Environment & Sustainability SPARC group hosts Farm Festival for visiting students

At the end of November, as the Environmental Sustainability SPARC group in Middle School hosted a Farm Festival at Blue & Silver Farm. The students prepared presentations on topics such as invasive species, water, food sustainability, and honey. They presented to student guests from Lauremont School, who rotated through the various stations, enjoying interactive elements. Afterward all the students enjoyed a walk and homemade pizza from our new wood-fired pizza ovens in the meadow.

Middle School Robotics Club attends design day, prepares to host scrimmage

Middle School students from the Robotics Club recently had an exciting opportunity to attend a Design Day at Holy Trinity School (HTS). During the event, they actively participated in design thinking workshops, team-building exercises, and brainstorming sessions, all aimed at developing innovative robot designs. They also gained valuable experience in maintaining an engineering design notebook, a critical tool for documenting their progress and ideas.

By the end of the day, the students left equipped with the skills and knowledge needed to begin building a competition-ready robot. Three Senior School mentors – Madeleine, Bianca and Ben also accompanied them on this trip, offering guidance and support throughout the experience. Thank you, all, for your contribution!

Pickering College is hosting its own VEX IQ Robotics scrimmage on Wednesday, November 6, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in Egan House. This non-competitive event will bring together over 200 students from five independent schools across the GTA to showcase their robotics skills and learn from one another. 

The school community is invited to come out and cheer on the teams!

Middle School launches innovative SPARC program

Wednesday, September 18 was the first day of SPARC, our new program within the Middle School Pillar Years of the Global Leadership Program. Students from Grade 6 to Grade 8 can pursue interests in Design, Technology, Environmental Sustainability, Social Justice & Advocacy and Identity & Community. Throughout the year, students will explore these different themes through experiential learning and collaborate on projects that affect real change in our community. 

"Our students are diving into project areas and connecting with community partners. Today was that first day where they started to make those connections and figure out the positive change they're going to make in the world," said Julie Clement, Middle School Director.
 
Students have already enjoyed guest speakers such as Newmarket Councillor Bob Kwapis, hands-on workshops from Scientists in School, and excursions to historic downtown Newmarket, Blue & Silver Farm, Black Creek Farm, and historic sites in Richmond Hill.