Nov. 23, 2012 - Thornlea

Thornlea Secondary School
E‐Bulletin
Principal: S. Epstein
Vice‐Principals: J. Foti, J. Atkinson November 23, 2012
New!
Grade 9
Advanced Placement
Coming Fall 2013
Join us Dec. 6th 7-9pm
for more information
See flyer page 5…….

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Dear Families and Community Members:
It may be getting cooler outside but things are heating up inside the walls of
Thornlea. Report cards went home on November 21 st of this past week. We in
administration enjoyed looking at all of the reports and seeing how well our students
are doing overall. As you review the report card with your student it is a
good time to make a concrete plan on steps to take in order to improve learning
skills and/or results. There is still a half a semester for students to focus their
energies and skills on ensuring that the semester is as successful as they can
make it. Thursday night we held our first annual Homecoming dance at The
Avenue Banquet Hall. It was a joyous success with happy memories made by
all who attended. Last weekend our Elite Basketball team made us proud when
they won all three games at a tournament in Connecticut. They emerged victorious,
having bested the thirteenth ranked student basketball team in the United
States.
At School Council on Monday night we shared our plan to expand our Advanced
Placement (AP) opportunities beyond grade 12. Currently we offer AP courses
in English, Math, Science, French, and Spanish. Students who take these
courses earn the regular university credit but also complete enriched learning
that is equivalent to first year university courses. If they elect to take the AP
exam in a subject that is offered each May and earn a 4 or 5 on a 5-point scale
then they get advanced placement in most universities. In the fall we will begin
to offer Pre-AP, starting with our grade 9s. If you want to learn about this opportunity
or to learn more about AP in general, please visit us on December 6 th
from 7-9 pm. Guest Speaker, Lynda Robinson, who is a Director of AP Canada
will be here to share about how AP can benefit you. And please spread the
word about this night with your neighbours and friends.
We wish you a happy end of November and beginning of December.
Warmest Regards,
Janet Atkinson,
Vice-Principal

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Attendance Accuracy
For student absences, illnesses, appointments, late arrivals, early leaves please….
Call attendance 905-889-9696 x 172 or email thornlea.ss@yrdsb.edu.on.ca prior to
8am if possible. Be sure to speak clearly and spell the student’s name.
Students should ALWAYS sign in and out at the office when arriving late or leaving
early. Even if they have permission, this is for the safety of the student.
If you receive an attendance call that you feel is in error, please have the student
approach their teacher for attendance corrections.
Upcoming School Council Meetings
7:15 pm-Library
January 21
February 19
April 15
May 21
Address/Phone number changes
Please notify the school if your address or phone number changes.
We have a form for students to complete in the main office.
Any questions
Just email us at thornlea.ss@yrdsb.edu.on.ca We will be happy to
answer any of your questions.

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us Dec.
6th 7-
New!
Grade 9
Advanced Placement
Coming Fall 2013
Limited Spaces
Applications Available!
Please Join Us Thursday, December 6th
7:00—9:00 pm
CAF
We Welcome Guest Speaker
Lynda Robinson
A Director of AP Canada
Thornlea Secondary School
905-889-9696
thornlea.ss@yrdsb.edu.on.ca

