and chaperoning.

Our Jr. Varsity Field Hockey Team placed 3rd at ISA’s at Crofton House. These girls should all be commended for playing in all types of weather!  

Cross-Country

Sr. Cross-Country

Congratulations to our Cross-Country Team who competed at the Zone Meet on Tuesday, October 18. Special congratulations to Emily, Gr. 10, and Rebecca, Gr. 9, who have qualified for the BC Championship. Emily placed 3rd and Rebecca 9th in the Junior Girls Division Race.

The team also competed at ISA’s on October 4. Emily, Gr. 10, won bronze in the Junior Girl’s Division. Thank you to Meredith Seymour and Marianne Chang who are leading this team.

Swimming

Swimming at ISAs – Watermania

Our Swim Team placed 3rd in the ISA’s at Watermania! A special congratulations to Maddy and Rebecca who are both in Grade 8 and raced for the first time. Four of our swimmers (Marissa, Gr. 12, Sophia, Gr. 9, Jacqueline, Gr. 11, and Amanda, Gr. 10) placed 1st in the 200 m Medley B Relay. Devon, Gr. 8, Vivian, Gr. 8, Victoria, Gr, 9, and Emily, Gr. 10, placed 3rd in the 200 m Free Open Relay. And after being displaced in her lane in the 50m Fly, Sophia, Gr. 9, was able to race the clock and came in 2nd! Way to go, Tigers!

Thank you to Christine Bernier, Emily Mathews and the group of Tigers alumnae who lead this team, Laura Sze ’11, Danielle Tognetti ’13, and Christine Lee ’16! We really appreciate their ongoing support of our athletics!

Jennifer Ford Sharpe working with the Grade 5s

Jennifer Ford Sharpe joined us in September as our Junior School STEAM Coordinator and some exciting things have been happening since then. Jennifer received her Master of Arts in Contemporary Art from Sotheby’s Institute of Art in London, England and a Masters of Arts in Child Study and Education at the University of Toronto. Prior to joining York House, Jennifer has applied STEAM throughout her career including as a visual arts teacher at the Mabin School, as an Environmental and Sustainability Education Graduate Assistant at Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE), as Education and Communications Coordinator at the Peggy Guggenheim Museum in Venice, Italy, and more.

And what is STEAM you may ask? STEAM is the acronym for the merging of the academic disciplines of science, technology, engineering, art and design, and math. Some people may be familiar with STEM, which was simply missing the “art and design” component.

STEAM encourages the core competencies of creative and critical thinking, collaboration, communication, and positive personal and cultural identity.

Some of the exciting projects Jennifer has been working on with students across the grades in the Junior School include:

Grade 1. Not A Box – After reading Not a Box by Antoinette Portis, students were given the creativity challenge to imagine their shoebox as anything but a shoebox. After creating three plans for their “not a box”, students were given a range of materials to help their creations come to life. This activity truly encouraged out of the box thinking!

Grade 3. Fairy Home Design: Inspired by author Roald Dahl’s book, The Minpins, Grade 3 girls worked in pairs to create their fairy homes. Extending their interest in our new, York House Fairy Garden, students imagined what the inside of the fairy homes should look like. This STEAM challenge explored math concepts of measurement and spatial awareness. They used their math skills to calculate the area and perimeter of the house and each room. Students went through the design thinking framework to ensure their homes served the needs, wants, and behaviors of the fairies.

Grade 4. First Nations astronomy: To extend the Grade 4 Social Studies unit on First Nations people and the science unit on astronomy, students will soon be looking at the First Nations legends of astronomy. Students will create stop-motion animations illustrating both a traditional first nations story and the actual process of celestial bodies moving. The hope is that students will show the value in knowing both ways of looking.

Grade 5. Cardboard Arcade: Inspired by the video Caine’s Arcade and the global Cardboard Challenge held on October first. Grade five students created arcade games for the Grade 1 students made completely out of cardboard and recycled materials. To design the toys, they went thought the design thinking framework – empathizing with the Grade 1s, ideating a number of possible games, and prototyping. Next they shared the games with Grade 1s, and made modifications based on their feedback. Students had to empathize with their users, ideate all possibilities for games, and then create their prototypes.

And let’s not forget the magical Junior School foyer transformation that happened only a couple of weeks ago.

