Senior Tigers Update – Oct 2016

Volleyball

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Gr. 8 Volleyball

Congratulations to our Gr. 8 Volleyball Team who defeated WPGA to win bronze medals at ISA’s. The Tigers lost a tough semi-final game to Southridge before beating WPGA for bronze. Congrats to the entire team and thank you to Mr. Bester and Ms. Baldiserra for their work with the team. The girls still have a couple more weeks of their season before playoffs in November.

Congratulations to the Jr. Volleyball Team who placed 4th at ISA’s at Brentwood College. The Tigers lost two very close games, one in the semi-final and again in the bronze medal game. Regardless of placing, the girls played great volleyball and the results are great for YHS, especially when one recognizes that three Gr. 9s and five Gr. 10s play on our Senior team!

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Sr. Volleyball

Head coach, Mike Lodeweyks, and Assistant Head Coach, Noble Kelly, took our Sr. Volleyball Team to Okotoks, Alberta, to Strathcona-Tweedsmuir School, for the annual Western Canadian Independent School Volleyball Championship the weekend of October 15th and won silver! The girls were ranked number one after playing all the other teams in the round robin. Although they had won in their previous game against Rundle College, they lost to this team in the final game. The girls should be incredibly proud of their accomplishment at this tournament! Special congrats to Gabby, Gr. 11, who was awarded Best Passer of the tournament. York House has attended this tournament since it’s origin in 1972.

Field Hockey

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Varsity Field Hockey

Despite the weather, our Tigers had an amazing weekend. Our Varsity Field Hockey Team placed 4th at the Glenlyon-Norfolk School Friendship Cup in Victoria on October 15 . They defeated schools from BC and Ontario to place 1st in pool play; unfortunately, they lost two close playoff games to finish 4th. Special thank you to the coaches and to Mr. Cropley for all of his coaching, bus driving and chaperoning.

Our Jr. Varsity Field Hockey Team placed 3rd at ISA’s at Crofton House. These girls should all be commended for playing in all types of weather!  

Cross-Country

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Sr. Cross-Country

Congratulations to our Cross-Country Team who competed at the Zone Meet on Tuesday, October 18. Special congratulations to Emily, Gr. 10, and Rebecca, Gr. 9, who have qualified for the BC Championship. Emily placed 3rd and Rebecca 9th in the Junior Girls Division Race.

The team also competed at ISA’s on October 4. Emily, Gr. 10, won bronze in the Junior Girl’s Division. Thank you to Meredith Seymour and Marianne Chang who are leading this team.

Swimming

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Swimming at ISA’s – Watermania

Our Swim Team placed 3rd in the ISA’s at Watermania! A special congratulations to Maddy and Rebecca who are both in Grade 8 and raced for the first time. Four of our swimmers (Marissa, Gr. 12, Sophia, Gr. 9, Jacqueline, Gr. 11, and Amanda, Gr. 10) placed 1st in the 200 m Medley B Relay. Devon, Gr. 8, Vivian, Gr. 8, Victoria, Gr, 9, and Emily, Gr. 10, placed 3rd in the 200 m Free Open Relay. And after being displaced in her lane in the 50m Fly, Sophia, Gr. 9, was able to race the clock and came in 2nd! Way to go, Tigers!

The Swim Team also competed at the Vancouver-Richmond Zone Meet on Friday, October 28. YHS qualified to the BC’s with 14 swimmers, 10 relay teams, and two individuals. Congratulations to all the girls and thank you to Christine Bernier, Emily Mathews and the group of Tigers alumnae who lead this team, Laura Sze ’11, Danielle Tognetti ’13, and Christine Lee ’16! We really appreciate their ongoing support of our athletics!

Employee Spotlight: Jenn Skelding

We are pleased to introduce our new Employee Spotlight section where you have an opportunity to read from some of York House School’s newest additions.

Meet Jenn Skelding, Assistant Director, Junior School

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Jenn Skelding, Assistant Director, Junior School

What has impressed you most about the students at York House School?
The young women of York House are articulate, confident, creative and kind. In the classroom, playing four-square on the yard, or on the volleyball court, I notice that our girls demonstrate respect for others and love to laugh together. I have enjoyed observing them settle into a new school year with a joy for learning. Many young mathematicians excitedly tell me that math is their favourite subject and I have seen our girls persevere through an excellent struggle to solve a problem. I am looking forward to many “ah ha!” or “light bulb moments” as our girls discover their limitless capacity to enact change through critical thinking and innovation!

What inspires you most about school leadership?  
I love to learn. I have been a leader of learning for 23 years. To some, that seems like a long time in school! What I have come to realize is that every year, I have a new opportunity to begin afresh! There are always new learners looking back at me. Young, or young-at-heart, there is always something new to learn and new relationships to build. As a leader of learning, I want people to feel safe, respected and that we are always moving forward, knowing more, and doing better. School is a place of synergy! When people come together motivated to learn in a purposeful way – anything is possible! To this end, YHS 2030 is what drew me to York House and speaks to my heart: “Our mission is to empower young women to be active global citizens with the courage to act on their beliefs and make a difference.”

What are you most looking forward to at York House in the coming months?
I am cherishing this time making connections and building relationships. I value the conversations I have had getting to know our girls. I look forward to connecting with parents on the King Ed Lay-by and school events. Learning alongside our teachers offers me a glimpse into their passion and their heart for teaching. I would also like to extend a “thank you!” for allowing me to feel so welcome!

What is something that people might not know about you that you would like to share?  
I am a Mom to three amazing children: Hannah, 19 and studying at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Reid, 16 and getting taller daily and driving (eeks!), and Leif, 14 and playing as much basketball as he can. My husband, Bernie is a Presbyterian minister and our whole family (including our little dog, Teebo) is loving the west coast vibe and activity!

What is your favourite book of all time and why?
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen is my all-time favourite read! I re-read this classic at least once every two years along with watching the BBC, Hollywood, Bollywood and modern web-based vodcast versions. My family can quote significant lines from the book and every Christmas, I am treated to a special Austen inspired gift – last year it was a mug that says “Mrs. Darcy”! I love this book for the strong, intelligent and quick-witted heroine, Elizabeth. She is flawed and often wrong but Elizabeth is quick to reflect and adjust. I am never away from home without an Austen novel in hand.