Duke of Edinburgh: Gold Winter Trip

Posted on February 28, 2012 by admin

From February 16 – 19, ten grade 11 students attended the Winter Duke of Edinburgh Gold journey. It was definitely a challenge, hiking and snowshoeing 44 km and dog-sledding 70 km within such a short span of time, and yet it was all so rewarding.

The part of this journey that remains so vivid in my mind is having the opportunity to hike through the sunrise. On the third day, we had to wake up at 4:00 am in order to accomplish our hike to arrive at the dog-sledding on time. Walking with flashlights when we commenced our hike and then slowly but surely seeing the sunrise is not only a memorable but also a beautiful experience.

Perhaps waking up at that hour was not ideal, but accomplishing such a unique hike was definitely worthwhile. After all that hard work, we spent two incredible days with the dogs we were dog-sledding with. The entire journey was one I will never forget and I am so proud to have completed it.—Caroline Ballard ’12.

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Australia: New Experiences

Posted on February 28, 2012 by admin

For just over a week, I have been living like a true Australian. So far, I have had the opportunity to visit the CBD of Melbourne, attend a footy game and appreciate Australia’s outstanding nature.

Here I am at Carey Baptist Grammar School, a partly outdoor school in the middle of the summer, while back home there are temperatures of below zero degrees! I have learned many new things about a country that used to seem so foreign to me. I now feel like I belong, having done nearly everything that an Australian would do on a daily basis.

My host family did a very good job at giving me a warm welcome to this country. On the very first day, it was a pleasant discovery to taste Tim Tams, which are incredible Australian cookies! On my second day, I went to school and made many new friends. My teachers were extremely kind to me as well. After school, on my third day, I had the opportunity to experience some of the beautiful nature of this country. I went to Studley Park and enjoyed the view of massive and stunning trees as well as exotic flowers.

On the Friday of my first week, I had the chance to attend an Australian “footy game.” This sport is mainly played in Australia and is similar to rugby. However, in contrast to rugby, to pass the ball to a teammate, you are allowed to throw or kick it. In order to score a goal, you must throw or kick the ball through goal posts. It was my very first time even hearing about this sport, and I thoroughly enjoyed watching a game. The game I attended was a preseason game in which three teams played: the Hawthorn Hawks, the Richmond Tigers and the North Melbourne Kangaroos. That night, each team versed each other once. In the end, they each had one win and one loss. I loved this experience!

On the weekend, I visited the CBD, Central Business District, otherwise known as downtown Melbourne. While I was there, I went biking along the Yarra River. Just two days later, I went kayaking on the Yarra River! Both activities were very amusing and exciting. I found it quite interesting to travel to downtown Melbourne from the bike path and waterway as there were things that caught my attention from kayaking on the Yarra River that I had not noticed when I was biking along it.

All in all, this has been a most amusing week and I am keen to know that there is much more to come. I have yet to see a kangaroo or a koala, but by the end of my six weeks, I will surely have done it all!–Matthew Kaspy ’14

Cultural Intelligence

Posted on February 20, 2012 by admin

Earlier this week I asked our high school students if down deep they believe they are smart. Are they confident they are bright, intelligent, capable, insightful and competent? Do they genuinely believe in their own capacity to learn, to grow, to lead and to truly maximize their potential?

As our students progress through school and life, various factors contribute to their perception of their own abilities and potential. We are all familiar with IQ (Intelligence Quotient) as a test that has long been used as a supposedly objective measure of one’s brain capacity. In recent years IQ has been criticized as having limitations. People with high IQs are sometimes accused of lacking “people skills.” So in an effort to better understand the complexity of intelligence, about 20 years EQ (Emotional Quotient) gained credibility. In a world where social interaction, teaming and group work are more prevalent, EQ stresses the importance of social intelligence and genuine interest in the welfare of other people, kindness, empathy and a capacity to naturally bring people together. For the past two decades we have been told that we can’t simply depend on IQ as a dependable measure; EQ is also key to success in today’s world.

Now there’s a new kid in town. Enter CQ—“Cultural Quotient” or “Cultural Intelligence.” It reflects a genuine desire to overcome cultural barriers and a confidence in one’s ability to communicate with people from different cultural backgrounds. Supporters of CQ assert that a heightened awareness and sensitivity to different cultures are critical tools in a world that is increasingly multicultural and interconnected.

