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FALL 2009 • ST. MICHAELS UNIVERSITY SCHOOL School Alumni Weekend Building a Making the Revisited Sustainable Environment A look back at SMUS their Business reunion celebrations What the school Alumni working for the classes of is doing to reduce toward a ’59, ’74, ’79, our impact greener future ’84, ’89 and ’99
Contents School Ties is distributed to more than 5,200 members of the St. Michaels University School community, including current families, friends, and current and past staff and students. The goal of the publication is to communicate current activities and initiatives and provide articles and reports on the alumni 2 Travellers 20 Feature: Making the community. If you have any comments or suggestions regarding this publication, As he embarks on a three-month sabbatical, Environment Their Business please email schoolties@smus.bc.ca. Head of School Bob Snowden wonders Find out the many ways our alumni are what lessons his travels will teach him. working towards a sustainable future. Published by the Advancement Office St. Michaels University School 3400 Richmond Road 3 The SMUS Review 26 It’s Not Easy Being Green Victoria, British Columbia News stories from all three campuses Editor Laura Authier and guest editor Canada V8P 4P5 published on our web forum, The Craig Farish on the lessons learned from Telephone: 250-592-2411 SMUS Review. pulling together a green issue. Admissions: 1-800-661-5199 Email: info@smus.bc.ca 27 Building a Sustainable 8 Retirees School Ties magazine and archive We bid farewell to two teachers and a board SMUS copies can be found in the publications member who were also alumni. Craig Farish reports on SMUS’ successes section of the school website: www.smus.bc.ca/publications and setbacks in the struggle to go green. 10 Athletics Highlights If you are interested in attending school Sports highlights from March to 31 Being Part of the Cycle events, call 250-592-2411 for further details, June 2009. A quick guide to carbon-free commuting. or visit the school’s website Calendar of Events: www.smus.bc.ca 12 Paul Rowe ’33 32 Alumni Weekend Editors: Erin Anderson, Laura Authier, One of our University School alumni will Reunions, Receptions Gillian Donald ’85, Peter Gardiner, be the subject of a forthcoming book. Pictures and reviews from our alumni Louise Winter Guest Editor: Craig Farish ‘90 gatherings. 13 Arts Highlights Contributors (in no particular order): Arts highlights and news featuring our 37 Alumni Updates Robert Snowden, Robert Wilson, Peter students and alumni. News from our alumni around the world. Gardiner, Laura Authier, Kent Leahy-Trill, Erin Anderson, Brenda Waksel, Louise Winter, Gillian Donald ’85 and SMUS 16 Celebration of Poetry community members. We apologize for Two literary alumni read their work any omissions. alongside our Grade 12 poets. Photos: Evan Effa, Kent Leahy-Trill, Alums in this Issue Erin Anderson, Peter Gardiner, Gordon Chan, Diana Nason, Lindsay Brooke, Jake Humphries, Lindsay Ross, Wendy Shergold Paul Rowe ’33 – p. 14 Renee Duggan ’90 – p. 8 Design and Layout: Reber Creative David Anderson ’44 – p. 25 Craig Farish ’90 – p. 3 Tom Rigos ’61 – p. 9 Leif Reinhold ’90 – p. 21 Printed in Canada W Nigel Hawkesworth ’62 – p. 23 Michael Welwood ’90 – p. 22 by Hillside Printing Ltd., Victoria, BC Tony Keble ’62 – p. 9 Jessica Woolliams ’91 – p. 25 Chuck Lenfestry ’65 – p. 22 Steven Price ’94 – p. 18 Correction: Our caption in the last John McIntyre ’66 – p. 10 Dave Crothall ’95 – p. 25 issue should have identified these Charlie Weiss ’72 – p. 22 Curran Crawford ’96 – p. 21 Grade 6 (now Grade 7) Barnacle Tee Jin Gan ’77 – p. 21 Chantal Schauch ’97 – p. 24 housemates as Simon Gray and Will Sloan ’78 – p. 22 Emily Huddart ’98 – p. 23 Hayden Hopkins. Malcolm Penn ’82 – p. 23 Kevin Morin ’99 – p. 22 Susan (McKibbin) Telfer ’84 – p. 17 Clea Adair ’00 – p. 22 Betsy Donald ’86 – p. 22 Pete Panasupon ’03 – p. 24 Michael Talbot ’86 – p. 21 Claire Battershill ’04 – p. 18 School Ties - Fall 2009 • 1 Ian Scanlon ’87 – p. 23 Christine Ottmar ’06 – p. 21 Maureen Gordon ’89 – p. 24 This issue of School Ties was printed on FSC-certified Lustro Dull paper, made with 936 pounds of post-consumer waste instead of virgin fiber. St. Michaels University School saved the following resources by using this paper: 6 trees, 509 pounds of solid waste, 560 gallons of water, 730 kilowatt hours of electricity, 0.9 months of electric power required by the average U.S. home, 925 pounds of greenhouse gases, 749 miles travelled in the average American car, 4 pounds of HAPs, VOCs, and AOX combined, and 1 cubic yard of landfill space. Calculations based on research by Environmental Defense and other members of the Paper Task Force.
