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Academic Activities/Events

Enrichment Opportunities

Date/approximate time of year: All year
Description of the event: Programs such as Shad Valley, Encounters with Canada, LEAP, House of Commons Page program
Staff Member(s)/Department(s) involved: Contact Ms. Girolametto in Student Services

French Homework Help

Date/approximate time of year: Mondays after school in room 316
Description of the event: Students in Core French and French Immersion classes can receive extra help from a teacher with their French homework and studying skills.
Staff Member(s)/Department(s) involved: Languages Department

French Exchange

Date/approximate time of year: August to November and February to May
Description of the event: French students can participate in a reciprocal exchange with a student from France. Must be studying French and be 14-17 years old. Visit the website of Canadian Education Exchange Foundation https://www.ceef.ca/

Language Academic Exchange

Date/approximate time of year: August to November and February to May
Description of the event: Reciprocal exchange with a student from France, Switzerland, Spain, Belgium, Germany, Italy or Quebec. Should be studying the language of the country and be 13-17 years of age
Staff Member(s)/Department(s) involved: Contact Languages Department  View website: https://iseontario.on.ca/

Salute to Excellence

Date/approximate time of year: Held late fall
Description of the event: Celebration of students who earn honours and subject awards for the previous year.
Staff Member(s)/Department(s) involved: Contact Student Services

EQAO Math Tutorials

Date/approximate time of year: Prior to the end of each semester
Description of the event: EQAO math preparatory tutorials before each Grade 9 EQAO test
Staff Member(s)/Department(s) involved: Contact Mathematics Department

Luncheon of Champions

Date/approximate time of year: Once each semester
Description of the event: Students who have shown good work habits, consistent improvement, or the ability to overcome adversity to continue their education are awarded.

OSSLT After School Prep Course

Date/approximate time of year: Meeting 10 times between December and March
Description of the event: Meet after school to focus on a different aspect of the Literary Test.

Fundraising Activities/Events

 

Terry Fox Run

Date/approximate time of year: mid- to late-September annually
Description of the event: This is intended to be a school-wide fundraising and participatory event to honour the legacy of Terry Fox and to raise money for the Terry Fox Foundation. In 2014, for example, we raised approximately $2000.
Staff Member(s)/Department(s) involved:   Triune Student Council

SOSI Senior Girls Basketball Tournament

Date/approximate time of year: late October to early November
Description of the event: An annual buy in basketball game and fundraiser for the Senior Girls’ basketball game.
Staff Member(s)/Department(s) involved:

Productions

 Ontario Drama Festival

Date/approximate time of year: Rehearsals begin in Semester 1 and run to late March. Practice times TBA
Description of the event: Students produce a production to enter into the Sears Drama Festival. Can be involved as actors and/or crew
Staff Member(s)/Department(s) involved: Contact Mr. Iachelli

Evening of the Arts

Date/approximate time of year: Late May
Description of the event: Features drama, dance, and music performances. Auditions required
Staff Member(s)/Department(s) involved: Contact Mr. Iachelli

Other Activities/Events

Universal Lunch and Breakfast Program

Date/approximate time of year: Breakfast Tuesday and Thursday from 8 to 8:40. Room 315. Lunch most Fridays in room 315. Breakfast served each morning before exams in the cafeteria.
Description of the event: Nutrition program available to all students. Volunteer opportunities for interested students.
Staff Member(s)/Department(s) involved:  Ms. Tobias

5 Hour Film Challenge

Hallowe’en: October 31st In the tradition of the Toronto 24 and 48 hour film challenge and the Cannes 24 hour film challenge, we would like to offer the students at Westdale the opportunity to participate in a similar film challenge. It is indicative of the film industry and the contract based graphic arts industry for artists to be under strict time constraints and tremendous pressure to produce original material. This exercise would give students a sense of the excitement and exhilaration that comes with this creative process. Students are challenged to film and edit a film in 5 hours, using specific parameters. The films are screened and the winning film is chosen. Film teams film in Westdale Village for the day. Staff Member(s)/Department(s) involved: Ms Melnick, Media Arts

Author Visits

Date/approximate time of year: Throughout the year
Description of the event: Read and meet with local authors
Staff Member(s)/Department(s) involved:  Ms. Simpson

Song Writing Workshops

Date/approximate time of year: When available
Description of the event: Canadian Francophone musicians visit Westdale to run francophone song writing workshops with Core French and French Immersion classes. In the 2014-2015 school year, these workshops were run by francophone Juno nominees.
Staff Member(s)/Department(s) involved: Languages Department

