Lady Irish Reflect on a Hard Fought Season
By Olivia Muhar & Jenna Maclean
The Notre Dame Irish Varsity Girls Hockey Team have much to be proud of with their accomplishments this season. The Lady Irish have made history by winning the Inaugural Halton Catholic Athletic Association Championship... But this was just the beginning for the team. Through all the obstacles thrown their way, the girls played with passion and drive to qualify for OFSAA, by defeating St Mary’s for the GHAC title. On March 20th, the ladies woke up bright and early and headed to Timmins to begin their last stretch of the season. The arrived as underdogs at OFSAA, ranked 13th out of all AA schools in Ontario. Our Lady Irish did not let the numbers intimidate them, instead the girls remained calm and confident heading into their first game vs the 2nd ranked team, St Anne’s. It was a tight game and the girls fought hard until the last buzzer sounded… unfortunately they didn’t come out with the result they wanted, losing 3-1… But the girls didn’t let the loss set the tone for that tournament. The Lady Irish bounced back with a 5-1 win against the crowd favoured team, Timmins High. |

The ladies showed their mental toughness, drive to succeed and character in order to come on top. Afterwards the team changed their attire from hockey skates to dresses and high heels as they attended the annual OFSAA banquet with an amazing dinner and excellent entertainment.
The next morning, the ladies played St Mark's and had to win or tie to place top 2 in their pool and advance to the quarterfinals. The ladies came out strong and peaked at the right time, playing to a 2-2 tie thanks to another strong performance from goaltender, Elizabeth Madden. In the quarterfinal game the Irish faced the defending champs, L’escale. The ladies gave it their all and left their heart on the ice in hopes of extending their season one more day; Unfortunately, coming up short by a score of 4-3. Even though they didn’t win, the ladies had every reason to be proud as L’escale ended up being OFSAA Champs once again. A tight game against the eventual champs showed us that the Irish could compete with anyone in the Province.
The team shared many tears and laughs when their season came to end, but the close knit group were all proud and excited to have made history at Notre Dame. “We all got super close and it made it more memorable” says ND forward, Gabby Condello, when reflecting on the season.
The Lady Irish consisted of predominantly young players at all different skill sets and positions, leaving a strong core (with room for improvement) for years to come. The girls adapted to each other well, it was a slow process but they always rose at the right time, like any good team. “It was a good run, we started off slow but really came together at the end of the season” said Sara Boucher.
The Irish would like to thank all who have helped them progress this season playing a huge role in what the team accomplished. Special thanks to Adam Syring, Jeff Schwoob, Mrs. Hughes, Mr. Cordeiro, and Ms. Giardina.
The ladies are really excited to get it going again next year and to continue to make a name for ND Hockey for many years to come.
The next morning, the ladies played St Mark's and had to win or tie to place top 2 in their pool and advance to the quarterfinals. The ladies came out strong and peaked at the right time, playing to a 2-2 tie thanks to another strong performance from goaltender, Elizabeth Madden. In the quarterfinal game the Irish faced the defending champs, L’escale. The ladies gave it their all and left their heart on the ice in hopes of extending their season one more day; Unfortunately, coming up short by a score of 4-3. Even though they didn’t win, the ladies had every reason to be proud as L’escale ended up being OFSAA Champs once again. A tight game against the eventual champs showed us that the Irish could compete with anyone in the Province.
The team shared many tears and laughs when their season came to end, but the close knit group were all proud and excited to have made history at Notre Dame. “We all got super close and it made it more memorable” says ND forward, Gabby Condello, when reflecting on the season.
The Lady Irish consisted of predominantly young players at all different skill sets and positions, leaving a strong core (with room for improvement) for years to come. The girls adapted to each other well, it was a slow process but they always rose at the right time, like any good team. “It was a good run, we started off slow but really came together at the end of the season” said Sara Boucher.
The Irish would like to thank all who have helped them progress this season playing a huge role in what the team accomplished. Special thanks to Adam Syring, Jeff Schwoob, Mrs. Hughes, Mr. Cordeiro, and Ms. Giardina.
