Category: Prep School
The Bridge to Innovation: Connecting Skills to Real-World Solutions in the Prep School
Bayview Glen News, Newsletters and Publications, Prep School, The Glen
Written by Laura Gleeson,
Prep School Educator, Science and Technology Department Head
While technology is meaningfully integrated across all subject areas at the Prep School, what distinguishes our stand-alone technology and problem-based learning courses is the clear and connected continuum that has been created, one that guides students from building skills to solving real-world problems. From Grade 6 to Grade 8, students develop the tools, mindset, and confidence to innovate.
In Grade 6 Integrated Technology (IT), students lay the groundwork. They explore multimedia platforms, 3D printing, AI, and coding while learning how technology can enhance their work across subjects. They build essential skills in communication, collaboration, and research, alongside responsible digital citizenship. Using the Design Thinking Method, students create digital solutions. This course is about technology foundations, exploration, and problem solving – giving students the technical fluency they need to take the next step.
That next step happens in Grade 7, where the newly introduced Integrated Technology and Design Thinking (ITDT) course acts as the bridge from skills to application. Here, students begin to think like designers. They identify problems, consider user perspectives, and develop creative, tangible solutions. Through hands-on, collaborative projects, students brainstorm, prototype, and refine their ideas, building on the tools taught in Grade 6 IT. Students participate in design blitzes and are encouraged to physically build, iterate, modify, and “get messy” in their design work.
In Grade 8, Problem-Based Learning (PBL) brings it all together. Students take ownership of their learning as they tackle complex, real-world issues that matter to them. From social justice to community wellbeing, they research, interview, design, and build solutions that address authentic needs. Their work extends beyond the classroom, culminating in presentations to expert panels and the development of prototypes such as student-built applications and websites, and business models. Students are no longer just problem-solvers; they are change makers.
This three-year continuum ensures that each step builds intentionally on the last. By the end of Grade 8, students are not only confident in their use of technology but also equipped with the creativity, critical thinking, and resilience needed to design solutions for an ever-changing digital world. It is truly a unique piece of the Prep School experience.
That’s All for This Segment: Inside the World of Prep News
Bayview Glen News, Newsletters and Publications, Prep School, The Glen
Written by Andrew Vivian,
Prep School Educator
At the Prep School, news is a very different kind of broadcast. While real-world headlines often focus on conflict, crisis, and concern, Prep News offers something far more uplifting: a joyful kind of organized chaos. Instead of worrying updates and serious reports, the Prep community is treated to creativity, humour, and a healthy dose of the unexpected. This is all thanks to the ever-entertaining Prep News Crew, a student-led team that brings assemblies to life with recurring segments, unforgettable characters, and laugh-out-loud moments that turn everyday school experiences into something truly memorable.
So, who is behind the magic this year? The Prep News Exec 2026 is led by Heads Bennett G. and Evan F., who guide the vision and direction of the show. Supporting them is Assistant Head Mila J., helping to keep everything running smoothly behind the scenes. Bringing the stories to life are Hosts Julian C. and Nicholas D., whose energy and timing keep audiences engaged from start to finish. And, of course, no news team would be complete without a Roving Reporter—Andrew C.—who is always ready to jump into the action and uncover the latest happenings around the Prep. Together, this group leads a talented team of students in creating a fresh, fun, and uniquely Prep perspective on school life.
This year’s segments have continued to push the boundaries of creativity (and logic). For Halloween, Prep News revealed that the holiday was merely a cover for an alien invasion—one with a particularly terrifying goal: turning everyone into Math teachers. Professor Paranoid returned in full force to warn the school, while Ms. Keyworth appeared as a thoroughly unimpressed 911 operator, dismissing the increasingly frantic reports. Just when all hope seemed lost, Snr Vertel arrived to save the day, using powerful Spanish incantations to repel the invaders and restore order.
The holiday season brought a different kind of chaos, as the Grinch and Claus families faced off in a spirited (and highly questionable) game of Family Feud. In January, Prep News took a look at some rejected ideas for Snow Much Fun Day, including a snow-staring contest, an art lesson on how to draw a polar bear in a snowstorm (with predictably invisible results), and ice fishing in the parking lot at 85 Moatfield—where determined participants managed to reel in frozen fish sticks. Not to be outdone, Prep News also put its own spin on La Journée de la Francophonie by proposing alternative language days, featuring everything from wizard spells and Professor Paranoid-speak to Minion language and even lessons on how to talk like a pirate.
