Middle School Pride: Community Service @ Daycare

Posted on November 27, 2013 by admin

Middle School students share their thoughts on a recent community service outing:

J’ai aimé que les enfants n’étaient pas timides avec nous et ils etaient très gentil. I think it was a little hard to control the kids. – Sophia Auclair ’18

At the day care, I was surprised to see all the children with a lot of energy all the time. J’ai apris que ce n’est pas très facile avec les jeunes enfants petits parce que tous sont differents et tu dois savoir parler avec chacun. J’ai l’opportunité de parler fançais une autre fois avec ces enfants. – Sofia Tamarit ’18

When I was there, I watched little kids paint and played with them for a little. J’aime les petits qui disent tout le temps des choses joyeuses. – Ben Stacey ’18

Today I went to the boys and girls club. When I was there all the kids were really fascinating because we didn’t even know them and they just welcomed us like we knew them. J’étais surpris parce que les enfant étaient très excités, quand il faisaient des activités. Les enfant parlaient anglais et utilisaient des mots en français d’un très bonne manière. – Thomas Yang ’18

When I arrived, I didn’t expect it to be so big, have it’s own cafeteria, and even have their own big gym for all the kids to play in. Nous avons fait beaucoup d’activités amusantes, comme faire des maisons et enseigner des mots en français, qu’ils ont appris très rapidement.- Lucas Gold ’18

I liked that some children listened very well and most of them knew how to paint nicely. It is nice to see them learn new things. J’étais surpris parce que les enfants parlaient très bien le français. – Adel Abdalla ’18

LCC Stash: Loud and Proud!

Posted on November 14, 2013 by admin

Movember 14, 2013

Day 14 and the Mo’s are loud and proud in the hallways of Lower Canada College. This year’s LCC Stash team, which is comprised of 44 current students, teachers and alum, has raised over $6500 since Movember 1. During the remaining 16 days of this month, the team hopes to surpass the success of last year’s team which finished first in the country raising more money than any other high school in Canada!

As the stashes start to settle in and as the month slowly progresses, donations are coming in more and more quickly. The current team leader for fundraising is Philip Dubrofsky, who has raised an impressive $1,635. For the first time since its launch at LCC, 29 current grade 11 girls have volunteered to be Mo Sistas. The Mo Sistas have volunteered to campaign manage for the boys, raise a minimum of $20 each and most importantly sell the Movember memorabilia which includes Tech Tacts and thin black stash gloves. As a fun bonus, the LCC Stash committee has implemented a new weekly award for the best Stash of the Week. Congratulations to Thomas Boucher-Charest who was this week’s recipient of the award.

At the end of each week, a group photo is taken with all of the Mo Bros and Sistas. Each photo demonstrates a steady improvement of stash growth from the previous week. Looking forward to the remaining 16 days of the month, we can only hope and nonetheless expect great results from such a dedicated group of young men and women who have united in the cause of putting an end to prostate cancer. – Matthew Kaspy ’14 (Student Leader – Movember 2013)

A Privileged Visit by Author Alan Gibbons

Posted on November 4, 2013 by admin

It is not every day that one gets to meet a celebrated, world-renown, prize-winning author (though truth be told, it is, at LCC, an annual occurrence – courtesy of our very own librarian and the LCC Reads Committee). It isn’t every day that students are treated to the words and wisdom of a great storyteller, a master at building suspense and at fuelling reflection on social issues. It certainly isn’t every day that students are so privileged as to be taught narrative fiction by a real live author. And yet, it is precisely what LCC students got to do in October, when British author Alan Gibbons came to LCC.

Alan Gibbons is, as all of LCC knows from the chilling summer read, the author of the book Caught in the Crossfire. In front of an assembly Middle and Senior School students, he recounted in his inimitable style, the salient points of his life and career. He shared the story of when he received the Blue Peter Book Award. But Alan Gibbons is also, and perhaps above all, a teacher. He came to the grade 10 PREP class to teach us how, from a variety of known narrative techniques, we can write a story in our own personal style. Appropriately enough, since it was, after all, the month of October, of witches and warlocks and things that go bump in the night, we learned how to use tension to write a great ghost story.

It was, really, a very successful visit. – David Elbaz ’15

The Message in Malala

Posted on October 31, 2013 by admin

Let’s simply refer to it as the Malala effect. It’s what happens when a young teenage girl is victim of brutal violence by radicals, and through some extraordinary personal will, rises up strong and brave – willing to stare evil directly in the face. In so doing she has shared a very powerful message with the world. So what exactly is the Malala Effect?

