Waterloo Go CODE Girl

Go CODE Girl provides an exciting opportunity for girls in grades 7-10 across Ontario to learn about the exciting world of coding and software development, and discover opportunities in computing and engineering fields. Parents are also invited to stay for this event as we have fun activities planned for them too!

SATURDAY, JANUARY 27, 2018 — 9:30 AM TO 2:00 PM EST

And it's free!!!

LINK

Waterloo Code Squad

Learn to Code!

Software and computers are everywhere, but fewer girls are learning computer science than boys. Basic knowledge in computer science helps nurture creativity and problem-solving skills while preparing you for a future career in any field. Code Squad is a 6 month-long program for grade 10 girls. 

Through a series of in-person events and at-home challenges, the Code Squad program will help you develop your toolbox of computational thinking. Here are the main events for 2017:

• Kick-off (Jan. 27, 2018) **
  • ** as part of Go CODE Girl
• Conference and Awards Night  (July 16- 20, 2018, awards night will be held on Friday July 20th, 2018)

Code Squad is for girls in grade 10. Male students or those entering other grades are invited to sign-up for a notification when the program is expanded. 

Waterloo Sustainability Inc. Summer Program

Join us for a brand new program in 2018!  Sustainability depends on future leaders like you! Ready to dive into hands-on and practical elements of sustainability and the environment? Are you interested in issues on food waste, climate change, energy consumption, waste management, water pollution, or transportation? This summer camp will provide knowledge, tools, resources, and motivation for you to tackle sustainability issues in our region.

You’ll be challenged with solving a problem related to sustainability in a team with like-minded peers. We’ll let you pick your passion point and we’ll also make sure you have all the tools you’ll need to be successful!

Camp Dates: August 27 – 31, 2017

Camp Cost: $300

Who is this for? High school students – need to have completed at least grade 9

Application requirements: Completed online information form + Submission of Personal Interest Creation

Applications are open now!  Register online: LINK

Waterloo Catalyst Conference

Are you a grade 11 girl who is curious about engineering? Want to see what university is like? Come to the University of Waterloo for an overnight girls conference in May!

The conference is an exciting opportunity for grade 11 girls to participate in hands-on workshops, explore the University of Waterloo, meet engineering students, compete in a design competition, and experience life in residence! 

This year's conference was held April 27^th to 29th, 2018. Spots are limited to 50 female students, so make sure you get your application in early for 2018!

Here is the LINK to all the information you need.  Good luck!

Waterloo Engineering Outreach Summer Program Information

This will be an action-packed week of business model creation, designing, proto-typing and market validation. The week will culminate with a celebration of the ideas developed at the Communitech Hub. If you want to put yourself in the shoes of an entrepreneur, applications for summer 2018 will be available on December 1st, 2017 for a life-changing experience!

The E³ camp is only open to students entering grades 11 or 12(currently in grade 10 or 11) and selection is application-based. This is a co-ed program. Students entering other grades are invited to sign-up for a notification when the program is expanded. 

Please note that this program is not an overnight program. However we highly suggest that you take advantage of St. Paul's, an on-campus residence: 

E Cubed St. Pauls Overnight Accommodation Flyer

This program has a limited capacity. For this reason we require an application to be completed and submitted for acceptance. 

Applications for Summer 2018 are open now.

To be considered, your application must include:

• A completed Information Form
• Personal Interest Creation

Successful applicants will be asked to pay a $150 (incl. HST) registration fee. Bursaries are available for those in financial need. Find out more about fees. 

AP Exam sign up

This is a reminder that you should be handing in your signed AP Exam contract and registration fee (in US dollars) to Mr Pearce if you want to write an exam in May.

Come see Mr Pearce if you have any questions.

Queen's EMC Registration is now OPEN!

Queen's EMC May 6-11, 2018

 Choice of one academic course from a variety of disciplines 

 20 hours of classroom instruction over five days 

 Intensive, hands-on experience in state-of-the-art facilities 

 Courses taught by Queen’s students, faculty, and community professionals who have demonstrated excellence in their field 

 Learn and connect with like-minded peers 

 Mentorship by Queen’s undergraduate students 

 Participation in Wednesday Morning Workshops: presentations highlighting university life, resources for planning your post-secondary future, and the unique Queen’s University experience

- Installment plan available -

- Visit their website for a list of additional funding options esu.queensu.ca - 

Robotics Anyone???