Looking ahead, the Prep News team has no shortage of ideas. Upcoming segments are set to explore the Prep School trip to Muskoka Woods, as well as a uniquely Prep take on the calm and creative world of Bob Ross. If past episodes are any indication, viewers can expect the usual mix of creativity, humour, and just the right amount of chaos.
That’s all for this segment. Prep News is signing off!
Student Life in the Prep: Building Community and School Spirit
Bayview Glen News, Newsletters and Publications, Prep School, The Glen
Written by Lizzie L. and Cormac C.,
Co-Heads of Student Life, Prep School Student Council
We are Lizzie and Cormac, and we are honoured to serve as the Co-Heads of Student Life for the 2025–2026 school year.
Although we both joined the school in Grade 3, our years in the Prep School have been the most meaningful and impactful. What makes the Prep so special is its close-knit and supportive community, one that has continued to grow even stronger this year through the dedication of the Student Life Committee and Student Council.
The Student Life Committee is a group of students committed to making the Prep School a more positive, engaging, and spirited place for everyone. Together, we help plan activities, organize events, and bring student ideas to life. By collaborating with teachers and classmates, committee members work to strengthen school spirit, foster connections, and create opportunities for all students to get involved.
This year, we have been proud to help lead a variety of themed spirit days and special events. Some of our favourite highlights have included the Halloween Spirit Day and assembly, as well as welcoming Canadian Paralympian Josh Cassidy, who inspired students by sharing stories from his Olympic journey.
We are also looking forward to several exciting events still to come, including the Grade 8 Graduation Dance and Pride Spirit Week. These celebrations are meaningful opportunities to showcase the individuality, creativity, and unique spirit that make the Prep Community so special.
Serving in this role has been an incredible experience, and we are grateful for the chance to help make school life memorable for our fellow students. We cannot wait to see what the rest of the year brings.
Athletic Updates: Winter 2026 Highlights
Athletics, Bayview Glen News, Lower School, Newsletters and Publications, Prep School, The Glen, Upper School
Fueling Students for Learning, Focus, and Wellbeing
Bayview Glen News, Lower School, Newsletters and Publications, Prep School, The Glen, Upper School
At Bayview Glen, alongside academic excellence, we recognize that fueling the future is just as important. Nutrition plays a meaningful role in supporting growth and development, as well as the daily demands of student life, including studying, athletics, stress management, and sustained focus.
Through our food partner, Chartwells, our daily offerings and wellness programming are intentionally designed to highlight foods and habits that help students feel energized, focused, and supported throughout the school day.
Foods to Support Studying and Focus
Students need steady energy to remain attentive and engaged. Across our menus and nutrition programming, we emphasize foods that support concentration and sustained energy, including whole grains for lasting fuel, protein‑rich foods to support focus, fruits and vegetables rich in protective nutrients, healthy fats that support brain health, and hydration to help maintain alertness.
Through pop‑ups, student engagement initiatives, digital and print signage, and nutrition workshops, we help students connect these food choices to everyday learning and academic success.
Fueling Active Students
For students balancing academics with athletics, our programmes also highlight foods that support performance and recovery. This includes balanced snacks, carbohydrates for energy, protein‑rich foods, and hydration strategies.
Our sports nutrition programme, Eat to Compete, reinforces these concepts through educational posters, menu identifiers, and practical guidance that helps students understand how nutrition supports active lifestyles.
Nutrition, Wellness, and Lifelong Skills
Busy schedules and academic demands can affect both energy and resilience. Through initiatives such as Boost Days and Wellbeing Week, students explore how balanced meals, regular eating, hydration, and mindful food choices can support well‑being. Broader wellness themes such as stress management, micro‑breaks, and self‑care are also incorporated.
Through interactive food experiences, teaching kitchen activities, and wellness moments, students build practical skills that support focus, mood, and long‑term wellbeing. This spring, students can also look forward to Brain Bites, a new programme focused on simple foods and snacks that support learning and academic success.
Bayview Glen Robotics on the Provincial and World Stage
Bayview Glen News, Lower School, Newsletters and Publications, Prep School, The Glen, Upper School
ALT-F4: A Blue Banner Season
Written by James K. and Alina D., Grade 10 Students
FIRST LEGO League Innovation and Robotics Programme
Written by Benjamin McCord, FLL Robotics Co-ordinator
ALT-F4: A Blue Banner Season
Written by James K. (Media – Writer) and Alina D. (Mechanical and Media – Editor),
Grade 10 Students
Humber Polytechnic was an encouraging start to the season for many reasons. It allowed us to grow, and more importantly, allowed us to make tremendous improvements which heavily benefitted us at future competitions.
