1. education
2. school

THE
MIDPOINTE
September 29, 2011
News and opinion for Southpointe Academy families
What
is a
MINIversity?
A Message from Mr. Baldwin
A
s we reach the ‘season of mists and
mellow fruitfulness’, so our school
settles into its rhythm of purposeful learning.
For the first time for five years, this rhythm
has changed significantly for students in
Grades 11 and 12. The miniversity is now
with us.
Designed to meet two key realities –the
proliferation of available learning resources
beyond the teacher in the classroom, and the
need to prepare for university studies rather
than simply to accumulate the marks needed
for acceptance –the miniversity is a modest,
but important step.
It works this way: each major academic
subject is allocated four blocks of time per
week, but only three are with the teacher
in the classroom. The fourth block is the
student’s, to work on the subject in his or her
preferred way. The teacher is available –as
in university we call it ‘office hours’ –to
advise, assist, and discuss as required.
So it is that in most blocks of the day,
groups of students collaborating here, a lone
student deep in thought there, a teacher and
two or three students discussing an idea in
this room, in-depth researching making great
use of our the library, can all be observed by
those who travel our halls.
For the students, the miniversity is a way of
taking more control of their own learning;
for the teachers, it is an opportunity to
interact with students in greater depth while
discovering new resources to assist them.
We are already pleased with the feedback
we receive from our recent graduates about
their preparation for university studies: the
Southpointe miniversity will prepare them
even better.
In this issue...
New School Club
News for Grads
Summer Art
Afternoon Extra Sessions
Sports, Traffic Report
Calendar
p. 2
p. 2
P. 2
p. 3
p. 4-5
p. 6
MIDPOINTE September 29, 2011
New After School Club Lego Robotics
The First Lego League
Robotics Challenge
Ever dreamed of having a robot to clean up your room?
Do you have a knack for constructing things?
Do you enjoy the challenge of learning things using
computers?
If you answered yes to all the above questions, we have
a new club at Southpointe Academy that is perfect for
you!
The First Lego League is an international program for
children ages 9 to 14 that combines a hands-on, interactive robotics competition with a fun and sports-like
atmosphere.
Our Lego Robotics Club will begin to prepare students
for the lego-based robotics competition. There are two
components to this competition:
1. An extensive research project that identifies a
problem and proposes a solution. The theme for this
year’s competition is “Food Factor“ so the research
projects must propose an innovative solution to the
problem of food spoilage and contamination.
2. A robot challenge. The robot always involves
designing a robot using the Lego Mindstorms
kits that completes a number challenges. Typical
challenges involve moving small pieces of lego,
tipping over block towers, and placing objects in
particular spots on the specifically designed table.
More general information is available on the First
Lego League website at http://www.firstlegoleague.
org. The first Robotics Club meeting will be held next
week Wednesday after school in Ms. Mah’s classroom.
Please sign up at the front office if you are between
the ages of 9 and 14 and you are seriously interested in
joining this club!
News for Grads
Grade 11 and 12 students will be going to the first ever American
University Fair at West Point Grey Academy on Wednesday,
October 19 from 2-4:00 p.m. Students must wear their number
one uniforms. The bus will leave the school at 1:10 p.m. and
return to the school by 4:30. Students must arrange to take
either the late bus home or be picked up by parents before 5:00
p.m. Over 40 American universities will send representatives
to this inaugural fair organized by the Independent Schools in
Vancouver, including Southpointe Academy. This is a good
opportunity for students to discover universities in the States and
to talk to representatives about their programs.
SFU is holding their “Supertours” events on Saturdays, October
15, December 3 and February 18.
It is free but students must register at: students.sfu.ca/supertour.
html to reserve a spot at either the Burnaby or Surrey campus.
Students can talk to students and faculty in the faculties
of Applied Sciences, Arts and Social Sciences, Business,
communication/art/technology, education, environment, health
sciences and sciences.
- Mr. Bruce Griffioen,
Team Leader of Curriculum and Assessment
Summer Art
Summer Institute for Teens @ Emily Carr
There will be a summer art institute for
teens at Emily Carr from July 3 to July 27,
2012. This art school experience offers
students hands-on studio exploration, field
trips, and your own gallery show. For more
information, please check this website:
www.ecuad.ca/cs/teens, or call 604-8443810. Registration opens December 2011.
MIDPOINTE September 29, 2011
Afternoon Extra-Sessions
The time from 3:30pm to 4:45 pm is the afternoon extra session. (The morning one is from 7am-8am).
Any student in the school after 3:30pm must be under the supervision of a teacher and remain in their activity
until 4.45pm.
The late buses leave at 5pm and the school is locked at this time with no supervision available.
Extra-sessions for next week:
The Junior Fyppers Club: Grades K to 3
Everyday
For this activity, parents need to register at the Front
Office by 12 noon daily. This club runs every day
from 3.30 to 5pm.
