7.27.2015

What some of our students are doing this summer...

Congratulations to Lucy Traves, Gr. 9

Lucy has been a paddler for Banook Canoe Club in Dartmouth since the age of 7 yrs. This past summer, she competed in 5 regattas including the Canada Cup where teams from Argentina, Canada, United States and local canoe/kayak clubs competed on Lake Banook. Lucy qualified for nationals in early August and in late August came third with her k4 crew at the Atlantic division championships. This past week was spent in Ottawa at Canoe Kayak Canada Sprint Canoe Championships where she made it to finals in junior women k2 200m and 1000m races and U19 k4 500m and U17 war canoe races. Lucy has been very fortunate to have been coached over the past few years by a Sacred Heart alum and Olympic/Pan Am paddler Jillian D’Alessio (JD Dalhousie 2015). Way to go Lucy!!!  We are very proud of you!  And, thanks, Jill!



Meg Currie, Gr. 10 and Katherine Currie, Gr. 7 News 
In July, Professor Currie, Meg & Katherine's dad, was invited to sing (he is a folk singer in his other life!), at an opening concert of Canada's Irish Festival on the Miramichi. He told us that "We had a great night, in no small part because Meg (going into grade 10 at SH) and her sister Katherine (who starts there in grade 7 in the fall) each performed a song with the band: Meg did the classic Irish ballad "The Galway Shawl" while Katherine performed a lovely number from the Helen Creighton collection, "The Blackbird." Their proud Dad can attest that each received thunderous applause from an appreciative audience and there was much "buzz" about them for the rest of the festival.

Perhaps also worth mentioning that Katherine has been selected as a member of the Halifax Youth Honour Choir, and Meg as a member of Soundtrax -- both highly competitive audition-only choirs run out of the Halifax All-City Music program. They're both also looking forward to jumping into the SH choir with Gwen Dawson (at Sacred Heart) in the fall."

Matthew & Colin O'Neil Meet Sidney Crosby & Nathan MacKinnon!

Matthew & Colin O'Neil (Grade 5 & 3) met up with Sidney Crosby and Nathan MacKinnon a couple of weeks ago!  To say the least, they were very excited.



Here are Matthew & Colin ONeil with their hockey hero Sidney Crosby!

They met Sidney at Old Ashburn golf course - Sidney was playing in the Danny Galivan CF fundraiser.  Matthew is a Junior member at Ashburn and Colin will be a member soon.
The boys played lots of golf with their dad and grandparents Pat & Ann O'Neil.


They are here with Nathan MacKinnon.  Two hockey heros in one day!


The boys with Cam Russell (former NHL player) General Manager of the Mooseheads and good friend of their Uncle Sean O'Neil.



Matthew received a few ribbons at the annual Jr. Lifeguard competition at Risser's Beach this month.

Emma Hamlyn, Gr. 6

Congratulations to Emma Hamlyn, Gr. 6, for winning 3 gold medals and 4 silver at the Provincial swim meet.  Emma was also named to the Provincial All Star Team.  Parents, Michael and Suzanne are very proud of her and so is Sacred Heart School!  Way to go, Emma!



Abby Vansnick and Madeline Leckey, Gr 11, on an International Sacred Heart Exchange to Stuartholme School in Brisbane Australia from July 13th to August 8th. 
"Going on Exchange was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had, I am so happy that I went through with this and got to experience it. The family I stayed with was wonderful and I know we will keep in contact for a long time. I would recommend everyone to go on exchange because it was absolutely amazing and I’ve learnt so many new things from it."




Maeve LeBlanc. Gr. 10
Maeve LeBlanc, grade 10, is a Canoe sprint racer. Racing numerous heats and finals held over the Natal Day weekend Maeve earned a lane at the Canoe Kayak Canada National Championships to be held in Ottawa. Maeve will be competing in three different War Canoes (C15) and a Canoe for 4 (C4) representing Senobe Canoe Club in Dartmouth.

The following weekend Maeve competed at the U15 regatta on Lake Banook and placed in the top three in each of the five races she competed. Thrilled to have earned a personal best time in Canoe for 1 (C1). Maeve has one more regatta, The Atlantic division U15 Championships to practice before she Heads off to Ottawa to compete against the best in the country at the CKC National Championships.

We wish Maeve the best of luck at Nationals!




