2007B Fall.qxp - Stanstead College

OUR SCHOOL
helix project
Over the past year, Grade 12 students Stephanie Guyette and Chelsea
Fortin and their project advisor Kristen Byrnes worked with the HELIX and
EPSCOR program in conjunction with the University of Vermont (UVM)
researching DNA testing for identification.
They were focussed on four of the 13 identifying markers that forensic scientists
use to distinguish between samples of human DNA.
This program promotes science and mathematics in a research setting to
high school students entering their junior or senior year. The program involved an on-campus week-long intensive training with their
project supervisor Dr. Karen Lounsbury. There, the students analyzed samples from a mock crime scene to learn about sample
purification, amplification and analysis of results. They also toured the various science facilities and the research vessel for Lake
Champlain.
Stephanie and Chelsea continued working on their project at school where they built a family tree from samples collected from
their families. The students gained real-life research experience
and were able to troubleshoot problems that arose
during the process.
In May, Stephanie and Chelsea presented their findings to
their peers in the program at UVM. Approximately eight
schools participated this year from Vermont, upper state
New York and Stanstead. Each was granted $1000 to be
spent on equipment for their Science Departments.
forum for young Canadians
Grade 11 students Julian Perrotta and Victoria MacIsaac attended separate sessions of the
Forum for Young Canadians in Ottawa this past spring.
Created in 1975, the Forum brings 600 students aged 15 to 19 to Ottawa each year to learn
first-hand how the Canadian government works.
"We met the nation's leaders, interacted with decision-makers and debated current issues with
our peers," said Julian. "We also had a chance to learn about the different customs and lifestyles of people across Canada."
The students visited the House of Commons and Senate and the Supreme Court.
"The Forum is a great chance to grow and experience new things with a group of students like yourself," said Victoria.
looking for Yearbooks
After a recent inventory of our archives, we have discovered we are missing a number
of yearbooks for some years while for other years we have a surplus.
We are looking for yearbooks from the following years: 1917, 1925, 1962 and 1983. If anyone has copies from these years and
would be willing to donate them to the school, we would greatly appreciate it.
At the same time, we have surplus copies for most years from 1963 onward. If you would like a copy of a particular year, let us
know and, if available, we will ship it to you for the cost of postage.