Clubs & Committees

DECA:

Teachers advisors would like to send a huge CONGRATULATIONS to Sherry Yang and Angelina Zheng, who both came in first place at DECA's North American Finalist Competition International Career Development Conference (ICDC), representing Ontario, competing against approximately 19,000 students all across North America.

We would also like to give one final congratulations to all the students who competed in our DECA Chapter this year, for all the hard work and dedication that was put in by all. Our 2020-2021 DECA Chapter has come to an end, and we look forward to competing again next year!

Debate Club:

At St. Theresa's Debate Club, our mission is to empower our members to become better speakers and critical thinkers. During weekly meetings, members either engage in lively debate with their peers or learn valuable content through seminars hosted by club executives. Weekly rounds of debate, all hosted in British Parliamentary (BP) format, push students to construct compelling arguments for their side of the house in just fifteen minutes. This challenging exercise allows members to strengthen their impromptu speaking, communication, and critical analysis skills. At the same time, the collaborative nature of preparing the case with a partner enables members to meet new friends while improving their ability to work in a team. Club seminars are equally valuable! From international relations and philosophy to environmental justice, these seminars widen students’ knowledge of topics that are important both in debate and everyday life.

Since the start of the club in the first quadmester of this year, we have seen members experience remarkable growth and success. Regardless of each member's starting point, every student has become a more articulate communicator and a more nuanced thinker. To put this into perspective, many members struggled to give speeches lasting more than one minute on impromptu topics at the start of the year. Now, members routinely wield rhetoric and logical analysis to give persuasive speeches that fulfill the five-minute time requirement. St. Theresa’s Debate Club members have experienced success at various debate tournaments as well. We would like to congratulate club members Vivian Song for winning gold finals at the prestigious Windbrook High School Debate Tournament and Angela Zhou for advancing to the gold finals. We are excited to take the club to new heights next year!

Thank you,

Angelina Zheng

D.O.T. (Doctors of Tomorrow):

Doctors of Tomorrow has officially wrapped up a very exciting first year! Our wonderful group of DOT members truly demonstrated their great passion for the medical field by participating in DOT’s various events throughout the year. Each and every student was able to further his/her knowledge about important topics while improving crucial skills.

This year we were able to achieve our goal of inspiring students to get more involved and become more proactive with their interests and future post-secondary and career pathways. DOT provided a great learning opportunity for all of the STL community with our MCAT presentation event. MCAT stands for “Medical College Admission Test,'' and it is essentially an exam that is required to gain entry into medical school. After learning more about the types of questions that are on the MCAT and how the testing works, members of DOT left the meeting much more knowledgeable about how to be best prepared for the exam.

Furthermore, another event held for DOT members was an article case study workshop on the topic of genetics research. Students were divided into four breakout groups and then were given approximately 30 minutes to read one of two articles: one about the recent successful cloning of a badger, and another about recent successes in lab-grown meat. Afterwards, each group was asked to present a summary of the information gathered, as well as potential ethical pros and cons. We were very excited to see great success with each group’s work and presentations.

At our last meeting of the 2020-2021 school year, all the members of DOT participated in a fun, culminating kahoot quiz on the topic of general medical knowledge. Following this, DOT executives then jump started a delightful group discussion about current issues, personal growth and development, and future endeavors in the medical field. This final event was a great opportunity for students to reflect on how being a part of the Doctors of Tomorrow club has improved their communication skills, leadership skills, and confidence in themselves for the future. DOT is a great way for students to get involved at STL while motivating them to be a part of the future of the medical field. We look forward to continuing to grow and explore their passions in years to come.

E.S.P./S.O.S./Jack.org Committee:

E.S.P.:

St Theresa’s Empowered Student Partnership (E.S.P.) club has been very busy these past months. We have weekly meetings regarding upcoming events and are busy creating posts! E.S.P. dedicates a week to a certain event or topic, and as a club, we brainstorm ideas on how we can inform the STL community about important topics. These topics include, school safety, solutions to drug use, bullying, and much more! E.S.P.’s weekly meetings focus on everyone’s concerns; we share ideas on how we can promote awareness and provide assistance to our STL community. Recently, E.S.P. focused on Pink Shirt Day where STL was given the task to wear a pink shirt, whether, in school or online. This was a success as many classes sent a photo of the students recognizing pink shirt day! As well, every year E.S.P. usually hosts a dog therapy day. This year we decided to keep the tradition, but instead, the STL community was asked to submit photos of their pets and answer some questions on how their pet bring them happiness. We hope that the posts spread joy in your busy lives! ESP has been using the STL Instagram account and the STL App as their platform for all their upcoming posts. E.S.P. looks forward to continuing their contribution to the STL community. We appreciate your support and participation in our events.

