Connections Feb 2010

The Bishop Carroll Youth for Justice Advent Initiative this year is to raise money for Momentum, a Calgary community economic development organization.  TA groups have created theme baskets which are to be raffled for the Y4J project in the coming weeks. Students and Teacher Advisors collected items, brought in money, and helped create imaginative baskets that will be raffled. Basket themes include Ski Day/Spa Package, Treasure Chest Cash, iPod and Gingerbread Time, as well as many other creative and unique themes. Raffle tickets are $2 each or 15 tickets for $20.  We applaud our community for their enthusiasm and commitment to this Y4J initiative!

Momentum helps low income Calgarians start and operate their own businesses through their program of micro-financing. This helps the poor develop self-sustaining businesses by giving them investment capital, financial literacy and skills training, and technology access. Above all, clients who have faced barriers from traditional banking institutions are given hope and help in building their personal and financial assets, and allows them to contribute to society and build sustainable livelihoods.

Nancy Kamar and Debbie Wang were 2 of 42 students chosen from 173 applicants from 75 different schools throughout Alberta. Both Nancy and Debbie spent 6 weeks at the University of Calgary working in research labs where they focused on various aspects of neuroscience. Nancy studied the hippocampi of a rat’s brain while conducting research on the causes of neuronal cell death. Debbie’s research focused on synaptic transmission of snail’s brains in an attempt to better understand the brain’s complex circuitry.

Although Debbie is unsure of her future plans, this experience has got her thinking about research as a career option and Nancy had her interest in neurology confirmed and plans to become a neurosurgeon. Both girls agree this was an amazing opportunity!

• AP (Advanced Placement) Honours Program in Math, Biology, Chemistry, Psychology and Physics
• French Immersion (FLA 10, 20 & 30) – U-Learn

Each year, students around the world who want to learn and achieve at the highest level become Advanced Placement (AP) students. Through AP’s college-level courses and exams, you can earn college credit and advanced placement, stand out in the admissions process, and learn from some of the most skilled, dedicated, and inspiring teachers in the world. Continue to check the website for updates on these exciting new programs!

For more information about AP click on this link.

The Trojan’s coach Ryan Marsden can’t say enough about the 2008 Bishop Carroll graduate.  “Justin sees things before they actually happen on the court,” says Marsden of his starting setter. “He plans ahead, and that separates him from other setters.

“He gets the ball to the right players. He knows who’s hot and who’s not. And he knows what the other side is expecting,” adds Marsden. “He might play into the other team’s expectations, just to create an opening somewhere else. He controls the play and dictates what’s going to happen, and that makes him tricky to play against.

“I think it’s pure intelligence and instinct. He’s really starting to get creative, and set things up to create better options offensively. He’s a fantastic setter all-around, but he can do all the other things as well. He can block. He can play defense. He’s developed a great serve. And his leadership abilities have been enhanced because of that.”

The Trojans finished atop the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference’s South Division in the first half with an 8-2 record, and will begin the second half in the ACAC’s elite Provincial Division. Congratulations to Justin and best of luck to this Bishop Carroll Alumnus on the rest of the volleyball season.

http://www.saittrojans.com/news/news_detail.html?newsID=482

These tickets were UNSOLD and will NOT be included in any o the 2010 Cash Calendar Raffle Draws which take place between January 13 and June 9, 2010.

Contact Lisa Kampel, Raffle Coordinator, at 403-246-3327 if you have any questions.

Dear Parents and Students,

Subject: Final Survey for Draft Calendar 2010–2011

In preparation for finalizing the calendar for the 2010-2011 school year, the Calgary Catholic School District’s (CCSD) Calendar Committee has created a draft calendar based on feedback received from the earlier survey in October. CCSD would like to survey parents and students to find out the overall satisfaction with the proposed calendar.

The Draft Calendar is available by clicking on the link. The survey will be also be available from the homepage of the District website: http://www.cssd.ab.ca/. We hope that you will take the time to share with us your valuable input by filling out this brief survey at this link:

http://www.surveygoldplus.com/s/B0097C0B9D524ADC/122.htm

The deadline to complete the survey is Sunday, January 17, 2010 at 10 p.m. Please check the District web site in February for a finalized version of the 2010-2011 school year calendar.

Thank you for your time.

Bishop Carroll is proud of our Alumni who are carrying the torch for Canada at the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics. Anastasia Bucsis (Alumni 2007) recently qualified for long track speed skating.

“Calgary’s Anastasia Buscis, who qualified for the World Cup circuit for the first time in October, finished a surprising second in 1:17.64 while Winnipeg’s Shannon Rempel picked up the third and final Olympic spot in the distance with a combined time of 1:17.70.

“I am in complete shock but I am ecstatic. I just came from crying with my mom because it’s obviously been a dream,” said Buscis. “If you would have asked me six months ago if this would happen, I would have laughed and rolled my eyes.” (Accessed on January 8, 2010, http://www.cbc.ca/olympics/story/2009/12/27/sp-speedskating-wotherspoon.html)