head of school Travellers On a three-month sabbatical this fall, Bob Snowden is looking forward to the lessons that travelling in unfamiliar locales will teach him. O ne of the rituals of schools, since I first found myself in one, is the summer reading list. Now, as I write this in September, We have never visited any of our destinations, so in some obvious respects we will be tourists. We do expect to discover a many conversations with friends and colleagues do in fact turn lot about both ourselves and new places: the Prado Museum in to what we read over the summer. The novelist Graham Greene Madrid, the Medina of Marrakech, the Blue Mosque and Hagia distinguishes between escapist books, which take us out of Sophia in Istanbul, Petra in Jordan, the Taj Mahal, Angkor Wat, ourselves, and more serious books, which take us into ourselves the Annapurna hills of Nepal, the old city of Luang Prabang in even when they take us out into a wider world. There is a place Laos. Equally interesting is the array of exceptional schools we will for both: unrelieved self-improvement is hard to sustain, and be visiting in these countries: from the very established such as those who manage it are intimidating beings. Robert College in Istanbul, to the newly prominent such as King’s Likewise with travelling the world. During the summer we Academy in Jordan, to Woodstock School in the Indian foothills of held our customary Management Team retreat. The theme was the Himalayas (with whom we are arranging a student exchange), a book study of Cosmopolitanism, by Princeton philosopher to the most primitive and rustic schools of southern Laos. and teacher Kwame Appiah. One of the questions we asked Remarkable in this tour of duty is the extent to which school early, on the topic of the encounters between people of different connections have ensured that our experience will be more that cultures, was “are you a tourist or a traveller?” Along the same of traveller than tourist. For instance, King’s Academy in Jordan lines, a question I tend to ask prospective applicants to the was founded in 2007 by King Abdul of Jordan, on the model school – who have had the opportunity to travel – is “one often of Deerfield Academy, the prominent New England boarding hears that travel teaches us more about ourselves than about the school which he attended. The first Director of Admissions places we visit. Is this true?” at King’s was an alumnus of our school, Renee Dugan ’90. It I hope the answer is yes. This fall, from the beginning of is a remarkable school, and I will return from that and other October until the middle of December my wife Joan and I visits full of reflections about our own possibilities at SMUS. are fortunate to have the opportunity to travel, the result of a Other alumni and parents have been equally helpful in creating sabbatical our board has awarded in my fifteenth year of service exceptional encounters at every stop. at the school. The countries on the list include Spain, Morocco, By the time anyone reads this article, we will have logged 2 • School Ties - Fall 2009 Turkey, Jordan, India, Nepal, Cambodia and Laos. I confess a few thousand of our intended miles. The Head’s Blog will I am not a great tourist – after a modicum (what would be continue with postings from our different destinations, as for some, a minimum) of museums, historical buildings and much to allow me to stay in touch as vice versa. I am certain galleries my attention falters, and I prefer to walk through a that the most echoing phrase in my head, and perhaps in the market, speak to someone in a restaurant, or observe the ebb pages of my blog, will be the phrase from the SMUS Vision: and flow of a town square from a sidewalk café. “discovering the promise in our selves and the world.” Visit http://blogs.smus.bc.ca/head/
Highlights from the SMUS Review School News T he SMUS Review publishes weekly on our website (blogs.smus.bc.ca/review) and covers school news from all three campuses. The following highlights were taken from stories published from March to June, 2009. You can read more about these stories by going to our home page and selecting “SMUS Review” from the News and Calendar menu. March ■ Grade 4 students prepared for Spring Break by assembling supplies to send along with the Senior School students, who spent their holiday volunteering in Kenya. Students Laura Bass, Lucie Marchessault and Nick Considine spearheaded the initiative, making a presentation to Grade 4 students and organizing all the kits their peers brought in. The 50 school and health kits were given to students at the rural school our senior students were helping to build. Lucie Marchessault, Nick Considine and Laura Bass with kits for Kenya. ■ The International Council and our Korean students infused the Senior School campus with contemporary and traditional Korean culture for one of the school year’s many culture weeks. The day and boarding students showcased their culture by bringing in a professional group to perform samul nori, traditional percussion music, and by performing themselves, singing and dancing to contemporary pop songs as well as demonstrating historical Korean entertainments, such as a piano/ danso collaboration and buchaechum, a dance incorporating colourful fans. Jae Ho Lee, Kevin Kim, and Andy Sung cheer on a dancing David Park. April ■ Eight Senior School students this year, which aimed to make the transgendered harassment and the attended World Vision’s Youth fundraising effort more personal by silencing of political dissidents. By not School Ties - Fall 2009 • 3 Empowered Conference on the global connecting each participant in North speaking in class or chatting with friends, food crisis. Topics included local farming, America to an individual in Africa. the students modeled the silence imposed fair trade and food’s cultural connections. on individuals all over the world who are Two teenagers from Tanzania spoke to ■ Many of our students went a unable to speak freely. Now in its third the assembled students about their lives whole day without saying a word, a year at SMUS, the Day of Silence is and the many difficulties they had to challenge they undertook for Amnesty the largest event put on by the school’s overcome. The conference also tied into International’s Day of Silence, which Amnesty International club and a huge the 30-Hour Famine’s new approach focuses on lesbian, gay, bisexual and fundraiser for the organization.
April (continued) School News ■ Our highest-ranked debate teams in bench-pressing competition and Walk for the junior and senior divisions competed Water t-shirts, designed by student Shun in extreme debating, battling each other Kinoshita, were new additions to the in an impromptu parliamentary debate annual event. Co-organizers Anna Fretz in front of many of their fellow students. and Nikki van der Wal directed the funds Throughout the lunchtime contest, the event raised towards the village they Charles Leitz and Kristijan Gjorgjevik are sponsoring in Sri Lanka. argued that “there can be no shepherds without sheep,” while Eric Protzer and Chris Groot argued the opposite. For the SMUS Review, Kristijan and Eric wrote a point/counterpoint review of the debate, in which they both argued that their team won. Kaylynn Purdy and teacher David Kerr sort garbage into compostable and recyclable materials. ■ Senior and Middle School students took action in honour of Earth Week. By giving each day a different theme, students drew attention to electricity use, Eric Protzer attempts to sway the crowd Emily Mulroney walks for water. garbage and recycling, food production, to his side in extreme debating. transportation, and water management ■ Five Grade 11 students attended ■ Over 80 students and staff showed the 2009 CAIS student leadership with demonstrations and calls to action. solidarity with the millions of people conference and explored a variety of Special guest Derek Masselink spoke in around the world who must travel long issues facing the world today and the Senior School chapel about sustainable distances for water during Walk for Water, role individuals play in solving them. communities, including the importance which raises funds as well as awareness Students from around the world worked of using local food sources and growing about the global need for better water together in teams and created plans to your own food. access. Participating Senior and Middle tackle problems such as world poverty and School staff and students spent their day hunger, corruption and political apathy, carrying jugs of water around campus in slavery and trafficking, statelessness and the Walk for Water relay. A water-themed refugees, and environmental issues. May ■ The Grade 1 class visited the about the university and his job. The University of Victoria in order to students then conducted surveys of the learn about post-secondary education. university’s wild rabbit population before President David Turpin welcomed the settling down to some chemistry, creating students and answered their questions a goopy concoction similar to silly putty. ■ The graduating class of 2009 held the annual SMUS Grad Fashion Show, 4 • School Ties - Fall 2009 where close to 400 people enjoyed music, performances, cake, and high fashion. In addition to models showing off many ensembles put together by Victoria’s most fashionable stores, the show featured interpretive and breakdance routines and Brett Adam performs a high-flying runway more than a few runway stunts. stunt with Stephanie Passmore in the Makayla Lintott explores chemistry at UVic. Grad Fashion Show.
