Fine Arts Learning Leader, Joel Abrams, shared a video at the February School Council meeting celebrating Fine Arts highlights this year at Thirsk, including the Remembrance Day Ceremony, the play “Merry Murders at Montmarie”, and the Winter Fine Arts Gala. Comets have more to look forward to this spring with an upcoming One-Act Play Festival, May performance of “Seussical the Musical” and Spring Fine Arts Gala. Stay tuned for more information about these events!
Course registration for grade 10 and 11 students will take place February 23-March 12th in communities and at Focus time. See the school calendar for dates and times. Students will be selecting courses using Home Logic. Access to course registration will close on March 13th. Students will be able to view the courses they have selected, but students will not be able to make changes after March 13th.
General RTHS Registration Information
Grade 10 and 11 in-School Registration Presentation
Walkthrough of Course Requests through HomeLogic 2015
For detailed information about high school course planning please visit http://www.cbe.ab.ca/programs/high-school/Pages/default.aspx
Feb. 23, 2015
Robert Thirsk High School hosted its very first Rising Star Film Festival this year. It turned out to be an international festival with over 80 films competing for the top prize in two categories, Commercials/PSAs and Short Films.
Some judges were also on hand for the Feb. 5 awards event, hosting industry sessions to answer film-makers’ questions about the film and television industry. In attendance were Mike Frislev, producer of Hell On Wheels/Fargo; Terry Coles, former president of CTV, Sega Channel and YTV; Kirstie McLellan Day, author and producer of Playing with Fire: The Theo Fleury Story and Brian Vos from Jump Studios.
The winning short film went to Angel for Hire, an entry from Wales , U.K. and the successful Commercials/PSA entry was Socks & Sandals by Hanna Leminski.
More information on all the winning films can be viewed on the rising star film festival website: www.risingstarfilmfest.com. Entries for the 2016 festival will open in September 2015.
We are proud to announce that Hannah F. has earned RTHS’ first-ever Alberta Ministry of Agriculture Green Certificate in Equine studies.
Since 1975 the Green Certificate Program has provided an excellent opportunity for young people to gain experience and training in one of the prime industries of the Alberta economy.
On June 9, 2000 Alberta Education made the Green Certificate an approved complimentary program of study available to all Alberta high schools. Becoming a competent farm production technician (completing a Level I Green Certificate) requires taking three courses and upon completion, receiving 16 credits.
The Green Certificate Program provides trainees with opportunities to enter a variety of agriculture-related, structured learning pathways as a part of their senior high school program and to earn a credential leading to a career in agribusiness.
Congratulations Hannah!
For further information on the Green Certificate program for high school students please visit: http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/grc6643 and https://education.alberta.ca/media/850298/green_pofs.pdf
In early April, some of our cook trade students volunteered their time to help in the kitchen at the Easter Seals We Care Ball. This annual event is a prestigious fund-raising dinner that is prepared by the Calgary Academy of Cooks and Chefs in conjunction with student and professional volunteer chefs from around the city.
Our Comet culinary students gave three evenings that week in the preparation and service of a very fine meal at the BMO Centre on the Stampede Grounds. Under the expert instruction and guidance of Chef Mike Minard, our kids not only performed professionally, but stood out from the rest to the tune of many, many compliments. Congratulations to Chaise H., Sam R, Max W., and Robert S.!
RTHS Grade 12 students held three successful events this week to raise money for charity.
Several brave Grade 12 students and equally brave staff members volunteered to take a pie in the face from those who made donations to the Adolescent Recovery Centre. Thank goodness that the courtyard could be hosed down!
Students also organized a Grade 12 volunteers were ‘auctioned’ to the highest bidder for charity. The lucky winners were able to get various kinds of assistance from their volunteers and more money was raised for the Adolescent Recovery Centre.
Thanks to all who organized and participated in these fun and worthwhile events. As always, we are proud of our Comets for their leadership and citizenship.
