Current News & Events
New Appointment: Head of School
Mr. Norman Southward has been appointed Head of School effective August 1, 2009.
Mr. Southward has an extensive background in independent education as a student, a teacher and an administrator. Since 2002, he held the position as Head of School at Neuchâtel Junior College, a university preparatory school accredited by the Canadian Educational Standards Institute in Neuchâtel, Switzerland where he developed strategic initiatives throughout the school programmes and has seen over 700 students through NJC's academic and European experience. Prior to Neuchâtel, he was the Assistant Headmaster at Stanstead College in Stanstead, Quebec.
For the past five years Mr. Southward has served on the Board of the Swiss Group of International Schools (SGIC) and has recently completed his third term as Vice-Chair, responsible for the annual teachers' conference for over forty international and IB schools. His career in social studies, second language and international education includes the completion of the CAIS Diploma in Independent School Leadership and his participation in visiting committees with the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) and the Canadian Educational Standards Institute (CESI).
Mr. Southward's experience includes international curricula and programmes including, Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), Duke of Edinburgh Awards, Round Square and Habitat for Humanity. In addition to his duties as Head of Neuchâtel, he led and developed the student service initiative, focused on social and conservation initiatives, at the Gallmann Foundation Laikipia Wilderness Education Centre in Kenya and focused on social and conservation initiatives at the Habitat for Humanity Global Village in Budapest, Hungary.
A native of Quebec, Mr. Southward is passionate about the outdoors, international affairs and social justice and student leadership. In addition, Norman is an avid runner and he played both varsity rugby and soccer. He and his wife, Dr. Anna Rumin, a teacher and teacher educator, have two children and they are very excited to be moving to the region.
SJK Field Hockey Team Makes OFSAA History
St. John's-Kilmarnock School (SJK) Sr. Girls' Field Hockey team has made history. The team won the Conference of Independent Schools (CISAA) championship and took the Gold medal at the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Association's (OFSAA) Field Hockey tournament on November 7th. This is the fourth consecutive OFSAA win for SJK and this marks history as the first time a school has won four straight OFSAA titles in a girl's team sport.
The CISAA title and OFSAA Gold medal is the result of a great team. " This year's team was a team in the truest sense of the word…every single member was called upon during the season, as well as during the OFSAA championship tournament, to contribute, and every single athlete consistently gave her personal best effort", says Leanne Dietrich, Sr. Field Hockey co-coach.
SJK Eagles recorded a shutout in the final and won six straight games to capture gold, including a 2 - 1 semi-final win over Mississauga's Applewood Heights Axemen Saturday morning held at Budd Park in Kitchener.
During the OFSAA gold medal game Saturday afternoon, SJK fought hard and came through with a gold medal win of 3 - 0 over the Nelson Lords of Burlington. Nelson was very strong in the first half and posed several serious scoring threats throughout the game. However, SJK demonstrated tremendous discipline in sticking with the game plan and supporting one another every step of the way.
The game was scoreless at half-time. SJK's Emma Whitehall scored five minutes into the second half, and later Whitehall and Jayne Clarke would score less than 60 seconds apart to win the OFSAA championship.
Although each of the seniors are outstanding field hockey players, they all recognize that the sum of the whole is greater than its parts. "They worked together each and every game to bring out the best in each other and, in turn, in our team. I have not previously seen this level of maturity and selflessness in high school sport", states coach Dietrich.
The team's tremendous success this year is bittersweet as five members of the team will graduate from SJK in June. Many of the players have been together for four years or more.
Coaches Leanne Dietrich and Guy Zink have been in charge for each of the victories. For the moment they will savour the win and then begin plans for next year's field hockey team and drive for a possible fifth provincial championship.
SJK accredited by Canadian Educational Standards Institute (CESI)
The Canadian Educational Standards Institute has re-accredited St. John's-Kilmarnock School, the only school in the region to hold such accreditation. The CESI accreditation process includes a school wide self-study followed by a twelve member visiting team of educators examining everything from programmes to facilities and finance. CESI schools are inspected every seven years to maintain their accreditation. This ensures a school continues to maintain both its high standards of excellence and its use of best practice in its operation and programme.
New partnerships: St. John's-Kilmarnock School and higher education
In order to continue to build links with our community partners in higher education, the Board of Governors of St. John's-Kilmarnock School will now have rotating representation from the region's institutions of higher education including the University of Guelph, the University of Waterloo, Wilfrid Laurier University and Conestoga College. Ms. Meg Beckel, Vice President, External Relations, from the University of Waterloo is our first such Board representative. As a university preparatory school this development supports our mission of 100% of students leave SJK to pursue university or college studies across Canada, the US and abroad.
Extending our infrastructure and building our programmes
St. John's-Kilmarnock School has broken ground to expand its facilities.
SJK has seen significant growth in many areas over the last few years; most notably in the music program. The 4380 sq ft expansion entails a state of the art soundproof music room along with two new classrooms for the Lower School students. Music is a fundamental part of the school. The music program provides all SJK students with a well-rounded musical education starting in Junior Kindergarten.
The expansion will be located between the Lower School wing with access from both a linking hallway and from the main hallway leading to the Middle School. This expansion is centrally located and available to all three schools.
The 1700 sq ft custom built music room will house the MIDI Lab of 22 stations, all instrument storage and the space will be soundproofed to facilitate choral and instrumental rehearsals and classroom sessions.
At the same time two extra Lower School classrooms will be constructed and attached to the music room. These classrooms will provide the school with additional teaching space allowing flexibility around the school.
Preliminary plans can be viewed here.
