IRISH STUDENTS 'VENTURE'
INTO LEADERSHIP
By Alessandra Auletta
On May 3rd students at Notre Dame got to participate in the Business Leadership Conference - 'Venture', where they listened to inspiring speeches that encouraged them to step outside of their comfort zone and try new things. The conference included a breakfast, a speaker of the students choice, and an inspirational speech from Olympic Gold Medalist Haley Wickenheiser.
The conference started off with a wonderful breakfast made with the help of student and teacher volunteers. Students got a chance to enjoy an amazing buffet full of fruits, eggs, sausage, and much more!
After breakfast, students went to the assigned rooms where they would listen to the two speakers of their choice. The speakers inspired students to be brave, confident, independent, and successful. All speakers spoke about the importance of 'being yourself' and 'never giving up'. As the speeches ended and students went to the gym, they left feeling both touched and inspired to do great things.
On May 3rd students at Notre Dame got to participate in the Business Leadership Conference - 'Venture', where they listened to inspiring speeches that encouraged them to step outside of their comfort zone and try new things. The conference included a breakfast, a speaker of the students choice, and an inspirational speech from Olympic Gold Medalist Haley Wickenheiser.
The conference started off with a wonderful breakfast made with the help of student and teacher volunteers. Students got a chance to enjoy an amazing buffet full of fruits, eggs, sausage, and much more!
After breakfast, students went to the assigned rooms where they would listen to the two speakers of their choice. The speakers inspired students to be brave, confident, independent, and successful. All speakers spoke about the importance of 'being yourself' and 'never giving up'. As the speeches ended and students went to the gym, they left feeling both touched and inspired to do great things.
In the gym, students sat and listened to Haley’s astonishing speech of how she broke gender stereotypes and went on to become a successful female hockey player and Olympic gold medalist. She talked of courage, determination, and perseverance.
After a truly motivational presentation, students got the chance to take a picture with Haley, and even hold one of her Gold Medals!
This year, Notre Dame’s Business Leadership Conference was tremendous. It was truly inspiring, and taught students bravery, determination, and hard work. It brought so many students out of their comfort zone, and will be remembered as a encouraging and inspiring day.
After a truly motivational presentation, students got the chance to take a picture with Haley, and even hold one of her Gold Medals!
This year, Notre Dame’s Business Leadership Conference was tremendous. It was truly inspiring, and taught students bravery, determination, and hard work. It brought so many students out of their comfort zone, and will be remembered as a encouraging and inspiring day.
By Danielle Gravina (Business Leadership CEO)
On May 3rd, Notre Dame Catholic Secondary School hosted their 16th Annual Business Leadership Conference.
For the past fifteen years, the Business Leadership Class has been successful in running a conference that serves to inspire and motivate the leaders of tomorrow. Through this year’s theme Venture: Dare to Discover, the leadership class of 2019 was able to share this experience with the community once again.
This year, along with Notre Dame student attendees, the leadership class also hosted grade 8 students from St. Marks, St. Timothy’s, and St. Gabriel’s and students from our neighbouring high school, Assumption. Many HCDSB board members recognized the magnitude of the conference and were able to attend, such as Director of Education Pat Daly and Superintendent of Education Camillo Cipriano. The leadership class was also very lucky to have Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed Ward in attendance too.
On May 3rd, Notre Dame Catholic Secondary School hosted their 16th Annual Business Leadership Conference.
For the past fifteen years, the Business Leadership Class has been successful in running a conference that serves to inspire and motivate the leaders of tomorrow. Through this year’s theme Venture: Dare to Discover, the leadership class of 2019 was able to share this experience with the community once again.
This year, along with Notre Dame student attendees, the leadership class also hosted grade 8 students from St. Marks, St. Timothy’s, and St. Gabriel’s and students from our neighbouring high school, Assumption. Many HCDSB board members recognized the magnitude of the conference and were able to attend, such as Director of Education Pat Daly and Superintendent of Education Camillo Cipriano. The leadership class was also very lucky to have Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed Ward in attendance too.