May (continued) School News served couscous, falafel, dates, pita bread, hummus, tzatziki and dried apricots. ■ One of the Middle School exploratory classes visited the Luther Court Society care facility, where they performed music for a very appreciative audience of senior citizens. Students performed on the piano, cello and violin as well as sang for the 60 Ricky Fabris delights his audience with A model of the Great Wall built by Grade 7 residents, who joined in for classic his humorous poem “Homework.” students for the annual museum night. numbers “Amazing Grace” and “My Favorite Things.” Students also spent an ■ Grade 4 students took over local environmental impact. The international afternoon painting with some of their new coffee house the Black Stilt to share poems food fair relied on compostable dishes older friends. with their siblings, parents, grandparents while Craig Farish and the school’s and teachers. Each student read a poem of E-team established recycling stations, their choice and each class recited a poem eventually collecting enough recyclables as a group. The children also showcased to fill an entire classroom. artistic abilities by presenting paintings to ■ Grade 7 students re-created treasures accompany their poetry. The Vancouver from cultures around the world – Olympics, nature and favourite pets were including ancient China, Egypt and early some of the subjects of the short verses, Rome – for their annual Museum Night. which incorporated personification, visual Catapults, sacred cats, pyramids, gardens, imagery, and abstract ideas. Jason Chiu presents a picture he drew for towers and a chariot built almost to scale dazzled visitors. After their tour, families a Luther Court resident, based on stories he heard about the man’s life. could then enter the café where students A young Spring Fair goer gets a pony ride. Charlotte Colby gets a ride from Brennan Bellavance and Jonas Robinson. ■ The semi-annual Spring Fair returned, bringing much family fun to our ■ Grade 5 students wrapped up of activities, including chariot races, School Ties - Fall 2009 • 5 campus, with an international food fair, their study of Greek mythology with Parthenon-building (using only paper and live entertainment, carnival games and all presentations, games and feasts. Students tape), Greek dancing and a trivia game. kinds of new and used goods. Everyone dressed up as Greek gods and goddesses, Teachers Mrs. Yorath and Ms. Newsome enjoyed the many activities as well as playing the roles of the deities they had also dressed up, and provided the students the beautiful weather. The fair was also researched, and spent a memorable with a great feast, featuring many foods an achievement this year in terms of its morning participating in a variety enjoyed centuries ago in Greece. Visit the SMUS Review blogs.smus.bc.ca/review
May (continued) School News informational displays about different was held by their parent chaperones). The places, including their culture, economy, students were also able to see a scorpion history and significant individuals. Some and to play around with millipedes, students even dressed up to represent the whose multitudes of legs tickled the country or shared culinary specialties young students’ hands and faces. from the region. ■ Students from Grades 6-8 showed ■ The Victoria Bug Zoo welcomed off their musical gifts and their moves at Ms. Galloway’s Grade 1 class as the the Middle School Talent Show. Fresh students followed up their insect studies from their Keep the Beat activities, the by meeting a few special creatures similar students sang, danced, played instruments to the ones they had been learning about. and entertained a gymnasium full of Students enjoyed some very hands-on their peers with their abilities and lessons as they played with a leaf insect, showmanship, singing and dancing to a praying mantis and a tarantula (which popular songs from artists like Kelly Clarkson, Taylor Swift, and the Black Eyed Jake McCloskey keeps the beat. Peas. Not to be outdone, the teachers gave a graceful performance of the well-known ■ The Richmond Road campus was ballet “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies,” dotted with hot pink t-shirts as hundreds complete with homemade pink tutus. of students participated in Keep the Beat, an annual SMUS event. The t-shirts were ■ On May 31, many SMUS families sold along with CDs featuring many took part in the World Partnership Walk popular SMUS musicians to raise funds fundraiser. Both the Junior and Middle for War Child Canada. Over the lunch Schools are huge supporters of the WPW, hour, musically inclined students were which funds development programmes invited to perform in the Christine Duke in the world’s poorest regions. With theatre by organizers Emily Reid and many Junior School families involved Jake McCloskey, and both the Middle in the walk itself and the Middle School and Senior Schools held talent shows in holding its annual basketball fundraiser, support of the cause. SMUS managed to raise almost $20,000 Jonah Wilmott is tickled by a giant for the cause. millipede. Nicholas Loughton, Sarah Fellows and Joshua Liggett at the Grade 6 Around the World night. ■ The Middle School became a global microcosm as Grade 6 students showed 6 • School Ties - Fall 2009 off what they had learned about different countries during Around the World night. Students teamed up to create Orla Glen competes for a good cause in the World Partnership Walk basketball game.
