List of 15 news stories.

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  CDS Middle School Debate Championship

  On Monday, March 4, and Tuesday, March 5, the Paul C. Duckett Theatre was filled with anticipation and excitement as CDS Middle School students showcased their eloquence, critical thinking, and persuasive skills in the inaugural Middle School Debate Championship. This two-day event brought together young orators from Grades 7 and 8, who demonstrated their ability to craft compelling arguments, engage with complex topics, and present with confidence.
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  Concours d'art oratoire

  On Monday, March 3, three Grade 9 students travelled to Toronto District Christian High School in Woodbridge to compete in the regional Concours d’Art Oratoire (Independent Schools’ French public speaking competition). Sophie Yuan, Maya Sood and Sean Liao competed in the traditional and impromptu categories in levels based on their accumulated French hours. 

  
  

  All three students did extremely well and are to be congratulated for their willingness to compete in French. Sophie Yuan placed first in her category (impromptu, immersion) and will move on to compete at the provincial level in May. 

  
  

  Congratulations to all!
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  Jr National Qualifiers

  On Tuesday, March 4, CDS hosted 13 schools and over 45 participants at the Ontario Junior Public Speaking and Debating Qualifier tournament for Nationals. Among the contestants were eight students from Grades 7-9 who had previously auditioned to be eligible to compete. For most of our Middle School students this was their first ever public speaking tournament. There are four required events; impromptu debating, persuasive speaking, interpretive reading and impromptu speaking. 

   

  CDS students fared extremely well, with four students placing in the top 12 and three of those qualifying for the National Public Speaking and Debating tournament in Vancouver in May. 
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  SS Concert Band & Jazz Section Win Silver & Gold!

  Last month, our Senior School Concert Band and the Gr. 11 & 12 Curriculum Class, who were entered in the Jazz section, competed in the Golden Horseshoe Music Festival at Mohawk College in Hamilton. The CDS Concert Band won Silver 🥈and the Jazz Group won Gold🥇!

   

  Congratulations to our musicians!
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  CDS Robotics Team Competes in Newmarket This Weekend

  The CDS Senior School Robotics Team, Team 4951 - CDS Cyclones, is competing in its first tournament of the season this weekend in Newmarket! This event is the opening FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) tournament in Canada for the 2025 season.

  
  

  🪸 This year’s FRC game, REEFSCAPE, features an underwater theme. The game requires students to prepare robots that will interact with aquatic-inspired game pieces. The team is excited for the chance to put their hard work to the test competing against other teams from across Ontario.
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  My Life Online: How to Be Safe, Smart, and Kind Online

  According to My Life Online, today’s students are the first generation to grow up with text messaging in their pockets and social media at their fingertips. The average age for getting a smartphone is now just 11, with kids spending an average of six hours a day in front of a screen—while teens spend up to nine. Alarmingly, 52% of kids have regretted something they’ve posted online.
  
  

  On Tuesday, students in Grades 4–6 attended a My Life Online presentation, an internet safety speaker series focused on the positive impact of social media. In a highly interactive session, Wendy, our presenter, explored the importance of navigating the digital world with care, kindness, and critical thinking. She highlighted key considerations such as the permanence of online posts, the emotional impact of our words, and the challenge of distinguishing between fact and fiction.
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  The Internet Never Forgets: Social Media Expert Warns Grade 7-12 Students

  Paul Davis, an Online and Social Networking Safety Educator with over 34 years of IT expertise, delivered an impactful presentation to our Grade 7-12 students today. Through two tailored sessions—one for Grades 7-9 and another for Grades 10-12—he provided age-appropriate insights on social networking safety, digital citizenship, and the importance of managing one's digital footprint.

   

  With a serious and commanding approach, Davis emphasized the lasting consequences of online actions. "Who owns your smartphone?" was his opening question. For students under 18, the answer is their parents; for those 18 and older, it's them. However, ownership comes with responsibility—every text, search, and post contributes to an individual’s digital footprint, which is impossible to erase.

  Davis illustrated the depth of digital tracking, explaining how platforms like Instagram monitor scrolling behavior and group chat participation. With nearly 10,000 satellites out there talking to each other, every tap on a smartphone contributes to an individual's digital trail. He reinforced that privacy is largely an illusion, cautioning students about the pervasive reach of data collection.
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  Canadian Senior & Intermediate Mathematics Contests

  On November 13th, 2024, 42 motivated CDS students rose to the challenge of competing in either the Canadian Senior Mathematics Competition (CSMC) or the  Canadian Intermediate Math Competition (CIMC). Both contests are 2 hours in duration,  require full solutions, and provide students with opportunities to demonstrate an excellent knowledge of various mathematical topics.  