The ladies are really excited to get it going again next year and to continue to make a name for ND Hockey for many years to come.
MARCH MADNESS COMES TO NOTRE DAME!

By Gabriel Millar
"When I was young, I had to learn the fundamentals of basketball. You can have all the physical ability in the world, but you still have to know the fundamentals."
- Michael Jordan
This March Break, kids from across the community gathered to learn the fundamentals of basketball in our very own Notre Dame gymnasium to participate in this year’s 'March Madness' Developmental Basketball Camp.
The camp, lead by Ms. Vaughan and Mr. Montoya, focused on introducing young athletes from grades 4-8, to the individual fundamentals and team concepts of basketball. The camp provided the kids with the opportunity to improve their skills in both a competitive and non-competitive environment. Players worked on specific basketball-related skills through a number of drills, as well as participating in realistic in-game situations.
In a typical morning at the 'March Madness' Basketball Camp, campers would split up into smaller groups led by Notre Dame coaches and varsity players. Players worked on individual skill development such as dribbling, shooting, rebounding and passing. In the afternoons, players had the opportunity to integrate their newly learned skills into realistic situations through scrimmages and game-like scenarios.
The coaches always made sure to include some fun camp games throughout the day as well.
In addition to providing campers the opportunity to grow and flourish as basketball players, the Development Basketball Camp allowed kids to form new relationships with each other.
A big thank you to the coaches and ND students who made this great week possible for the kids in our community!
"When I was young, I had to learn the fundamentals of basketball. You can have all the physical ability in the world, but you still have to know the fundamentals."
- Michael Jordan
This March Break, kids from across the community gathered to learn the fundamentals of basketball in our very own Notre Dame gymnasium to participate in this year’s 'March Madness' Developmental Basketball Camp.
The camp, lead by Ms. Vaughan and Mr. Montoya, focused on introducing young athletes from grades 4-8, to the individual fundamentals and team concepts of basketball. The camp provided the kids with the opportunity to improve their skills in both a competitive and non-competitive environment. Players worked on specific basketball-related skills through a number of drills, as well as participating in realistic in-game situations.
In a typical morning at the 'March Madness' Basketball Camp, campers would split up into smaller groups led by Notre Dame coaches and varsity players. Players worked on individual skill development such as dribbling, shooting, rebounding and passing. In the afternoons, players had the opportunity to integrate their newly learned skills into realistic situations through scrimmages and game-like scenarios.
The coaches always made sure to include some fun camp games throughout the day as well.
In addition to providing campers the opportunity to grow and flourish as basketball players, the Development Basketball Camp allowed kids to form new relationships with each other.
A big thank you to the coaches and ND students who made this great week possible for the kids in our community!
Girl’s Night In 2018 - Getting Ready

By Emily Nobes
For the 6th year in a row, Notre Dame’s infamous Girl’s Night In is fast approaching, and preparations are heavily underway.
“There are a huge number of female staff helping out, educational assistants, teachers, office staff, and community volunteers. Many staff run workshops, others work with students to plan and execute decorations or food or raffle prizes. Many more will help out on the night of the event to set up and clean up, and to make sure the whole thing runs smoothly. This group wouldn’t function without the enormous contributions of Ms. Paradis, Ms. Barros, and Ms. Tambasco especially!” Says Ms.Gera, another key organizer of the event.
Just under a month ago, Girl’s Night In teacher organizers hand delivered invitations to carefully selected grade 10-12 girl’s who they hoped would help out to put together one of NDs most exciting nights. Since then, the girls have broken off into groups and begun working hard in tandem with teacher organizers to put together every little detail of the event and of the weeks leading up to the event.
“We invited 35 girls this year.” Continues Ms.Gera,”We try to recruit as many new leadership candidates as possible each year, to give many deserving students the opportunity to shine. We look for students who regularly demonstrate exceptional kindness, or courage, responsibility or enthusiasm... ideally all of the above!”