June School News ■ The class of 2009 put together an an egg toss, a mathematical clapping they competed in their house teams. exceptionally entertaining leavers’ chapel, game, and an environmental relay, which The games kicked off with team cheers, using their skit (a take on Slumdog included a recycling sort. The annual followed by a series of relay events. After Millionaire) to re-enact some of their tug-of-war hit a snag when Harvey and two teams tied for first place in the three- favourite memories from the year, point Barnacle broke the rope, so the remaining legged race, all four teams were tied going out their teachers’ quirks and have a laugh, reserves of water balloons brought the into the tug-of-war for the first time in often at their own expense. As Bhupinder games to a close with a splash. Middle School house games history. In Dulku competed to win one million the championship battle, the Bolton rupees, his fellow students acted out team triumphed over Barnacle. moments from the Grad Fashion Show, ■ Chantal Kreviazuk and Raine Valentine’s Day musical performances Maida, the lead singer of Our Lady Peace, and the capture of the Boot. ended the school year with a very special performance in Schaffter Hall to raise funds for War Child Canada. During this intimate, acoustic event in a small venue, over 100 concert goers enjoyed a one-of- a-kind performance from the Juno-award winning artists, as well as a reception, Tomoya Tago holds up the remains of the silent auction and photography exhibit. House Olympics tug-of-war rope. War Child founder Dr. Samantha Nutt ■ The annual Middle School Colours also spoke at the event. Day brought all of our Grade 6, 7 and 8 students to the SMUS field, where Alison Phillips, Sheena Campbell and Patricia Halim relive Valentine’s Day in their last chapel service. ■ Boarding House Olympics started off with the classic pre-game “surprise” water balloon fight and a round of cheers and skits by each house. Beginning with Mitchell Newman and Haydn Hopkins an obstacle course – a race of balance, have some fun with fellow Grade 6 flexibility, chopstick skills and water jug student Simon Gray on Middle School Chantal Kreviazuk performs for War Child tossing – the games went on to include Colours Day. supporters in Schaffter Hall. Alums on Campus ■ In June, alumnus Renee Dugan ’90 returned to SMUS to give a presentation to our students about ■ On a day when the temperature New York University’s new campus in hit a record high, Chris Spicer ’70, Abu Dhabi. Renee is the Director of Michael Symons ’63, Mervyn Lougher- Admissions for the university, which Goodey ’56, Brian Cameron ’70, opens to undergraduates in September Philip Sherwin ’69 and Bruce Holms of 2010. The university is funded by ’71 enjoyed a cold treat with hundreds the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and of happy students on all three campus School Ties - Fall 2009 • 7 is powerfully endowed – any student during the 78th annual Ice Cream who is accepted will be financially able Day. The event began in 1931, on St. Middle School students Carmen Lizola to attend. English is widely spoken in Michael’s founder Kyrle C. Symons and Ashley Hoydal-Payne enjoy a cool Abu Dhabi, and will be the language 50th birthday. treat on Ice Cream Day. of instruction at the university.
Alums Retire from School Life School News Wishing our retiring teachers a fond farewell is always bittersweet, but this year’s tributes are particularly poignant as we say good-bye to two long-serving teachers and a board governor who got their start at SMUS as students. Tony Keble ’62 Born in Sri Lanka, Tony came to University School as a student when his father, Tom Keble, began teaching English at the school in 1956. Former classmates remember Tony as a fleet-footed winger on the highly successful 1st XV rugby team (1961-62) and as a senior track champion, always competing against fellow winger David Chapman ’62 for the win. Tony began teaching at St. Michael’s School prior to the amalgamation, making him the last active St. Michael’s teacher and the longest-serving alumni-faculty member: with the exception of a three-year break, he has been with SMUS since 1972. Tony will be remembered by colleagues for his concern and consternation regarding the student dress code; and on this the matter he was always a fine role model: a picture of sartorial elegance. While at the school he has been an influential force. With a master’s degree in Spanish from New York University, Tony introduced the language to the SMUS curriculum. He was part of the driving force behind the introduction of soccer to the school and for many years was an enthusiastic coach. But, above all, he is known for his style of teaching Spanish to his students, which includes the fascinating cultural elements of both Spain and Mexico. Many of his former students have fond memories of participating in Tony’s epic trips to Mexico. “Tony has a passion for life. He loves to entertain, eat, prepare amazing curries. He is the consummate host and an extraordinary raconteur who would have been legendary in an oral culture. Nothing is ordinary to Tony. He can describe a cardboard box and make it sound like a treasure chest.” – Peter Gardiner John McIntyre ’66 During his five years as a student at University School, John McIntyre’s incredible facility for trivia became well-known. A day student at University School, John went on to get a degree in American, British and military history from the University of Victoria, followed by a master’s degree in American history from the University of Oregon. He began his teaching career in 1973 at the newly amalgamated St. Michaels University School. John will always be remembered for his dedication to school activities, his passion for American history and the hours he spent on the playing field. He coached the 3rd and 4th XV rugby teams with Grenfell Featherstone ’67 throughout the 1980s, when the school dominated the Independent Schools Association circuit. He 8 • School Ties - Fall 2009 has also coached the girls soccer teams and the golf team. His faculty colleagues will miss him most when they next take on the student team in the annual staff/student Reach for the Top challenge. In his tribute to John at this year’s retirement celebration, Pete MacLeod presented “Reach for the Top – the John McIntyre version.” “You are history at SMUS.” – Pete McLeod
School News Reach for the Top – the John McIntyre version In which time period did John McIntyre first attend The number 103 is significant to John because: University School? A) It is the age of the school A) 1962 B) It was John’s best score in the Alumni Golf B) Precambrian Era Tournament Often referred to as the Fab Four, this group is credited 27,000 is: with influencing an entire generation. The group is: A) The number of students John has taught A) The Beatles B) The number of minutes John has spent in B) John McIntyre, Mel Jones, Peter Gardiner and staff meetings Tony Keble 5 is: Borrowing from history, John has affectionately A) The number of headmasters John has worked referred to SMUS’ “Age of Enlightenment” as: under at the school A) The day the school became Co-ed B) The number of useful minutes John has spent in B) The day Pete McLeod was hired staff meetings Tom Rigos ’61 by Rob Wilson Tom originally enrolled at University School as a Grade 8 boarder from Tacoma, Washington, at the same time another retiree, Tony Keble ’62, arrived as a fledgling Grade 7 student. Tom Rigos enjoyed a highly successful career at University School, and in his Grade 12 year, he was the dominant person of his class: Head Prefect and winner of the 1961 Ker Cup, the school’s most prestigious award, which is based on scholarship, athletics, leadership and character – qualities that