  
  

  The CIMC is offered to students in grade ten or below. This year, there were 13,898 worldwide participants. The worldwide average score was 27.2 out of 60. Certificates of Distinction are awarded to students who achieved a minimum qualifying score of 35  out of 60. 
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  CDS Alumni Revisit the Classroom to Share Valuable Insights

  Over the past few weeks we’ve welcomed back several alumni speakers, including the following wonderful CDS ambassadors.

   

  On Tuesday, students in our ​Senior ​School Health Science Club were treated to a virtual presentation by Sonya Arrigo​ '15, who is now working as a Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine.
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  Grade 4 Student Places First in Global Math Contest

  Last month, Grade 4 student Skye Liu received the exciting news that she had tied for 1st place in the Caribou Mathematics Competition! This worldwide online contest is held five times throughout the school year. Each of these days, six contests are offered, one for each of the grade levels 2, 3/4, 5/6, 7/8, 9/10 and 11/12 and each one in English, French, Persian and Mandarin. This is the third time in recent years that CDS has had a world champion!

   

  A number of our Grade 4 to 6 students have participated in these contests in the past, but it is very rare to finish first as the test is so challenging. In the contest for the month of February, Skye tied for first in the world with a perfect score of 12/12.
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  A Magical VEX Robotics Experience: Sorting, Programming, and Quidditch with Harry Potter!

  Last week, students from Grade 1 and Grade 5 took part in an enchanting VEX Robotics activity that combined technology, teamwork, and a little bit of magic. The event was inspired by the wizarding world of Harry Potter, and our young wizards and witches couldn’t have been more excited to step into the roles of their favourite Hogwarts Houses!
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  Author of Bomb Girls Shares Bombshell with Middle/Senior School Students

  Barbara Dickson, author of Bomb Girls: Trading Aprons for Ammo, for sharing such an important part of Canadian history with our Middle and Senior School students at Monday's assembly. She captivated them from the start by passing around an "empty" original bombshell manufactured at the General Engineering Company of Ontario (GECO) munitions factory in Scarborough during WWII.

   
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  CDS Celebrated World Read Aloud Week from Feb. 4 - Feb. 7

  World Read Aloud Day (WRAD) was founded in 2010 to celebrate the power of reading aloud to create community and amplify new stories, and to advocate for literacy as a foundational human right. Since then, it  has evolved into a global movement of millions of readers, writers, and listeners from across the world coming together to honor the joy and power of reading and continue expanding the definition and scope of global literacy. 
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  CDS Debaters Emerge as Finalists And Qualify for Worlds

  Last weekend, Diviya Amarnath ‘25 and Ananya Kapur ‘26 travelled to Winnipeg to compete in the Canadian National Public Speaking and Debating Championships at St. John's Ravenscourt School.

  
  

  Each competitor had to compete in four different categories: Persuasive Speaking, Parliamentary Debating, Impromptu Speaking and Interpretive Reading. Ananya was a Finalist in the Debate category and Diviya was a Finalist and was crowned the National Champion for Persuasive Speaking for her speech on the dangers of online gambling.
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  CDS Students Excel at Provincials and Qualify Five for DECA Internationals

  Congratulations to our 25 CDS DECA members who competed at Provincials last weekend! Your hard work and dedication did not go unnoticed. While not everyone may have received the results they hoped for, each of you represented our school with pride and excellence. 

   

  A special shoutout to our Ontario DECA Finalists:

  • Sienna Dell'Elce '26, Ava Longo '26 & Mariella Tsiolis '26 – Top 10 Provincial Champions & Qualified for Internationals in Orlando
  • Alyssa Gesualdo '25 & Olivia Budweth '25 – Top 10 Provincial Champions & Qualified for Internationals in Orlando
  • Aneesa Khan '27 – Top 20 Case Study, Top 20 Overall
  • Jessica Nigul '25 – Top 20 Case Study, Top 20 Overall

  As well, Lily Chen '25 will be travelling to Internationals in Orlando and attending as a representative of DECA Ontario, quite an honour! We are so proud of everyone’s efforts—on to even greater success!