Grade 10

Highlights:

Academic #1 – Gold standard in School-Speeches.

In the Collingwood public speaking competition I received first place and gold standard in the entire senior school. Only being in grade ten I was competing against grade elevens and twelve’s so it was a very large achievement and I felt really proud of myself.

Academic #2 – First Socials Studies Test

In the first socials studies test of the year I received a %92. I feel that this mark really reflects my work ethic. I studied very hard for this test and was rewarded. 

Athletics – Horse show in Thermal California

My horse and I traveled down south to an internationally recognized horse show in Thermal California. I consistently placed in the 1.20m and won money and prizes as well as gained a wealth of experience. I had a great time and look forward to returning next year.

Arts- School Plays

Back-to-back large female rolls in the school plays The Laramie Project and The Visit. Many teachers and students praised me for my accurate portrayals of Romaine Patterson in the Laramie Project and as Frau Schill in The Visit. I had a lot of fun doing these plays as I got to connect with other students and teachers while acting. 

Service- Gr. 4 camp counsellor

 Grade four camp counselor. This was truly a unique experience. I worked and mentored a group of Collingwood grade 4 students at their first camping experience. I received a letter of thanks from the grade four teachers saying I was a standout in their eyes with my work with the kids.

Choice #1- Academics

I received a 92% on my first term Socials mark as well as a FM for effort. I feel that this mark largely reflects my research skills and my ability to work with my peers. As well, for this report card I received 100% for participation in class which is an indication of how prepared I am and how my assignments are handed in in a timely manor. This shows I can really apply myself in stressful situations.

Choice # 2 - Arts

In term three in Senior Vocal Jazz we were expected to perform a particularly hard arrangement of Fields of Gold. One week before the concert I felt that I did not know my part strongly enough, so I went on the Collingwood Choirs website and practiced my alto part the entire long weekend. So, after the concert our group was praised on how lovely the song sounded. This really shows how much I care about doing my best and making the commitment to the groups I am apart of.

Choice #3- Academic

In term two we did a very large chemistry unit. I found chemistry a very difficult concept to grasp because of the math involved. When I got home from Thermal California I really focused on understanding chemistry and doing well on my test and quizzes. I went in for numerous one on one tutorials with my teachers, and as a result was able to maintain an 86% despite being away.

Reflections:

Academic: Gold Strand in School- Speeches

At the end of term one Collingwood School holds its annual Public Speaking Competition. Public Speaking has always been an area of interest for me as I enjoy writing and presenting my work. My only problem is I have a very difficult time deciding what I am going to write about. I really have to connect with a topic if I am expected to write five and half minutes about it. On the weekend I was expected to choose my topic, tragedy struck at the World Equestrian Games in Verona Italy. Hickstead, Eric Lamaze’s gold medal Olympic mount died of a heart attack after competing a beautiful round. I was devastated. He was my role model in the sport for so many reasons and to watch him have to say goodbye was devastating. I knew what I was going to write about. That night I went home and wrote my entire speech in under twenty minutes. As the tears dropped on to the keyboard of my laptop and I typed the last sentence I knew that I didn’t want to present this speech to the school to get a plaque but to honor Hickstead’s memory and share his incredible story with the student body. There was only one problem. For the longest time I was unable to deliver the speech without crying. After my English teacher said I could advance to the grade rounds I felt a small sense of accomplishment, although I knew there was still a long way to go. On the afternoon of the grade ten semi finals I delivered my speech without looking at my cards once and speaking as clearly and as honestly as I had ever done. After the competition was over my peers and teachers congratulated me on a job well done and told me how moved they were by Hickstead’s story. That evening I learned that I was the only grade ten student that received gold standard and was advancing to the school finals. The finals did not go as smoothly as the semis. As I was up on stage I looked down at the audience and saw tears in the eyes of many. This resulted in several voice cracks. I managed to keep it together long enough and did not cry. After a long deliberation by the judges they enounced their decision. I was the winner. I was in grade 10 and I was the Public Speaking Competition winner. I was proud of my accomplishments but most of all I knew that somewhere up in horsey heaven Hickstead was galloping around a field, free like the wind. With that thought in my mind I climbed the stage to accept my award knowing I had done his story justice. Horses are such a large part of my life and after having such a great success with this speech, when I have to pick a topic next fall I know I will feel ready. This was a highlight of my grade ten year and I’m thankful for being able to experience it.