On the day of the event, attendees were welcomed with goodie bags and brought to the gymnasium for breakfast and raffle prizes. After breakfast, they were escorted to their chosen session room to listen to two session speakers. The four sessions this year were Dare to Discover, featuring the Toronto Superfan Nav Bhatia and CEO Scott Hurren; Dare to Dream, with entrepreneur and yoga instructor Katie McClelland and Hamilton Ticats ‘Speedy B’; Dare to Inspire, featuring Canadian sports broadcaster Scott Russell and chef Tania Ganassini; and Dare to be Brave, with entertainer Tamara Lopez and Residential School Survivor Beverly Albrecht. All students were then escorted back to the gymnasium to listen to the keynote address by 4x Olympic gold medalist, Hayley Wickenheiser. As a grand finale, the students were able to meet and take pictures with all of the amazing speakers.
Congratulations to the Business Leadership Class of 2019 and organizing teacher Ms. Power for their hard work and dedication in implementing this inspirational day for the entire Notre Dame community. It was a huge success and truly inspired all attendees to be brave, take risks, and ‘dare to discover’.
Congratulations to the Business Leadership Class of 2019 and organizing teacher Ms. Power for their hard work and dedication in implementing this inspirational day for the entire Notre Dame community. It was a huge success and truly inspired all attendees to be brave, take risks, and ‘dare to discover’.
ND RUGBY IS
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NOTRE DAME LACROSSE NETS ANOTHER WINNING SEASON
By Daniella Lopez
Started from the bottom and now they're HCAA champions. Who? You might ask, the Varsity Boys Lacrosse Team. The boys started off their season on April 24th, playing against Corpus Christi at the Notre Dame field. Winning 10-9, this would foreshadow the numerous close games the Lacrosse Team would be a part of this season. As the season progressed the boys would end up losing the next two games, 8-4 against Bishop Reding and 5-3 against Christ the King. Thus, placing them third in the eastern division with an overall record of 1-2. But everyone loves a good underdog story and if you’ve ever heard someone say the regular season doesn’t matter, the Notre Dame Lacrosse Team is here to prove that theory true. As the boys pushed to make another HCAA finals appearance it would take lots of dedication and hard work, but spoiler alert; it was all wins from here. The Quarter Final game was against St. Ignatius of Loyola, where the boys won 7-6. Next they played Christ the King in the Semi Finals, winning 7-4. Finally they played against Bishop Reding at River Oaks on May 16th and managed to escape with a win of 10-9. A buyout was held during the day and many Notre Dame students went and supported the team. One student says the atmosphere was “fun and loud” and she recalls “the team celebrating” immensely at the win. And while the Notre Dame community soaked in the HCAA win, the team had to focus their attention on the GHAC finals. This game took place on May 22nd against T.A. Blakelock HS, and unfortunately the boys wound up losing 13-10, bringing their season to an end. “We had a great season winning with lots of close games, we made it to back to back HCAA Finals...The boys would like to thank all of the coaches and staff members that helped us throughout the season.” Veteran Harrison Brooks had to say about the season. Though everyone would have loved to see the boys advance further on into the post-season, the Notre Dame community is extremely proud of all they have accomplished. The boys may say “#rollirish” but everyone else is cheering #GOOOOIRISH! |
'HEALTH AND WELLNESS' ON THE MENU
AT ND'S FIRST ANNUAL STEAM CONFERENCE
By: Emily Nobes
For months the wheels turned; Logos were designed, speakers were contacted, booths were put in order. The STEAM Executive laboured over colour schemes and lunch time logistics as STEAM Club Members put the finishing touches on their portable greenhouses and planted the seeds that would soon grow into their own gardens for our guests to admire. Then, finally, it was here; Notre Dame's first ever STEAM Conference, Health and Wellness Edition.
A few months prior, the idea to host such an event was sown as the group brainstormed how they could display the wonderful portable greenhouses that they had spent the year designing, prototyping, and building, and how they could continue to share STEAM at ND’s talents with the community. It was decided that the club would put together a conference that would adhere to this year’s “Health and Wellness” theme, decked out with community lead booths, guest speakers, free food, and amazing people.