Tom possessed in abundance. Tom attended the University of Washington in Seattle and obtained his bachelor’s degree in mechanical and industrial engineering, and later his MBA. His business career was in medical technology and he was the Director of Engineering Operations for Medtronic Physio-Control in Redmond, Washington. Tom retired in 2005 as Vice President of Medtronic’s Emergency Response Systems. In his 10 years on the school’s Board of Governors, Tom has given stellar service on many committees as well as being both vice chair and secretary; he has also made an impressive contribution in his financial support of the school, donating generously to the School House renovation and the school’s endowment. In 1999, he initiated a fund in the name of one of his old teachers at University School, and more recently has directed his contributions to a Rigos Family Fund, which he established with his brother, Jim Rigos ’60, who has also given unstinting support to the school for many years. School Ties - Fall 2009 • 9 “I have known Tom Rigos since 1958, and it is one of the real pleasures of the teaching profession to see young people develop and do well at school, and then to see them flourish and prosper in later years. Tom Rigos has done just that – and it is further satisfying to note his loyalty and continuing contributions toward the betterment of St. Michaels University School.” – Rob Wilson
Highlights from the Athletics Week in Review SPORTS You can read more about these stories by visiting the Athletics Week in Review blog at blogs.smus.bc.ca/athletics. March ■ The Grade 9 girls basketball team ■ Three SMUS athletics teams Brentwood International faced PCS in the Victoria City final. competed at the provincial level in Regatta Results: After a tightly contested regular season March. After a first-place finish at the Junior A Women’s 1x: Silver encounter against PCS, the game started Island championships, the Grade 9 boys Liz Fenje at a competitive pace and by the end of basketball team captured 13th place after the first quarter, the teams were tangled defeating Oak Bay and Centennial. In the Junior A Men’s JV 2x: Bronze in a 7-7 tie. In the second quarter, SMUS AA provincial championships, the Senior Jon Cunningham and faced some early foul trouble and found girls basketball team suffered an early Maxim Ellison themselves down 20-14 at the half. Sara loss to Windsor, which placed them on Junior A JV Women’s 4+: Bronze Taylor, Madison Hadfield and Ali Pollen the consolation side of the tournament, Caryn Dooner, Lexi McColl, Sydney delivered standout performances and the where they eventually took 12th place. Stockus, Jessica Spoor and Chris Fenje SMUS team pulled together to make it a The Senior badminton team finished Junior A Women’s 2x: Gold near-win: 39-35 for PCS. 11th in BC with a record of three wins Liz Fenje and Maryann Watson and three losses. ■ Our Senior squash team played Junior A Women’s School 8+: Gold in the BC Junior Closed Tournament ■ At the Brentwood International Liz Fenje, Maryann Watson, Mickey against the best youth players in BC. Five Regatta, the largest athletic event hosted Aylard, Lexi McColl, Caryn Dooner, girls and five boys represented SMUS this by a single high school, SMUS competed Rachel Ellis, Sydney Stockus, year, with outstanding results: against crews from all over BC and the Jess Spoor and Chris Fenje Girls U17 and U19 United States. Our team of 11 athletes 1st place U17 (Nicole Bunyan) entered eight events and made finals for 1st place U19 (Nicole Bunyan) six of these events, medalling in every final we raced. Middle School rowing Girls U19 B crew Erynn Pawluk, Taylor Ellison, Liam 1st place (Samantha Dark) Hyatt and Luke Friswell won the Junior 2nd place (Charmaine Niewerth) C (Grades 7-8) Quad and raced in the 4th place (Emily Feng) Junior A (Grades 11-12) Third Varsity 5th place (Lisa Evans) 4+, where they made the final, placing Boys U17 and U19 fifth overall. 1st place U17 (Tyler Olson) 2nd place U19 (Tyler Olson) Boys U17 B 1st place (Lachlan Glen) Liz Fenje and Maryann Watson on the 3rd place (Cole Turner) podium (above) and on the water (below) 4th place (Justus Koenigs) 10 • School Ties - Fall 2009 Tyler Olson shows off his skills in the SMUS courts.
April ■ SMUS hosted the Junior Girls Soccer ISA Tournament and in their SPORTS first game, SMUS faced Shawnigan Lake School. The Blue Jags were able to secure a 2-1 win with goals from Laura Simandl and Mary Lapp. Next, SMUS faced West Point Grey Academy and the Jags were able to win the game 2-0. In the their third game, SMUS battled York House. The SMUS squad led the game 4-0 at half time and the final score was 6-3 for the Blue Jags. This secured the girls first place in this tournament, a first-place medal for each player, and a large trophy to showcase for the year! The Junior girls soccer team May ■ The tennis team competed in the Island tournament. After a loss to Shawnigan Lake and an 8-3 win over GNS, SMUS faced Brentwood, the first- place team in Pool A. With a chance to qualify for the provincial championships for the first time in seven years, the SMUS side took up the challenge and played their best tennis of the year, winning the match 7-4. In the Island final, SMUS ended a six-match losing streak to Lambrick to win the Island Senior girls soccer championships and move on to the three minutes into the game and two Graeme Hyde-Lay and Mitch Newman provincial championships as the number- more in the second half producing a final delivered noticeable performances. The one ranked team from Vancouver Island. score of 3-0 for SMUS. A 2-0 win over team went on to play in an independent Brentwood led the team to the Island final school tournament with five other teams versus a strong Gulf Islands team. SMUS and ended their season unbeaten. had a dream start when Samm Dark hit ■ Though they suffered a few defeats a magnificent strike from the top of the throughout the season, the 1st XV rugby 18-yard box to give SMUS a one-goal squad delivered some remarkable victories lead. The score was 1-1 at the half and that sent them to the provincials. SMUS at the end of the game. A penalty-kick faced Vancouver’s number-two seeded shootout went to eight shooters apiece St. George’s Saints. St. George’s had the before Shelby Boehm brought home the ball for much of the opening half and win and the Island title. led 7-0 at the break until Tom Bridger ■ At the Grade 6 rugby jamboree, our scored with a penalty kick. A converted Grade 6 players opened with a tough win try from the opposition brought the over Bayside and a victory over George score to 14-3, but Tom Bridger then Bonner from Mill Bay. They faced St. converted a try of his own to make it 14- School Ties - Fall 2009 • 11 Justus Koenigs on the court George’s in the semi-final, where some 10. For the deciding score, Grade 11 left tremendous running rugby was played wing Charlie Southwell sped through the ■ In the Island championships, and a spot in the final secured. Versus Saints’ defense with a pass from fellow the Senior girls soccer team came out Lansdowne, the SMUS squad was able Grade 11 Mike Fuailefau, landing SMUS strong against Mark Isfeld, scoring a 3-1 to get on top, through some free-flowing a 15-14 victory. SMUS victory. Next, the team played movements, to score a well-deserved win. In the final, SMUS faced Shawnigan Parkland. The girls took their first goal On the day, Max Pollen, Kieran Large, Lake, who took silver last year. Outside Visit the Athletics Review blogs.smus.bc.ca/athletics