Our Grade 5–7 Art Club, and teachers, Ms. Sharpe and Ms. Jurgensen, were inspired by a Shantell Martin video to create black and white line drawings and doodles to cover the light fixtures, cushions, walls, and table. They measured the space and objects first to ensure that the paper fit exactly. Our York House Core Values inspired the doodles and they managed to complete the whole project in 1 hour!

COMPONENTS OF STEAM:

DESIGN THINKING:
Students learn to generate creative ideas through the act of ideating and bring those ideas to life so that others can experience their vision. By empathizing with the user, students become conscious on how their design will effect another. Students make and test prototypes, learning to adjust designs through trial and error.

MAKER ED.
Maker education encourages students to learn through experience and the basic human impulse to create and solve problems. Students engage in a wide range of hands-on activities from traditional crafts to digital technologies. Building, creating, and experimentation will support academic learning and extend students’ interests.

PROJECT BASED LEARNING
Students actively explore real-world problems and challenges. By working on long term inquiries, students will acquire a deeper knowledge and become invested in making a difference in their community.

TECHNOLOGY
Digital technology is incorporated in meaningful ways to enhance learning. Coding, fabrication, research, photography, and video are incorporated into programs and units of study.

Places to learn more online:

Local Organizations: Zen Maker Lab, Inspiration Lab, and Ladies Learning Code

Links:

STEM to STEAM:  http://stemtosteam.org

“There’s no innovation agenda without design thinking,” The Globe & Mail, August 6, 2016: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/rob-commentary/theres-no-innovation-agenda-without-design-thinking/article31292340/

“Girls in Technology: Maker Movement is a Natural Entry Point,” IQ, January 16, 2015: http://iq.intel.com/report-shows-maker-movement-natural-entry-girls-women-technology/

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We are well into the throes of another busy year at York House with much positive news to report. We started the year with several outdoor education trips to Lynn Canyon (Grade 3), Camp Elphinstone (Grade 5), Camp Summit (Grade 6), Manning Park (Grade 8), Alouette Lake (Grade 9) and Garibaldi (Grades 10 and 11). These trips are an invaluable part of the girls’ education and overall YHS experience. While on these trips, they learn new skills, challenge themselves, and make friendships and memories that will last a lifetime.

We are so appreciative of the girls’ enthusiastic participation this year and the support of so many of our 20+ teachers who accompanied them. It was also a great opportunity for many of the girls to get to know our new Coordinator of Outdoor Education and Risk Management, Robin Friesen.

I am truly thankful that Director of Senior School, Kimberley Harvey, and I were able to start the year getting to know our Grade 8 girls by going with them on the Manning Park trip. We thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to engage in casual conversations with the girls individually and in small groups along the beautiful hiking and biking trails of the park. I think they particularly enjoyed seeing us in our full outdoor gear – something that they don’t get to see on a daily basis!

I know that Deputy Head, Kathy Kealey truly enjoyed being on the Grade 10 Garibaldi Trip, despite the physical challenges posed by the terrain (and she is very fit!). The scenery was stunning and the girls took some amazing photos that capture some of the best vistas in the world. Shelley Lammie, Director of Junior School (JK-Gr.7) and our new Assistant Director of Junior School, Jenn Skelding also challenged themselves and learned some new ways to build teamwork in the outdoors while having some fun on the Grade 6 trip to Camp Summit in Squamish and the Grade 5 trip to the Sea-to-Sky Outdoor School at Camp Elphinstone.

It is hard to believe that so much has happened at the school since then. We honoured our history and traditions at Founders’ Day, reunited with alumnae at the Golden Alumnae Luncheon and on Alumnae Day, welcomed new families at the New Parents’ Dinner, and launched this year’s Annual Fund campaign.

Visiting classrooms has given me a great opportunity to see the unique learning opportunities that your daughter is engaged in this year. In the Junior School, Jennifer Ford Sharpe, our new STEAM (Science Technology Engineering Arts and Math) Coordinator, is working with teachers across the grades in the Junior School to tap into your daughter’s imagination and stretch her learning in new ways. The explosion of creativity, from the fairy homes created in Grade 3 to the complete transformation of the reception area in only one hour, is impressive, to say the least!

I want to thank those of you who came out to our Master Planning Open House on October 19. This was an exciting first step, as we explore how to ensure a 21st Century education for our students for decades to come. The purpose of the Open House was to share our preliminary plans for our vision for the future and provide an opportunity for public input as our Master Plan continues to be developed and refined.