Art Club: Grades 1-5
Wednesday
with Ms. Chevreau and Mr. Simpson, Room 102
• Harry Potter Book Club: Grades 4-6
Tuesday
The Owls have delivered the news; we’ve been
accepted into Hogwarts. The final movie may have
just ended, but you can relive the magic of all 7 books
this year by joining the Harry Potter Book Club. Meet
us at Platform 9 3/4s (or Ms. Cook’s room for you
muggles) every Tuesday at 3:30 as we board the train
to Hogwarts.
This club is open to students in Grades 4 - 6 and will
run all year and meetings will consist of discussions
and activities based on the book. Please sign up
tomorrow as the club begins next week. Also, please
bring a copy of the first book with you.
Ms. Leo, Mrs. Slinn and Ms. Cook.
• Poetry Club: Grades 1-8
Tuesday
with Mrs. Schaub, Room 115
Grades 4-12
• Library: Grades 4-12
Everyday
This is supervised by the librarian and is for students
who wish to read silently or research. This is not a
waiting room or a social room.
• Study Club:
Everyday
This is a supervised room where students work quietly
on revision or homework.
• Study Help Club:
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
This is a supervised room where
students receive help on their work from student and
faculty tutors.
• IT Club:
Tuesday, Wednesday
with Mr. Hilton, Rm. 209
this is a club that explores and uses IT in its many
facets.
• Science 10 Tutorial:
Thursday
with Dr. Kwan, Rm 206 (Science Lab)
• Math 11 Tutorial:
Wednesday
with Dr. Kwan, Rm 206 (Science Lab)
• Spanish Help for Grades Nine and Ten:
Wednesday and Friday
with Senora Clark, in the Peer Tutoring room.
• Foundational English Help Club (Gr. 9-12)
Tuesday
Mrs. McMartin and Mrs. Domansky, Rm. 209
This club is for students who need extra help in their
foundational English skills. We will be going over
how to write an essay, how to prepare strong oral
presentations, basic English grammar skills and how
to analyze literature.
New This Week
• Lego Robotics Club: Ages 9-14
Wednesday
With Mr. Griffioen, Room 202
• ESL Canadian Facts, Grades 9-12
Wednesday
With Mr. Scholefield, Room 213
• MYP Art/Sketching Club: Grades 6-8
Wednesday
With Ms. Melissa Umbach and Ms. Kwok-Swan
Room 215
• Math Help: Grade 10
Wednesday
With Mr. Ross, Room 205
MIDPOINTE September 29, 2011
The Sports Page
Elementary Cross Country
Cross Country is now well underway and our Southpointe athletes have
been racing well with some tremendous results. Congratulations to Sarah
Auringer, Adelia Bailey, Allen He, Jim Marsden, Ethan Spires, and Lukas
Zhanel who traveled to Whistler to compete in the Whistler Spirit Run this
past weekend and run in the fresh mountain air on the Olympic Biathlon
course!
Results from Whistler Spirit Run:
Adelia Bailey: 5th 12:21, 2km
Ethan Spires: 2nd, boys 2001, 11:13 2km,
Lukas Zhanel: 3rd, boys 2001 race, 2km, 11:24, 2km,
Jim Marsden: 3rd, boys 1999 race, 2km, 9:25, 2km,
Sarah Auringer: 9th, girls 1997 race, 3km, 17:44
Allen He: 11th, boys 17 and under, 5km, 24:23
The results for the Pinetree Classic Elementary Meet
are finally out and here they are…
Meaghan MacKenzie: 18th in the 1999 girls 2.5km, 11:17
Brent Morrison: 4th in the 1999boys race 2.5km, 10:03
Adelia Bailey: 10th in the girls 2001 race 2.5km, 12:43
Chloe Cuthbert: 7th in the girls 2000 race 2.5km, 13:35
Lukas, Zhanel: 14th in the boys 2001 race 2.5km, 12:47
Ali Jafri: 15th in the boys 2002 race, 2.5km, 12:49
Over the next week, Southpointe athletes will be racing in numerous
events around the Lower Mainland. For those athletes who are interested
in participating in the races below, please see Mr. Simpson or Ms. Wright
as soon as possible.
Upcoming Races:
Friday September 30th – Boundary Bay Cross Country Meet
All students in grades 2 -7 will be participating in the second annual
Boundary Bay Cross Country Race followed by a BBQ lunch.
Saturday October 1st – Festival of Cross Country
Elementary Cross Country team members will be racing in Crescent Park,
White Rock hosted by Ocean Athletics.
Monday October 3rd – Surrey League Meet
Our Senior Cross Country team members will be racing their third league meet at Fleetwood Park Secondary.
Wednesday October 5th – ISA Cross Country Championships
Our Senior Cross Country team members will be racing other Independent schools (St. George’s, West Point Grey,
Crofton House & York House, etc.) from around the Lower Mainland at Jericho Beach.
Reminder - practices are on the following days:
Elementary (3-7) Tuesdays & Thursdays 3:30pm – 4:45pm
Senior (8-12) please check your schedules for specific practice and race information and please check the Athletic
notice board, or speak to your coaches directly, if you have any questions.
