Oct 17th, 2012 – Learning about Hardware!

YMCA Academy Experiential Learning, Technology

Academy tech geniuses Dakota and Omar worked with teacher and I.T. guy Andras to replace broken components of the school laptops.  Setting up a triage station with tools, new parts and sick computers, Andras demonstrated how to replace keyboards and track pads and explained the mechanisms behind in the inner workings of the laptops.  Thanks to this group of techies, we can again enjoying typing with the “j” key and using the left click button!

Check out the rest of the pictures on our Facebook Page!

Oct 17th, 2012 – Pizza Lunch Fundraiser

YMCA Academy Beyond the Classroom, Community

We Scare Hunger! Grade 11 Media Arts students launched a We Day initiative with a lunch time pizza party. Students gobbled up slices of yummy pizza with proceeds going to charity and listened to music to kick off a food drive for the Fort York Food Bank. The food drive runs from Oct 11 to Oct 31 and donations of non-perishable food can be brought to the reception area of the Academy.

 

Check out the rest of the pictures on our Facebook Page!

Oct 16th, 2012 – Parent/Teacher Interview Dates

YMCA Academy Updates

Please join us at The YMCA ACADEMY for

PARENT/TEACHER INTERVIEW NIGHT

 

Grades 9 & 12, Wednesday, November 14, 2:00 – 8:00 P.M.

Grades 10 & 11, Thursday, November 15, 2:00 – 8:00 P.M.

* Both school days will operate on a half-day schedule. Classes will finish at 12:10 p.m.

 

Your child’s report card will be mailed home during the week of November the 5th

All parents are encouraged to participate in a 20-minute teacher, parent and student group interview.

Please call (416) 928-0124 ext.0 to reserve a time.

Oct 15th, 2012 – Feast of Thanks Photos & Blog

YMCA Academy Beyond the Classroom, Community, Native Studies

Have you ever wondered where the traditions around Thanksgiving came from?  Have you ever considered the links between the American Columbus day and Canada’s Thanksgiving holiday, both occurring every year on the second Monday in October?  Students in the YMCA Academy’s World Religions and Native Studies classes decided to honour and celebrate Canada’s Indigenous people for Thanksgiving this year.  We hosted a huge feast in our cafeteria and made educational displays about topics like the origins of Thanksgiving, Aboriginal traditions and local foods as well as the truth behind Christopher Columbus’ intentions in “the new world.”  We were honoured to have guests from the YMCA of Greater Toronto, the Native Canadian Center of Toronto and volunteers in attendance and we thank everyone for contributing pumpkin pies, traditional fish cakes, roasted squash and homemade cookies!

Check out the rest of the pictures on our Facebook Page!

Oct 15th, 2012 – Canadian Shoreline Cleanup

YMCA Academy Environmental Stewardship, Experiential Learning

On September 21, 2012 the entire school participated in the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup.  This year we focused our efforts on cleaning a section of shoreline along the Don River in E.T. Seton Park.  The Grade 12 Environment and Resource Management class did a great job serving as “ambassadors” for the event – encouraging participation and furthering the Academy’s commitment to environmental stewardship.

We had a great turnout and collected over 100lbs of garbage that afternoon, and you can continue reading to find out the process of the same.  Wildlife sightings included turtles, a rabbit and a fox.  Many students commented that they were able to experience a part of Toronto that they didn’t know existed.  Special thanks to the Ontario Science Centre for donating cleanup supplies and allowing us to use their recycling and waste facilities.

Check out the rest of the pictures on our Facebook Page!