Preparations consumed the group as they laboured over logistics for the day. After some amazing collaboration, the day was shaping up. A dozen community lead booths had confirmed their attendance, including ROCK Youth, Burlington Public Library, and more. Alongside these booths would be our own array of school clubs, and our wonderful speakers, Adam Van Koeverden, Alena Luciani, the Rubino brothers, and Janet Milligan, were busy preparing their speeches.
For months the wheels turned; Logos were designed, speakers were contacted, booths were put in order. The STEAM Executive laboured over colour schemes and lunch time logistics as STEAM Club Members put the finishing touches on their portable greenhouses and planted the seeds that would soon grow into their own gardens for our guests to admire. Then, finally, it was here; Notre Dame's first ever STEAM Conference, Health and Wellness Edition.
A few months prior, the idea to host such an event was sown as the group brainstormed how they could display the wonderful portable greenhouses that they had spent the year designing, prototyping, and building, and how they could continue to share STEAM at ND’s talents with the community. It was decided that the club would put together a conference that would adhere to this year’s “Health and Wellness” theme, decked out with community lead booths, guest speakers, free food, and amazing people.
Preparations consumed the group as they laboured over logistics for the day. After some amazing collaboration, the day was shaping up. A dozen community lead booths had confirmed their attendance, including ROCK Youth, Burlington Public Library, and more. Alongside these booths would be our own array of school clubs, and our wonderful speakers, Adam Van Koeverden, Alena Luciani, the Rubino brothers, and Janet Milligan, were busy preparing their speeches.
On May 25th, the day was finally here and, even after spending the previous evening preparing the school, the dedicated STEAM Club arrived to the school at 8am sharp to begin preparing for people to arrive at 9:30. Some members were sent straight to the kitchen to begin working with Chef Murray Zehr on what promised to be an awe-inspiring lunch, while others manned booths and prepared the greenhouses.
When the hour arrived, we were off! The doors opened and people came flooding in, excited to take part in the debut conference. Attenders had the chance to take in the booths that lined the Spectrum creating a street festival atmosphere, partake in a greenhouse tour, and enjoy the delicious protein balls and smoothies that the club had hand prepared for their guests.
The speakers began with an address from Adam Van Koeverden, former Olympic athlete and multi-medalist, who took the time to talk about great ways to fuel your body and maintain a healthy dedication to your passion. The audience was engaged and excited to ask questions when his talk concluded, sparking intriguing discussion of Olympic politics, sport strategies, and traditional kayaks of the Indigenous peoples.
When the hour arrived, we were off! The doors opened and people came flooding in, excited to take part in the debut conference. Attenders had the chance to take in the booths that lined the Spectrum creating a street festival atmosphere, partake in a greenhouse tour, and enjoy the delicious protein balls and smoothies that the club had hand prepared for their guests.
The speakers began with an address from Adam Van Koeverden, former Olympic athlete and multi-medalist, who took the time to talk about great ways to fuel your body and maintain a healthy dedication to your passion. The audience was engaged and excited to ask questions when his talk concluded, sparking intriguing discussion of Olympic politics, sport strategies, and traditional kayaks of the Indigenous peoples.
Next came Dr Janet Milligan, Mental Health Expert, who talked about one very important thing: stress. Dr Milligan delved into what it really means to be stressed, how stress affects us in both good and bad ways, and simple but effective ways to address the stress that we encounter in our daily lives. Deep Breath in 1,2,3,4, … Hold 1,2,3,4 …. Exhale 1,2,3,4,5,6 ….. Relax 1,2,3,4.
Finally the Rubino Brothers took to the stage, proudly flaunting their successes in the restaurant businesses, their appearances on the Cooking Network, and their new found passion in horticultural science. They broke wellness down into its key dimensions and shared with the audience engaging personal anecdotes that allowed the audience to relate to what they were learning.
After a brief Q&A period with the morning’s amazing speakers, the attendees left the library and entered the Spectrum, immediately encountering the flavourful aroma of lunch that had filled the hall. On the menu: fresh vegetable rice paper wraps and quinoa stir fry. Once the guests were served and digging in, Chef Murray Zehr took to the stage to share with the audience a quick demonstration of how he prepared the lunch, and a few stories of his own. The meal was delicious and there was scarcely a face without a smile as the room filled with conversation and laughter.