Last fall the Association for Canadian Studies conducted a large study of CQ in the world’s four most multicultural countries: Canada, USA, Britain and France. Good news, Canada rated highest on the CQ scale! It has a lot to do with our culturally diverse population. Here at LCC it also reinforces the importance of cultural international exchanges and service projects outside of Canada. Experiential learning trumps all in the 21^st century, as learning by doing tends to be most memorable So what are our students doing to expose and challenge themselves in this important domain? Are they taking steps to explore new cultures with genuine curiosity and actively develop their own Cultural Intelligence?

Back to the original question: are our students smart? Of course they are, but they need to strike a balance between the three domains: IQ, EQ, and CQ. —Christopher Shannon, Headmaster

Teen Mantra: I am Enough

Posted on February 3, 2012 by admin

Scott Fried is a professional motivational speaker who had a positive impact this week on all of our students from grades 6-12. He also met in the evening with a large group of engaged parents. His primary focus was coping with the challenge of life for pre-teens and adolescents and the importance of mutual acceptance.

Scott stressed that words do hurt and can have a lasting and negative impact. While urging students to be respectful and accepting of peers, he reminded his audiences that all children feel pain on the long and often lonely road to adulthood. As children grow and change, we adults need to acknowledge the pain that teens sometimes feel because inevitably life does hurt; indeed, life itself can be a bully. Scott urged us to openly acknowledge the feelings of our students and children and not neglect hurt feelings or try to wash them away.

What seemed to resonate most with our students was the phrase “I am enough.” Scott wants us to meet, accept and cherish young people in the moment for who they are. We should not bury them in a sea of seemingly endless expectations. This only reinforces the implicit message that they are never good enough. Teens also have secrets during this critical period of “becoming” on their journey to adulthood. Mistakes will be made along the way, which is normal. As teachers and parents, our role as key adults in their lives is to help children develop a healthy posture of self-acceptance before they can move on confidently toward a path of self-improvement.

I had an opportunity to speak with Scott at the end of a very long day. He strongly complimented our school and the initiatives we are taking. I noted that our success is rooted in a faculty of dedicated educators who generally see our students as “more than enough.” We have many trusted adults here. They proactively bear witness to the hurdles and challenges of so many young people. When we team and partner with our parents in a positive way; that’s what truly makes a difference! – Chris Shannon, Headmaster

Round Square: Every Day a New Adventure in South Africa

Posted on January 25, 2012 by admin

Waking up to a poolside breakfast followed by 18 holes of golf under the hot African sun seems like a suitable way to start off your day. Well, it’s how I begin most of my days here in South Africa. The air is warm, the sun always shines and life is good.

I am 23 days into my journey and have already seen more animals than most people would in their entire lives. From leopards, lions, elephants, hippos, crocodiles, and rhinos, to even small creatures like snakes, lizards, and turtles, not to mention hundreds of different exotic birds. You name it and there’s a good chance I’ve encountered it in one instance or another.

The family I am living with is wonderful and I’d like to say that I am ever grateful for them taking me into their home. I am treated with great hospitality and living on the luxurious side of life. Even though I am living in a high-class community, I am very aware of the social and economic problems that surround me. South Africa is actually one of the most affluent countries in Africa, but it is still a developing country. About a quarter of the population is unemployed and lives on under $2 a day. Crime, sexual assault, and corruption within the government are major issues that face South Africa.

I began school at St Stithians College on January 16. St Stithians College is a Methodist, all boys’ school. The campus is over 105 hectors, and holds almost 3000 students. It may be hard to imagine, but it is over 226 football fields in area. Some students board in dorms on campus, while others live quite close. Apart from the fantastic classes and teachers, St Stithians provides a variety of sport teams and clubs that are open to everyone. I have the privilege of participating in the Chess Club, Photography Club, the Music Club, the Track and Field team, and the Fitness team. St Stithians has been very welcoming to me and the other few exchange students. There are two boys from Columbia and one from England who I’ve been spending quite a bit of time with. The four of us are going on a special trip to the Apartheid Museum tomorrow, the first of many places that we will be visiting.

It has been quite the experience so far, with over a month to go. I learn new things everyday, and am grateful to be a part of Round Square. Who knows what I will do next? Every day is a whole new adventure. – Liam McMahon ’14