June 2014

Loretto Abbey Catholic Secondary School

Student Voices: “Growing up, I've always found myself speaking out against injustice.  It wasn't difficult when researching possible career paths that the Non-

Profit Sector simply spoke to me.  What can be more

fulfilling than knowing one is spending his or her life

providing one for those that need it the most?”

 ~Kassandra Neranjan !“The SHSM Program is so

much fun, especially all of the trips and workshops that we

do to increase our skills.” ~Sabrina Gallippi !

“I have been able to take my Cooperative Education

placement at Mount Sinai Hospital, where I have been able to gain knowledge and experience in a Non-Profit

workplace relating to health care. My involvement in these

activities will allow me to guide others with the proper knowledge and experience

that is necessary for a leader in this role.”

~Sarah Di Battista

Celebrating our 1st Year! It is incredible to think that our first year of implementation of the Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) Program is coming to an end. It has been an incredible success, having allowed students to grow in their knowledge of the Non-Profit Sector as they experience, first-hand, the work that makes communities thrive. With many SHSM-focussed activities being run through the GPP 3O Leadership & Peer Support course, the "heart" of our SHSM program, this newsletter serves to showcase the work that has been accomplished, thus far, in Loretto Abbey's SHSM journey.

The SHSM Program is one that involves an incredible amount of work for the students enrolled in it. The need to take the bundle of nine credits, which includes two credits of co-op, can often be challenging for students to include in their already-filled timetables. In addition, the completion of Certifications, Reach Ahead Experiences, Experiential Learning Opportunities, and Contextualized Learning Activities makes this unique program one that is rooted in the essential management of time and resources. Our current SHSM students have successfully been able to meet these requirements, and as their teachers, we are proud of the amount of work they have accomplished. Loretto Abbey's Non-Profit SHSM students have been models of success and dedication from the start of the 2013-2014 academic year.

Through hands-on learning in the acquisition of the three Certifications earned at Cedar Glen, the knowledge gathered about the need to create sustainable communities in the Ethical Considerations Certification presented by Learning for a Sustainable Future, and the organization and participation in the first annual Looking ForWARD Mentorship Conference, students have been very busy this year, actively involved in meaningful learning.

Having experienced such great success in this first year of implementation of the SHSM Non-Profit program, we are very happy to report that next year, we will have more than doubled the number of students enrolled in this program. With nearly 80 students projected in the first and second years of the program combined, the numbers alone speak to the success of this program. We look forward to continuing the fruitful work and encourage all SHSM students to consider work in the ever-growing Non-Profit Sector so that they find a career that follows the path blazed by our Patroness, Mary Ward.

Ms. Caprara, Ms. Kazakis, Mr. Lopes, and Ms. Pannozzo

!

!Non-Profit SHSM Igniting the Flame:

Issue No. 1

Follow us on Twitter @LATSHSM

IGNITING THE FLAME “Do not bury your talents, which God lent you to be spent in service.” ~Mary Ward

Non-Profit SHSM and Mentorship Students Attend Weekend Leadership Camp From October 18 to 20, 2013, 52 Loretto Abbey students went up north to the YMCA’s Cedar Glen Outdoor Centre for a weekend of leadership and community-building activities. As a part of this weekend, students involved in the Non-Profit Specialist High Skills Major program received elective certifications in Effective Communication, Leadership, and Conflict Resolution

A unique camp experience, the Cedar Glen model incorporated activities that taught essential skills within a classroom setting and, in addition, provided the student

mentors with the opportunity to demonstrate these skills through outdoor activities and challenges.

Students honed both communication and cooperation skills through the high ropes challenges. Here students had to trust their peers in a challenging setting, confronting their fears in the process. Climbing to the top of a telephone poll, students jumped to try to hit a hanging buoy. They were then lowered to the ground by their teammates. Students also tackled the “Slider” in teams of three and four, using teamwork in order to climb to the top of the course.

Songs were sung, friends were made, and much self-learning and group reflection occurred in all of the camp activities including a reflective night nature walk and campfire.