Alex Gillis & Aristides Milios
Sacred Heart students, Alex Gillis and Aristides Milios, on the development of their company Bitness and to Alex for turning it into "a bona fide business".   Congratulations!  We are so proud of you! 
http://entrevestor.com/blog/bitness-lands-first-customers#.VcMrG91ePwI.twitter
And, an article in The Herald http://thechronicleherald.ca/business/1303472-entrevestor-teen%E2%80%99s-device-tracks-shoppers

Meredith Bullock, Gr. 10

Meredith is "Breaking the waves with the Halifax Rowing Club" this summer.  Go, Meredith!  http://www.thecoast.ca/halifax/breaking-waves-with-the-halifax-rowing-club/Content?oid=4840660

Rory & Aislin Flynn:
Debate Team Canada has arrived safely in Singapore! Rory Flynn, Gr. 12, is a speaking member of this year's team and Aislin (Rory's sister and Sacred Heart grad.), is an assistant coach and has accompanied them to Worlds. Please keep them in your thoughts. Here is a link to their blog: http://www.canadawsdc.com/  Update:  Rory and Team Canada went on to the finals which was an amazing feat; however, they lost to Singapore 8-1.  Very well done, Rory.  We are proud of you!

Emma McLean, Gr. 12:
Congratulations to Emma McLean, Gr. 12, who was a member of the Canadian Team for the 13th International Linguistics Olympiad that took place in Bulgaria over the past couple of weeks (July). There were teams from 29 countries. Emma WON a Bronze Medal! Awesome! Here are the results: http://iol13.linguistics-bg.com/results-2/

Sarah Polley:
Halifax swimmer and Sacred Heart student, Sarah Polley, set two Provincial long course records for her age group at nationals in Quebec City on Thursday. Polley, 16, broke Nancy Garapick's 36-year-old record in the 100-metre freestyle with a time of 57.90 seconds. Polley was fourth overall in the 15-17 group. Polley was also in the Halifax Trojans' 4x200m freestyle relay with Isabel Sarty, Cali Bruce and Jade Hannah that snapped the provincial record in 8:47.98. Congratulations, Sarah!

Alumna, Alison Ghosn, Class of 2009:
Congratulations to Alison Ghosn, Class of 2009, for setting up her new business in Halifax called Chameleon.  http://thechronicleherald.ca/business/1301017-change-a-constant-at-chameleon

Sacred Heart Board Chair Anna Stuart - Mentoring & Leading!

We are proud of our Board Chair, Anna Stuart. Terrific mentor and leader! 

7.07.2015

Ecuador 2015 - International Service Trip

Ten students from Sacred Heart spent ten days volunteering and learning about the indigenous culture of Ecuador with Mr. Jared Griffiths & Mme/Sra Charlotte Riley. These ten girls were working to help build four fully functional bathrooms in an indigenous village named Gulaghuayco. This village lies in the Andes Mountain range in Ecuador and sits at over 10,500 feet above sea level. The girls spent their time digging and laying a foundation and septic system for these bathrooms. The bathrooms will include a shower, toilet and sink. The determination, passion, and effort demonstrated by these ten students was incredible to see. During the day they spent many hours working to create these bathrooms and much of this time would be working alongside members of the indigenous community. During the trip the girls also had time to learn about the communities by taking a water walk, and working with a local girls’ group. The water walk showed how some of the members of the community have to retrieve water by hiking up to the top of the community, filling up 22 litre jugs full of water, and then bringing them back down to their house. The local girls’ group had members from ages 14-20 who work to create an alternative income for their family. The girls worked to create necklaces, bracelets, and indigenous clothing. This marks the third time Sacred Heart has completed an international service trip (Kenya 2011, and Kenya 2013). This outstanding trip was set up through EF (Education First) Travel and ME to WE. The trip created an excellent learning opportunity for the students and teachers involved. 

Thank you to Mme/Sra Charlotte Riley for the great photos!

Students who went on the trip were:  Caroline Surrette, Hannah Bekkers, Amelia Machum, Sylvia Driscoll-Sangster, Alissa Taper, Sandler Gordon, Mia Ferguson, Emma McLean, Alex Baillie and Robin Short.
















Grade 7 Trip to Ottawa - Lots of fun!



The grade 7 girls had a wonderful trip to Ottawa the week after school finished with Ms. McMullen and Mrs. Bjornson.  Here are some of the places they visited:
  • Rideau Hall guided tour
  • Walked over Rideau Falls
  • Parliament guided tour (guide was alumna, Julia Redmond)
  • ascended Peace Tower
  • Museum of Nature
  • Canadian War Museum - partially guided and partially self-guided
  • Museum of Civilization - guided tour, special exhibits (Magna Carta, Terry Fox, Ancient Egypt), children's museum
  • Supreme Court guided tour (mock trial with Olivia Ryan, Aleka Brown, Megan Campbell, Georgia Stevens, and Elizabeth Carter)
  • RCMP stables guided tour
  • walking tour to learn about Rideau Canal, War of 1812 monument, National War Museum
  • scavenger hunt to learn about statues on Parliament Hill
  • National Art Gallery
  • Aboriginal Experiences guided tour (interactive)
  • Byward Market
  • Bowling
  • Swimming at Carleton University