It was only last February that we launched YHS 2030: Shaping Our Future Together. In the following months, we engaged with faculty, staff, and students in an extensive master programming process where we asked for them for feedback regarding our current programs (both curricular and co-curricular), the potential for exciting new programs, and the ideal learning environment that would support our YHS 2030 strategic priorities.

The guiding question for our 28 focus groups was: “What will today’s JK student need to be successful when she graduates in 2030?” Our preliminary Master Plan is a direct result of the feedback we received from this master programming process and was created to guide development of the York House property in the years to come.

The goal of the Master Plan is to address how the school’s facilities could be upgraded to increase and diversify the range of educational programs offered, in keeping with a 21st Century learning environment that equips students to be successful now and in the future.

The next step will be for us to submit a rezoning application to the City of Vancouver in support of this Master Plan. Early in the new year, the City of Vancouver will host another Open House followed by a public hearing in the spring. There are many steps in the process. Once we receive the necessary approvals, we expect that it will be at least three to five years before we can begin any construction. I will continue to keep you updated at each step along the way.  

We were happy to receive so many positive comments and suggestions from those who attended the Open House. If you were unable to attend, I would encourage you to review the display boards on our website and share any feedback that you have.

As we move forward, it is important that we share any support from our community. I will continue you to update you along the way in the process.

I hope to see you at Bid Night on November 17. If you are unable to make that event, I do hope to see you at our annual Celebration of Community at the Chan Centre on December 16.

Sincerely,

Chantal Gionet
Head of School

Ally Week was held at the Senior School from October 11-14.

“Ally Week is an opportunity for students to engage in a national conversation about the meaning of allyship. Ally Week is for everyone: straight and cisgender allies to LGBT youth are encouraged to learn about what actions they can take to support their LGBT peers, while LGBT youth can learn about how to support one another’s overlapping, intersecting identities.” (GLSEN)

Rainbow ally stickers and safe space posters were disseminated throughout the school, as visible support can make a big difference for students who are LGBTQ+, questioning, or who have people in their lives who identify as LGBTQ+. Additionally, students could sign Ally Week Pledge forms showing their commitment to inclusive, safe schools. The highlight of the week, though, was a poignant, funny, and heartfelt speech by GSA Head Elise, Gr. 12, who spoke about her own coming out journey in celebration of National Coming Out Day (Oct. 11).

More info about allyship and Ally Week can be found here. And for a bit more info about why safe schools are especially important for LGBTQ+ youth, see here.

Happy Ally Week!
Your GSA

Student, faculty and staff got into the Halloween spirit!

The Junior School held their annual pumpkin carving contest, and the Senior School had a “runway” in the atrium at lunch, where students and staff could show off their costumes and strike a pose.

Grade 2H provided us with tips on how to have a “respectful” Halloween. Watch the video. We hope everyone had a happy and safe Halloween!

View the full photo gallery.

View the full photo gallery

“Have the courage and conviction to follow your passions,”
says Special Achiever and Alumnae, Robin Mansell ‘69

Robin Mansell ’69 speaks to students at the Senior School Assembly, October 4, 2016

It is was with some excitement and a little trepidation that alumnae Robin Mansell ‘69 walked through the doors of York House to speak at this year’s Alumnae Day, where she was honoured as one of this year’s Special Achievers.  It was the first time she had been to York House since graduating and she just wasn’t sure what to expect or what she would have to say. It turns out she had plenty of words of wisdom to share with alumnae and on October 3rd and 4th, she returned to the school to meet with faculty and staff, students, and parents.

A Yorkie “lifer”, Robin is a Professor of “New Media and the Internet in the Department of Media and Communication” at the London School of Economics (LSE) and was the first woman to become Interim Deputy Director and Provost at LSE. Her training spans several social science disciplines including psychology, social psychology, politics, and economics. Robin’s research and teaching focus on the governance of digital media and communications, the social, economic and policy issues arising from innovations in digital technologies, the interactions between technical design and the structure of markets, and sources of regulatory effectiveness and failure.

A central theme in her conversations with parents and students alike was how her York House experience has empowered her and prepared her for a career in education. She also shared her thoughts on what our graduates need to do, in today’s world, to be best prepared for their post-secondary studies. It was reassuring that so much of what she shared so closely aligns with the work that we are already doing at York House in support of teaching and learning.