Much gratitude is extended to Ms. Tobin Walsh who greeted and spent time with our students, and to all of the amazing staff at Cedar Glen for making this experience a memorable one that we hope to repeat next year!

Cedar Glen “I enjoy doing Non-Profit volunteer work and never really considered a job in this area until this program. This program has helped me realize other courses that I'm interested in taking, such as Law and Economics, and has helped me choose a direction for my future.” ~Alannah Ongkeko

1. Effective Communication

2. Leadership 3. Conflict Resolution3!CertificationsIGNITING THE FLAME “Do not bury your talents, which God lent you to be spent in service.” ~Mary Ward page 2

United Nations Innovate 2 Educate. This was the key idea highlighted during the UN International Day of the Girl celebrations at the UNICEF headquarters in New York.

This was also the place where eight Loretto Abbey students, three of them SHSM students, had the privilege of attending this ceremony held on October 11, 2013 at the United Nations Headquarters commemorating the power of a girl throughout the world.

Loretto Abbey students had the opportunity to hear from Freida Pinto, an award winning actress and outspoken ambassador for children’s education. Pinto’s words were powerful and moving, often recalling her experiences as a child who witnessed extreme poverty and her calling to, as she so eloquently stated, “help all those little boys and girls.”

Joined by individuals from all around the world, Loretto Abbey students participated in a powerful symbolic artistic gesture. Through the solidarity provided by the United

Nations and UNICEF, individuals gathered around a large fresco depicting the obstacles facing the girl child. Everyone was then provided an eraser to remove these barriers and reaffirm the need to continue and improve upon the work highlighted in this ceremony so that this symbolic gesture will one day become reality.

Students also had the opportunity to meet youth ambassadors from various countries around the world. These ambassadors were able to

explain the significance of girls’ rights in their nations and what changes are still needed.

The Loretto Abbey students were fortunate enough to attend this celebration thanks to The Mary Ward Centre and The Partnership for Global Justice. They attended a four-day intensive workshop in order to grow in their knowledge of the United Nations, the Millennium Development Goals, and ultimately become more conscientious global citizens.

Loretto Abbey Celebrates the Day of the Girl with UNICEF at the United Nations By: Kassandra Neranjan

“I am proud to call myself an SHSM student. I think the SHSM program is probably one of the most

beneficial opportunities at our school. SHSM is designed to make their participants better people, whose main goal is to benefit the community.” ~Pamela Molina

“A survey conducted in 2003 by the HR Council for the Non-Profit Sector found that nearly 1.2 million people in Canada perform paid work for non-profit organizations. This translates into more than 7 per cent of the Canadian workforce. The sector’s employers include

some 69,000 non-profit organizations nationwide. They are active in a variety of areas – health and social services, religion, development and housing, arts and culture, sports and recreation, the environment, education and research, fundraising, and law, advocacy, and politics – both in Canada and internationally.” ~Ontario Ministry of Education: Non-Profit SHSM Policy Document

IGNITING THE FLAME “Do not bury your talents, which God lent you to be spent in service.” ~Mary Ward page 3

Transforming our Non-Profit SHSM Room

Throughout this year, we have been transforming room 436 into the Non-Profit

SHSM hub. Through their creativity, dedication, and vision, students and teachers have made this an incredible space to learn and work in. Certifications, informational sessions, and the GPP/Leadership & Peer Support Course - the

heart of the Non-Profit SHSM program - are all held in this beautiful space.

We would like to thank Mr. and Mrs. Vial, Mr. and Mrs. Sannuto, and Mr. Adamo for their

generous donations.

Steeped in History

This year, our GPP Students, many of whom are Non-Profit SHSM students, were fortunate

enough to document the living history and contributions of the IBVM community. Thirteen

Loretto Sisters mentored our students, shedding light on their personal journeys and

philanthropic work. We celebrated their mentorship with afternoon tea on May 27.