So, why drama…
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Part of an ongoing series
Kyra now.
It’s a question that we get frequently from parents and students: “Why would I
take drama I don’t want to be an actor.”
Fair question. I have repeatedly answered it, extolling the many virtues of an
arts education, and how confidence and presentation skills will be used in any profession
a student pursues, but of course a drama teacher is going to tell you how
great drama is. We’re kind of biased that way.
So last year I solicited former drama students, now in the professional world or
ensconced in university, years removed from their Thornlea Drama experience, to
reflect on how, years later, Thornlea Drama has helped them in their present endeavours.
Their answers were quite illuminating, and crossed a wide range of occupations.
Name: Kyra Kaplan
Graduated 2009
Currently at the University of Guelph, enrolled in the Bachelor of Sciences (Biological Sciences) program,
with interview offers from SUNY Optometry, Illinois College of Optometry &New England College
of Optometry.
When I was younger, I was a part of theatre both in school and outside. So when I came to Thornlea, it was
an obvious choice to take drama. I took it simply because I liked it! Plain and simple, it’s fun! But being a couple
years out of drama class, there’s so much that I learned. So here’s the biggest lesson that stood out for me.
One time, working on a scene where my character was bickering with another, I asked if I should be yelling.
The response was, "Do you think your character is losing the argument The first person to lose their temper
loses the entire argument." I don’t think I’ve yelled since then. Working on a script forces you to really internalize
what the characters are thinking - their motives, their desires, and how you can use your tone of voice, your
body language, and your facial expressions to convey that message. By so carefully studying these traits, I
learnt so much about people, how to interact with them, and how to discover my own motives and desires.
Drama teaches you the skills to investigate your actions and better understand yourself, as well as others. On
top of that, drama teaches you how to communicate with others, just as you would when preparing a scene.
Only this time, the character isn’t on the page. It is you - and sometimes finding out your own motivation can
be harder than a character on paper!
And there’s tons more. Drama teaches you
how to communicate with others and interact with
people. Drama taught me about teamwork and
compromises. The importance of being dedicated
to your project. How obvious it is when you aren’t
giving your 100%. About channelling creativity.
Thinking outside the box. It’s a complete different
way of thinking than any other class I’ve ever
taken, and I still use those skills in classes I take
now. About stress and time management, and
working on a deadline - which is one of the most
important skills you can learn.
Taking drama in school was one of the best
decisions I’ve ever made. It was a ton of fun, and
I met some of my best friends in Theatre 219.
Kyra then. Drama at Thornlea is definitely an experience like Kyra then.
nothing else!

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Co-op Update
Self Discovery!
The co-op students have successfully reached the midpoint of their journey. Students have experienced
an introduction to the working world and have had an opportunity to learn about themselves and to explore
career choices.
There are many benefits and reasons why students seek a Co-op experience. These include confirmation
of University or College programs and career paths, self-assessment and aptitude discovery, development
of various employability skills and school to work transition program pathways.
A student can enter and explore any profession or work environment to earn two or more Co-op
credits. Co-op credits may be used towards their eighteen compulsory or as two of their optional
credits needed for a high school diploma.
The semester has been filled with exciting new experiences and insights. The students are working in a
variety of placements ranging from: Accounting, Medical, Marketing, Sales, Teaching, Interior Designer,
Media / TV Broadcasting to the Culinary Arts and Auto Service Technology etc.
Cooperative Education students continue to share and express the value of real-world knowledge
that they have gained by their involvement with the program.
The following are journal entries from our current Co-op students:
SELF-AWARENESS
Co-op in the Kindergarten class at Willowbrook Public School has allowed me to realize how much I love
working with young children. The experience has also allowed me to learn that I am capable of educating
children. I spend more and more time presently thinking of this job opportunity, what it has to offer
and how I can benefit. I am beginning to see this career as one that fits me, and this is something that I
think is very precious. I believe that this is the reason for which
I came into Co-op in the first place, to determine whether or not
this career is for me.
To see my thoughts and feelings change within a month’s time
is very significant and very satisfying. I believe Co-op becomes
an even more valuable experience when I begin to learn new
things about myself, or relearn things that I may have forgotten.
I can definitely say that I am becoming more aware of my
thoughts, my feelings, my values. I know that I am getting to
know myself better and realize that I can really fit in this career.
I now feel more comfortable in the classroom and around
young students. This feeling gives me more and more assurance that this might just be the career destined
for me!
Bessie Fan – Teacher Assistant

