Congratulations Mrs. Peragine and Mr. Mitchell on IEC Excellence in Education Awards 2009!




On April 30, 2009 educators and business and community leaders gathered at the Industry Education Council’s annual breakfast and awards. The breakfast’s main topic was ‘Rebound’
- a program designed to evaluate the issues surrounding adult career changes.  Guest speakers included The Honourable John Milloy MPP, Minister of Training Colleges & Universities and Dr. Nancy Irwin, Author of YOU-TURN, Changing Direction in Midlife. 
  
The breakfast also honoured six leading educators in the elementary, secondary and post-secondary fields who were presented with awards for Excellence in Education.  HSC’s Mark Mitchell and Heidy Peragine were honoured for their outstanding work with the Human Development Committee and SISO respectively. READ MORE  

Catch the buzz and BEE prepared for a sweet Fair Day

The Parents’ Association proudly presents its annual Fair Day celebrations. Rain or shine we will be there. We are planning games for both the young and young at heart, and bringing all your favourite family activities for a day of outdoor fun. Let’s celebrate the spring, enjoy nature and each other. If you like summer days and family fun then Fair Day is a hive of activity.  It’s a day that grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and best friends from the neighbourhood are all welcome to enjoy. For more information about Fair Day, contact Hoda Kayal at 905-639 6085 or kayalho@hsc.on.ca 

It’s time for the busy bees to start collecting for Penny Sale
Penny Sale is a success BEEcause of the wonderful new items that parents donate. If you are not sure what to purchase, then think like a child when you enter a store! The fairy costume that an adult might consider frivolous is something that your inner child knows you would love…same goes for stuffed animals, water canons, and sparkly purses. Thinking like a teenager works too. They love sports paraphernalia, grooming items, and DVDs. This year we are opening the Penny Sale to adult items, and would welcome donations that children might give as gifts to a parent, grandparent, or teacher. All Penny Sale donations are eligible for a charitable donation receipt. Attach your original receipt to the Donation Form, available in an electronic copy at www.hsc.on.cs/fairday. Please deliver the completed form to the Main Office, marked Fair Day.  For additional information contact Karen Price 905-383-1333 or k.price@sympatico.ca or Debbie Demers at 905-332-9007 or ddemers5@cogeco.ca.

Calling All Worker Bees
If there was ever a day for parents to help out and have fun, it’s Fair Day. We need you! Parent Volunteers are needed to help with Games, the BBQ, Book Sale, Kids’ Crafts and Penny Sale. Volunteers are also needed for set-up and clean-up (A job that must BEE done, and we’ll love you for it!). If you are interested in volunteering or for more information, please contact Diane Selby at 905-854-0522 or by e-mail at selbydi@hsc.on.ca or click here to download the volunteer form.

New this year!
“Enjoy a delicious BBQ lunch under the Big Top with award-winning BBQ Caterer Elio Coletta” Known all over for his delectable cuisine, Elio has won awards across North America for his BBQ cuisine. Come early and don’t miss out! Our Fair Day Menu includes: ‘Taste of Elio’s’ award-winning ribs, BBQ chicken, Nardini’s famous sausage, roasted vegetable skewers, burgers, hotdogs and salads. Rain or Shine, enjoy a beautiful BBQ lunch with your family and friends in the comfort of our tented dining area. For more information about Fair Day, contact Hoda Kayal at 905-639 6085 or kayalho@hsc.on.ca 

HSC Partnership Program Update

Hillfield Strathallan College is pleased to launch the HSC Partnership Program. The response to our new partnership program has been excellent. Watch for the website launch featuring our new partners and their special offers to the HSC community coming soon.

This program is open to all HSC families, alumni, staff and faculty, and is designed to connect us better with each other. We are looking for partnership opportunities that will directly benefit both the College and the members of our community. As an example, some of our existing partners offer discounted services to HSC families and alumni, as well as donations back to the College.

If you are affiliated with Hillfield Strathallan College, and would like to offer your services to the HSC community through this Partnership Program, please call Adrienne Davidson, Director of College Advancement at 905-389-1367, ext. 162 or e-mail adrienne.davidson@hsc.on.ca.

Come Join the HSC Parents’ Association Representative Committee

Each spring, the Parents’ Association seeks nominations to prepare a slate of Officers and Representatives for the following school year. 

The purpose of the Parents’ Association is to provide support to enhance the learning environment and community of Hillfield Strathallan College.  All parents and guardians of current students are members of the Parents’ Association.  The forum where community events are planned, implemented and evaluated is the Representative Committee. These events include Winterfest, On-line Auction (introduced in 2009), February Event, Fair Day and the June Luncheon/Fashion Show, and a Gala (2008). The Representative Committee meets the first Thursday of most months at the school. 