At the Senior School student assembly on October 4th, Robin provided a snapshot of how she arrived at her career today and reminded students to trust in the fact that they are at one of the best schools to help them prepare for life, wherever that may take them. She also spoke directly to how our York House values will inform the decisions that they make throughout their lives.

On “courage”, she spoke about how shy she was a student and how the encouragement of her York House teachers gave her the courage to try new things and to be open to new opportunities. After completing her undergraduate degree in psychology at the University of Manitoba and her master’s degree at Simon Fraser University, she took a break from academia and joined a consultancy firm based here in Vancouver. Teaching was not yet on her radar. From there, she was offered an opportunity to work with the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in Paris. In this international role, she soon discovered the importance of engaging effectively with people from other cultures, and having the conviction to know that you can achieve what you want if you are well prepared. She returned to SFU to complete her Phd but was soon drawn back to Europe where she joined the University of Sussex in the UK in 1994 as a professor, followed by the London School of Economics in 2001. Discovering each of these opportunities is something that Robin attributes to the courage she developed at York House.

Robin defined “responsibility” as the ability to make a commitment and follow through on that commitment. When she was tasked by the OECD with developing an international report on the impacts and governance issues that societies face today as a result of an information society, she led a steering committee with representatives from 35 countries. She had to have the conviction to carry through on this responsibility. Navigating different cultures and divergent views was not easy, but it was her sense of responsibility that fueled her desire to persevere.

In their post-secondary careers, especially for those studying abroad, Robin emphasized that students will also need to have the capacity to have both “respect” and “empathy” for different political and cultural viewpoints. As an example, students from close to 170 countries attend the London School of Economics each year. There are multifaceted differences and students need to consider how they can best demonstrate respect and empathy within this new community of peers and educators.

Robin ended her remarks with a few questions for our Senior School students to think about as they make the transition from York House to a university environment where they can sometimes feel anonymous. She asked the girls to think about: “How do you bring with you the communication skills that you have learned here? How do you manage a situation that erupts on social media?” Students were reminded that they don’t have to stay silent and there is always someone to reach out to.

For both university and life, she asked students to keep three things top of mind:

1. Keep alive your intellectual curiosity;
2. Learn to listen carefully and process what you hear – communication skills are critical; and
3. Exercise resilience. Try and try again. Always remember the chances and opportunities that you have.

Grades 3 and 4 participated in a high-energy African drumming workshop with visiting musician Fana Soro.

Part of the French program is to learn about French-speaking countries around the world. This workshop allowed the girls to use French to communicate with someone from another country, while learning how to play the “djembe”, West Africa’s most popular drum. Fana also shared his call and response songs in his mother tongue of Senoufo.

Our Senior students put on two fantastic shows for our annual winter music concerts. There was an eclectic mix of pieces, both traditional and contemporary. The Junior ensembles performed on Tuesday, November 22nd, and the Senior ensembles followed the next night, on the 23rd. All our ensembles had a chance to showcase, including select soloists.

Watch a few of the highlights from the Senior Ensemble Night, and see the photos below:

Q & A with Dr. Thea Cacchioni ’94

Lisa (Greczmiel) Roberts ’82, Dr. Thea Cacchioni ’94 and Chantal Gionet on Founders’ Day after receiving the 2016 Alumnae Special Achiever Award – Young Alumnae category.

Thea, you came back recently to York House to collect the 2016 Alumnae Special Achiever Award. How was that experience?
My experience of returning to YHS was wonderful. What struck me most was the progressive tone of the assembly and support for the theme of the day – finding your voice. It seems that YHS is still committed to helping girls and young women find their voice.

Who influenced you most in your time at York House?
I would have to say both Eve Hunnings and Jean McLagan. Ms. Hunnings taught me how to tap into my creative voice. She allowed us to express our authentic selves through creative writing, even our defiant selves. Mrs. McLagan shaped my political awareness. History 12 was a pivotal course in teaching me about social justice.

What is your fondest memory?
My fondest memories are the times I shared with friends. We were then and still are a close group. I love that we could come to school and not worry about what we were wearing or what boys thought of us. We were there to learn and spend time together. We had a lot of laughs.