Matthew Hammond

S.O.S.:

Stomping Out Stigma (SOS) is a part of the ESP/SOS club that focuses on spreading awareness and eliminating stigma. Over the past few months, SOS has conducted research, spread awareness, hosted events and discussed a myriad of topics. A key subject highlighted in our posts has been mental health. From discussing the causes and symptoms of mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety, OCD, mood disorders and eating disorders as well as putting out coping mechanisms and support resources, SOS has ensured that students feel heard, welcome, supported and never alone. Another essential issue that SOS has discovered and addressed is discrimination. Whether it be against women, people with different sexual or gender orientations, people of colour or any other minorities, SOS has highlighted memorial and international days, such as the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, and talked about the importance of standing up for those who are marginalized as well as the importance of being inclusive and accepting. SOS aims to make a significant impact on the school and municipal community and strives to continue to eradicate stigma and promote acceptance.

By: Madeleine Faur

Jack.org:

This year ESP & SOS had the pleasure of introducing Jack.org to STL. Jack.org is a national initiative that works towards breaking down barriers surrounding mental health through youth-led initiatives. Jack.org describes their mission: "We're working towards a Canada where all young people understand how to take care of their own mental health and look out for each other. A Canada without shame, where all those who need support get the help they deserve. Our movement is powered by tens of thousands of advocates and allies across every province and territory of Canada. And we're just getting started." ESP & SOS looks forward to starting our journey with Jack.org and the STL community.

By: Alessia Bentrovato

HOSA:

STL’s HOSA Chapter (Health Occupations Students of America) has had an eventful year, despite the unfavourable circumstances. The Executive Committee has worked relentlessly to help members aspiring to become future healthcare professionals to develop a strong work ethic and a good understanding of what it means to work in a medical field. During weekly virtual meetings, chapter members learned and discussed materials relevant to their HOSA event or practiced the required skills through written and practical mock evaluations / presentations in breakout sessions.

In addition to regular chapter meetings, the Executive Committee organized a series of special events, featuring students from University of Toronto’s MEDYSP. Our guests talked to students about their university programs, process of admissions as well as their involvement in extracurricular activities, university life and plans for medical school. Students were given the opportunity to ask questions and further explore the world beyond high school.

HOSA’s Fall Leadership Conference took place in early December 2020. STL HOSA members had a choice of competing in this conference to test their knowledge and skills in preparation for the official Spring Conference held in April. FLC was an eye-opening experience for many newer members and a rewarding conference with feedback presented to all participants. HOSA members Alex Cho and Robert Zhang were the standout performers as they placed first in Canada for the CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) Skills event.

Link to FLC Finalists

In April, HOSA members competed in the Spring Leadership Conference. With many members and the executives working around the clock following the FLC, the results were astounding with over 25 members placing as Top 10 National Finalists. Moreover, 3 students finished Top 3 in their respective events to qualify for the Virtual International Leadership Conference!!! Marina Zhang, who placed 2nd in Canada in the Veterinary Science event, together with a Grade 9 team of Diba Norozi and Tara Lee, the 3rd place winners in the EMT (Emergency Medical Technicians) event will be attending VILC held from June 23rd to June 26th, 2021. They will represent St.Theresa of Lisieux CHS, York Catholic District School Board, province of Ontario and our Country on the international stage. Best of luck to the 3 of you!

Link to SLC Finalists

Despite the hardships and challenging times, this has been a very memorable and successful year for STL’s HOSA Chapter. Our members displayed utmost character and intrinsic drive, rarely losing focus and relentlessly progressing towards their respective goals, under the leadership of the dedicated executives. Congratulations to all, on your amazing achievements.

Model UN:

More Success with STL’s MODEL UNITED NATIONS

Model UN is a simulation of the United Nations that allows student delegates to work with others to create a resolution that solves the issues present within the council and align with their country’s values. It is more than just debating; it builds character and confidence. Collectively, it allows students to improve on their leadership, public speaking, and problem-solving skills. At the end of each conference, awards are given out to delegates that have stood out during the committee session. Overall, MUN is an excellent opportunity for students to think outside the box and connect with other students, as well as form friendships and memories that will last a lifetime. St. Theresa of Lisieux’s Model United Nations chapter has had nothing short of an amazing year. At our weekly meetings, over fifty passionate students come together on Google Meet and formally debate on a wide range of pressing world issues, such as the negative impacts of the critically acclaimed app “TikTok,” as well as the Rohingyan Refugee crisis. Through these meetings, a sense of community was formed amongst the chapter and has allowed us to grow stronger together. STLMUN has had to adapt to participate in virtual conferences.

Nonetheless, each delegate has exceeded our expectations and delivered amazing contributions to their debates. With the virtual setting, our MUN team has had the opportunity to attend international conferences and debates amongst students from all over the world. Over the span of five conferences, our team has captured a total of 15 awards! With our season coming to an end, we would like to thank all of our members for their continued passion, dedication and hard work. They have attended every conference and represented STL and the YCDSB with pride and diplomacy. Despite Model UN having to take a virtual form, each of our delegates has never failed to amaze us.

As the new school year approaches, we hope to go back to meeting in Mr. Saggese’s classroom where we can continue to immerse ourselves in fruitful debate, smiles and laughter. Our team is stronger than ever and we are excited to see what the future holds for us.