If you can commit to a monthly meeting and assisting at Winterfest and Fair Day, the Representative Committee welcomes your membership as a voting member and volunteer. If you cannot commit to a monthly meeting but still wish to be involved in the community events we still welcome your contribution as a volunteer.

Nominations will be accepted until May 29, 2009.  Nominate yourself and/or another parent, by completing the nomination form and returning it to the College’s Main Office. (Nominations received after May 29th may not be published in the summer mailings, but will be included in fall communiqués.) We welcome new members to the Representative Committee. If you would like more information, please contact bonnie.lendrum@hsc.on.ca 

Excelsior Annual Giving Campaign
We’re On A Roll!

An exciting new component has been added to the HSC Excelsior Annual Giving Campaign.  It’s a unique Staff and Faculty Participation Challenge called, Count Me In.

Our nine Excelsior Champions have given us a challenge – to reach 500 donors by June 30, 2009 and they will each contribute $5,000 for a total donation to HSC of an additional $45,000.  In an effort to reach our goal, our Staff and Faculty have rolled up their sleeves and in a few short weeks have increased their participation rate from 16% to over 56%.  Our departments and schools have achieved a participation rate of over 50% with seven departments and schools achieving 100% participation rates!

Currently, we have a total of 355 donors contributing to the Excelsior Annual Giving Campaign, which includes 143 donations from our HSC Staff and Faculty.  If you have already contributed to the campaign, we thank you, but if you have not yet donated, please consider a gift today.  Giving amounts are an individual choice, and every gift, no matter the size, makes a difference to us all.  Click here to download a donation form. 

To mark our progress, a replica of an HSC bus is currently on display in the Rotunda.  The background photo of the bus is in black and white and with each new donation a coloured decal is placed over top.  When the entire bus is shown in colour, our goal has been met!

Participation is the key to our success.  We’re on a roll as the Staff and Faculty of HSC lead by example to help realize this exciting challenge. …Everyone, Ever Higher.

Transportation Update

The onset of warmer weather promotes a wide range of outdoor activity at our campus.  We would like to take this opportunity to remind everyone to remain aware and drive safely while on College roadways.  Please reference the College Handbook (pg. 102);

• Posted fire routes are mandated through the municipality.  Parking is not permitted in a fire route.  While short term stops (for pick-up and drop-off) are tolerated as part of College operations, it is imperative that family vehicles are not stopped in the drop area for an extended period of time and at no time should they be left unattended.
• Obey all posted stop signs while on College roadways.  We will look to enhance our signage to include pedestrian crossings in combination with our stop signs at the tennis court, Artsplex/Killip Gate and the Montessori lot road crossings.
• Obey posted speed limits while on College roadways.
• Follow a ‘counter clockwise’ one-way flow for all traffic movements within the main lot and staff parking areas. 
•  Respect idling restrictions mandated by the municipality.  We must endeavour to advocate our stewardship for the environment as a community.
• Please ensure children are accompanied by an adult at all times within the HSC parking areas.
• Through traffic is prohibited at Auchmar Road to or from the College driveway.  School bus exceptions are managed through the municipality.

 Together we can ensure traffic safety is a priority at our campus.  We appreciate your understanding and continued support.  Please don’t hesitate to contact me at your convenience at ext. 133 or by email: chris.kwiecien@hsc.on.ca

Mr. C. S. Kwiecen
Director of Operations

A Report from Namibia

Currently Senior music teacher Dr. Burton is working in Namibia with a group from Brock University in a program called Solidarity Experiences Abroad.  Their work consists of helping with structural improvements to facilities at various Centres for Orphans and Vulnerable Children, as well as leading educational activities.

The centres provide after-school care and activities such as sports, music, reading and math help. Some Centres provide programming and meals for over 300 children per day.  With the ravages of AIDS, which affects 25% of the population, the life expectancy in Namibia is 41 for females and 44 for males.

Many children are orphaned, or in need of care .The students at the Centres are full of energy and incredible promise. Despite the daily struggles they face, they are eager to learn and work very hard.  Hopefully, with continued support from places like Canada, Namibians will have the necessary resources to solve many of their national challenges.

DAFEET MS
Contributed by Tamara Skrypniak

On the morning of April 19, 2009, the team of 30 walkers named Dafeet MS, walked in the MS walk which raises money to go towards funding research to find a cure for Multiple Sclerosis (MS).