That’s the way we roll! – We received a note from a Calgary Transit driver commending our students for their positive bus etiquette and respect towards others. Way to go Comets!
On Monday, June 15, 2015 two grade twelve representatives, Elaina V. and Lucretia D., along with Ms. Neily, delivered a cheque to the Alberta Adolescent Recovery Centre (AARC) for $1027.10. AARC is a non-profit organization and the money raised will go towards covering treatment costs for clients, who suffer from alcohol/drug addiction, and their families. AARC was truly grateful for the donations. Thank you to Elaina and Lucretia for your leadership and planning and thank you to our grade 12s for their generosity.
The graduating class of RTHS voted and selected AARC as the graduation charity and funds raised from various student led activities and donations of “toonies” as students walked across the stage at the commencement ceremony.
Names in the picture from the left: Keegan Erickson, AARC Peer Counsellor, Jackie Smith, AARC Community Intervention Coordinator, Lucretia D and Elaina V, grade 12 students at RTHS, Jennifer Neily, RTHS Success Centre, Dr. Dean Vause, AARC Executive Director
On June 18th RTHS parents, students and staff gathered to recognize the amazing achievements of our Comets this year. Over the course of two semesters more than 325 students have been recognized for Essence of the Discipline awards and over 1600 Exemplary awards have been awarded. Students Sarah N. and Sam B. did a wonderful job as Masters of Ceremonies for the evening.
Essence of the Discipline awards were presented first. Staff and students in each curricular area (e.g. Math, CTS, Global Studies) determined the criteria for this award and then students chose one individual in each class who most embodied the specific elements of the discipline or area of study. Learning Leaders of each discipline explained the criteria and called up students for recognition.
Exemplary Achievement award winners were recognized next. Learning Leaders of each community announced the names of students who had achieved the Exemplary standard (90% or higher) in a minimum of four courses.
Next on the agenda community Learning Leaders announced the Thirsk Award winners. One student in each community was recognized for their contributions as a Learner, Leader and Citizen within our school and local communities. Recipients this year included:
Grade 10 Red Community – Shane Y.
Grade 10 Blue Community – Mohammed M.
Grade 10 Orange Community- Tara G.
Grade 11 Red Community- Zilin Q.
Grade 11 Blue Community- Oluwabori F.
Grade 11 Orange Community- Maddy M.
Grade 12 Silver Community- Jane M.
Grade 12 Purple Community- Nally S.
International Certificates were awarded to students who demonstrated ability in second languages, completed international course work and engaged in international experiences. Congratulations to: Aylin A., Anushka G., Juhene K., Leticia M., Hayley N., Zahra S., Elaina V. and Lina V.
Information about the International Certificate program can be found at:
http://www.cbe.ab.ca/programs/Documents/International-Certificate-booklet.pdf
Global Learning information: https://sites.google.com/a/educbe.ca/global-learning/
Following the International Certificates three community-based awards and scholarships were presented to three amazing Grade 12 Comets:
Schulich Leadership Nominee for RTHS – demonstrating excellence in Science, Technology, Math and Engineering – Hayley N.
Lions Club Scholarship – Jarred F. and Samera M.
Kermet Archibald & Jacoba Van den Brink Entrance Bursary – Harry H.
In the final event of the evening Kaitlyn O. was presented with the Dr. Robert Thirsk Legacy Award. This award is given to a senior student who consistently demonstrated the qualities of a Leader, Learner and Citizen creating a Comet legacy along the way.
Congratulations to all of our amazing and talented students!
The Second Annual Comets’ Athletic Awards Night was held on June 10th, celebrating the achievements of our amazing athletes. The ceremony was opened by Masters of Ceremonies, Grade 12 students Dima A. and Jake F., as well as a welcome from principal Chris Meaden and Colin and Austin F. who gave thanks to coaches, parents and administration for their ongoing support.
Over 50 Thirsk students were recognized for their effort, sportsmanship, leadership and athleticism. Coaches’ Awards and MVP awards were given in 20 Senior High School Athletic Association sports categories. Additional recognition included: the Outstanding Trainer Award, Recognition of CSHSAA Selects/ All Stars and Calgary Booster Club Nominees.