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MATURITY
With the learning experience I am going through, I have noticed
that my maturity level has increased in several areas. I am
much more understanding of peoples mistakes because I now
understand that even professionals make them. Making mistakes
is not a bad thing unless you repeat your actions for a
second time. It lets the person understand that they are doing
something wrong and lets them better themselves. I’m also
more understanding of people in general because I have realized
that not everyone has the same way of thinking, planning
and executing their actions. Therefore, I am more understanding
of people that have different thinking patterns than myself.
The veterinarian has shared a very wise quote, “Never judge the client”. This statement not only relates
to my workplace, but to everything. Overall, I am greatly enjoying every day at my placement. I hope that
I will continue to learn and refine my skills along the way.
Philip Barbulescu – Veterinary Clinic
LIFELONG LEARNING
The topic that I’ll be writing about is the necessity for teachers
and/or educators in my placement to be lifelong learners. Indeed
anybody working in the educational system needs to be a
lifelong learner, because education is constantly changing.
There are always going to be new styles, new methods, and
new techniques in teaching, educating and communicating. I
think it would be especially hard if someone wasn’t a lifelong
learner in the education field. As teachers and administrators,
we’re constantly searching and finding new ways to improve
and develop students’ academics and building their future.
It’s important for us to learn from our experience and mistakes
and find new ways for improvement. With experience comes
success and failures, but failing means you get another chance to succeed into something better.
Through lifelong learning, not only have we learnt how to be more supportive of students, but we also
learn about ourselves and how we grow as individuals.
Kristy Yu – Teachers Assistant
PERSONAL CHANGE
I am very grateful that I got the chance to work at the Rehab
Centre. I have become a better person with all the personal
changes that have occurred. I’ve become more considerate of
others while working with the patients in the clinic. Working
with older clients has taught me to speak slower and clearly. I
would emphasize on using polite words like please, thank you,
excuse me etc. I notice that these words create a friendlier atmosphere.
I have slowly gotten accustomed to the theory that I
get respect because I respect others the same way. Co-op has
impacted me so much that I started to treat my friends and family
the same way I treat the patients. The result is, they really
appreciate the positive changes in my behaviour.
I love to get things done fast which is why I don’t like working
with people who are slow. Very ironically, many of my duties in the clinic include working with people
who are elders. At first I felt very frustrated when the patients didn’t catch on to my instructions. With
more experience, I learned to explain each step slowly and clearly which saves me from repeating myself.
These important lessons have improved my maturity, which benefits me in many ways socially.
Regina Zheng - Physiotherapy

Lest We Forget: Remembrance Day
Assembly
By: Tabitha Poeze
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On Friday, November 9 th , the students and staff of Thornlea gathered in the gymnasium
for an assembly in honour of Remembrance Day, which fell on the following
Sunday this year.
The assembly featured a reading of the famous poem In Flanders Fields in both
French and English. Mr Vallis, who is a war veteran himself, gave a powerful
presentation about his experiences in Croatia and how war has affected not only
him but everyone. The laying of a wreath concluded the assembly.
Many members of the Thornlea family have been greatly affected by war,
whether it be family, friends, or even themselves who have been involved in one.
As a grade 11 student said, “Having Remembrance Day is the perfect way to celebrate
our amazing country [and] be thankful for everyone who has risked their
lives for it. I'm so glad
Thornlea has an assembly
for it.”
Rest in peace to all those
lost in war, may they never
be forgotten.

Guiding Thornlea
Salutations from the Guidance Department! Our team has been busy with providing
our students with Scholarship Information and also conferencing with
our potential graduates to ensure they are on track.
The Post-Secondary Institutions (Universities and Colleges) visits are coming to an end. The last visit
will be York University on Thursday November 29 th at 3:00 in room 216. We have already hosted 40
schools including Queens, Ryerson, U of T, Western, Waterloo, McMaster, and Seneca this year.
As for Scholarship information, please make an appointment to see Ms. Philp in the Guidance office.
Please note the deadlines on the following direct application scholarships:
University of British Columbia – December 10 th , 2012 (more details at www.ubc.ca
T.D. Scholarship for Community Leadership – December 7 th , 2012 (more details at
www.td.com/scholarship
Two great websites to find out more information on scholarships are:
http://www.studentawards.com/
http://www.electronicinfo.ca/en/page.phpid=21
We also would like to announce a new process for making guidance appointments. If any student would
like to make an appointment with their “Alpha” identified counsellor, they should come to the Guidance
Office before school starts (8:30 to 8:55), during their lunch, or after school (3:00 to 3:30).
We would also like to remind students that there is a new process in place for Community Service Hours
(CSH). All students must complete 40 community hours to obtain their Ontario Secondary School Diploma.
The Guidance department must approve your community service opportunity before you start
your hours. Please see your counsellor for a CSH sheet and pre-approval. Finally, a reminder to all
grade 12 students; that they should hand in their community service hours by Friday December 21 st ,
2012.
The Ontario University Application Centre (OUAC) will be sending your pin codes in Late November/Early
December. We will be providing a University Application Presentation on Monday
November 26 at 9:10 AM and tutorials during the lunch periods on November 27, 28, 29 in Room
213.
Attention grade 11 or 12 students who would like to make changes to their timetable so that they
will not appear on their transcript. You need to make an appointment with your Guidance Counsellor
before the Full Disclosure Deadline of Thursday November 29 th by 3:00 PM.
Ms. Ellen Philp (A-G), Mrs. Georgia Vatousis (H-L), Mr. Nizam Alkins (M-Z), Mr. Paul Stephenson –
Student Success & AP Co-ordinator
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BRAND NEW!!!!
Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/thornlea_ss

