List of 15 news stories.

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  AP Courses & Exams Offer Enrichment Opportunities

  A common question asked during Admissions tours and Open Houses is whether The Country Day School is an International Baccalaureate (IB) or Advanced Placement (AP) school; both are enrichment differentiators for parents exploring independent schools for their child(ren), but schools choose to be one or the other.

   

  CDS is an AP school and currently offers nine AP courses for students in Grades 11 and 12. Over the past three years, CDS has increased its AP class offerings and more than quadrupled the number of students writing exams and the number of subjects. This academic year, we will have 144 students in Grades 9-12 write 269 AP exams in 24 different subjects in May.
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  JS Book and Treat Sale

  Grade 6 Pathways to People will host our annual Book & Treat Sale on Friday, December 6th. All proceeds from the sale will be used to purchase gift cards and select toys for our local charities, The Rose of Sharon and Blue Door’s Leeder Place.

   

  We would appreciate your support in bringing gently used books for our book sale from Monday, November 18th until Thursday, December 5th. Please drop off books in the bins outside of the Junior School Library.
  
  

  Once again, this year, CDS will be running a Mitten drive. Students are asked to bring a pair of new or gently used mittens/gloves for The Mitten Tree that will be set up in front of the fireplace in the Burns Family Hall.

   

  All donations will be taken to Inn from the Cold on Friday, December 13th. This will ensure that people in our community have the warm clothing they need this winter.  
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  STEM in the Junior School is alive and well!

  The Country Day School has launched an ambitious STEM pilot program for Grades 4 and 5, combining classroom learning with dynamic, hands-on experiences in the Junior science lab. Grade 4 students recently dove into geological studies through the "Story of Sand" experiment, exploring the interesting properties of sand and its relationship to rock formation with a microscope investigation. Building on this knowledge, students tackled a real-world engineering challenge: designing an environmentally conscious mining operation with limited resources while protecting a rehabilitating desert ecosystem.
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  Exciting news from the Fulford debate

  Last weekend, two of our CDS debate teams travelled to Oakville to compete in the Fall 2024 Fulford League Debate Tournament hosted by Appleby College.

  
  Our Junior team consisting of Aneesa Khan '27 and Yuning Du '29 did very well in their first-ever debate competition and our Senior team of Ananya Kapur '26 and Audrey Jiang '26 placed first overall with Audrey placing 4th and Ananya placing 1st individually.

  
  We are so proud of these four students and their fantastic results! - Mrs. Davidson and Mr. Robinson
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  Exploring Future Pathways at McMaster University!

  Our Grade 10 Careers students had a fantastic day exploring post-secondary life during their visit to McMaster University this week.
   
  

  Students enjoyed a walking tour of the beautiful campus, including a look inside one of the residences, where they spoke with a student about day-to-day life. Mr. Huckvale and Ms. Moreau then led an interactive session, encouraging students to start thinking about their future decisions and explore the possibilities of university life.

  
  

  Later they heard from McMaster's Recruitment team about what McMaster offers and tips on how to connect and explore university programs. After a busy morning, students had time to explore the lively Student Centre and grab lunch on campus, giving them a feel for student life.

  
  

  A big thank you to our chaperones, Mr. Simmonds, Ms. Moreau, Mr. Huckvale and Ms. Romanowich for making this trip possible!
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  Lest We Forget

  Yesterday’s Middle & Senior School Remembrance Day assembly included moving performances from our Drama and Music departments, as well as firsthand accounts and memories shared by Mr. Liggett and students who travelled to France, Belgium, and the Netherlands last March on the CDS Battlefields Trip to commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day.
  
  Students read excerpts from their journals recalling the significance of visiting the beaches of Normandy, touring extensive networks of trenches, and visiting the Abbaye d'Ardenne where 156 Canadian prisoners of war are believed to have been executed.
  
  By tracing the footsteps of Canadian soldiers and visiting the war cemeteries and memorials where they are honoured, students shared how these soldiers made the ultimate sacrifice for our country and must never be forgotten.

   

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  Mid-Term Break Organizing

  Hello, Parents and Guardians!

   

  As we head into the November mid-term break, it's a perfect time for a quick check-in to make sure your child is organized and equipped with the tools they need to be successful in the classroom. This includes essentials like a well-stocked pencil case, binders with dividers, and an agenda system for tracking assignments and deadlines.

   

  If your student could use some extra support with organization or study strategies, our Learning Strategists in the Student Services Center are here to help! 

   

  Thank you for your continued support, and enjoy the break! 