A p r i l 2 8 / M a y 1 5 / M a y 2 7 T h e L o r e t t o A b b e y C o n v e n t

2 : 1 5 t o 3 : 1 5

Steeped in History

LEARNING FROM OUR

SISTERS

Ethical Considerations for the Non-Profit Sector By: Kassandra Neranjan and Taylor Cenac What defines morals apart from ethics? Which truth is the right truth? Who decides what is ethical?These long deliberated questions were some of many which Loretto Abbey students discussed and debated during the Ethical Considerations Workshop that took place on March 20, 2014. Amanda Palumbo and Angela Kielbowski, of Learning For Sustainable Future, educated Loretto Abbey’s Non- Profit SHSM students in the importance of ethics in decision making in the Non- Profit sector.

Over the course of the day, Loretto Abbey students discussed the many challenges Non-Profit sector workers may encounter within their organizations and with their morals and values. Students were made aware of the

possible controversies around the sources of financial aid received by international organizations.

“This was the first workshop that left me with so many questions.

It took me the whole weekend to come up with adequate answers and I'm still trying to answer some,” stated Camela Salde, an LAT student who attended the workshop. “If a workshop can impact a person like that, where they are made to think about it in their daily lives, then imagine how important it must be for people whose lives are affected by these considerations.”

Throughout the day students were given the opportunity to debate social issues in a safe space. Through games and activities, students had the chance to dialogue with each other about these important issues.

The Non-Profit SHSM students at Loretto Abbey would like to sincerely thank the presenters and especially Ann McGowan, Director of the Mary Ward Centre, for sharing her insight and graciously hosting the day.

Certifications

Event Planning and Fundraising CertificationsOn November 1, 2013, Mr. Sean Hubbard, President of "Declare It", an organization that is focused around finding one's talents and strengths and using them to accomplish personal and professional goals, facilitated two SHSM Non-Profit Certifications: Event Planning and Fundraising.

Mr. Hubbard, along with Ms. Carolyn O'Grady and Ms. Nicole Medcalf, members of his team, educated Loretto Abbey's SHSM students on both the theoretical and practical knowledge involved in the planning and execution of successful fundraising events. Ms. O'Grady, having had experience working as an Associate Marketing Manager at the Heart and Stroke Foundation, and Ms.

Medcalf, experienced in Project Management, were ideal presenters who taught students through collaborative activities, dialogue, and reflection. During this informative and interactive workshop, students learned of the importance of team work, organization, and the consideration of the needs of others when working to make a difference within one's community.

IGNITING THE FLAME “Do not bury your talents, which God lent you to be spent in service.” ~Mary Ward page 5

Loretto Abbey's SHSM and GPP students, in addition to students from Loretto College School, St. Joseph's College School, and Madonna C. S. S. were mentored by women who are currently doing work in which they have the needs of the greater community in mind. Students were able to learn from, dialogue with, and network with these women as a means to get to know what their own gifts are and how they can be used to do good.

Ms. Mary Denisco, the Keynote Speaker for the Looking ForWARD Conference and the Chaplain and English teacher at Loretto College School, set the tone for the day. Her address, entitled "Hello Gorgeous!", emphasized the importance of one's personal worth and the need to stay connected to others. She engaged the audience with her emotionally-moving personal stories, and encouraged the girls to find themselves, hone their gifts, and use them, as Mary Ward did, to do great work in the community.

An additional 14 guest speakers very graciously gave of their time and talents to spend the day with our students. Speakers included women who work in education, religious communities, law, healthcare, the non-profit sector, and real estate. As Loretto Abbey just began their Non-Profit Specialist High Skills Major Program, the majority of the speakers in attendance are actively involved in this field and were able to provide students with a glimpse into the work that goes on in the non-profit sector.

Speakers spoke to the girls about their journeys to get to the places they are in their lives, the importance of resiliency, hard work, and a sense of purpose, and the need to commit to what one feels is just, worthwhile, and important.

Loretto Abbey's GPP students and their teachers, Mr. O. Lopes and Miss J. Caprara, would like to extend their sincere gratitude to Ms. Ann McGowan, Director of the Mary Ward Centre, for her expertise, time, assistance, and generosity in the preparation and execution of this incredible mentorship conference.