How did your time at York House impact who you are today?
The message that girls and women can do anything was instilled in me through YHS, and I’m sure helped shape my path towards my career as a professor in Women and Gender Studies.

How important are the connections you made with fellow Yorkies to you today?
I’m still very close to many of my friends from my graduating class. We formed tight bonds that have lasted decades.

If you had to give one piece of advice to a Yorkie today what would it be?
I would tell Yorkies today that they are incredibly privileged to be part of such an amazing institution. They are not only getting a quality education, but tools to pursue their dreams. My hope would be that they would pay it forward with some kind of service on a local or global level.

About Dr. Thea Cacchioni ’94

Dr. Thea Cacchioni graduated from York House School in 1994 and is currently a tenured Associate Professor in Gender Studies at the University of Victoria (UVic), BC.

Dr. Cacchioni graduated with a PhD in Sociology from the University of Warwick, UK in 2007 and went on to teach at UBC Vancouver, the Okanagan, and Simon Fraser University (SFU) before settling at UVic.

In 2010, Cacchioni was awarded the Ruth Wynn Woodward Chair in Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies at SFU in recognition of her drug policy work aiming to protect women’s health and safety. In addition to the publication of numerous journal articles and book chapters, in 2015, Dr. Cacchioni published Big Pharma, Women, and the Labour of Love with the University of Toronto Press.

A firm believer in academic and public community engagement, Cacchioni has organized several major interdisciplinary, international conferences, and has been interviewed and quoted in dozens of widely read publications including New York Magazine, National Post, Toronto Star, The New York Times, LA Times, Elle Magazine, and Ms. Magazine.

Dennise Dombroski with Head of School, Chantal Gionet

We know how important the support and guidance of teachers is in helping students to prepare for university and beyond.

This past summer, the members of the Stanford Class of 2020 were given the opportunity to acknowledge a former educator who played a significant role in their intellectual, academic, and personal development. Nicole Ticea ‘16, chose to honour Senior School Science Teacher, Dennise Dombroski.

We were delighted to present this award to Dennise on November 22nd during Senior School Assembly, and recognize her for the meaningful impact she had on Nicole’s time at York House.

In Nicole’s own words, “Beyond Ms. D’s intelligence and scientific passion, there lies the most kind-hearted soul I have ever met. In Grade 8, she approached my timid self with an intriguing proposal: present at the local science fair. Ms. D’s boundless energy was contagious; we discussed everything from new research ideas, cool technologies, and funding. It’s hard to quantify Ms. D’s impact, simply because ALL that I love seems to stem from that first fair I entered back in Grade 8.”

A well-deserved congratulations Ms. D!

Gr. 5 Volleyball

With the snow flying, basketballs bouncing and the swimmers swimming, we have officially closed the book on an amazing term of Junior School Athletics. Like every other term, our Term 1 Athletics includes an individual sport (cross-country running) and a team sport (volleyball). The cross-country running team is made up of girls from Grades 3 to 7, and we had four volleyball teams: Grade 5, Grade 6, Grade 7A and Grade 7B.

This past fall we had a record number of participants in Cross-Country, as our team grew to 75 girls! Many thanks to the coaches who worked very hard with the girls to prepare them for competitions at four meets, including two weekend races, as well as the ISEA Championships. According to Head Coach Lela Ling, the season was highly successful, and the girls performed extremely well, highlighted by the team’s 3rd place finish at the ISEA Championships! 

Gr. 7B Volleyball at ISEAs

The volleyball season also saw excellent participation numbers with 30 girls on both the Grade 5 and Grade 6 teams. For the third consecutive season, we also had enough Grade 7 players to support two teams. Well done girls! Like all of our other Jr. School athletic endeavours, the volleyball seasons concluded with the ISEA events. Both Grade 5 and 6 teams went to their ISEA Playdays. The format of an ISEA Playday places an emphasis on participation and experience, rather than a focus on the outcome of games. In Grade 7, the teams participated in their ISEA Tournaments. This shift in the format introduces a more formal event to our ISEA competitions, and gives the girls a chance to be crowned “champions”. This year our 7B team finished 4th in their tournament and our 7A team brought home the silver medal, losing a hard fought final to WPGA. All of the volleyball coaches reported excellent effort from our Tigers, and all of our coaches were very impressed with the coachability and improvement of our teams.

