It’s been a fantastic fall for both our students and faculty! From sporting success to chemistry champions, a salsa sensation to a new future eagle, read more about the wonderful things our SJS community is getting up to outside of school.
Student Kicks off Soccer Success
Rohan Sabur, Grade 10, recently represented British Columbia at the U15 National Soccer Championships in Prince Edward Island, playing as a winger for Vancouver Athletic. Reaching nationals was no small feat, as the team had to advance through Vancouver’s league phase, win the Coastal Cup and then claim the BC Title at provincials to qualify. At nationals the team successfully navigated pool play, featuring an assist from Rohan, to find themselves in the quarter finals where they unfortunately lost to Alberta. The team bounced back to defeat Manitoba in an intense shootout, placing 7th in the country.
Rohan credits consistency and commitment as the keys to success in high-level soccer. “You have to show up,” he said. “If you want to make it to that level, you have to put in the work.” Despite the pressure of national competition, he described the experience as “a once in a lifetime experience.” Now back in season, he is focused on training and helping his team maintain their strong league standing on the way back to provincials. Congratulations Rohan!
Rowing to Victory
Grade 11 student Rosalina Malak recently achieved international success as part of a U17 quad from the Vancouver Rowing Club, based in Stanley Park. After training together for two years and winning provincials, the team qualified for the prestigious Head of the Charles Regatta in Boston, which is one of the largest international rowing competitions of the year. There they competed in a 4km race with outstanding results, winning their U17 category and ranking 18th out of 51 boats across both U17 and U19 categories.
With a training schedule of six days a week, Rosalina credits her team’s success to their hard work and close bond as teammates. The extra hours of training they put in have clearly paid off, and Rosalina has no intention of stopping as her team is already aiming for their next regatta in Seattle in November. Congratulations Rosalina on your success!
Crushing it in Chemistry
The results are in from last year’s chemistry competitions! These contests challenge students from the provincial to national levels, testing their theoretical knowledge, problem-solving skills and practical understanding of chemistry.
- The Thompson River University Chemistry Contest recognizes top performers among students across the province. Joe Li, Darren Wong, Yacine Fekkane, and Athan Irinakis placed in the top 30% of candidates.
- In the University of Waterloo Avogadro Exam, which challenges students with both analytical and problem-solving questions in chemistry, George Guan, Edward Li and Andy Huang were all top performers.
- The British Columbia Chemistry Olympiad (BCCO) is a challenging provincial contest that recognizes high-achieving students. Tiger Wang achieved the Special Merit Award, placing 53rd amongst the 145 candidates, and Andy Huang was awarded the Bronze Medal with his 15th place finish.
- Finally the Canadian Chemistry Olympiad (CCO) is a national level competition with an intensive 4-hour long exam that tests advanced theoretical and laboratory problem-solving skills. Edward Li was selected to attend the CCO National Camp for advanced training—an exceptional achievement reflecting his deep understanding of chemistry.
These contests challenge students to apply their critical thinking and problem-solving skills ATLs, and foster a deeper understanding of the subject beyond the classroom. These opportunities can provide access to potential scholarships and connect our IB students with national and international science communities.
Congratulations to all the students!
Salsa Sensation
Hanna Van Inwegen, known as Ms. V in the Senior School, is a teacher of many talents. While you may know her work in theatre and music, she recently showcased her dance skills last weekend at the Canada Salsa and Bachata Congress in Toronto with her team from Dance Vancouver Studio. They placed 1st in the Open Ladies’ Team Shines and the Pro-Am Team Shines, and 2nd in two other divisions.
Throughout the Congress Ms. V had a great time competing, performing, and taking workshops with salsa artists from around the world. She even attended a lecture on the history of salsa music and dance in preparation for an upcoming unit with the DP Music course. It was a thrilling weekend, but Ms. V is already thinking ahead to the next performance. “I’m glad to be back to putting my dance energy into the choreography for Footloose, perhaps with a little salsa flair.”
Congratulations Ms.V!
New Addition to the SJS Family
Ms. Debreuil, ADST Specialist, and her husband welcomed their baby girl Lumi on October 4th—coincidentally also Ms. Debreuil’s birthday! Both baby and mom are doing well and have returned home to enjoy lots of snuggles.
Ms. Debreuil wishes everyone a wonderful rest of the school year and looks forward to visiting with Lumi in the future.