Congratulations to the Athletes of the Year winners who were exemplary representatives of RTHS:
Grade 10 Athlete of the Year – Liam Haubrich
Grade 11 Female Athlete of the Year – Omobolaji Olayioye
Grade 11 Male Athletes of the Year – Billy Duffy, Ben Darby, Spencer Brown
Grade 12 Female Athlete of the Year – Hayley Woodman
Grade 12 Male Athlete of the Year – Parker Hughes
The final highlight of the evening was the Spirit of the Comets Award, given to two outstanding Grade 12 students: Dima A. and Hayley N.
Happy Summer Comets! RTHS is currently looking for student volunteers who are willing to help with school startup from August 24th to 28th, 2015 to complete various jobs. If you are interested in getting an early start volunteer hours, meeting other Comets, or helping Robert Thirsk High School, this is your opportunity. Please contact Ms. Clark at gmclark@cbe.ab.ca and let her know when you are available. Have a great rest of your summer!
Huge thanks to our amazing leadership students who have created and displayed collages of all our 2015- 2016 students in each community!
Welcome new staff and students to an amazing new year!
We look forward to meeting you on Thursday September 17th.
Please click below for a full schedule of events:
We are off to a great start to the school year welcoming almost 1400 students to RTHS for year three. Thanks to our many leadership students who helped us over the last three weeks with school set-up and tours. Our new grade 10 Comets were welcomed on the first day with a pancake breakfast put on by our football team, followed by a hot dog lunch for all grades hosted by our girls’ rugby team. At our welcoming assembly guest motivational speaker Blake Fly reminded us about the importance of trying new things and seeking opportunities to soar.
Students from the Social 30-1, 30-2 and the Accelerated 20/30 class participated in the Candidate’s Forum on Thursday, September 17th. Representatives from the four major parties running in the upcoming federal election came to discuss the issues, including Pat Kelly (PCs), Nirmala Naidoo (Liberals), Stephanie Kot (NDP), and Catriona Wright (Green Party). The students had the opportunity to ask questions generated in their Social Studies classes, and several audience members had the chance to ask their questions as well.
Beakerhead is a movement that encourages the fusion of technology and creativity through an “unconventional mash up of science, art and engineering”. Each year students are invited to take part in and our new Grade 10 students at RTHS were ready to accept the Atomic 13 Ingenuity Challenge!
The theme this year was “Things are larger than life.” and the material was tinfoil. Students spent three Focus periods designing their amazing creations.
Last week, three of our Biology 20 classes spent a day out at the Biogeoscience Institute Field Station. Students spent the morning assessing the physical, chemical, and biological properties of a nearby river to later compare their findings to a proposed model. Each student had an important job to do. One of those jobs included collecting the invertebrates to bring back to the lab for the class to identify later in the afternoon. As an added bonus, we had beautiful weather in the mountains all three days!
The Natural Science 10 program has begun the process of establishing a rooftop garden in 2015 and has just finished its first harvest. Students created elevated beds and tried a variety of crops that were started indoors in April and planted outside in late May. We were able to successfully grow corn, tomatoes, sunflowers, carrots, radishes and a variety of lettuces including kale. This project is the precursor to further development of a fixed greenhouse to be used all seasons and outdoor beds to be used in the spring to fall seasons. Students thoroughly enjoyed the harvesting process as well as munching on the results of their efforts.
Students in Natural Science 10 had the opportunity to experience everything seismic this week as they participated in the 2015 Seismic in Motion trip out to Waiporous. The students were exposed to talks and demonstrations that included safety rescue, helicopter demos, tree mulching and line cutting, blasting and drilling demo’s and all the cool toys employed in seismic to find the resources that we rely on daily. The day ended with a helicopter rescue and an explosives demonstration to feel the power of seismic!! This all in the beautiful fall setting of the Waiporous valley.