The day wasn’t over yet, however, when the final speaker of the day Alena Luciani, strength and conditioning coach, took to the stage. She shared her career journey, all the way up to taking the plunge into starting her own company, Training2XL. The audience soaked up what she had to say about maintaining a healthy life, as well as balancing your own health with your professional, academic, or other passions.
With minds full of knowledge and stomachs full of healthy food, the day came to an end, and the STEAM Club bade farewell to their guests, receiving many promises that they would see them again next year. After cleaning up in record time, the day was truly over, and the hard work that the group had put in over the previous months had really bore its fruit.
The 2018/19 school year was a good one for STEAM at ND. From the introduction of its first Executive, to the numerous outreach events, to the year long project, and of course the STEAM Conference, there is no doubt that the groups sophomore year could be called anything but a success. Whether working in the greenhouse, woodshop, lecture hall, or good old room 146, the dedicated group of STEAM students bring their passion and radiant determination to learn and share with them wherever they go. The conclusion of this event is far from the end of the club, and next year promises to be even better.
Have a great summer ND, and we’ll see you next year, as usual, full STEAM ahead!
Finally the Rubino Brothers took to the stage, proudly flaunting their successes in the restaurant businesses, their appearances on the Cooking Network, and their new found passion in horticultural science. They broke wellness down into its key dimensions and shared with the audience engaging personal anecdotes that allowed the audience to relate to what they were learning.
After a brief Q&A period with the morning’s amazing speakers, the attendees left the library and entered the Spectrum, immediately encountering the flavourful aroma of lunch that had filled the hall. On the menu: fresh vegetable rice paper wraps and quinoa stir fry. Once the guests were served and digging in, Chef Murray Zehr took to the stage to share with the audience a quick demonstration of how he prepared the lunch, and a few stories of his own. The meal was delicious and there was scarcely a face without a smile as the room filled with conversation and laughter.
The day wasn’t over yet, however, when the final speaker of the day Alena Luciani, strength and conditioning coach, took to the stage. She shared her career journey, all the way up to taking the plunge into starting her own company, Training2XL. The audience soaked up what she had to say about maintaining a healthy life, as well as balancing your own health with your professional, academic, or other passions.
With minds full of knowledge and stomachs full of healthy food, the day came to an end, and the STEAM Club bade farewell to their guests, receiving many promises that they would see them again next year. After cleaning up in record time, the day was truly over, and the hard work that the group had put in over the previous months had really bore its fruit.
The 2018/19 school year was a good one for STEAM at ND. From the introduction of its first Executive, to the numerous outreach events, to the year long project, and of course the STEAM Conference, there is no doubt that the groups sophomore year could be called anything but a success. Whether working in the greenhouse, woodshop, lecture hall, or good old room 146, the dedicated group of STEAM students bring their passion and radiant determination to learn and share with them wherever they go. The conclusion of this event is far from the end of the club, and next year promises to be even better.
Have a great summer ND, and we’ll see you next year, as usual, full STEAM ahead!
Looking Back Our Time at Notre Dame
By Rachel Piche and Megan Hughes
688 days. 990 720 minutes. Four years.
High school is the epitome of growing up. Beginning with the nervous first day jitters, followed by that awkward stage of contemplative self-discovery, leading all the way to those final moments of pride and relief as a new chapter of your life comes to a close, high school is by far one of the most influential times of our lives. For better or worse high school prepares us for the challenges that lie ahead and shapes us into the people who we are destined to be.
It seems like only yesterday when we first roamed the halls of ND. So much fear and excitement coursed through our veins as we experienced a whirlwind of emotions. Stressed and afraid there was so much to “get right”. How will we do well in school? How will we make friends? What will people think of us? We were so consumed with the idea that a first impression was all it took to make or break our high school experience; however, looking back four years later it has become apparent how skewed our mindset was. We have come to the realization that what is truly important is how we view ourselves not how others perceive us. The most defining moments of our lives stem from our failures, as it is our missteps that give us insight into some of the most valuable lessons in life. The bottom line is that high school equates to so much more than just academic success. It is a process of trial and error that aids us in navigating the journey of life.