If you know of anyone interested in robotics, then check out these two organizations.  

FIRST ROBOTICS LINK

or 

VEX ROBOTICS LINK

Black History Month student essay contest

The Royal Bank of Canada is accepting submissions for its 2018 RBC Black History Month Student Essay Competition.

The contest is open to Grade 12 students who are applying to post-secondary schools for the 2018-19 academic year.

Students are being asked to share their thoughts on how black Canadians have helped to define the country’s diverse heritage and identity through their achievements and contributions to society.

Celebrating the past, present and future contributions of black Canadians, the competition, now in its ninth year, has grown from a grassroots endeavor to a national scholarship competition.

Essays should be 750 words or less and must be submitted by Dec. 1.

There are 30 available scholarships including three top prizes — of $5,000, $2,500 and $1,500.

The competition will be judged by a jury of members from across Canada. The winners will be announced Feb. 9, 2018, during Black History Month.

Details can be found at www.rbc.com/essay.

McGill Unviersity's Summer Academy

We are happy to announce next summer's McGill Summer Academy for high school students currently in grades 10 and 11.

Unfolding over two weeks of classes, workshops, activities, and trips in and around Montreal, this experience will introduce your students to university life and is sure to make their summer memorable!

Mark your calendars: next year's Summer Academy will be from July 15-28, 2018!

Registration will open on February 7, 2018.

Please find out more on our website.

If you or any of your students have any questions about the program, do not hesitate to email us.

Sincerely,

The McGill Summer Academy Team

Enrolment Services

McGill University

Ridge Hacks

Ridge Hacks II

Local Hack Day @ Iroquois Ridge High School

Saturday December 2nd, 2017

9am to 9pm

Register Now

Forum for Young Canadians

The Forum for Young Canadians is Canada's civic education program for students aged 15-19 years old.  Forum brings over 100 students per week to Ottawa for an intensive academic adventure immersing them in the exciting world of national politics and public affairs.  

 Attend a Reception with Members of Parliament 

 Enjoy breakfast at the Senate with Senators 

 Forge new friendships with other young Canadians from across the country 

 Take part in International Trade, Federal Budget and National Election simulations 

• THERE ARE MULTIPLE SIMULATIONS OVER THE COURSE OF THE WEEK THAT ALLOW YOU TO UNDERSTAND HOW THE DECISIONS GET MADE BY TAKING PART IN THEM.

  These include:
• • Attend a Cabinet Simulation where each participant becomes a Cabinet Minister and must defend their ministry’s point of view when discussing a topic.

  • Be a part of exciting simulations over the course of the week to understand how change happens.

  • Be a part of a World Trade Simulation.
  • Attend a Provincial-Federal Conference Simulation.

  The simulations are constantly being updated and may be different during your session.

2018 SESSION DATES (SUBJECT TO CHANGE) 

 JANUARY 28 TO FEBRUARY 2 

FEBRUARY 19 TO 24 

MARCH 18 TO 23

So if you're a young leader, or an aspiring leader, this might be the program for you to sign up for!!

Here is the LINK

Hi Skule STEM Competition

Hi-Skule is back with our 10th annual University of Toronto High School Design Competition. Our vision is to inspire young adults to pursue careers and opportunities in the STEM fields. High school students get an opportunity to learn about the engineering design process by solving an engineering issue. Students will have the chance to work in teams to solve the problem.

Hi-Skule’s UTHSDC will take place on Sunday, November 26 in the Bahen Centre for Information Technology, 40 St George St, Toronto, ON M5S 2E4, from 9 am - 4:45 pm. Students are required to purchase a ticket of $15.00 that will go towards the purchase of snacks and activities for the event. This event is welcome to all current high school students. Students are encouraged to form teams of 3 to 5 for the competition. If you are signing up individually, we will help you find a team for the competition.

