Australia Exchange: Adventure of a Lifetime!

Posted on May 16, 2012 by admin

I’m about halfway through my exchange trip to Ballarat, Australia and it has been great. The family I’m staying with are so nice and welcoming, and it really feels like home now. I’ve been to many cool, beautiful and different places so far. The school, Ballarat Grammar, is also different. The first class only starts at around 9:00 and finishes at 3:25.The campus is very spread out with lots of different buildings.We bring our own lunch to school and eat outside. There are lots of green spaces with indigenous plants of Australia, such as eucalyptus trees, which smell really good. I am taking global studies and ceramics for my two choice subjects and they are both fun classes. I bike to school everyday. The weather has been pretty cold and rainy since I have been here because it’s going into winter since the seasons are opposite.

On my first weekend here, I went with Jack and his father, to Sydney. We took a ferry ride through the harbour and saw the famous Sydney landmarks such as the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge. We also went up the Sydney Eye Tower, where we got a great a view of the city, and to Bondi and Bronte Beach. I found that Sydney was like a lot of different cities mixed together.

Wednesday, the 25^th of April was ANZAC day, which is like Remembrance Day for Australia and New Zealand. It has been a tradition for about 15 years now that two rival AFL teams (Australian Rules Football), Collingwood and Essendon, play each other on ANZAC day. It was a public holiday, so we drove down to Melbourne for the game at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The stadium was filled to the brim and just under 100, 000 people showed up. The ceremony before it started was really well done and very touching. Jack’s family cheers for Collingwood, so I did the same. It ended being one of the most exciting matches of the year, finishing in a 80-79 Collingwood win.

Jack’s family has a really nice property with an awesome garden with all sorts of stuff in it. They grow celery, peppers, passion fruit, quinces, walnuts and many other fruits and vegetables. I have yet to go surfing but we are probably going this weekend. It has been a great trip so far and I’m excited for what’s to come.–Becket Osterland ’14

Solisterra Experience

Posted on May 14, 2012 by admin

This was a trip unlike any other I’ve ever experienced. Not only did we manage to build a gazebo for the town of Kazabazua, we also helped build a shed, parged a straw bale house, and strengthened our bond as a class. At the outset of this trip, I had no idea what the project would entail. I had worked with tools before, but never the caliber of the enormous circular saws we got to use. We pulled out rusty old nails, measured angles, cut, measured some more, cut with a different tool, drilled in nails and new holes, mounted and took down the structure — everything necessary for the job.

Luckily for us, the weather was nice and the wood stayed relatively dry during the construction process. In just three days, we managed to complete our part in building the gazebo, as well as sending some workers across the street to aid in the construction of a shed. We ate delicious meals and snacks supplied by the community of Kaz, and we are very grateful for the effort they put into accommodating our needs.

Aside from working on the gazebo, we also parged, hiked, made a campfire or baked. We even experienced a silent nature walk, appreciating the beauty of the outdoors without speaking. Staying at Solisterra was an adventure in itself. My room was on the top floor, and the big window provided a magnificent view of the straw bale house built by last year’s class. Staying in a straw bale house didn’t feel any different from staying in an average brick house, but Frank and Dominique (the architects who constructed Solisterra) added other features to make the house as environmentally friendly as possible. All in all, it was an amazing experience, and every one of us was sad to depart. We would gladly take the opportunity to return to Kaz, either to build more structures or just to visit!–Holly Faria ’15

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A New Building in Kazabazua

Posted on May 14, 2012 by admin

Last week, our enriched math class went on a community service trip to Kazabazua in Quebec. There we slept in a straw bale house at the Solisterra Eco-Cottages. We worked closely with the town and helped build a pavilion and a shed for the community centre. For most of us, it was a trip we will never forget!

We got the chance to work with unbelievable people such as Andrew and Mr. Bergeron. We enjoyed working with the power tools, the recycled wood and other various materials under the close supervision of Frank and Dominique. We spent three days in the hot sun, working nine hours a day to complete our project. We are happy to say that the pavilion was successfully built and that we all returned home with all ten fingers.

The people from the town were very nice. We visited the town’s fire department and to take a look in the three fire trucks. We were fed delicious food over our three days. The cookies were to die for! We also got the chance to live in a straw bale house at the Solisterra Eco-Cottages. When I was first told that I was going to be staying in straw bale house, I imagined a house the three little pigs would’ve made. Wow, was I wrong! The house was outstanding, clean and environmentally friendly.

My favourite part of the trip was watching the shed that I worked on be lifted from the ground and seeing it as a three dimensional figure. I felt a sense of pride and accomplishment for our work done for the community.–Zachary Shine ’15

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Environment Week Sets Stage for Sustainable Practice

Posted on May 10, 2012 by admin

LCC celebrated “Environment Week” in late April. Thanks to all the hard work and dedication by our green team members, the week was very successful. We had a fun cook off, planted tomatoes, had a green café with cupcakes and pastries, and even a trash art display. Thank you to all that participated in the activities and to those who wore green on Wednesday. We hope you all had a great earth week, and that the enthusiasm you all showed will continue throughout the rest of the year.

As mentioned during the assembly, we have created a recycling bin for electronics. There are four bins, such as phones, batteries, ink cartridges etc. If everyone would bring one thing that could fit into one of these categories, it would really make a difference. The recycling company that collects these has agreed to donate the money to MIRA, which works to help disabled individuals lead their lives independently as functioning members of society. They do this by providing dogs bred and trained to respond to their adaptation and rehabilitation needs. They need as much money as possible, considering they provide these services free of charge. Please bring in what you can, and again thank you for such a successful week! —Kelsey Wiseman ’13

Le Middle School Pride participe à La Corvée du Mont-Royal

Posted on May 9, 2012 by admin

Avec le temps, on réalise que notre terre n’est pas propre. On réalise que des personnes ne s’en soucient pas. Mais le moment où cela te frappe, c’est quand tu ramasses la poubelle. Tu vois qu’il avait un temps où tout était beau et propre, mais le temps est passé et maintenant les personnes passent des heures par jour à ramasser les déchets.

Le Mont-Royal est une belle place qui est parfaite pour toutes les personnes qui veulent faire une pause. Le weekend du 6 mai, c’était la Corvée du Mont-Royal, sous le soleil, neuf élèves de LCC sont allés ramasser les déchets. Après une marche d’environ “3000 kilomètres”, nous sommes arrivés à l’endroit pour faire le travail!

Il avait du plastique, du papier et on a presque tout ramassé. Je sais que les personnes qui marchent là-bas ne verront pas, mais pendant ma prochaine visite, je pourrais dire que le chemin est beaucoup plus propre! – Emily Peotto ’15