In just four short years we have matured into young adults and through observing the challenges of others, we have learned that healthy relationships and involvement in our school community are by far the most important aspects of one’s high school experience. The friendships made through student participation not only help to promote inclusivity but, also foster connection which serves to build up one’s sense of ownership and responsibility. From the relationships with your teachers to your peers and family, having a strong support system that helps carry you throughout high school is of the utmost importance. Whether it be a club or sporting event, by getting involved you expose yourself to an array of opportunities that would otherwise be unknown and the sense of community and spirit you obtain through school involvement allows you to have an unwavering motivation even in the toughest of days. Thus, one of the most valuable lessons you will encounter throughout your time in high school is about the importance of relationships.
Whether you have a good or bad high school experience it is a crucial time in your life. Within these four defining years we endure many ups and downs that prepare us for our future. As we encounter the final pages in this chapter of our life, it is hard not to feel sad that it is nearing the end, but we must approach it with a positive outlook on all the memories and friendships made within the ND community that will accompany us for the rest of our lives.
688 days. 990 720 minutes. Four years.
High school is the epitome of growing up. Beginning with the nervous first day jitters, followed by that awkward stage of contemplative self-discovery, leading all the way to those final moments of pride and relief as a new chapter of your life comes to a close, high school is by far one of the most influential times of our lives. For better or worse high school prepares us for the challenges that lie ahead and shapes us into the people who we are destined to be.
It seems like only yesterday when we first roamed the halls of ND. So much fear and excitement coursed through our veins as we experienced a whirlwind of emotions. Stressed and afraid there was so much to “get right”. How will we do well in school? How will we make friends? What will people think of us? We were so consumed with the idea that a first impression was all it took to make or break our high school experience; however, looking back four years later it has become apparent how skewed our mindset was. We have come to the realization that what is truly important is how we view ourselves not how others perceive us. The most defining moments of our lives stem from our failures, as it is our missteps that give us insight into some of the most valuable lessons in life. The bottom line is that high school equates to so much more than just academic success. It is a process of trial and error that aids us in navigating the journey of life.
In just four short years we have matured into young adults and through observing the challenges of others, we have learned that healthy relationships and involvement in our school community are by far the most important aspects of one’s high school experience. The friendships made through student participation not only help to promote inclusivity but, also foster connection which serves to build up one’s sense of ownership and responsibility. From the relationships with your teachers to your peers and family, having a strong support system that helps carry you throughout high school is of the utmost importance. Whether it be a club or sporting event, by getting involved you expose yourself to an array of opportunities that would otherwise be unknown and the sense of community and spirit you obtain through school involvement allows you to have an unwavering motivation even in the toughest of days. Thus, one of the most valuable lessons you will encounter throughout your time in high school is about the importance of relationships.
Whether you have a good or bad high school experience it is a crucial time in your life. Within these four defining years we endure many ups and downs that prepare us for our future. As we encounter the final pages in this chapter of our life, it is hard not to feel sad that it is nearing the end, but we must approach it with a positive outlook on all the memories and friendships made within the ND community that will accompany us for the rest of our lives.
What We've Learned at Notre Dame:
In 6 Words (Or So!)
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Care but keep moving
Don't be afraid of your voice Always be improving Worrying gets you nowhere Seriously don't wear non-uniform socks focus more on yourself, less others Don't let your dreams be dreams! The Mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell It's Not Like High School Musical. Worrying Gets You Nowhere Take Every Opportunity You're Given Memorize, Pass Test, Forget Everything, Repeat. Chemistry is quite difficult Senioritis is a thing Wait, is this on the test? y = mx + b a^2 + b^2 = c^2 |
Fun, Amusing, Okay, Entertaining, Educating, Resolving
Be yourself. Educational, eventful, adventurous, motivational, interesting, fun! Workload stressful, Good experience, Teamwork, Interesting. Always take advantage of every opportunity. Find Help. Be Friendly. School (is) hard. Fun times. Follow your own path. Stressful, enjoyable, safe, inclusive, informative…. Yea. Good times, growing up, learning lots! Time spent well with good people. The ND Spirit is the best! Equity, Dignity, Respect, Pride, Spirit, Strength. Friendship, learning, school spirit, inspired experiences. I can't wait until the weekend. I wore a man purse every day. |
#FridaysforFuture: A Climate Crisis
By Sierra Pearce
On Friday, May 24, the second Global Strike for Climate Change Action took place. The movement started by Greta Thunberg, and dedicated to demanding drastic climate action from the world governments, has gone from a single student protesting each Friday, to millions of weekly protests worldwide, and even larger global strike events. While the first strike in March was a resounding success, this strike was met with even larger numbers of support. Our school participated in the strike by doing our “Strike the Lights” as usual on Friday, along with a special announcement. Since the strikes began, government changes in many countries are already happening.