The team included 13 HSC girls, Steph Petrie, Jenna van Leeuwen, Holly Bozzer-Cole, Jill Dennis, Maurisa Collins, Tolu Ifabiyi, Nisha Goel, Brie West, Hayley Carpenter, Melissa Barrientos, Celisse Bibr, Julia Falco and Tamara Skrypniak (team captain).

The team together raised over $18,000 and was ranked as the top fundraising team for the Hamilton walk and ranked 10th in all of Canada. The team’s inspiration was Lorissa Skrypniak (Tamara’s mom) who has had Multiple Sclerosis for over 20 years.

Thanks to everyone in the HSC community who supported the team in their quest to Dafeet MS.

Earth Day fundraising effort a great success

Congratulations to everyone who participated in this year’s Earth Day fundraising efforts led by the Junior School. In total $2,599.11 was raised to support the Nature Conservancy of Canada for their work in protecting Grey Wolf habitats.

Thank you to everyone for supporting this Earth Day endeavour!

Help Wanted! Billet Host Families needed for our U13 Boys’ Basketball Tournament
February 3, 4, 5 & 6, 2010

Next February, Hillfield Strathallan College will have the privilege of hosting the 2010 Canadian Association of Independent Schools (CAIS) U13 Boys’ Basketball Tournament. Our goal is to have the HSC community embrace this event and make it a special experience for our guests - one they will always remember.

The College will be hosting 15 other teams from schools across Canada from Wednesday, February 3rd to Saturday, February 6th, inclusive. Each team will consist of a maximum of 12 players. Each visiting team will need to be billeted in HSC homes (6 homes hosting at least 2 boys) for the duration of their visit.

Our U13 team was fortunate to win the tournament this past year, held in Calgary, and the boys really enjoyed the billeting experience.

Would you be interested in billeting some students in your home for the three nights (Wednesday to Friday)? Click here for more information.

HSC Eat Smart School Cafeteria and Eat Smart Workplace Awards of Excellence

Eat Smart! is an award program that recognizes top restaurants, schools, workplaces and recreation centres that meet exceptional standards in nutrition and safe food handling.  The Eat Smart! School Cafeteria and workplace program is designed to encourage healthy food choices and high standards in food safety across the province. HSC continues to lead the way in Hamilton-Wentworth as a recertified cafeteria program and has now been certified as an Eat Smart workplace!

Since the initial certification, HSC has continued to review and revise menu offerings with: new trial meal offerings such as the Breakfast Wrap, introduction of additional grain offerings (only whole wheat pizza crust, only whole grain tortilla chips, whole wheat blended pasta and rice, wheat and grain waffle and berry crisp desserts) and additional low-cal dressings/condiments and veggie toppings.

The Eat Smart program standards were revised over the past year to address a continued movement toward healthier choices in food services across the province.  As part of the College’s submission for an Eat Smart! Award, sample menus outlining individual meal days and our rotating menu were submitted. Following this review, the College worked collaboratively with the Eat Smart team to ensure our menu offerings continue to meet or exceed the revised Eat Smart! School Cafeteria and workplace Nutrition Standards.

For more information about the Eat Smart! Program visit, www.eatsmartontario.ca

HSC Tribute Program - Honour Your Favourite Teacher or Mentor

The HSC Tribute Program allows you to provide a lasting tribute in celebration of an event, an accomplishment, a loved one who is no longer with us or your favourite teacher and mentor.  Your gift will provide encouragement to the families of those who have experienced a loss and appreciation to those whom you honour.

“It’s so easy to participate in this program.  A quick note to the Advancement Office to initiate my tribute gift, and I was able to very effectively thank those members of faculty who play such an important role in the lives of our children.  I highly recommend it as a way of both saying thank you and supporting the College.”

  ~ Dr. Jennifer Everson,
Chair – Board of Governors and Current Parent

The person you designate will receive a card announcing your special gift in their honour.  If your gift is in memory of a friend or loved one, a card will be sent to the family.  All gift amounts are confidential and you will receive a tax receipt for your records. 

A donation through the Tribute Program allows you to honour that special person while at the same time helping the entire community of HSC. 
Click here to download an HSC Tribute Program card or contact Kim Shippey, Advancement Manager 905-389-1367 ext. 107 or email kim.shippey@hsc.on.ca for more information.

College Ring

The Campus Store is now featuring our College Ring. It is available by order only at the Campus Store. Please drop by and see us regarding sizing and orders and to see our sample. These rings are available in Sterling Silver, 10K gold, and 14k gold.