As the date draws nearer, the presence of Girls Night In grows more apparent in the school. Whether it be the beautiful poster hanging in the spectrum or the inspirational quotes that were attached to the lockers around the school that the marketing committee worked so hard on to put together, it’s hard to dispute the fact that this is one of ND's most anticipated events.
For the 6th year in a row, Notre Dame’s infamous Girl’s Night In is fast approaching, and preparations are heavily underway.
“There are a huge number of female staff helping out, educational assistants, teachers, office staff, and community volunteers. Many staff run workshops, others work with students to plan and execute decorations or food or raffle prizes. Many more will help out on the night of the event to set up and clean up, and to make sure the whole thing runs smoothly. This group wouldn’t function without the enormous contributions of Ms. Paradis, Ms. Barros, and Ms. Tambasco especially!” Says Ms.Gera, another key organizer of the event.
Just under a month ago, Girl’s Night In teacher organizers hand delivered invitations to carefully selected grade 10-12 girl’s who they hoped would help out to put together one of NDs most exciting nights. Since then, the girls have broken off into groups and begun working hard in tandem with teacher organizers to put together every little detail of the event and of the weeks leading up to the event.
“We invited 35 girls this year.” Continues Ms.Gera,”We try to recruit as many new leadership candidates as possible each year, to give many deserving students the opportunity to shine. We look for students who regularly demonstrate exceptional kindness, or courage, responsibility or enthusiasm... ideally all of the above!”
As the date draws nearer, the presence of Girls Night In grows more apparent in the school. Whether it be the beautiful poster hanging in the spectrum or the inspirational quotes that were attached to the lockers around the school that the marketing committee worked so hard on to put together, it’s hard to dispute the fact that this is one of ND's most anticipated events.

On March 26th 2018, the committee made their first public appearance of 2018 at the traditional Girls Night In information session (hype presentation works too). Grade 9 and 10 girls were greeted by vibrantly dressed, cheering committee members as they gathered in the cafeteria to learn about the night, figure out how to register, and, of course, to get excited.
When asked about her favourite aspect of the night, Ms. Gera said “I love that for a whole night no one worries about what they’re wearing or how they look or feels self conscious having second helping of dessert… I love that there are so many great role models from our school community and beyond… and I just love how much fun the girls always have. It’s worth all the work to see so many of them literally not stop smiling from the beginning of the night until they are walking out the door with their swag bags.”
For anyone looking to attend, packages have been distributed in your period four classrooms, or to your teachers if you are among the elementary schools invited, containing permission forms, information about the night, and access to the google form that will allow you to select your 3 activity choices. Anyone who at ND who would like to pick up a form, you can find them outside workroom 22, and grade 11/12 girls can return them as well, The cost of the event is $10 per girl, which covers snacks, dinner, gift bags, raffle tickets, and, of course, the activities.
So, get ready for a night of fun, empowerment, and food ND, this is certainly an event that you do not want to miss.
Don’t forget to follow @girlsnightin.2018 on instagram for updates, information, and sneak peaks into past events, see you there!
When asked about her favourite aspect of the night, Ms. Gera said “I love that for a whole night no one worries about what they’re wearing or how they look or feels self conscious having second helping of dessert… I love that there are so many great role models from our school community and beyond… and I just love how much fun the girls always have. It’s worth all the work to see so many of them literally not stop smiling from the beginning of the night until they are walking out the door with their swag bags.”
For anyone looking to attend, packages have been distributed in your period four classrooms, or to your teachers if you are among the elementary schools invited, containing permission forms, information about the night, and access to the google form that will allow you to select your 3 activity choices. Anyone who at ND who would like to pick up a form, you can find them outside workroom 22, and grade 11/12 girls can return them as well, The cost of the event is $10 per girl, which covers snacks, dinner, gift bags, raffle tickets, and, of course, the activities.
So, get ready for a night of fun, empowerment, and food ND, this is certainly an event that you do not want to miss.
Don’t forget to follow @girlsnightin.2018 on instagram for updates, information, and sneak peaks into past events, see you there!
