Meet the Academy’s Student Advisory Council

YMCA Academy Beyond the Classroom, Student Spotlight No Comments

YMCA Academy Student Advisory Council 2015-2016Today, during our monthly Taking a Pause (TAPs) assembly, the students of The YMCA Academy elected seven representatives to serve on the school’s Student Advisory Council.

Congratulations to Ronnie, Benny, Josh, Archie, Heather, Dakota, and Mahadir; these students will represent their peers and help organize and deliver extracurricular activities like spirit days, special events, and clubs.

Each student representative was elected from one of our seven Advisor Groups — small student communities within the school that meet regularly with a teacher facilitator to discuss life skills, personal management strategies, and the day-to-day goings-on here at the Academy. The Student Advisory Council is both a leadership opportunity and a great chance for these seven representatives to demonstrate their commitment to the YMCA core values as they work hard to help create more fun and engaging activities at the school.

Tissue Paper Stained Glass

YMCA Academy Arts, Native Studies, Student Spotlight No Comments

The Grade 9 Native Studies class created stunning tissue paper “stained glass” compositions inspired by the artworks of the Ojibway, Algonquin and Mi’kmaq First Nations. Using thick black lines, a broad colour pallet and abstract designs, students applied elements often found in Eastern Woodland art to their own multi-media projects. Rather than on the wall, these transparent pieces will go on the windows!

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

Experiential Learning at the YMCA Academy

Andras Nagy Experiential Learning, Student Spotlight, Technology No Comments

The Grade 12 Communications Technology class at the YMCA Academy was responsible for creating several videos that showcase experiential learning.

As part of their culminating activity students organized, filmed, edited and produced 5-10 minute long videos documenting some of the workshops, field trips, and other examples of experiential learning that happens at The YMCA Academy.

The completed videos have been posted below, they include:

  • Crumple Zone Design Challenge: Students design, build and test car crumple zones.
  • Evergreen Downsview Stewardship: Supporting Evergreen Downsview Park through environmental initiatives.
  • History of Civilizations Class: History/Geography course which uses gamification to teach curriculum.
  • Shovel and Spoon Program: Life Skills and hands-on learning related to cooking, gardening, nutrition and wellness.

 

Crumple Zone Design Challenge

Downsview Park Environmental Stewardship

History of Civilizations Class

Shovel and Spoon Program One

Shovel and Spoon Program Two

Shovel and Spoon Program Three

Live Green Toronto Video

YMCA Academy Student Spotlight, Technology No Comments

The YMCA Academy is doubly green — we’re a green school that’s also a part of a green organization. To celebrate environmental sustainability and stewardship initiatives by our learning community and the YMCA of Greater Toronto, Academy students produced a 90-second video and entered it in the 2014 video awards contest by Live Green Toronto, a City of Toronto program that “promotes and supports the greening of Toronto through programs, events, grants and a one-stop website to help residents and businesses reduce emissions, protect our climate and clean our air.”

Footage for our video was shot by Communications Technology students at the school, and edited by a senior co-op student. Although it didn’t win, in just three weeks on the Live Green Toronto website our video generated 8,022 views and 222 votes — good enough for 5th place among all GTA-based contest entries.

Congratulations to this year’s winners, and thanks to everyone who voted for and shared our video. Keep an eye out for future entries in this contest from students at The YMCA Academy.

What makes the YMCA an actively Green Organization?

Video on the Live Green Toronto Website

Vintage Technology Museum

YMCA Academy Student Spotlight, Technology No Comments

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As part of their Unit 3 (Technology, The Environment, and Society) Summative assignment the Grade 12 communications technology class created a “Vintage Technology Museum” to showcase old technology in one of the display cases at The YMCA Academy. Alongside each of these historic electronic pieces, students were responsible for creating an “eco report” on either the company that manufactured the item (Apple, Nintendo, etc) or the category of the item itself (Cellphones, Radio, etc) and how it relates to e-waste, recycling and sustainability.

 

Check out some of the great posters!

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