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History Department Has Its Day in Court
On Wednesday November 14 th the grade 11 and 12 Law classes had
the opportunity to visit the Superior Courthouse in downtown Toronto.
Students had the opportunity to experience what happens during
a criminal trial. Some heard testimony by a defendant who was
accused of murdering his wife and was pleading guilty by mental insanity.
Video footage was also used during this trial which showed the
accused being questioned by the police while talking to himself. Another
trial involved undercover police officers who were testifying before
a jury in a case involving drug trafficking.
The students came to understand how much detail is involved in preparing
for a case and why trials last as long as they do. They got to appreciate
and apply their knowledge of law to these cases. Great discussions
were had in class the following day with lots of positive feedback.
A great time was had by all and we look forward to running this
trip next semester.

ESL Field Trip to Mc Michael Gallery
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Last month, students in the ESL program
went to the McMichael Gallery in
Klienburg to experience the natural beauty
of Canada, both outside and inside, on the
canvases of Group of Seven artists. After
touring the gallery, students participated
in a workshop and produced some
beautiful artworks of their own! Here are
some images and responses to the day
from students.
When I step out of the bus, the
moment I saw was like a
visual. It’s like I walked in a
forest with trees around me.
Also, the smell of fresh clean
air made me felt excited.
-Chloe Yin
This is my first field trip in Canada. It’s an
unforgettable experience...We entered the
gallery and looked around. All the Group of
Seven’s paintings on the wall, and the lights
made me feel relaxed...We learned how to
paint and used [watercolour] crayons and
brushes...This field trip made me love art
more than before.
-Kris Zhi

Yesterday’s trip was such a meaningful trip. The guide who brought us through the
gallery was very nice. She told us lots of stories and lots of information about the
pictures...And the most fun part was in the afternoon we could draw a landscape
painting by ourselves. I wish I can go to the gallery again with my parents to enjoy
the paintings from Group of Seven.
-Yani Xu
14
...Inside the gallery, most of the paintings were drawn by the Group of Seven. Their
paintings had a lot of different styles, but all of them had their own characteristic.
A fly in the ointment was that the guide in the gallery said too much and we felt a
little bit bored. In the afternoon, the teachers let us paint and we were happy.
-Steven Wang

SHSM Field Trip to CTV
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Students enrolled in the Arts and Culture SHSM program at Thornlea had the amazing opportunity
to visit the CTV building in Scarborough on November 13 th . For those who do not know,
SHSM stands for Specialist High Skills Majors and it is a government funded program that allows
grade 11 and 12 students to “major” in a certain subject area, such as Arts and Culture.
The students' tour of CTV started promptly after their arrival. They had the chance to view
almost everything in building including the famous sets of Sportscentre, Canada AM, and Off
The Record, a news room, edit suites, and much more. The tour guide and all staff throughout
CTV were very friendly and constantly encouraging any questions from the students making it
a very unique and intimate learning experience.
“It was so fun and interesting, [and] I now have a better idea of what jobs are out there for me
in television.” said one grade 11 student after returning to Thornlea. The trip was definitely a
success and the group is looking forward to many more similar opportunities that go along
with the SHSM program.
For more information on SHSM visit:
http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/morestudentsuccess/SHSM.asp or speak to Mr McConnell.
Tabitha Poeze