We started off well and continued to tweak aspects of programming and strategy to refine our gameplay. However, it was a hard-fought battle with us having to look to our incredible strategy and drive team – as well as some luck – for the win! Thanks to our consistency, we also managed to secure our first Quality Design award of the season.
More importantly, Humber Polytechnic was the glue that truly allowed our team to come together and bond for the first time. Moving forward, our first competition allowed us to figure out exactly what we needed to do to strengthen our robot’s performance.
Just a few weeks later, and true to the name of this year’s game, we rebuilt the robot! ALT-F4 arrived at Georgian College with one goal: win. Over the past two weeks, we had completely revamped our robot as a dumper with a wide shooter, allowing it to shoot many balls into the HUB at once. Vanguard’s new design proved itself quickly, but not without a few hiccups along the way.
Throughout the qualifiers, our robot malfunctioned several times due to electrical issues caused by static. By the second day, the robot was functioning and we managed to seed first and become alliance captain 1. We made it through the playoffs undefeated and entered the finals confidently and managed to win once again, earning our second blue banner. This result increased our world placing to 35th out of 3800 teams.
Georgian College event allowed us to test our newly rebuilt robot and gave us confidence for the upcoming provincial championship.
We boarded the bus with aspirations to make this DCMP the best in our team’s history. However, our robot had other plans. Despite our best intentions, we ranked third in our division, becoming the captain of the second alliance. We then started the playoff rounds, which is where the tournament got interesting. Our robot was functioning perfectly thanks to the pit team, which allowed our drive team to implement our game strategy to perfection. This was a full team effort. As underdogs, we prevailed over the number one ranked alliance to bring the division championship home for the first time ever, and it was incredible to see the hard work of the team come to fruition. To win this division we had to compete against some of the top teams in the world.
We then advanced to the Provincial finals where we fought valiantly against some of the best robots (in the top five) in the world. While we came very close to beating them, we unfortunately fell short after two well played matches.
Now we are off to Worlds…stay tuned…
FIRST LEGO League Innovation and Robotics Programme
Written by Benjamin McCord,
FLL Robotics Co-ordinator
ConnecTech Goes Global!
Bayview Glen’s FIRST LEGO League Innovation and Robotics Programme is flying high. ConnecTech, our Ontario Provincial Champions, represented Canada at the FIRST World Festival in Houston—competing among 160 elite teams from over 60 countries.
To learn more about ConnecTech, please visit their website at connectech27757.com, and @connectech27757 on Instagram.
More Tournaments!
Smart Ramen
Smart Ramen will compete at the WPI WAFFLE tournament in Worcester, MA, from June 11 to June 14. They won the 2nd Place Champions’ Award at the Ontario Provincials. This is Smart Ramen’s 3rd International Tournament in 3 years.
To learn more about Smart Ramen, please visit their website at https://smart-ramen-21544.com/
Operation CREAT3
Operation CREAT3 will compete at the Canada Cup at Brock University from June 17 to June 20. They won the 1st Place Core Values Award at Provincials, and will showcase their Innovation Project, Artifact Armada.
Eat. Sleep. Archaeology. Repeat.
Our Grade 5 Team, Eat. Sleep. Archaeology. Repeat., will compete at the Canada Cup at Brock University from June 17 to June 20. They won the 1st Place Innovation Project Award at Provincials, and have been mentoring Grade 4 students in the Winter and Spring.
Winter/Spring FLL Intramurals
FLL Intramurals are underway this Winter and Spring—building skills and sparking early interest in robotics and innovation. Our Intramural teams engage in all of the challenges that our Competitive teams do: Innovation Project, Robot Design and Game, and Core Values. Team Smart Ramen (along with ambitious ESAR members Zoe Lieu and Emmy Chung!) shared their time and experience to lead the teams through their journey.
FLL Supports Girls in STEM
Bayview Glen Is dedicated to promoting girls’ engagement and achievement in STEM. Girls make up more than half of our FLL students.
2026/2027 Competitive Season Tryouts
All students who wish to be considered for membership on a Fall Competitive team must conduct a tryout. Tryouts will begin in late May. More information about tryouts will be coming soon. Please contact FLL programme supervisor Ben McCord (bmccord@bayviewglen.ca) with any questions.