Gr. 7 Volleyball

With nearly 160 girls participating it was another great term of co-curricular athletics in our Junior School. Congratulations to all our young Tigers, and a BIG THANK YOU to all of our coaches!!!

Cross-Country Running: Lela Ling (HC), Madeleine Abbott, Kim Ryerson, Angela Kingerlee, Keira Pearkes, Danika Murray, Alison Waterhouse, Jennifer Sharpe and Jason Camp.

Grade 5 Volleyball: Erin Reindl, Alexis Lum

Grade 6 Volleyball: Megan Dalziel

Grade 7B: Tara Avenia, Danika Murray

Grade 7A: Monique Marcotte, Michelle Russel (’09)

Sr. Volleyball Team

Sr. Volleyball Team
The girls placed fifth in league and earned a berth in the ‘AA” Lower Mainland Championships. At the AA LMs, the Tigers beat the #4 team and then ended up defeating the #1 seed in the semi-final to reach the final. The Tigers lost a close final to St. Pat’s but reaching the AA LM final and qualifying for the 2016 AA BC Championships is a great accomplishment for a team which is so young.

At the ‘AA’ BC Championships in Abbotsford, BC (Nov 30-Dec 3), the team ended up fourth in their pool due to the result of a game between two other teams that created a three-way tie. YHS ended up at the bottom of the three-way tie resulting in a very tough draw in the playoff round, and placed 14th overall.

The team also competed at the ISA’s at Crofton House. Although they lost in the bronze medal game to SMUS, the games were close and everyone was on the edge of their seats. Our team has worked hard all season and they have a bright future as they are quite a young team, with three Grade 9s, five Grade 10s and three Grade 11s on the roster this year! A special thank you to our Grade 12s on the team, Erin and Sophia who were role models and tremendous leaders, and thank you to coaches Mike Lodewyks and Noble Kelly.

Sr. Basketball Team
The Tigers placed fourth at ISA’s after beating Stratford Hall and Shawnigan Lake quite easily (Dec 2-3). However, the semi-final vs Southridge was a tough game as it was the Tigers’ third game of the day. Southridge came out on top and went on to win the tournament. In Saturday’s bronze medal game vs Mulgrave, YHS was close throughout the game, but lost in the end.

Cross-Country runners Emily and Rebecca, with coach Meredith Seymour

Swim Team
Fourteen swimmers, 10 relay teams and two individuals qualified for the BC’s at the Vancouver-Richmond Zone Championships on October 30. They placed fourth at the 2016 BC Championships in Kamloops (Nov 19-20).

Cross-Country
Emily, Gr. 10, and Rebecca, Gr. 9, competed at the Cross-Country BC Championships in Kamloops. The course was a tough 4.8km long, two laps of a cross-country ski trail with seven hills, lots of mud, grass and uneven surface. They competed against over 200 runners from all over BC. Emily finished an amazing 13th and Rebecca a strong 72nd. Congratulations, girls!

Just before we broke for the holidays (December 5-9) students across the Junior School and our Grade 9 students in the Senior School participated in an online global movement called the “Hour of Code”.

The Hour of Code is an international initiative that introduces millions of students around the world to one hour of computer science. The premise of the “Hour of Code” is that everyone should have access to computer science because it nurtures problem-solving skills, logic, and creativity while also providing students with a foundation for success in any 21st Century career path. In fact, according to the US Bureau of Labour Statistics biennial update of employment projections, by 2020 (the year our Grade 9 students will graduate) employment in all computer occupations is expected to increase by 22%.

The excerpt below from CodeRev, Inspiring Kids To Code offers some valuable insight into why students who begin programming early become so successful.

“Students who learn to program early in life gain a deeper and more complete understanding of the logic and advanced thinking behind programming. Like learning a language early in life, learning and practicing this type of thinking early in development actually influences a child’s brain as it is still developing. This is why early learners have experienced such boundless success in this field (think Gates, Zuckerberg, Jobs,…the list goes on and on). We all know the future of our world is digital…so what can be more important to a child’s future than to provide a child now with a rich foundation in these integral thinking and problem-solving skills that will be so valuable for success in his or her future world.”

In the Junior School, Education Technology Coordinator, Tara Avenia arranged for  a variety of games and challenges that would  challenge students across the grades to problem solve and develop their own algorithms to find a solution.