Grow A ‘Stache to Raise some Cash!
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Donating towards Men’s Health
For the entire month of November, or in this case, Movember, men and women
around the globe raise awareness and collect funds regarding men’s physical and
mental health. During this month, many men do not shave their moustaches in
order to spread awareness for Movember.
Thornlea’s very own Athletic Council is encouraging that all Thornlea students be
well aware of the Movember cause. Throughout the month of November, they
have been asking for donations from students to help raise money for men’s health.
They will also be pinning paper moustaches to the school bulletin board along with
Movember-inspired quotes this week in order to make Thornlea students more
aware and thoughtful about this cause.
As well as the Athletic Council, teachers around Thornlea like Mr. Hutchison, Mr.
Capilongo, and Mr. Keval have all kept their moustaches unshaven for men’s

health awareness. They stand up for this cause because it’s “something that the
general public don’t know a lot about. A lot of the focus now has been on
women’s health, but now men are speaking up, saying that men’s health should
have as much attention as women’s” Mr. Hutchison says. “To get people aware of
a cause they never knew about is so important”, an Athletic Council member
adds. Finally, supporters of Movember also believe that any group of people can
bring more strength to this men’s health cause, as Mr. Hutchison says, “if we can
come together, raising awareness and money to help with treatment of men’s diseases,
there’s much more strength, much like the Pink Ribbon Campaign for
breast cancer.”
Overall, supporters of Movember, whether it has been students or teachers, have
been spreading the message about men’s health. If you would like to contribute to
the donations or awareness of men’s health at Thornlea, feel free to join the
Movember team at: http://ca.movember.com/team/500317 . If you would like to
know more about Movember and men’s health, please visit: http://
ca.movember.com.
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December 2012
DATING IN MID-LIFE- a one session workshop for men and women in midlife ( 40+) who
have been single for 2 or more years and are looking for information on how to nurture a lasting
relationship. Topics include: dating myths and facts, the 5 stages of dating, the difference
between the dating behaviours of men and women. Tuesday December 11/12 4600 Bathurst
St.- Lipa Green Ctre.
Brand New*** RAISING YOUR CHILD OR TEEN IN AN AGE OF
OVERINDULGENCE- Join us in a one session workshop for Parents wanting to learn more
about: What overindulgence is and what are the consequences of being overindulgent, how to
determine if you are an overindulgent parent and ways to avoid overindulging your child or teen.
Thursday December 13/12 from 7:30 to 9 p.m. at 4600 Bathurst St- Lipa Green Centre.
WHEN YOU’RE ABOUT TO SEPARATE: WHAT TO TELL THE KIDS- A workshop for
parents about to separate or in the early stages of separation. How and when to tell the children,
how to handle moving day, as well as ideas and strategies to best meet your child’s needs will be
discussed. Thursday December 13/12 at 4600 Bathurst St.- Lipa Green Ctre. from 6:30 to
8:30 p.m.
As with all of our programs, registration is required. Our groups and workshops are open
to all members of the community regardless of cultural, religious and/or racial background
and we offer a sliding scale for those who need. For more information or to register please call
Shawna Sidney at 416-638-7800 Ext # 6215 or go to our website at www.jfandcs.com.

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Calendar of Events
November 19-Dec 3
December 5
December 6
GRAD Photo’s
Winter Concert
New! Gr. 9 Advanced Placement
Information Evening 7-9pm 7
CAF
December 11-14
14 Drama Club Show
December 20
December 22-January 6
January 7
January 16
January 17
January 21
January 24-January 30
February 1
Girls Sleepover
Christmas/Winter Break
First day back to school after break
GRAD Retake Photo Day
Grade 8 Open House Evening
School Council Mtg. 7:15pm
Exams
PD Day—No School for students
February 4 First day of Semester 2
February 11
February 14
February 18
February 19
February 20
February 25
Free the Children Assembly
Free the Children Fundraiser
Family Day—No school today
School Council Meeting 7:15pm
Semester 2 Photo Day
Spirit Assembly