Perfectionism: Supporting Wellbeing Alongside Achievement
Bayview Glen News, Lower School, Newsletters and Publications, Prep School, The Glen, Upper School
Written by Antoinette Morgan, MA, MSW, BSW, RSW,
Director of Student Wellbeing
In the independent school environment where performance expectations, academic rigor, and university preparation are emphasized, perfectionism can quietly become ingrained in students. Whether a child is in Grade 1 or Grade 12, perfectionism can sneak into their school life, leading them to believe that only perfect work is good enough. Recognizing perfectionist tendencies is key to helping students flourish and stay resilient over the long term.
There are many causes that lead to perfectionism in students, including a competitive school environment; trauma or fear of rejection; a child’s attempt to manage pressure and to maintain adults’ approval; cultural expectations around success and the image they or their parents want to project; the impact of social media; and social comparison. A child’s early experiences and the messaging they receive around success and self-worth influence perfectionism, as do adults who overpraise high marks or outcomes, or who dismiss a good mark by asking why the child did not score higher. Many students come to equate their self-worth with performance.
Research shows perfectionistic patterns can appear in the early years and interfere with a student’s learning and wellbeing. These students may display all-or-nothing thinking, strongly insisting on doing things “just right”. They often have an intense fear of making mistakes and may react with strong emotions or behaviours when things do not turn out as expected. They may constantly erase and re-do their work, tie their self-worth to minor setbacks, or avoid starting tasks they find challenging for fear of not getting them right. These responses are rooted in anxiety and are not related to defiance or lack of effort.
Perfectionism is not the same as healthy striving, which is built on motivation, flexibility, and a growth-mindset. In older students, perfectionism is often visible in rigid standards paired with harsh self-evaluation. This may include not allowing themselves to make mistakes; excessive checking and editing, difficulty asking for help or delegating tasks; excessive worry about grades and feedback; wanting to retake a test despite already achieving a high score, staying up late every night studying; and ultimately risking burnout.
Although perfectionists are detail-oriented, reliable, and high-achieving —qualities that can be beneficial in the short term — over time, they can bear significant emotional and psychological costs. Chronic perfectionism is associated with increased anxiety and stress, burnout, depression, low self-esteem, and avoidance behaviours such as procrastination or refusal to try. Over time, it can also limit creativity and resilience.
How can parents help:
- Set flexible and realistic goals and expectations
- Praise growth, persistence, and effort over outcomes
- Normalize mistakes as a part of growth and development
- Validate children’s stress before offering solutions
- Reinforce that self-worth is not based on achievement
- Teach children self-acceptance
- Model flexibility and self-compassion
By responding thoughtfully to perfectionism, the school and families can work together to support students in developing their resilience and flexibility, so they are grounded in learning and not fear. Please reach out to me at amorgan@bayviewglen.ca for support or referrals.
Spring Book Club and Fireside Chat
Date
Wednesday, May 27, 2026
Book Club Detail
- Time: 5:00 – 6:30 p.m.
- Book: The Emotional Lives of Teenagers: Raising Connected, Capable, and Compassionate Adolescents by Lisa Damour, PhD.
Fireside Chat Detail
- Time: 6:30 – 8:00 p.m.
- Topics:
Parent-Child Relationships: Better Conversation and stronger Connections
Talking through tension, Conversations that Build, not Break
Building the parent-child gap - Speaker: Kausalya Vimal
Growing With Purpose: Looking Back, Reaching Out, and Moving Forward Together
Alumni, Bayview Glen News, Lower School, Newsletters and Publications, Prep School, The Glen, Upper School
Written by Ryan Rodrigues,
Executive Director, Advancement and External Relations
One of the great privileges of my role is the opportunity to listen closely to our community – students, parents, alumni, past parents, and partners – and to notice the patterns that emerge when people feel connected to something meaningful. Over the past year, and especially in recent months as I have represented Bayview Glen at chapter events across Canada and into the United States, I have been struck by how widely our community now stretches, and how strong those connections remain.
At each gathering, I hear familiar themes echoed back to me: a sense of purpose rooted in learning, gratitude for relationships formed here, and a desire to stay connected across generations. These conversations mirror research often shared in educational leadership spaces, including work from Harvard’s Student Purpose Initiative and innovation-focused institutions such as Future Design School. At their core, these frameworks ask a simple but powerful question: how do we help young people, and the communities that surround them, see themselves as part of something larger, something sustained over time?
At Bayview Glen, we are fortunate to see that answer unfolding every day.