Teacher Advisor: Mr. Saggese

MUN Executive Team: Brian Lee, Daniela Valenzuela Neto, Lauren Kim, Sabrina Arcuri

Paw Print:

Amidst the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, Laurie Liu and I, Zaynab Chaudhry, were grateful enough to run the Paw Print this school year. The club was filled with bright students, many of them ninth graders, showing their initiative and passion by submitting articles about their interests to share with the school and community. The Paw Print welcomes many different perspectives and forms of expression and many members were interested in writing about this year's unique situation of distance learning during a pandemic. It provided an opportunity for many students to express their thoughts and experiences on how it has been affecting their life and gain perspectives from other classmates. The Paw Print also noticed an interest in poetry and creative writing this year. Members also used their voices to express their concerns on a number of topics such as: mental health, environmental issues, discrimination and equity. This club has been an amazing tool to get eager students to express their opinions and interests in all different forms, from writing, to digital art, to photography. We hope more students will feel welcome to join and continue this amazing tradition of the club in STL’s future. Laurie and I would also like to give a special thanks to our advisors, Ms. Meschino and Mr. Martinello for overseeing the Paw Print and making it possible for us to run it this year despite the limitations the pandemic placed on schools. You are all invited to read our Paw Print - June Issue. We hope the community has a wonderful and safe summer.

By: Zaynab Chaudhry

STL Robotics:

Congratulations to our STL Robotics Teams 82855G and 82855Y!!

Never before in the history of STL Robotics have we cemented our name on the VEX Robotics Worlds Stage. Last weekend, our teams 82855G and 82855Y competed in the Live Remote VEX Robotics World Championship where not only did our teams 82855G and 82855Y place in the top division, but they also ended up taking 2nd and 3rd place in the WORLD! Due to current world events, our teams were not able to go to Texas to compete; thus the whole competition was held and judged remotely! Our teams competed from the safety of their own homes, assembling the fields and driving their robots in their living room or basement, while being featured on the official livestream and smashing the competition! Our teams did exceptionally well in the skills competition, but in addition to their high scores, our team 82855G won the highly coveted BUILD AWARD, crowning them as having created the BEST BUILT ROBOT in the WORLD! We congratulate our teams and everyone who supported them and their dedication to make STL history!

Robotics Recap:

4 Provincials-Qualifiers

3 Award Winners

2 Tournament Champions

2 Worlds-Award Winners.

These are only some of the numerous achievements by STL Robotics during the 2020-2021 Change Up season. They made STL, Ontario, and Canada proud through their stellar performance in various competitions. When faced with harsh challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic, these teams persevered and adapted to continue their journey in STEM education. They competed in 6 competitions against the best teams VEX has to offer, and here are some of the amazing achievements by the teams:

• 82855G

  • 1x Tournament Champion, 4th Place finish in the World, Build Award recipient at the Worlds Competition - “Best built robot in the World”

• 82855Y

  • 1x Tournament Champion, 3rd Place in the World, 4th Place finish at Provincials, Top 3 finish in Canada, 2x 2nd Place finish

• 82855X

  • 2nd Place finish at the Brampton Disco Dynamic Competition, 7th Place finish at Provincials, Top 10 finish in Ontario

• 82855T

  • 3rd Place finish at the Brampton Disco Dynamic Competition, 11th Place finish at Provincials, Top 15 finish in Ontario

With the season coming to a close after the Worlds competition last Saturday, the future of STL Robotics looks bright. If you would like to partake in the exciting journey, sign up for STL Robotics. Visit the robotics instagram page @stl_robotics or visit the website at https://www.stlrobotics.org/.

St. Theresa Women in Leadership Club:

St. Theresa Women in Leadership (STWIL) promotes and encourages the leadership of all students by exposing members to careers of all industry sectors and post-secondary paths. With the onset of the pandemic, the STWIL executives had to adapt our events to fit this new online environment. As a result, we had various live virtual interviews with various female community leaders, including Christiana Coroneos (VP of Finance in Schulich’s Women in Leadership), Anita Shide (The Inclusion Leader within Deloitte’s Financial Advisory Practice), and Leona Alleslev MP (Member of Parliament representing the Riding of Aurora, Oak Ridges, and Richmond Hill in the House of Commons). To promote aspiring leaders, our club also began a Mentorship Program, pairing seniors with junior members. Guidance from fellow members allows students to persevere in pursuing their goals. Finally, STWIL held our first annual Case Study Competition for Young Leaders. Members were placed in groups and were each given a realistic case/scenario that included gender discrimination in the classroom and the workplace. Each group then discussed and prepared a presentation describing how each of them would approach and deal with their given situation. All groups did an amazing job and the event was very successful. STWIL would like to thank our Teacher Advisor, Ms. Fraschini, President, Martine Falzone, and Executive Team, Stefania Coroneos, Beatrice Pinsky, Kayla Chauhan, Sabrina Arcuri, Claire Ku, and Niki Alizadeh Saghati. We hope all members have an amazing and safe summer and hope to see you all in STWIL club meetings next year!