This conference would not have been possible without the generous, selfless commitment of all of the guest speakers. A incredibly heartfelt "Thank You!" is extended to these inspirational women!

In the work that she did, Mary Ward emphasized that one's God-given talents should not be buried; rather, they should be spent in service. When looking for Ward at the conference, she was very clearly present in each and every person who so graciously spent their day in service to others.

Looking ForWARD Mentorship at Work On Tuesday, May 13, 2014, Loretto Abbey's GPP 3O Mentorship students (including our SHSM students) hosted their first annual Looking ForWARD Conference at the Mary Ward Centre.

IGNITING THE FLAME “Do not bury your talents, which God lent you to be spent in service.” ~Mary Ward page 6

!!

!!!

!!Veronica Cenac: Ms. Cenac works as a Barrister and Solicitor at her own legal

office and in the Public Service Board of Appeal. She has worked extensively on cases pertaining to property law, human rights, and undocumented persons.

Daniela Corsetti: Ms. Corsetti is currently studying at McMaster University. She will begin her fourth year of a unique five year program that combines a full Chemical Engineering degree with a minor in Peace Studies. She has had experience working as a Junior Fellow in International Development at Engineers Without Borders.

Abigail Dela Cruz: A member of the Cadets, Ms. Dela Cruz has just completed her first year of post-secondary studies at the University of Toronto. She values volunteerism as she is an active member of her community.

Ashley Devlin and Alex Gardiner: Ms. Devlin is the co-founder of Live4Love, an organization that focuses on helping young people overcome the challenges they face in today’s society. Through various projects and assistance of individuals, including Ms. Gardiner, Live4Love emphasizes the belief that if you live a life of love you can bring about positive change in the world.

Michaela Evans: Ms. Evans has been working with Free the Children for many years. A phenomenal leader in her roles as the Educational Programming Coordinator and Facilitator for Volunteer Programs, she is actively involved in bringing groups of young students to developing countries such as Kenya and Ecuador.

Anne Breakey Hart: Ms. Breakey Hart is currently the Manager of Volunteer Engagement at Prostate Cancer Canada. In addition, she has spent part of her career as the Director of Volunteer Services at the Hospital for Sick Children. Through this emphasis on volunteerism and community, she is committed to the development of youth.

Sister Evanne Hunter: A Loretto Sister for over 55 years, Sr. Evanne has held a seat at the United Nations and has recently completed her term as the Canadian Provincial Superior for the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary. As a champion of education and the empowerment of women, she works towards enriching the lives of God’s people by promoting justice, peace, and the integrity of creation.

Jessica Pullman: Ms. Pullman’s experiences prior to the start of her high school career helped her understand the importance of resiliency. As an adult, she encourages others to take on leadership roles and have their voices heard.

Ari Randall and Carla Cavassa: Ms. Randall is a Registered Nurse in the Pediatric and Neonatal Care Unit at the Hospital for Sick Children. Ms. Cavassa is a teacher who has her own preschool. She is founder of a non-profit school program that runs in the children’s cancer hospital in Lima, Peru.

Anita Rovazzi: Ms. Rovazzi is a real estate agent in Toronto, currently working for Sutton Group Associates Realty Inc.. She has had previous experience working for Royal LePage Estate Services Ltd., Johnson and Daniel Division.

Jennifer Sampirisi: Ms. Sampirisi is a noted Canadian poet, novelist, and professor at Ryerson University. She founded the visual poetry website OtherCl/utter and is the author of the novel Is/Was and a poetry narrative entitled Croak. She is currently involved in Spanning the Gaps – a program that allows students access to post-secondary programs at Ryerson University.

Daniela Spagnuolo: Ms. Spagnuolo is in her third year of studies in the International Development Co-Op Program at the University of Toronto (Scarborough). She is currently working towards spending a year abroad doing ground work in a developing country, an endeavour that she will undertake in her fourth year of studies.