May (continued) centre Tom Bridger was the first player across the goal line giving SMUS a 7-0 SPORTS lead. Just before the half, Shawnigan tied the game up and went on to score two more tries, defeating the Blue Jags 21-7 and capturing the BC Secondary Schools Rugby Union AAA championship. Though it was not the ending the players or fans were hoping for, the team put forth an admirable effort, which was partially recognized by Jared Sweet being named to the Commissioner’s XV. Provincial rugby finals against St. George’s Paul Rowe – Alumnus and CFL Hall of Famer by Rob Wilson As this year’s Grey Cup celebrations kick off in Calgary, Rob Wilson takes a look at the life and career of legendary Stampeder, Hall of Famer and SMUS alumnus Paul Rowe. Another name came to light in July 2008 University School’s Black and Red after a visit to the archives by Bobby Rowe, magazines show that Paul Rowe was a son of Paul Rowe, who was a student at fine and versatile athlete. Over his nine University School from 1924-33. Paul years at the school his athletic prowess was Rowe went on to become a star running noted in rugby, track, gymnastics, boxing, back in the Canadian Football League, cricket and swimming. He was a real force and was inducted into five Canadian on the 1932-33 rugby 1st XV and was halls of fame after his spectacular career outstanding in track, notably the sprint with the Calgary Bronks (1938-40) and events. After leaving University School, Stampeders (1945-50). he was prominent in the Victoria sports scene in both rugby and track, but at some point in the 1930s, gridiron football captured his interest. In 1936 and 1937, he enjoyed highly successful seasons in US College Football with the University of Oregon Ducks, before embarking on his Canadian Football journey in Calgary in 1938. Unfortunately, his career was interrupted by World War II, a time which took Paul Rowe to Europe with the Canadian Armed Forces. Between 1945 and 1950 the now- Calgary Stampeders became a force in the CFL and in 1948, they won their of Calgary will surely celebrate the event first Grey Cup and were finalists the with its customary gusto, and history following year. In the 1948 triumph, buffs will fondly recall past events and Paul Rowe was the team captain and the the exploits of former stars such as Paul 12 • School Ties - Fall 2009 first Stampeder to hoist the trophy. Rowe. To coincide with the November The 2009 Grey Cup is to be played 2009 festivities in Calgary, Bobby Rowe in Calgary, a date which comes 100 years is publishing a book about his father’s after the inaugural game in 1909. The life and football career. This might be of Grey Cup was originally for amateur interest to some alumni and others in participants but it is now the professional the SMUS community who either knew CFL’s national championship played on Paul Rowe, or have a keen interest in the Paul Rowe with his athletics trophies as a its most feted day of the year. The city Canadian Football League and its history. young University School student
Arts Highlights Our singers, musicians, actors and artists continued to do our school proud on stage and canvas. Of the many creative triumphs from ARTS current students and alumni in the last six months, here are a few of our favourites. March ■ The Middle School musical The King of Elfland’s Daughter – which featured an original script by teacher Douglas Manson-Blair and an original score by teacher and alumnus Ian Farish ’89 – launched to much applause. The magical production told the story of two lands and one young prince’s quest to return magic to his father’s kingdom. Students not only lent their vocal and theatrical talents to the production, but they also contributed to make-up, set construction and filming. Lindon Carter and Rachel Sibbald share a song on stage. April ■ The Grade 5 students performed ■ Choral students from Grades 4-12 There’s a Monster in My Closet, a musical performed at the annual Cross-Campus comedy about a sleepover that goes awry Choral Concert at the Christ Church when a group of girls attempt to capture Cathedral, which was filled to the rafters a monster. The humourous and magical with parents, faculty and students who story featured wonderful dramatic and came for the eclectic show featuring fun vocal performances from the hard- and contemporary pieces as well as more working young actors. Alums Laura traditional fare. Under the guiding hand Christensen ’04 and Evan Willms ’03 of Mr. Duncan Frater, the Grade 4 and helped out behind the stage by doing 5 choirs kicked off the evening, while make-up and sound, respectively. the Grade 9-12 Men’s Chorus had the honour of capping off the concert with a surprising Beach Boys’ number, complete with Hawaiian shirts. Jasper Johnston performs as a mischievous and musical monster. Janine Hsu plays a piano piece at the Concerto Concert. ■ Our musicians delivered another School Ties - Fall 2009 • 13 excellent Concerto Concert, a special performance which comes once every two years. The concert included extremely challenging classical pieces from some of the most respected and renowned composers, played by various ensembles, as well as notable solo performances from some of our strongest vocalists and musicians.
May ■ Middle School students and parents am and who nobody knows I am.” Each gathered to hear Grade 8 students share image was the size of a CD cover and some of their favourite pieces of original was accompanied by a CD, which played ARTS poetry. The Middle School poets read all music connected to the identity concept. kinds of verse, from haikus to elegies, ■ Thirty-five Middle School students which they composed in class. For the had their art on display at the annual first time, all Grade 8 students had their Independent School Association (ISA) work published in an anthology called Art Show, which featured work from 11 Discovery, which joined Senior School different schools. Throughout the year, anthology Between the Red Walls in the each grade had been working on many SMUS literary library. different projects and the ISA show showcased Grade 6 name quilts, Grade 8 graffiti designs, and Grade 7 paper molas, which are made by cutting designs out of layers of coloured paper. Other art projects from this year included Grade 8 clay bowls, Grade 7 tape sculptures, Grade 6 optical Middle School student Max Gallant hits art, Grade 7 freaky faces, and Grade 6 all the right notes at Jazz Night. stained glass paintings. ■ At the annual Jazz Night, one of ■ The busy spring concert season hit a the most swinging events of the concert One of Ninnart Siripun’s images for the crescendo with the annual Cross-Campus season, the Middle School Jazz Band, New Extremes show. Band Concert. The collaborative effort Senior Jazz Band, Vocal Jazz Ensemble ■ Several students were featured at the between the Middle School and Senior and Swing Band were all on hand to treat Art Gallery of Greater Victoria in a show School gave us a glimpse of band teaching their audience to a number of up-tempo celebrating the students’ participation in technique and showcased the breathtaking and melodious pieces. For many of the the New Extremes programme, which progress our band students make from the musicians and singers, it was their last connects high school students with local first day they pick up an instrument to the collaboration, as the Grade 12 performers artists. For their projects, the SMUS day they graduate. Highlights included departed SMUS in June. The evening is students worked with digital artist Yoko teachers Kevin Cook and Pete MacLeod always a special highlight of the school’s Takashima to produce three images that dancing dressed as gnomes to “Irish music scene, especially because it includes expressed different concepts of themselves: Washerwoman” and the massed bands a serving of ice cream for every audience “who I think I am, who people think I finale of John Kinyon’s “Royal March.” member. 14 • School Ties - Fall 2009 The SMUS massed bands perform “Royal March.”