Ma vie passée Tous les élèves en 11e année prennent le cours Les grandes religions du monde. Ce cours a été élaboré afin d’amener les élèves à explorer des religions de toutes les parties du monde et afin de leur faire prendre conscience de la nature, de la place et de la fonction de la religion dans diverses sociétés.
Pour l’unité sur l’hindouisme, une religion qui croit en la réincarnation, les élèves ont eu donnés la tâche d’expliquer comment ils ont été réincarnés en leur forme actuelle (humaine). Ce travail n’est en aucune façon une croyance en la réincarnation des vies passées. Quand mon atman avait achevé sa première vie humaine, c’était sous forme d’un garçon shudra pour un roi important. Ce roi était un roi méchant qui avait traité son peuple de manière cruelle. Dans ma famille, j’avais trois frères et soeurs, alors il n’y avait pas beaucoup d’argent ou de nourriture pour tout le monde. Mais une chose qui m’avait aidé dans la vie était les livres. Même si le roi était horrible, son fils était un garçon généreux. Mais, il était interdit de donner de la nourriture à ma famille et il m’avait donné le cadeau de l’éducation. Avec la connaissance qu’il m’a aidé à obtenir, j’ai commencé sur la voie sagesse. Mon caste est interdit d’étudier les Védas, alors j’avais étudié les sciences et les mathématiques quand le fils du roi pouvait me donner des livres en secret. Ma connaissance des mathématiques et des sciences m’avait donnée la chance d’améliorer mon karma, alors j’ai partagé mes connaissances avec mes frères et soeurs. Plus tard dans la vie, il y a eu un coup d’état et le roi a perdu son pouvoir. Le peuple voulait le tuer avec toute sa famille. J’ai protégé le fils, mon ami d’enfance, et j’ai été tué pour l’avoir aidé. Pour avoir aidé mon ami et pour avoir été loyal à mon ami, j’ai beaucoup amélioré mon karma. Aujourd’hui, je suis dans le caste des Brahmanes et je donne mon temps pour aider les autres à apprendre les mathématiques. Je veux être plus généreux dans ma vie et je suis inspiré par le fils de l’ancien roi afin d’aider les autres. -Anonyme Vertical Divider
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ND @ Women as Career Coaches![]() By Sierra Pearce
On Thursday, March 22nd, students selected from schools across Halton attended the Women as Career Coaches conference in Burlington. It featured many female speakers and coaches who discussed their career paths, hoping to inspire young women and inform them about the variety of work pathways available to them. The event is made possible each year with the help of a variety of sponsors. The 11th Annual Women as Career Coaches Conference took place from 5:15 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Burlington Convention centre. Registration and dinner began at 5:15 p.m., where a few of the female students were seated with several career coaches per table. Dinner came to an end at 6:00 p.m., and the students and mentors at each table were given conversational prompts to introduce themselves. A couple speakers at a time were featured, the time in between used for guided conversation between the mentors and students at each table, involving their career goals, interests, and experiences. The speakers were Stacy-Ann Buchanan, Shannon Cuciz, Shelley Davies, Elsa Hannaford, and Kim Melanson, with Tamara Lopez acting as emcee. The women spoke on their career paths to inspire students in knowing that they can live a successful, balanced life, and emphasizing that opportunities often exist where unexpected. The event is made possible by individuals who each sponsor a student for a small cost. There were generally two speakers featured at a time during the event, and the conversational events in between took an average of 10-20 minutes each. Tamara Lopez introduced herself and each speaker, also sharing some of her experiences with the audience. The speakers had a wide variety of careers, from Shelley Davies, welding apprentice, to Kim Melanson, owner of a Canadian Tire branch, to Elsa Hannaford, Banker, founding editor, and blogger. Towards the end of the event, the speaker sat in a panel and answered questions from the audience about their careers and life balancing skills. Both career opportunities and mental health were discussed, in an effort to encourage the students to find balance and happiness in their work. Sponsors paid $30 to sponsor a student, which has helped ensure the event for next year. To learn more about the event, or contact the organization, please visit: www.hiec.on.ca/wacc. |
My Thoughts on Cooperative Education: X-ray Clinic Assistant

By Jenna Jarvis
This year, I am a returning grade 12 student. I am a co-op student and am currently doing my placement at Wentworth-Halton X-ray and Ultrasound, which is a large company that offers Diagnostic Medical Imaging Services to the community in over 12 clinics in the greater Hamilton area. At my placement, my “job title” is a clinic assistant, so I am helping everyone in the clinic, which is nice because I get to see a bit of everything. In the first few weeks, they had me sitting at the reception desk with the receptionists so I could watch them as they arrived patients into the system, and they also had me shredding CD’s with patient files and reports on them to destroy the data.