The name Malala now has global recognition. Malala Yousafzai is a 16-year-old Pakistani girl living in Birmingham, England. Two years ago, she lived in Pakistan’s Swat Valley and attended school. Since the age of 11 she blogged for the BBC’s Urdu-language service, sharing routine details of her life and described the Taliban’s severe crackdown on culture, music and limits to schooling for girls. She also openly shared her views on the importance of education for girls in her country and all poor developing states. Yes, she blogged despite the views of radical elements in her country who threatened to keep girls out of the classroom, expecting them to focus instead on a lifetime of domestic chores around the home. Almost exactly one year ago, on October 9, 2012, several members of the Taliban followed Malala and at close range, shot her in the head and neck in front of other school children on a school bus.

Amazingly, she survived the shooting and eventually received medical treatments in England. Rather than cower in fear from the Taliban, she has increased her efforts to work toward more education for girls the world over. In short, Malala has shown exceptional resolve and courage. Last summer on her 16^th birthday she appeared before a United Nations committee and was recently named an honorary Canadian citizen – a very rare honour. She has also just released a book entitled I am Malala that tells her life story.

Malala has shown us all what young people can achieve and the power of courage and personal resolve in the face of evil or overwhelming odds. She also reminds each of us about working to potential and why sometimes we should simply encourage young people to reach for the stars. Her conviction and resolve are truly unforgettable. In essence, these qualities are the core elements of the Malala Effect. We hope through her example, some of them will rub off on our students at LCC.

Here are some of Malala’s words from her impressive speech to the UN Youth Assembly on her 16^th birthday on July 12^th:

“The terrorists thought that they would change our aims and stop our ambitions but nothing changed in my life except this: Weakness, fear and hopelessness died. Strength, power and courage were born….

We must believe in the power and the strength of our words. Our words can change the world. Because we are all together, united for the cause of education. And if we want to achieve our goal, then let us empower ourselves with the weapon of knowledge and let us shield ourselves with unity and togetherness. Dear brothers and sisters, we must not forget that millions of people are suffering from poverty, injustice and ignorance. We must not forget that millions of children are out of schools. We must not forget that our sisters and brothers are waiting for a bright peaceful future. So let us wage a global struggle against illiteracy, poverty and terrorism and let us pick up our books and pens. They are our most powerful weapons. One child, one teacher, one pen and one book can change the world. Education is the only solution. Education First.”

–Christopher Shannon, Headmaster

Australia Exchange Student: Au Revoir LCC!

Posted on October 30, 2013 by admin

My name is Anina and two months ago I arrived at Lower Canada College from Alice Springs, located in the middle of Australia.

LCC is extremely different to St Philip’s College, my school back home, but I am so glad that this is where I got to spend my exchange.

Alice Springs is located in a desert with a population of 27,000 and an average temperature of 35 degrees celsius. Coming to a big city like Montreal was exciting because there is always somewhere new to go and see.

I would like to thank Madame Bradley, Mr. Mckay and all the girls on the midget volleyball team. I really enjoyed playing on a school team because in Alice Springs we play all of our sports at clubs around the town. While I’ve been at LCC I also played tennis. At home I play a lot of tennis but this was my first time playing on clay because we only have hardcourts.

I loved going to watch a Habs and the Montreal Impact soccer team. It was the first time I saw an ice hockey game so it was really exciting. I almost got hit in the face by a puck that flew over the nets but luckily the guy sitting next to me caught it!

One of the biggest differences between my school and LCC was having lunch in a big dining hall everyday. At St Philip’s we bring our own food and sit outside for lunch and recess. All of our classes and locker rooms are in different buildings and the school is very spread out, so to get from class to class we go outside.

I’d like to thank all of my teachers, especially Ms. Shadley, Mr. Neal and Mr. Shannon, for making this exchange possible and helping me to feel welcome at LCC. I’m also really grateful to Emily and Jamie for being the best host family possible, and taking me to so many different places and introducing me to so many new things. I have many special memories that I’ll never forget.

I’d like to thank to Mr. Sigouin for teaching me French. Before I arrived I only knew how to say hello. Now I can say goodbye as well. Au revoir, bonne journée! – Anina Conradie, St. Philip’s College, Alice Springs, Australia