May (continued) ■ The SMUS Student Theatre Society presented Murder Can be Habit Forming, a murder mystery parody that showed a ARTS different side of the student performers. In Murder, a convent of nuns, who have all taken the name of Mary, find themselves taking in a busload of strangers, one of whom is almost certainly a serial killer who targets women called Mary. Delivering comedy and suspense in equal doses, the student production showed off the diverse talents of those on stage as well as those working behind it. Brenda Moore solves the mysteries of Murder Can Be Habit Forming. ■ Grade 11 student Holly Trew was one of seven Victoria student artists featured in the Community Arts Council of Greater Victoria’s first Youth Group of Seven Show. The exhibit showcased talented artists in high school or university, allowing them to gain gallery experience. Holly, who is the granddaughter of famed Barbados artist Jill Walker, was thrilled to have her artwork on Olivia Krusel (pictured) and Benji Schaan display. both captured prizes at the Performing Arts BC Provincial Festival. ■ At this year’s Performing Arts BC One of Holly Trew’s octopus paintings. Provincial Festival, two SMUS students won big. Grade 11 student Benji Schaan took home first place in the Intermediate Musical Theatre category and was runner-up in the Intermediate Vocal SMUS Reads Variety while Grade 10 student Olivia Susan Tefler (McKibbin) ’84 published her first book of poetry Krusel, who performed with Benji in this September. House Beneath is a collection of her work, which has West Side Story won the Junior Classical been published in many literary journals, including The Malahat Voice Vocal Variety Category. Review, The Antigonish Review and Grain magazine. Her poems catalogue the beauty and pain of Canadian landscapes as well as her personal struggles with different generations of her family with School Ties - Fall 2009 • 15 vividness and imagination. Currently, Susan is a high school teacher in Gibsons, BC, where she lives with her husband and three children. Susan, who has won the Sunshine Coast Arts Council Gillian Lowndes Award for her artistic growth, hopes to visit Victoria to promote House Beneath this fall. Visit the SMUS Review blogs.smus.bc.ca/review
A Celebration of Poetry ARTS In honour of poetry month, SMUS hosted a poetry festival in April that featured five local poets along with alumni Steven rice Price ’94 and Claire Battershill ’04, who recently won the CBC en P Literary Prize for fiction. Well-respected poets Patrick Friesen, Stev Eve Joseph, Catherine Greenwood and Steve Noyes shared their work with students and guests, and even allowed some of their work to be printed in The Ivy. “I wanted people who are not necessarily well-known in the public eye, but who are accomplished poets,” says Terence Young, who has spent much of his time at SMUS fuelling the creative writing programme. The festival also launched the 10th edition of Between the Red Walls. Three current students read a poem each during the afternoon event, including Petra Kenney Prize-winner Vickie Yang, and in the evening a few student musicians performed “Every year, we have exceptional writers among our students,” along with Vancouver group The Fugitives, who blend music says Mr. Young, who hasn’t ruled out making the festival an with performance poetry. annual event. Q&A Claire Battershill ’04 Q You recently won the CBC Literary Prize for fiction, I would describe my relationship to both forms as somewhat but you began your writing career as a poet. How did awkward. I have trouble writing poetry and fiction at the same you begin writing fiction and how would you describe time. It’s like dating one person of each gender simultaneously. your relationship with both forms? How confusing! A I made a rather abrupt transition between forms, actually. Q What did you take away from your time in creative When I started writing, I pretty much only wrote poetry. I was writing at SMUS? stubborn and deliberate about that. Terence requires a story of his students in Writing 12, and it seemed torturous, at the A For one thing, I don’t think I would have published time, for me to write fiction. I don’t think I even finished that anything so early if I hadn’t done writing at SMUS. So, I took story at all, in the end, I just wrote the required fifteen pages or encouragement from the Writing 12 class not only to write but whatever it was and handed it in with no ending. to think of having readers, and even to think about what I liked I’m not quite sure what I had against it, but for some as a reader and how I might make something that would give reason I was much more comfortable with pieces of writing other people that kind of enjoyment. This was a big, important, that were very small and could be done all in one sitting. I had and abiding idea for me. I remember Terence saying that writers always read a lot of fiction, but never really felt that I would be should always have a submission in the mail. This, I think, has able to write it successfully. I was also for some reason much been excellent advice. I nearly always have something in the more certain about my poetry than my fiction. Now, mail. I also just had a lot of fun in the class, and with all the I’d almost say the opposite. I’d been writing associated readings and work for the Claremont Review and more and more prose poems by with putting Between the Red Walls together. I had no idea how 2007, and, finally, lucky I was, at the time, to have been in this programme. 16 • School Ties - Fall 2009 the Circus story just sort Q You started your post-secondary studies at Oxford and now you’re at the University of Toronto – how did of took me ill h you find the transition to life in England? tters by surprise by being so much A As far as the SMUS to Oxford transition, it was a big e Ba fun to write. Since change, but eventually I loved living in England. The first year Clair then, I’ve written especially took some adjustment, but I like cobblestones and very few poems, cups of tea, so those were silver linings all along. There is a great and a lot of stories. value for literature there and wonderful bookshops, and it was