We are looking forward to a great week of training and racing!
MIDPOINTE September 29, 2011
More Sports
Junior Girls Volleyball
Congratulations to the Mighty, Mighty Titans on the Elementary Girls Volleyball
team! A team of 9 girls played on Tuesday afternoon at Meadowridge School
and came away with their first victory of the season against Collingwood School.
Serving and cooperative team play improved greatly over the course of the next
2 matches against Meadowridge and St. John’s, but we were not able to continue
our winning streak. Next week we host Crofton House on Tuesday afternoon, so
come out and cheer our girls on!
Elementary Boys Soccer
The Elementary Soccer Team traveled to Meadowridge on Tuesday afternoon. The team
entertained a large crowd with a very attractive brand of soccer. They beat Meadowridge
1-0, St. John’s 4-1, and Collingwood 5-0. Riley Sangha scored a hat-trick against
Collingwood to take the lead in the race for the scoring title. Iqbal Sraw proved as well
as being an excellent goalkeeper, he may also have a future career as a striker. Some of
our defenders proved that, as strikers, they make pretty good centre-backs. Thus far, the
season record stands at six wins and zero losses. We have practices on Thursday 29th
September and Tuesday 4th October, before hosting Mulgrave on Wednesday 5th October
at Association Park.
Senior Boys Soccer
The Senior Boys Soccer Team continued their winning ways with a convincing 7-0 result
over King David High School last Friday. This was a special victory as last year the same
team knocked us out of the playoffs. We played a great second half and dominated the
possession of the ball. Mr. Baldwin was so impressed by the superior coaching tactics of
Mr. Levitt and Mr. Lum that he thought Mr. Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson were coaching
his Titans! (For Wednesday’s game against St. John’s, only Mr. Wenger remained). Balraj
Singh did well to keep a clean sheet while only having to save a few shots all game. Navi
Boparai scored a scintillating hat trick. Our grade 8’s, Max Kirshenblatt and Kelvin Gill,
both scored and now have a total of 5 goals between them. Jacques Schaub got himself on
the score sheet by bulldozing through the keeper and scoring a well deserve goal. Jacques
needs to remember that this is soccer and not South African rugby! We had a good showing
of teacher and student supporters. Thank you for coming out, we appreciate your support!
The Traffic Report
On the School Grounds
Traffic on the school grounds is much better! Keep
doing what you are doing:
• 10 km speed limit
• stay in the middle of the lane
• no passing
• stay alert
Off the School Grounds
Traffic on 55a Street (behind the school)
is still in need of improvement
• no u-turns
• no double parking • off load children on the sidewalk, not the street
Soon it will be DARK, RAINY and COLD… Let’s be ready and safe!
Thanks, Ms. Common
MIDPOINTE September 29, 2011
The Calendar
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
26
27
28
29
30
3
4
5
6
7
10
11
12
13
14
Grade 12 Project
Discover
__________________
GYP Alternate
Program Week
Thanksgiving Day
School Closed
Grade 12 Project
Discover
__________________
7:00 PM
Grade Seven
Potluck Dinner
Grade 7
Project Discover
@ Strathcona Lodge
Grade Eight Project
Discover @ Alice Lake
__________________
11:50:
Cops for Cancer
Grade 12 Project
Discover
Grade 7
Project Discover
Grade 12 Project
Discover
__________________
7:00 PM
Grade Six
Potluck Dinner
Grade 7
Project Discover
3:00 PM
Grade Eights return to
school
__________________
Afternoon:
Kindergarten’s Teddy
Bear Picnic
Grade 12 Project
Discover
Grade 7
Project Discover
The SPORTS Calendar
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Weekend
26
27
28
29
30
1/2
3
4
5
6
7
3:30 PM
Sr. Cross Country
Fleetwood Park,
Surrey
3:45 PM
Elementary Girls
Volleyball
S.D. Baptist Gym,
Tsawwassen
3:00 PM
ISA Cross Country
Jericho Beach,
Vancouver
________________
3:30 PM
Jr. Girls
Volleyball
S.D. Baptist Gym,
Tsawwassen
________________
3:45 PM
Elementary
Boys Soccer
Association Park,
Ladner
3:30 PM
Jr. Girls Volleyball
S.D. Baptist Gym,
Tsawwassen
3:45 PM
Jr. Boys Soccer
Association Park,
Ladner
11:30 AM
Boundary Bay
Cross Country Race
Centennial Beach,
Tsawwassen
________________
ISA Jr. Boys Soccer
Tournament
SLS, Vancouver
Island
Cross Country Race
Crescent Park,
South Surrey
________________
Sr. Girls Volleyball
Tournament (Sat.)
Jr. Girls Volleyball
Tournament (Sun.)
Carver Christian
School, Burnaby
________________
ISA Jr. Boys Soccer
Tournament
SLS, Vancouver
Island (Fri./Sat.)