October In Review

Some of October’s best lessons happened outside the classroom, or arrived with a special guest. Grade 5 and 6 students spent two days at Parkside Ranch in Orford for the Cycle 3 Leadership Retreat. Grade 4 headed to Mont-Saint-Hilaire for a day in nature that wove together French, English, Culture and Citizenship in Quebec, the Seven Sacred Teachings and descriptive writing. Closer to home, Kindergarteners explored the sights and smells of Atwater Market.

Guests brought the learning to us, too. Author Andrew Katz worked with our Grade 3 writers. Dr. Shannon Salvador of the Jewish General Hospital spoke with Grade 6 about cancer as part of their human body unit.

At the High School, Grade 10 students turned Mount Royal into a field lab by testing the water at Beaver Lake. Grade 10 and 11 Langue Maternelle students saw La Mouette at Théâtre Denise-Pelletier. In Grade 8, students’ questions about homelessness shaped their conversation with guest speaker John Tessier of Advocacy for Montreal and opened up a discussion of transitional housing.

Reading Together: The Great Read Along

For one day this month, the whole Elementary School paused to read, joining the Great Read Along / La grande lecture partagée. This national movement celebrates the joy of reading and supports young people who learn differently. Led at St. George’s by our Literacy Team, the day brought together every student, Kindergarten through Grade 6, to read in English and French. Students read in spots all around the school and outside in the playground.

“I have strong emotions so reading is my safe space, a place where I can calm down.”

— Grade 5 student

Others said reading helps them use a bigger vocabulary, and that finishing a book is an accomplishment. As one student put it, unlike a movie, a book “describes things so I can make a picture in my head.”

Learning by Giving

Following fall traditions, Elementary School students worked together for the people Mission Bon Accueil serves. Kindergarteners and family members cooked a complete Thanksgiving meal. Grade 2 and other classes baked and made cards, while families collected toiletries to donate. Our youngest learners felt the joy of giving firsthand.

At the High School, the Social Impact Fair gave students in Grades 7 to 12 their first look at this year’s Social Impact PODs. Students met POD leaders and learned how their time will make a difference. Each student completes at least 10 hours of service, and together St. George’s contributes more than 3,500 hours a year through over 25 initiatives.

Leading Together in Orford

The Leadership Retreat is a Cycle 3 experience, with Grade 5 students joining Grade 6 for two days and one night at Parkside Ranch. Both grades began with an introduction to leadership. They explored the values and character traits that help a team thrive, and each student set personal leadership goals. Grade 5 students practised active listening on a silent nature walk and worked through big group decisions in a Desert Island Survival challenge, while Grade 6 students built trust over blindfolded mini-golf by giving clear directions and relying on each other’s feedback. Together, both grades raced through an orienteering challenge and designed structures strong enough to hold a pumpkin, with s’mores to close things out.

Dragon Pride on the Field

At the High School, October brought the fall season to a strong finish. All three of our Volleyball teams wrapped up their seasons at the Collège Notre-Dame tournament, and our Golf team capped off its year at the Bialik Invitational. Our Cross-Country runners posted impressive results at the GMAA race, while our two Boys’ Flag Football teams improved with every game this year.

Fall Fun and Halloween Spirit

After a day of rain, the sun came out just in time for the Elementary School’s annual Fall Fest, an afternoon packed with activities and community spirit. Soon after, Grade 1 and Grade 4 students teamed up in the kitchen to make tartes aux pommes. Kindergarten and Grade 3 partners rolled up their sleeves for the Pumpkin Scoop, and Kindergarteners practised trick-or-treating with the help of parent volunteers.

At the High School, Grade 7 and 8 advisor groups and their Dragon Wing Mentors went head to head in the Glorious Gourds competition. Congratulations to Ms. Jreidini’s Grade 7 advisor group and Mr. Driedger’s Grade 8 advisor group, who took top honours with their Dragon Wing Mentors. Thank you to every group that brought its creativity and teamwork to the display.

Halloween festivities were off the charts at both campuses. High School students arrived in clever, laugh-out-loud costumes, and lessons went ahead with teachers dressed up right alongside them. At the Elementary School, the costume parade was a highlight of the day, while parent volunteers transformed the Library into a haunted hideaway full of surprise scares. Our thanks go to the parent volunteers and staff who ran games, played their spooky parts and decorated every corner.

Planning Ahead: University Fair

Grade 10, 11 and 12 students met with representatives from nine universities at the University Fair in the High School gym. Students connected with universities from the Maritimes, along with schools closer to home in Ottawa and Montreal. Two universities went a step further: Mount Allison University and the University of New Brunswick offered on-the-spot admissions to some of our students.

Thinking about Grade 12 Pre-U?

Grade 12 at St. George’s is a year unlike any other, and applications are now open. The early admission deadline is November 13, and the general admission deadline is January 22. Know a family considering Pre-U? We’d love to meet them.
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