Chef à l’école

Date/approximate time of year: When available
Description of the event: Francophone chefs visit Westdale to teach students in Core French and French Immersion classes how to cook authentic francophone meals.
Staff Member(s)/Department(s) involved: Languages Department

Westdale Grade 9 Day

Date/approximate time of year: September annually
Description of the event: Senior student leaders create a number of activities to engage their grade 9 peers for an afternoon
Staff Member(s)/Department(s) involved:  Triune Student Council

Community Garden

Date/approximate time of year: Spring and Fall
Description of the event: Participate in preparation, planting and caring for Westdale’s vegetable garden on east lawn.
Staff Member(s)/Department(s) involved: Contact Mrs. Forrester or Mr. Dodgson

 

French Excursion to St.Donat, Québec

Date/approximate time of year: January-February (not every year)
Description of the event: Four-day excursion to St. Donat, Québec, where students participate in winter sport activities and learn about Quebec culture.
Staff Member(s)/Department(s) involved:  Languages Department

Winter Formal

Date/approximate time of year: February-March annually
Description of the event: This is intended as a school-wide event and hosted close to 500 students at Liuna station in 2015; live band at dinner and DJ and dancing in the evening
Staff Member(s)/Department(s) involved:  Triune Student Council

 

English, Media, and Cultural Studies New York City trip

Date/approximate time of year: May long weekend annually
Description of the event: up to 48 students and their teacher advisors take a coach bus to New York City to participate in a number of activities, including the NBC studio tour, comedy shows, live music, museums, live theatre, and more
Staff Member(s)/Department(s) involved:  Westdale English Department

Triune’s OELC Leadership Camp

Date/approximate time of year: late May-early June annually
Description of the event: Triune student council selects and teachers nominate students from grades 9-11 to further hone their leadership abilities at the OELC camp in Orillia; includes team games and planning for the fall’s grade 9 day
Staff Member(s)/Department(s) involved: Triune Student Council

Reach For The Top

Date/approximate time of year: Every week, at lunch time.
Description of the event: Reach For The Top is a trivia game where team members *buzz in* to answer questions on a variety of topics.  We play friendly games every week at lunch time, and play in tournaments against other schools.
Staff Member(s)/Department(s) involved:

Contests

Math Contests

To register for any math contests written throughout the school year, you must see Mrs. Steiner in early September.

Contest Teacher(s) in charge Description Date(s) How to get involved
Canadian National Math Leagues Contest Ms. Qualia

 

Preparation activities and 6 contests throughout the year Tuesdays at lunch throughout the year Sign up with any math teacher.
Euclid Math Contest Mr. Johnstone Grade 12 Math Contest One day in April (morning only). Preparation is at lunch in room 101 Sign up in room 101 or with current math teacher
Math @ Mac Math Contest Mr. Johnstone Math Contest for grades 9-12. Teams of 2. One day in November (8:00AM-9:30AM Sign up in room 101

Science Contests

Contest Teacher(s) in Charge Description Date(s) How to get involved
Michael Smith Challenge Canada wide Grade 10 Science Challenge. April Contact Dr. Turner in the Science office
National Biology Competition Ms. Attridge University of Toronto competition, 50 multiple choice questions for scholarships, cash prizes etchttps://biocomp.utoronto.ca April See Ms. Attridge$7.00 entry fee
Physics Contests Mr. Christie Grade 12 – SIN Exam, Grade 11 – OAPT Exam, Grade 11/12 – CAP Exam April to May Contact Mr. Christie
University of Toronto National Biology Competition Ms. Attridge 75 minute multiple choice Biology test here at Westdale. Open to all students May Contact Ms. Attridge

Other Contests

Contest Teacher(s) in charge Description Date(s) How to get involved
Le concours d’art oratoire Ms. Pieon A local and possibly provincial French speech contest March
Skilled Trades Competition Mr. Kipp Students participate in Skilled Trades and other High Skilled areas at the school level to showcase their skills and have an opportunity to advance to the board wide and Provincial Competitions. (Auto – Construction – Cabinetmaking – Video Production – Tech Design – GIS – Food Services, and more) Competition will run late March.Practice starts at the beginning of the 2nd semester. Contact any tech teacher for more information
Updated on Tuesday, October 19, 2021.
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