ThriverTM Inc. (www.thriver.com) is a technology-based company with offices in Toronto and Windsor, Ontario. Thriver™ is a new online learning platform designed to help parents become effectively involved in the cognitive development of their children. While the platform can help any child, it is particularly helpful for children who are experiencing difficulty in school. The YMCA Academy is excited to be taking part in an innovative research project with Thriver™. The technology that is developing will help our teachers understand how the students learn and may provide them with new information that could be used to inform instructional changes in the classroom. We are always looking for ways to provide instruction for our students, and this technology may provide options for delivering differentiated support to a broader YMCA community in a highly engaging format.
Semester 1 Exam Information
Dear Parents/Guardians and Students:
Our 1st semester is coming to a close, and there are several important pieces of information that we want to communicate to you.
Semester 1 Final Examinations:
The last day of regular classes for Semester 1 is Tuesday January 28th, 2014.
The examination schedule is posted below. Students will also be provided with a copy of this schedule.
As you will see, there are 3 examination days – Wednesday, January 29th; Thursday, January 30th; and Friday, January 31st. Examinations are held in the morning and in the afternoon. Not all students have an examination on each day, so please check the schedule carefully to ensure that your son/daughter comes to school on the right day for the right exam.
Turn Around Day / Semester 2
Monday February 3rd is Turn Around Day. There is no school for students; however, those who are interested in knowing how they did on their exams and/or finding out their marks for Semester 1, they can drop in to speak with their teacher(s) between 2-3pm (by appointment only). First day of Semester 2 is Tuesday, February 4th, 2014.
Absences: If a student is absent on a final exam day, a phone call from a parent/guardian and a medical note will be required and a make-up examination will have to be written as soon as possible. If no medical documentation is received, a grade of zero will be recorded for the examination.
Study Hall: We are providing a supervised Study Hall on all examination days, except for Friday January 31st afternoon. If students are in the school on an exam day, they are expected to be in one of two places: either writing an examination or in the study hall. If students are not writing an examination and do not want to attend study hall, they will be asked to leave the school, as we need to ensure an atmosphere of quiet and respect for the other students who are writing their examination.
Personal Items and Electronic Devices: Students need to be aware that during examinations, they will not be allowed to keep any of their personal items with them. This includes cell phones, iPods (and similar devices), electronic devices, classroom notes, textbooks, and/or personal calculators (unless allowed specifically by the classroom teacher and designated beforehand). Students need to come prepared with writing utensils.
Outstanding Materials: All outstanding library books and materials, as well as Academy-owned textbooks, are to be returned on (or by) the exam day.
If you have any questions about the upcoming examinations, please call the Academy at (416) 928-0124 ext “0”.
Regards,
Don Adams
Head of School
Jan 20th, 2014 – Application of Pascal’s Law
Pascal’s Law states that any pressure applied to a static (non-moving/flowing) liquid in a closed container will be transmitted undiminished to every part of the fluid, as well as to the walls of the container. This is the law/principle that explains how hydraulic car lifts work. Although the pressure is the same at all points in a static liquid, the force (depending on the area it is exerted over) does not necessarily stay the same. If, for example, some small force (F1) is applied over a small area (A1), a certain amount of pressure is produced (P1). This, in fact, is the definition of pressure P1 = F1/A1. Since the pressure at any other point (say P2) will be the same, if the area (A2) is larger than A1, the force produced will be large. This can easily be shown by re-arranging the formula P1 = F1/A1 into F2=P2xA2. Since P2 is the same as P1, but A2 is larger than A1, you can easily see that the force is increased.
Example
10 N of force is applied to an area of 5 cm2
P1 = F1/A1
P1 = 10 N/5cm2
P1 = 2 N/cm2
P2, by Pascal’s Law also equals 2 N/cm2
If that pressure is applied over a larger area (A2), say 10 cm2 we can see that the force will be 20 N
F2 = P2xA2
F2 = 2 2/cm2 x 10 cm2
F2 = 20 N (DOUBLE THE FORCE)
This can be demonstrated with a neat demo using a glass soda/beer bottle filled with water. The top of the soda/beer bottle has a small area and the bottom a larger one. If you hit the top of the bottle with the palm of your hand with sufficient force, the pressure is transferred to the water equally in all directions, and since the bottom of the bottle has a larger area, the force you hit the top with is multiplied, and it knocks out the bottom of the bottle. Science works!
Jan 16th, 2014 – Holiday Talent Show
Staff and students were treated once again to an annual Holiday Talent Show just before the break. We had performers doing a wide range of acts including lip syncing to a familiar Bon Jovi tune, playing compositions on the keyboards, strumming along on guitars and reciting the beloved “Who’s on First” comedy sketch. After the show our community celebrated the season with board games, movies, a craft station and a delicious array of treats brought in by staff and students. It was great way to “rock” into the holidays.
Check out the rest of the pictures on our Facebook Page!
Jan 13th, 2014 – Upcoming TEDx Event
YMCA Academy TEDx event highlights innovation in education
Education must innovate to keep pace with a rapidly changing world and the evolving needs of today’s students. That’s why The YMCA Academy is bringing together some phenomenal speakers to explore groundbreaking ideas in educating students who learn differently at Edumakers, the 2014 edition of the school’s annual TEDx event. You can be a part of it — and best of all, admission is free.
Edumakers begins at 10:00am on Saturday, February 1st in the auditorium of the Toronto Central Grosvenor St. YMCA Centre in downtown Toronto, home of the YMCA Academy. Click here to register to attend.
Featured ideas and initiatives include:
• an all-girls technology camp;
• uniting schools with their surrounding communities;
• rethinking classrooms as coworking spaces, purpose-built for collaboration;
• helping students connect with career options that don’t require university or college;
• connecting investment to the non-financial assets of young people;
• high school courses in which computer games are an essential part of the learning process — and much more.
The themes to be explored at Edumakers continue the discussion started at The YMCA Academy’s last TEDx event, which introduced educators to the concept of wrap-around services for youth. Schools operate within a community, but often schools have trouble reaching out to collaborate with outside agencies. Model schools, like The YMCA Academy, have envisioned and implemented a pedagogical experience where social and emotional supports and referral services are intricately woven into the school’s fabric.
Scheduled speakers include Zareh Demirdji from The YMCA Academy, Youth in Technology’s Ashley Lewis, Eric Rosenberg of Rosenberg Development Studio, York Region teacher Tom Seliotis, Peel teachers Douglas Vallance and Matthew Henderson, Hive Mozilla Toronto’s Kathryn Meisner, Ryan Burwell from the Centre for Social Innovation, Jennifer Chan, Rob Whent of Thriver Inc, and Juan Gonzalez of Fabspaces.
For more information, or to register to attend Edumakers, visit the TEDx YMCA Academy website.