May 24 marked the second Global Strike For Climate. Strikers demanded governments to act appropriately for the climate crisis and take dramatic action before it’s too late to reverse the damage we have caused to the planet. Thunberg initially began protesting by sitting outside of her local parliament building each Friday, and now has gained worldwide support. The second global strike had millions of protesters in over 119 countries, including Canada.
On Friday, May 24, the second Global Strike for Climate Change Action took place. The movement started by Greta Thunberg, and dedicated to demanding drastic climate action from the world governments, has gone from a single student protesting each Friday, to millions of weekly protests worldwide, and even larger global strike events. While the first strike in March was a resounding success, this strike was met with even larger numbers of support. Our school participated in the strike by doing our “Strike the Lights” as usual on Friday, along with a special announcement. Since the strikes began, government changes in many countries are already happening.
May 24 marked the second Global Strike For Climate. Strikers demanded governments to act appropriately for the climate crisis and take dramatic action before it’s too late to reverse the damage we have caused to the planet. Thunberg initially began protesting by sitting outside of her local parliament building each Friday, and now has gained worldwide support. The second global strike had millions of protesters in over 119 countries, including Canada.
Our school community are amongst many protesting in Canada, and we will continue to do so until the government commits to drastic climate action. The United Kingdom and Ireland have already declared climate emergency, and many European countries are committing to much stricter climate policies and initiatives.
The Canadian House of Commons is currently debating whether to declare climate emergency as well, however it is crucial that we ensure this declaration is backed with real action. Declaring climate emergency is a great step forward, and would not have been possible without protester support, however it means little if the government does not apply real action to it. By continuing to protest and show support for the climate change movement, we will hold the government accountable to act in this crisis.
The Canadian House of Commons is currently debating whether to declare climate emergency as well, however it is crucial that we ensure this declaration is backed with real action. Declaring climate emergency is a great step forward, and would not have been possible without protester support, however it means little if the government does not apply real action to it. By continuing to protest and show support for the climate change movement, we will hold the government accountable to act in this crisis.
In order to contribute to the Climate Strike, there are a variety of ways you can help. Make sure your class knows to 'Strike the Lights' each Friday, and use that striking time to go on social media to like, share, and follow the strike for climate. The hashtags to use and follow are #climatestrike and #fridaysforfuture. You can also check out the website fridaysforfuture.org for more information, and add any protests you do on your own to the map!
Spreading awareness of the movement and gaining support is how we make our voices heard! We may be young, but this is our future, and we will not be silenced!
Be seen, be heard.
When the Earth is a wasteland, when you can’t drink clean water or breathe through the smog, when your house is flooding or you're in the hospital because of a heat wave-- don’t you want to be able to at least say you tried to stop it?
Nobody is going to save the future for us.
Spreading awareness of the movement and gaining support is how we make our voices heard! We may be young, but this is our future, and we will not be silenced!
Be seen, be heard.
When the Earth is a wasteland, when you can’t drink clean water or breathe through the smog, when your house is flooding or you're in the hospital because of a heat wave-- don’t you want to be able to at least say you tried to stop it?
Nobody is going to save the future for us.
Notre Dame's Grade 10's
Keep Their Eyes on the Prize
at Career Day 2019
By Gabriel Millar
Grade 10 students at Notre Dame were given a very special opportunity this past month to learn about the different career pathways available to them, and hopefully get a better idea of what pathway appeals to their own personal skill set. At this years Career Day, grade 10 students got out of class to listen to guest speakers from all different pathways (University, College, Apprenticeships, and the Workplace). By having speakers with diverse work and education experience, students could get a better idea as to what pathway may be a good fit for themselves in the future.