   

  Catie Ferguson
  Head of Middle/Senior Learning Support
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  Spotlight on our Athletic Therapist Fiona Whitby

  CDS parents might have recognized a familiar face on the sidelines assisting our sports teams this season.
  
  Fiona Whitby, a CDS Parent and Kinesiologist, can be found on the sports fields and in the gyms at every home game this year as our CDS Athletic Therapist. 

  
  

  Last week, Fiona visited our Grade 12 Kinesiology classes to teach students about the benefits of taping injuries for rehabilitation. She has been helping us out in every way she can. Welcome aboard Fiona!
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  The Importance of Extending An Olive Branch

  At yesterday’s Junior School Remembrance Day assembly, students were reminded that a wreath is a symbol of peace on Remembrance Day, and that a poppy is worn as a symbol of remembrance and a pledge to remember what Canadians fought for - freedom and a world at peace. Then they learned about another symbol of peace well known around the world – the olive branch.

   

  The branch of an olive tree is a symbol of peace, reconciliation and goodwill. An olive branch is a phrase used to represent a gesture of peace and reconciliation. If someone extends an olive branch it means they want to end a conflict or disagreement or they may want to extend goodwill. It is another way to say “I’m sorry” or ask forgiveness.
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  Alumni Share Valuable Career Insights with Students

  Kiyan Heybati ‘18, a graduate of McMaster University’s Health Sciences program and currently pursuing his MD and MSC at the Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine, visited our Health Sciences Club this week to give students a basic introduction to Vascular Neurology. 

   

  Kiyan presented a case study of an elderly female patient who presented in the emergency department with facial droop. He then taught students how to conduct a basic neurological exam using the NIH Stroke Scale and other typical scans and tests that would be performed on a patient presenting with neurological symptoms. Students then practiced their newly developed skills with a partner - complete with testing the patellar tendon reflex. 
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  Grade 10 Trench Exercise Teaches Realities of War

  Over the past two weeks, Grade 10 classes took part in a World War One trench activity on the far side of the CDS property, across the railroad tracks. This is the eighth year that our Grade 10 History students have taken part in the trench experience activity. This year, Mr. Downer challenged Adhya and Claire to share their takeaways from this memorable experiential learning exercise.

  
  

  The Grade 10 History class Trench Experience was unforgettable. These two days were a tribute to the sacrifices and hardships that veterans made and endured in the past for our freedom today. It was also a very immersive experience that simulated what participating in a war would actually be like; minus the actual weapons.
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  SK Blue share some special words

  To conclude this month's character traits of respect and courtesy, the students in SK Blue shared some special words during assembly this week. Inspired by the books Whoever You Are by Mem Fox and Someone Just Like You by Helen Docherty, the students shared the important lesson that although we are all different on the outside, on the inside, our hearts are all the same. We all have the same feelings, and we all need a friend to extend a hand in times of need. Even in Kindergarten, the students follow the golden rule and treat others the way they want to be treated. 

   

  With beautiful photos of each child's family and the sweet voices of the students, this video is sure to make you smile. The heart of our school will always be the students and all the people who care for them each day. Here at CDS, we are one big family.
  
  Please enjoy our video (MyCDS Login req'd)
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  CDS Robotics Student Founds All-Girls FRC Team

  Over the summer, Kaitlyn Zhang ’26 was among students from across Canada to take part in the International Olympiad in Artificial Intelligence (IOAI) Canada 2024, a five-day training program designed for high school students with a passion for exploring innovative technology in the field of artificial intelligence. She was recognized for her outstanding performance and demonstrated exceptional skills and knowledge in developing innovative AI solutions, which contributed to her success in the program. 
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  Congratulations to our Debaters!

  Diviya Amarnath ‘25, Jack Brown ‘25 and Ananya Kapur ‘26 were in Bermuda last weekend competing in the 2024 International Independent Schools’ Public Speaking Competition (IISPSC).
  
  

  This year's event was jointly hosted by Bermuda High School and Saltus Grammar School with students and coaches from 35 schools across Canada, the U.S., Bermuda and India competing in the four-day event.

  CDS results were impressive with Jack qualifying and competing in two finals in extemporaneous and persuasive speaking and Ananya qualifying for finals in impromptu speaking.
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  CITE Student Writing Competition Explores Impacts of Taking Risk

  Students in Grades 7-12 are encouraged to participate in the 2024 Fall CITE Writing Competition hosted by the CIS Ontario Teachers of English (CITE). The following prompt and details are from the CIS website.
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