• Grade 1 students played the game Robot Turtles and used their iPads to learn code with “Code Spark Academy”
• Grade 2 students continued on their learning journey that they began in Grade 1 with the BeeBots
• Grade 3 students used blocks of code to make a Minecraft Game as well as to play LightBot, a game that asks players to use programming logic to solve puzzles
• Grade 4 students used code to explore the world of “Frozen”
• Grade 5s were challenged to design their own custom hero and play that character through a multi-level game
• Grade 6 students worked with the program Scratch
• Grade 7 students were challenged with METLAB where they broke problems into smaller chunks while learning basic programming along the way

Senior School teachers David Dallman, Noble Kelly, and David Gueulette developed a unique opportunity for our Grade 9 students to work on a challenge that incorporated music composition, new media design, and programming for the “Hour of Code.”

Students were challenged to design a “Sound Board”, an app that produced different sounds depending on what object or part of the screen was touched. Students worked in groups of three, to create, collaborate, and use computational thinking to develop an original design.

Students first followed two tutorials designed to teach them how to use the LiveCode Programming language, before creating their design. As a result of this process, students were exposed to what is involved in real-life app development, beyond simply writing the code itself.

While not everyone completed the challenge over the four blocks dedicated to the challenge, teachers reminded the students that it was the process and not the outcome that was critical to their learning. Students were challenged to collaborate in small cross-disciplinary teams, problem solve, and reflect on what they learned with their classmates.

Sr. Candlelight
A Theme of Gratefulness and Reflection

On Tuesday, December 13, the Senior School held their traditional candlelight ceremony in honour of peace, joy, love, and hope.

In keeping with “Not for Ourselves Alone”, the Senior School students brought new socks to share with Covenant House of Vancouver, an organization that supports vulnerable youth in the city.

Through various readings, musical performances by our vocal ensembles, and the lighting of four candles, we were reminded of all that we have to be thankful for.

Mrs. Harvey, Director of Senior School, focused on slowing down and enjoying the holidays. She encouraged students to look back on past holidays and, whether they are staying close to home or going somewhere exotic, to take the time to truly enjoy being with family and friends and to take time for themselves.

Speaking on the importance of family and gratitude, Ms. Gionet, Head of School, shared a poem and a quote with students.

Be Thankful
Be thankful that you don’t already have everything you desire,
If you did, what would there be to look forward to?

Be thankful when you don’t know something
For it gives you the opportunity to learn.

Be thankful for the difficult times.
During those times you grow.

Be thankful for your limitations
Because they give you opportunities for improvement.

Be thankful for each new challenge
Because it will build your strength and character.

Be thankful for your mistakes
They will teach you valuable lessons.

Be thankful when you’re tired and weary
Because it means you’ve made a difference.

It is easy to be thankful for the good things.
A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who are
also thankful for the setbacks.

GRATITUDE can turn a negative into a positive.

Find a way to be thankful for your troubles
and they can become your blessings.

– Author Unknown

“Gratitude shifts your focus from what your life lacks to the abundance that is already present. Giving thanks makes people happier and more resilient, it strengthens relationships, it improves health, and it reduces stress. Gratitude will change your life for the better.”

– Marelisa Fabrega

Our Community Service Captains reminded us that gratitude is, in fact, the greatest gift of all. See photos from the Candlelight Assembly below.

Junior Candlelight Assembly

The Junior School held their traditional Candlelight Assembly on Friday, December 9. This annual celebration of songs and readings is led by our Grade 7 students, and includes the lighting of candles for joy, faith, hope, love and peace. The assembly reminds us what this time of year is really all about.

York House supports the Family Services of Greater Vancouver, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping families and children in need. Students in Grades 1-3 brought a gift which is placed under the tree at the beginning of the service. These gifts are used year-round for children who are in their Emergency Foster Care Program.

Students in Grades 4 to 7 contributed to the Holiday Hamper Project where each class was assigned a family in need.

We appreciate your support for these two worthy causes. Thank you for your generosity.

Over 800 people gathered together at the Chan Centre for this year’s Celebration of Community on December 14. Each year, we begin the holiday season with this festive event, which invites our community to share in the gifts and talents of our students.

We were welcomed this year by our Strings Club who performed beautifully in the foyer of the Chan Centre as everyone arrived. It was also a delight to hear the girls joined by Senior Math Teacher, Whitney Black and our Coordinator of Outdoor Education and Risk Management, Robin Friesen.