To sign up for the event, please visit https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/university-of-toronto-high-school-design-competition-uthsdc-tickets-39521560050. Participating students must also complete the google form to sign up for teams. Only one member from each team needs to fill out the form. If you are signing up inidividually, please fill out the form for yourself. Team Sign up form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1922IbCQx6VaxhH_UzO_Ynbtg5WC4D3qo4lw5GFMeTGw/edit

If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to email the HI-Skule team at hiskule@g.skule.ca.

Silicon Halton TU20 Cup 2017/2018

Work with a team and the help of a mentor over 2 months to innovate a solution to the yearly theme: How can we make education better with technology?

LINK to Tech Under Twenty website

Key Steps

1)  Sign up on Eventbrite

2) After signing up, register your team using our team registration form

3) Get matched with a Mentor

4) Work with your team and mentor to build a prototype and business plan

5) Attend in person and online workshops

6) Create a 5 minute pitch and business plan to sell your vision

7) Present on March 3rd 2018 to a panel of judges

8) Enjoy the event, meet your peers, learn about companies in the smart city space and enjoy the pitches!

Advanced Placement Exams

Writing an Advanced Placement Exam is an enrichment opportunity for ALL students. Taking an AP Exam allows high school students to learn a subject in greater depth than a high school level course. There are 36 courses to choose from in 9 subject areas. 

See apstudent.collegeboard.org/apcourse for course list.

Students who write and receive scores of 4 or 5 (A or A+) can receive credit at many universities in Canada, the U.S. and overseas.

Express your interest today!  GOOGLE FORM

Deadline to send payment and signed contract is December 7, 2017 CONTRACT

Bring to either Mr Pearce (period 2 room 101 or otherwise workroom 214) or
​Ms Boutilier (period 1 room 101 or otherwise workroom 208).

Climate Change Student Video Contest.

Calling all aspiring student videographers and filmmakers.  We want your creativity, your inspiration, and your video-making skills to spread the word about climate change and its impact on our world. Help inspire others to live sustainably and win great prizes!

It is with great pleasure that I announce a new student video filmmaker contest -  Focus ! Climate Change Student Video Contest.

The contest invites students (individually or in teams of up to 5 members) to use their imagination and video-making skills to make a short film (maximum 5 minutes) about climate change. Full details are available on our website at:  https://kimberley-foundation.org/focus-video-competition/ .

Fantastic prizes can be won ($5,000 for 1st prize, 3 honourable mentions each at $2,500) as well as a public screening of the winning films.  Each school of the winning entry will also be awarded $2,500 towards art, science or library acquisitions.

The deadline for video entries is 4.30pm BST March 15, 2018

Lead a project that can make a difference!

2017-18 SpeakUp Project Grants are now open! Students in grades 7-12 at publicly funded schools can apply.

SpeakUp Projects Grants of up to $2,500 are available to help students lead projects that make a difference in their classrooms, schools and communities. Students can learn more and apply online at ontario.ca/speakup.

Hurry! Deadline is December 7, 2017, at midnight, EST.

Encounters With Canada

ENCOUNTERS WITH CANADA is a unique opportunity for Canadian teens to meet other young people from across the country. Spend an adventure-filled week in your nation’s capital! Check out future career options, discover your country, share your hopes and dreams. For 35 years, EWC has delivered a rich and varied, bilingual program. To date, more than 107,000 youth have lived the EWC experience… now it’s your turn!

WHAT ARE YOU PASSIONATE ABOUT?

CHOOSE YOUR THEME

• culture (Arts and culture, Experience canada)
• history (canada remembers, vimy ridge)
• health & science (first responders, medicine & health, science & ecology, science & technology, sports & fitness)
• civics (democracy & youth, global affairs)
• law & our justice system
• technology (COMMUNICATIONS & social media, technology & food)

Expand your horizons and explore the possibilities for exciting careers that you’ve never before imagined! Visit important Canadian institutions, meet famous and accomplished Canadians, develop your leadership skills and enjoy an extraordinary, bilingual experience. Select from one of 14 theme weeks. Don’t forget—first come, first served!

Registration Link

If funding is an issue, please let me know and I will do my best to assist as much as possible.

Ivey Summer Leadership Program

Ivey Business School at Western University is pleased to offer the Ivey Leadership Program.