After a few weeks, they had me instructing patients on getting changed for their exams – for example, if the patient is coming in for an x-ray, all metal has to come off of their body (depending on the targeted X-ray area), like pants with zippers, or jewelry – and have them put a gown on for their test. Shortly after, the technicians were asking me if I wanted to come watch them perform tests, so I have been able to watch a lot of x-rays as well as some ultrasounds, which has been very interesting.
This year, I am a returning grade 12 student. I am a co-op student and am currently doing my placement at Wentworth-Halton X-ray and Ultrasound, which is a large company that offers Diagnostic Medical Imaging Services to the community in over 12 clinics in the greater Hamilton area. At my placement, my “job title” is a clinic assistant, so I am helping everyone in the clinic, which is nice because I get to see a bit of everything. In the first few weeks, they had me sitting at the reception desk with the receptionists so I could watch them as they arrived patients into the system, and they also had me shredding CD’s with patient files and reports on them to destroy the data.
After a few weeks, they had me instructing patients on getting changed for their exams – for example, if the patient is coming in for an x-ray, all metal has to come off of their body (depending on the targeted X-ray area), like pants with zippers, or jewelry – and have them put a gown on for their test. Shortly after, the technicians were asking me if I wanted to come watch them perform tests, so I have been able to watch a lot of x-rays as well as some ultrasounds, which has been very interesting.

After ND, in September, I plan to go to University and take an Honours Science program at the University of Waterloo, which will allow me to further explore my interests in the science field since I have always been interested in my science courses here at ND. In the future, I would like to pursue a career in the medical field, but I have never been certain of what exactly I wanted to do in the medical field. Diagnostic Medical Imaging was something that had interested me for quite some time, but I had thought about other potential careers as well, such as a pharmacist or a dermatologist.
I decided to take a co-op so that I could get some work experience in a field that I am interested in and would maybe like to pursue a career in, and I also wanted to find a placement like this clinic that would help me make up my mind, or at least help me to decide what I do or do not like in the medical field, which would ultimately help me make a decision in my post-secondary studies. I have had a lot of fun at my placement because everyone is so nice to me and it’s nice to know that they want me to learn and they want to teach me things so that I have a good experience.
I would definitely recommend co-op to other students because I feel that it is another way to learn about something you might be passionate about and getting the hands-on experience rather than just reading about it from a textbook or online. Doing a co-op, I also get to hear stories from the technicians who have been doing this as a career for some time and I get to hear about and learn from their experiences, so it is nice to be able to learn and acquire knowledge and get a feel for the type of environment that I could be working in one day.
I decided to take a co-op so that I could get some work experience in a field that I am interested in and would maybe like to pursue a career in, and I also wanted to find a placement like this clinic that would help me make up my mind, or at least help me to decide what I do or do not like in the medical field, which would ultimately help me make a decision in my post-secondary studies. I have had a lot of fun at my placement because everyone is so nice to me and it’s nice to know that they want me to learn and they want to teach me things so that I have a good experience.
I would definitely recommend co-op to other students because I feel that it is another way to learn about something you might be passionate about and getting the hands-on experience rather than just reading about it from a textbook or online. Doing a co-op, I also get to hear stories from the technicians who have been doing this as a career for some time and I get to hear about and learn from their experiences, so it is nice to be able to learn and acquire knowledge and get a feel for the type of environment that I could be working in one day.