so good to be learning about literary history so close to where it Mid-Autumn Eve was made. Academically Oxford was demanding and exciting, ARTS Back home, in China, and I’m grateful for that training now. Also, I had the best of where the heart lies friends there. That makes any transition worthwhile. though my presence fades, memories, like Q You worked with Margaret Atwood on her CBC muted shadows, waver behind paper screens, Massey Lectures. Tell us about that experience. their distorted whispers still tickling. A simple room, brick walls and roof, A It was a lot of fun. I was one of her research assistants for a tungsten light that leers over the lectures. She sent me a list of things to look up, and then I lilting waves of laughter, another wave did a whole lot of interesting reading and sent her quotations starting before the last one dies. and summaries. That was sort of the gist of the work. Margaret Atwood was lovely to me, always checking in and making sure Varnished oak doors swing inward, I was at ease at the promotional events (of which there were beckoning neighbours many!). She is so funny and so charismatic, and has continued to to enter from shadowed halls, be kind to me as I’ve published a couple of things since. I think their shoes stacked as I was a bit shy with her, especially as I lived at Massey College poker chips. when I was working on the lectures and I once ran into her after Behind kitchen shutters, dinner in the Common Room at the college while I was wearing clouded year after year in oil and vapour, gigantic plushy lion slippers! She liked them, though. metal knives strike Q What qualities do you possess that you think help against marble counters, you be a good writer? the grease-lacquered wok spits fat out its lip, A Speed on the base paths, a cannon for a throwing arm, fire flashes from the stove’s and a great eye at the plate. Oh, wait. Sorry. That’s baseball. glowing embers. Hum. I’m not sure I really think I am a good writer. I do think, though, that my writing has improved in the last couple of TV trumpets in tune with children years since I’ve relaxed a little and thrown some jokes in. I have vying for attention, no match for the solid table squared fun writing. It’s what I choose to do any chance I get. and dressed, salty and sweet and sour heat that wafts up Q Who do you consider to be contemporary authors in tendrils to make all eyes water. worth reading? Grandma, Grandpa, that cousin I never met, A I had to laugh a little at this question because according drawn from their hives to bask in the to me it’s worth reading as much as possible. Almost anything suger-sweet sunshine of one another, is worth trying on for size and I think it’s good to read in lots all converging this Mid-Autumn Eve of different genres and so forth. But OK, I certainly won’t turn under a ripe, round moon, ready down a chance to talk about what I love...Daniel Handler is to fall from soot-black skies. amazing. He wrote the kids series Lemony Snicket, but Adverbs is his grown-up book of stories. It’s the tops. Other short story Their hums strain across the Pacific, writers I adore are Sheila Heti, Annabel Lyon, Miranda July, and ghosts treading among my thoughts, Amy Hempel. For novels, Russell Banks and Michael Chabon notes calling for my return. are great, and I really liked Heather O’Neill’s Lullabies for Little –Vickie Yang Criminals. Andrew Kaufman’s All My Friends are Superheroes is a sweet and lovely and funny book. I recently read Sarah Ruhl’s Collected Plays, and those are brilliant, especially Eurydice and The Clean House. Even her stage directions are masterpieces. For poetry, Karen Solie, Anne Simpson, Louise Gluck, Jan Zwicky, School Ties - Fall 2009 • 17 Seamus Heaney, Michael Longley, and Patrick Friesen are Yang some of my favourites. I also read newspapers and all sorts of Vickie magazines and I still read Archie comics, though I’m scandalized that he chose Veronica. Q What advice would you give aspiring writers? A Read. A lot.
Brett Adam (University of British Columbia) Sarah Ankersen (University of Victoria) Olev Anniko (University of Victoria (2010)) Rachael Baptiste (York University) Colin Beban (Gap Year) Amuel Bhinder (University of Alberta) Shelby Boehm (University of Western Ontario) Melissa Bosworth (Dalhousie University) Kyle Bridge (Carleton University) Thomas Bridger (University of Western Ontario) Jessie Cai (University of Southern California) Sheena Campbell (University of Waterloo) Johnny Chang (McGill University) Kelly Chang (Boston College) Calvin Cheng (University of Western Ontario) Aleesha Cheta (University of Toronto) Johnson Cho (University of British Columbia) Yoo Shin Choi (Waseda University) The Class of Yun Jeong Choi (McGill University) Nicholas Chow (University of Toronto) Brendan Chwyl (University of Waterloo) James Coates (McGill University) 2009 Christian Colquhoun (Carleton University) Candice Cooper (Gap Year) Megan Cooper (University of Victoria) Jonathan Cunningham (St. Francis Xavier University) Geordie Dafoe (Camosun College) Samantha Dark Nicole Godwin (McGill University) Lauren Kipp (McGill University) (Huron University College) Sasha Gray (University of Victoria) Jake Kislock Kabir Daswani (Queen’s University) Douglas Grimmer (University of Western Ontario) Rachel Davel (University of Victoria) (University of Victoria) Katherine Kohler Callum Davies (University of Victoria) Patricia Halim (McGill University) (University of British Columbia) Olivia de Goede (University of Victoria) April Hall (American University in Paris) Karolina Koziol Andrew Dorman Jennifer Hamilton (Thompson Rivers University) (College of the Holy Cross) (University of Victoria) Lauren Kullar (University of British Bhupinder Dulku Kelsey Harbord (Colgate University) Columbia) (University of Western Ontario) Ashley Hawes (Camosun College) Masaki Kunimoto Lauren Dunn (University of Victoria) Neil Hayden (McGill University) (University of British Columbia) Stephanie Duvenage Emma Houghton (McGill University) Benjamin Kwok (Yale University) (University of Victoria) John Humphries Rory Lattimer (McGill University) Benjamin Effa (McGill University) (University of Western Ontario) Athina Lavidas (University of Toronto) Alastair Fehr (University of Waterloo) Mizuho Inai (Osaka University) Allegra Lee (New York University) Emily Feng (University of Toronto) Aiman Ismail (University of Toronto) Charles Leitz (University of Victoria) Liz Fenje (Stanford University) Adrienne Jones Rebecca Li (University of Toronto) 18 • School Ties - Fall 2009 Reilly Fong (University of Victoria) (University of Western Ontario) Kevin Lin (University of Waterloo) Riordan Forsyth (University of Calgary) Saleha Khan (Queen’s University) Daniela Loggia (University of Victoria) Anna Fretz Forrest Kilgour (University of Victoria) Evan Louie (University of California Berkeley) Kim Robin (University of British Columbia) Rui Fu (New York University) (University of Western Ontario) Kevin Ma (Columbia University) Laura Gilmore (Dalhousie University) Shun Kinoshita Ceilidh MacLeod Kristijan Gjorgjevik (McGill University) (University of British Columbia) (University of British Columbia)
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