! Keynote Speaker: Mary Denisco

Ms. Denisco earned an M.Sc.Ed. at Buffalo State University and taught at Lackawanna High School for 6 years before moving to Toronto. She is currently the Chaplain and an English teacher at Loretto College High School. Ms. Denisco infuses humour into her work and truly cares about all of the students she teaches. As a motivational speaker, she has the magical ability to weave humour into every aspect of the fragility of life. A cancer survivor with 30 years of classroom experience, she uses stories - painful or hysterically funny TRUE stories - to teach and inspire her audiences.

We are grateful to have in our midst a group of inspirational leaders who have volunteered to spend their time mentoring young women. They are truly using their talents in service to others, inspiring us to do good and do it well.

IGNITING THE FLAME “Do not bury your talents, which God lent you to be spent in service.” ~Mary Ward

Esi Aboagye Jillian Alagadan Alexandra Aldea Ingrid Bancolita Vanessa Batalla Dana Chisholm Margarita Cifuentes Stephanie Colella Angel Dela Pena Kelsey Eakin Sabrina Emiliani Dianne Espeleta

Aileen Falcones Selena Flores Kathleen Furtado Patsy Garas Kimberly Geronimo Allyson Guerra-Granja Leanna Igreja Paula Jaramillo Jordan Lai Kathleen Lepatan Victoria MacMillan Olivia Martella

Angelica Mesa Miranda Mirabelli Melissa Munaweera Lorilee Padua Ascenza Paolella Karen Penaranda Isabella Piccirilli Luana Presta Alessia Rao Sabrina Ravenda Rebecca Scenna Elise Silveira

Eunice Si Catherine Sinka Alana Sta Ana Katrina Talavera Evangeline Tarun Alessia Venditti Serena Viola Woolim Yoo Vanessa Yabut Sabreena Zilli

Dawnlove Agamao Jherrica Arizala Sabela Birhane Taylor Cenac Tyler Cenac Valeria Diaz Sarah Di Battista* Cassidy Dow Danica Flores* Camille Gaddi

Sabrina Gallippi* Rosemary Gagliardi Sofia Gaspar Alison Hanson Gwyneth Jordan Meghan Keegan Emily March Robyn Matuto Madeleine Meredith Pamela Molina*

Kassandra Neranjan* Alannah Ongkeko* Camille Ortega Catherine Pham Angel Retonda Janella Reyes Serena Robillard Camela Salde* Laura Sannuto Katherine Savo-Sardaro

Letizia Settembrini Stephanie Spagnuolo Nadia Szijjarto Amanda Theriault Vanessa Vega Hannah Veiga Michelle Yip Zoe Zovko *Non-Profit SHSM Executive Council Member !!

SHSM STUDENTS

Many Thanks! The Non-Profit Specialist High Skills Major program is one that runs successfully because of the work done by a large group of teachers all dedicated to student success. We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to Ms. Caprara, Ms. Kazakis, and Mr. Lopes for being the lead

teachers of this program. They could not do this work without the enthusiasm and support of our entire staff, especially Mr. Furfaro and Ms. L. Chiera (Cooperative Education), Major Subject teachers, senior level Math and English teachers, and the Minor Requirement teachers (Business and Science) who have helped create and implement meaningful Non-Profit focused Contextualized Learning Activities (CLAs). Finally, thank you to the TCDSB SHSM program advisors (Catherine Moynihan, Suzanne Pribaz, and Tobin Walsh) for their guidance and support. A job well done!

Anita Bartolini, Principal Josie Pannozzo and Paolo Morrone, Vice Principals

Non-Profit SHSM Issue 1

Igniting the Flame Loretto Abbey C.S.S.

101 Mason Blvd. Toronto, ON

M5M 3E2

Congratulations to the following students for having completed the first year of studies in Loretto Abbey’s Non-Profit Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) Program:

The following students will begin their Non-Profit SHSM journey next year:

IGNITING THE FLAME “Do not bury your talents, which God lent you to be spent in service.” ~Mary Ward