Career Day was organized by Mr. Barbati and Ms. Gatza, with the help of the Business Leadership High Skills Major students. At the start of the day, students were asked to select two speakers out of a list of twenty, for which sessions they would attend. Each student went to a total of three sessions, the third of which was chosen by the events organizers to ensure that each student was given a diverse schedule with speakers who would be of interest to them, as well as speakers who would challenge their interests.
Grade 10 students at Notre Dame were given a very special opportunity this past month to learn about the different career pathways available to them, and hopefully get a better idea of what pathway appeals to their own personal skill set. At this years Career Day, grade 10 students got out of class to listen to guest speakers from all different pathways (University, College, Apprenticeships, and the Workplace). By having speakers with diverse work and education experience, students could get a better idea as to what pathway may be a good fit for themselves in the future.
Career Day was organized by Mr. Barbati and Ms. Gatza, with the help of the Business Leadership High Skills Major students. At the start of the day, students were asked to select two speakers out of a list of twenty, for which sessions they would attend. Each student went to a total of three sessions, the third of which was chosen by the events organizers to ensure that each student was given a diverse schedule with speakers who would be of interest to them, as well as speakers who would challenge their interests.
Many of these speakers were former Notre Dame students themselves, creating a connection to the current students and providing them with the ability to give practical and relatable lessons. One highlight of the day was when Mr. Barbati talked about how this day was an excellent eye opening experience for the grade 10 students, giving them an opportunity to see where they could be in a few years.
Career Day benefited the grade 10 attendees and organizers alike. SHSM student Emily Clarke called the event “a great opportunity to gain an appreciation for all the time and effort that goes into planning events. We learned how to work as team, project manage and develop effective communication skills. Overall, the event went very well and we hope that all the Grade 10's took something away from it.”
Career Day benefited the grade 10 attendees and organizers alike. SHSM student Emily Clarke called the event “a great opportunity to gain an appreciation for all the time and effort that goes into planning events. We learned how to work as team, project manage and develop effective communication skills. Overall, the event went very well and we hope that all the Grade 10's took something away from it.”
There was a 'welcome table' set up at the front of Spectrum for the guests, as well as a hospitality area in the library. The event was sponsored by the McDonalds, who donated coffee, as well as Fortino's who provided the guest with a catered lunch. Cookies baked by Ms. Dussin’s cooking class were also a fan favourite.
The day kicked off with students heading down from period one classes to the gym to collect their information packages, swag, and cookies. Guest speakers arrived at 8:45, and the event was underway by 9:05. Ms. Gatza gave some opening remarks, followed by Chaplain Wayne who lead the students in a beautiful prayer and reflection. Notre Dame’s very own Travis Flippance talked to the younger students about his own experience as a Notre Dame student. The day was highlighted by the event’s keynote speaker Jamie McMillan. McMillan is the founder of KickAss Careers, an organization that promotes the trades pathway to youth. After this, students went to their individual sessions. The day ran smoothly, with positive feedback from students and teachers alike.
A big thanks to all of the guest speakers, Ms Dussin, Ms. Power and the Business Leadership class for supporting the event in various ways, Mr. Giardina for creating the session sign up form as well as promoting the event across school, and finally the generous sponsors at McDonalds and Fortino's for catering the event.
The day kicked off with students heading down from period one classes to the gym to collect their information packages, swag, and cookies. Guest speakers arrived at 8:45, and the event was underway by 9:05. Ms. Gatza gave some opening remarks, followed by Chaplain Wayne who lead the students in a beautiful prayer and reflection. Notre Dame’s very own Travis Flippance talked to the younger students about his own experience as a Notre Dame student. The day was highlighted by the event’s keynote speaker Jamie McMillan. McMillan is the founder of KickAss Careers, an organization that promotes the trades pathway to youth. After this, students went to their individual sessions. The day ran smoothly, with positive feedback from students and teachers alike.
A big thanks to all of the guest speakers, Ms Dussin, Ms. Power and the Business Leadership class for supporting the event in various ways, Mr. Giardina for creating the session sign up form as well as promoting the event across school, and finally the generous sponsors at McDonalds and Fortino's for catering the event.