Our Junior School performed an enthusiastic tribute to Canada’s history in the lead up to our 150th anniversary. Some highlights of the performances included Grades 5 & 6 performing “Vive la Canadienne”, Grades 1 & 2 performing “Donkey Riding”, Grades 3 & 4 performing “Old Grandma”and the Grade 7 Choir performing “When I Grow Up” from Matilda the Musical.

Interspersed throughout the afternoon of performances were sing-a-long carols, a multi-lingual reading of “Le Petit Prince” by our French Heads, Rainy (Gr. 12), Ariana (Gr. 11) and Kennedy (Gr. 11), as well as a fun-filled presentation by our Sr. Improv Drama group.

Thank you to our Senior Concert Band and our senior vocal ensembles for their energetic performances.  Highlights included Una Voce (Chorista/Ragazza) singing “Home for the Holidays” and Chorista singing “Best Day of My Life”.

A special thanks to Leith Wheeler Investments for sponsoring this event for the 17th year in a row. We truly appreciate their commitment to York House as well as the broader community. This year, over $1,700 were raised in donations from those who attended the concert for the Quest Outreach Society.

The impressive venue, carol singing, and festive atmosphere continue to make for a wonderful holiday tradition. Watch highlights below:

During the last several weeks of school, there has been much joy, laughter, singing, and school spirit at YHS. I have also experienced for the first time what Vancouver is like when it snows! Many parents and staff enjoyed attending the two Winter Concerts that showcased once again the incredible musical talents of our Senior School students. I wish to thank David Gueulette and Heather Christiansen for their work with the girls to bring these concerts to life.

At this time of the year, we realize how fortunate we are at York House School and recognize the importance of giving back to others that are in need. Over the past few weeks, our students have demonstrated their commitment to “Not for Ourselves Alone” in so many ways. On Sunday, December 11, I had the opportunity to visit Directions Youth Services, an organization dedicated to helping youth in our city, together with our Grade 6 students and parents. In the Senior School, I was able to see Each One Teach One in action at YHS. This is a  community engagement opportunity where our girls and students from St. George’s School, are paired up with younger students from Admiral Seymour Elementary school. These elementary students came to visit their buddies at YHS for the day.

I am sure that many of you are aware of our two Grade 3 girls in the Junior School, Jessica and Anna-Julia, who at a young age recognize that there are too many young people in this city who go hungry every day. They set an ambitious goal and, thanks to our community and the generosity of our uniform provider Top Ten, they raised as much as $10,000.

Our traditional Candlelight Services held at the Little School, Junior School, and Senior Schools were each poignant reminders of peace, joy, love, and happiness. In the Senior School, our girls led by our Community Service Captains, collected contributions of new socks for Vancouver’s Covenant House to support vulnerable youth in the City.

Thank you to everyone who attended our Celebration of Community this year at the Chan Centre. This is the only time that we gather as a whole community to listen to the remarkable performances of our students from Grades 1 to 12. Our Strings Club, joined by Senior School Math Teacher, Whitney Black and our Coordinator of Outdoor Education and Risk Management, Robin Friesen, were a delightful prelude to this year’s production. Hearing beautiful music as we walked into the Chan Centre was much appreciated by all.

I would also like to thank and acknowledge our Music Teachers, Dawn Haylett, Heather Christensen, and David Gueulette for preparing our girls for their performances; YHS Alum Anisha Cheema ‘16 for working with our Senior Improv team; teachers Magali Forte and Colleen Marte for working with our students who read in French and Spanish; and Kathy Kealey, Deputy Head for all of her work in coordinating the entire production. Thank you Head Girl, Maggie, for being such an eloquent emcee for us.

We are pleased to share that the Celebration of Community helped to raise over $1,700 for Quest Outreach Society. I can’t think of a better way to honour our community and celebrate the talents of our students than to come together in this way to celebrate the holiday season.

I want to thank everyone at York House – students, faculty, staff, and parents – for their dedication and commitment to making York House a truly giving community; a community that cares for those beyond our doors.

Our girls have worked so very hard this term in all that they do. I hope that all of our families take the time to enjoy the holidays and take a much-deserved break. I look forward to seeing you all, rested and happy, in January 2017.

Sincerely,

Chantal Gionet
Head of School