Athletic: Horse show in Thermal, California

This experience was definitely a highlight to my year! In February 2012 my horse Vindoctro and I traveled down south to the small town of Thermal California to compete at the internationally recognized horse show HITS. This was the biggest and most important show I had ever competed in and the furthest away from home I had traveled with my horse. I could barely contain my excitement! I was competing in the 1.20m jumper division and was receiving consistent placings as well as money and prizes. This was a big deal for me because it was the first show I had done at 1.20m. When you hit a certain level in the sport of show jumping the courses you are expected to jump become increasingly harder and technical. I handled all the challenges thrown at me and I gained a wealth of experience. I feel that this experience will impact my future in show jumping immensely. It is a passion that brings me so much happiness and joy. Having done the show in California really reassured me that I would be able to handle the pressures of a more competitive stage and still perform and be competitive. In addition to showing I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to watch many professional riders and grand prix horses. To watch the level of focus and concentration it takes to execute a course of that difficulty is very impressive. I like to model myself after these inspiring equestrians to further my development as a rider. I am so grateful to have had this experience and I cannot wait to attend the show next year!

Arts: School Plays

Every year the Collingwood School Drama Department puts on two play performances. This year in the first term we did a non-fictional retelling of the Laramie Project and in term three the dramatic tragedy The Visit. These were two very different shows where I played two very different characters. In the Laramie Project I was Romaine Patterson. Romaine was a close friend of Mathew Sheppard and fought very hard for gay rights and equality in Laramie. She was a key character in the play so it was a very large and demanding role. There was one part in the third act where I was protesting with a group of people dressed up as angels bringing forth a message of peace, love, and compassion. It was called angel action. This was a very moving part in the play. Instead off fighting fire with fire my character took the high road and made history. After performances my teachers and peers praised me for my accurate portrayal of Romaine. I had a wonderful time taking part in this play and it influenced my decision to take part in the next one. In term three I was Frau Schill in the dramatic tragedy The Visit. This was a very different character then Romaine. I was the wife of the lead male roll. Contrary to the Laramie project where Romaine was a strong leader, Frau Schill is a follower. Her decisions are highly influenced by her friends and finances. Also, in this play I did not play as much of a prominent roll. It was still such an incredible experience. I am so fortunate to be apart of such sophisticated performances in high school. It was a highlight to be able to connect with my peers and teachers while having fun acting! I cannot wait to audition for the plays next year and hopefully one day I will be the female lead!

Service: Grade 4 camp counsellor

Being a grade four camp counselor was truly a unique experience. When you’re a teenager you naturally begin to undertake more and more responsibility. This experience embodies a whole different type of responsibility. Not only were you responsible for taking care of yourself and regulating your own behavior, you were now mentoring an entire cabin full of grade four kids. When I signed up for this trip I thought I knew what to expect. I remember being in grade five and admiring my camp counselors. I knew that when I was given the opportunity, I would have my turn to be the boss. But to my surprise, it was not about being the boss at all. You had to be a leader. It was so rewarding to have a cabin full of grade four girls saying they want to be just like you when they grow up. It touches you on a whole different level. There are boundaries you need to set and rules you need to enforce but you can still have fun and be friends with your kids. Whether it was getting them to line up in a straight line to go to dinner, or making sure they had their life jackets done up tight enough to go canoeing, I had fun every second I was there. My favorite moment was on the last day when we were just packing up to leave, my group of girls had organized by them selves to find a piece of wood and sign their names on it thanking me and saying goodbye. That piece of wood still sits on my dresser today. To know that my girls had a positive experience on their first time away from home was the best present they could have given me. It has prepared me for my future more then anything else, and I cannot begin to express my gratitude.