This is a great opportunity for students currently in grades 10 and 11.  Students stay on their campus for 9 days of intense, fast-paced learning and development with Ivey faculty, speakers and team projects.  Students work as teams and tackle topics such as marketing, finance, disruption and innovation, and more.

Visit their website HERE for more details.

Application deadline is March 16, 2018.

Reminder: SHAD 2018 deadline

SHAD is seeking high achieving students interested in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) with incredible intellect, drive, initiative and creativity, who are seeking an enrichment experience. 

The SHAD program runs from July 1 to July 27, 2018.

The on-line application is due by November 20th.

The admission process is competitive. The application takes into consideration both academic results and extra-curricular participation. Please review the application requirements below before starting the online application. 

Come see or contact Mr Pearce for assistance in applying to SHAD.  

Explorica 2017-2018!

D-Day 75th anniversary trip in 2019?

Explore new cultures (Southeast Asia anyone?)

Practice a new language in France, Spain or Italy?

Or a service trip to Australia or Costa Rica?

from Explorica's website:

Authentic educational experiences

Educational travel is more than just sightseeing. We help students truly experience new cultures through personal interactions, hands-on activities, authentic meals and awe-inspiring moments.

Experiential learning

It's not just the exposure to new places that changes students' lives, but also the kind of experience they have during that exposure. That's why we work with teachers to build customized itineraries that meet their specific educational goals and always incorporate interactive activities proven to help students genuinely connect with and retain their experiences.

Cultural immersion

At Explorica, students don't just visit new cultures; they are an active participant in them. Whether it’s learning classic French culinary techniques in a cooking class in Paris, getting your hands dirty making a charcoal drawing in Italy, or digging into organopónicos (urban organic farming) in Cuba, our itineraries go behind the landmarks and uncover the rich subtleties of each destination's long and storied history.

LINK to all the information, tours, costs, etc.

If you are thinking of signing up, let Mr Pearce know as he can get in touch with our Explorica rep.

October U of Waterloo Science Outreach events

All details below, share with others and bring a friend!

• The Earth Sciences Museum is celebrating its 50^th Anniversary this year and as part of its celebration will be providing a public tour of the Rock Garden and Museum. Follow along with Curator Emeritus, Peter Russell and Curator, Corina McDonald on October 20 at 1pm as they tell ‘behind the scenes’ stories of the Earth Sciences Museum and Peter Russell Rock Garden. Free event, no registration required, please pay for parking.
• For all ages, the Gem & Mineral Show will be in EIT from 12pm-6pm Friday, October 27 and 10am-5pm Saturday, October 28. This is a great opportunity to purchase unique gifts or pick up an eye-catching mineral or fossil specimen. Free event, parking in Lot Q (Friday) and Lot C (Saturday).
• The popular Science Open House, a free day of hands-on science discovery for kids, is on Saturday, October 28 from10am-4pm in STC and EIT. Kids explore a world of science in engaging, fun, and memorable ways: identify plants by their perfume, make sparks fly with Physics, try the new dino puzzle pit, and watch the amazing Chem Show! Free event, no registration required, parking provided in Lot C.

For your reference, our campus map.

Hope to see you at an event soon!

Youth Lens Film Festival

Official Call For Entries!

We would like to take this opportunity to introduce to you Youth Lens Film Festival [YLFF]. YLFF is a platform to engage and inspire young voices to share their perspectives and stories through the medium of films.

The mission of the festival is Entertainment | Engagement | Education.

This film festival is backed by Canadian Multicultural Heritage Council [CMHC] and International Film Festival of South Asia [IFFSA] Toronto, the largest South Asian film festival in North America.

YLFF 2017 will happen in Brampton, Ontario on December 15, 2017 from 10 AM to 2 PM. All selected films will be showcased on festival You Tube channel. The finalists will participate in live event which will include screening of films, key note address and awards presentation.

This is a call for submission to high schools and colleges. We are requesting teachers to encourage their students to submit their best work in the form of short films up to 10 minutes in length. Films can be in any genre or language.

If you can also print and post the attached Film Callout Poster in your institution.

Final submission deadline is November 15, 2017.

YLFF is a free event. Please visit us at www.iffsatoronto.com/youth-lens/ for additional details.

Best Regards,

Team YLFF

youthlens@iffsatoronto.com