Earlier this year, I had the honour of representing Bayview Glen at the Independent School Summit of the Canadian Council for Advancement of Education, where I shared reflections on how our students, parents, and alumni shape not only our present campus experience, but also the pathways that allow future generations to grow and thrive. Our Strategic Plan, Be Bold, speaks directly to this work. It calls us to act with intention, to recognise our responsibilities to one another, and to honour the original Nations of this land and their enduring presence.
That continuity feels especially meaningful as we begin planning for a significant milestone: Bayview Glen’s sixty-fifth anniversary. Over the next academic year and throughout 2027, we will mark this moment with opportunities for reflection and celebration. Anniversaries invite us to look back with care, not nostalgia, so that our past can inform who we are becoming.
In that spirit, we are strengthening our archival efforts at the School. Preserving Bayview Glen’s history allows us to tell a fuller, more inclusive story about our shared journey. Photographs, programmes, letters, uniforms, and personal recollections all play an important role. If you or someone in your family has materials or memories to share, we would be grateful to hear from you.
At the same time, we are looking ahead. Our New Build is nearing completion, and we look forward to celebrating this exciting addition to campus life with our community this spring and into the fall. Reunion Weekend and renewed engagement with Grade Twelve parents and past parents remain key moments of connection.
As we look ahead to our anniversary celebrations and beyond, I am reminded that institutions grow strongest when people see themselves as active participants in a shared story. Thank you for continuing to shape that story with us, wherever in the world you may be.
Meet Our Archivist
As Bayview Glen prepares for its sixty-fifth anniversary, we are pleased to welcome Andriana Gialiris, our new Archivist. Andriana is leading the School’s efforts to preserve and share Bayview Glen’s rich history, working closely with students, alumni, past parents, staff, faculty, volunteers, and current families. If you have photographs, memorabilia, or stories you would like to contribute to our archives, we encourage you to be in touch. Your memories help bring our shared history to life.
archives@bayviewglen.ca
bayviewglen.ca/about-us/history-and-archives/
Transformative Learning Through Global Experiences
Bayview Glen News, Lower School, Newsletters and Publications, Prep School, The Glen, Upper School
Written by Dr. Angela Mantie,
Director of Global Education and Strategic Partnerships
Global Education at Bayview Glen reimagines how students engage with the world—blending transformative, real-world experiences with a commitment to pluralism, global citizenship, and environmental sustainability. Students participate as thoughtful global travellers, learning with curiosity, compassion, courage, and humility while contributing in meaningful and respectful ways.
Through our programming, students grow as global citizen leaders—building connections across communities and developing the confidence, empathy, and adaptability needed to navigate an ever-changing world.
Upper School: Costa Rica
Our student cohort explored how history, sustainability, and community collaboration shape national identity and lived experience in Costa Rica. Through meaningful engagement with a local farming family and children, support for a women’s collective, and firsthand experiences of the deep connection between people and the environment, students developed lasting memories while strengthening their compassion, empathy, and global awareness.
Student reflections captured the impact of the experience: “nice to help people out,” “fun to interact with locals,” and “amazing and unforgettable.”
Prep School: the Yukon
Our first student cohort since pre-COVID travelled to the Yukon on an immersive journey through Canada’s North, beginning in Whitehorse and continuing through Champagne and Aishihik First Nations traditional territory, Dawson City, and Tombstone Territorial Park. Along the way, students explored the region’s layered history—from pre–Gold Rush Indigenous life to the legacy of the Klondike Gold Rush—while engaging directly with local guides, knowledge keepers, and artisans.
Through experiences such as wildlife conservation at the Yukon Wildlife Preserve, dog mushing, glassblowing, and a traditional Indigenous workshop, students deepened their understanding of northern ecosystems, cultural resilience, and sustainable land stewardship. The program invited students to reflect on critical questions of identity, land rights, and environmental responsibility, while fostering curiosity, respect, and a sense of interconnectedness between people, place, and history.
Student reflections included: “it was an incredible experience,” “great time talking to the locals and hearing about their journeys,” and “one of the most eye-opening, unique, and community-building experiences of my life.”
Lower School: Round Square Virtual Experiences
Our Lower School students launched Bayview Glen’s first-ever Round Square virtual experiences this year by participating in Round Square Show and Tells, connecting in real time with students from around the world and building meaningful global connections. On January 27, Grade 5 students showcased “Genius Inventions from Our Region,” presenting their Artifacto Buddy robotics invention, followed on February 3 by L3B sharing “What We Do on Our Breaktime/Recess,” featuring Marble Runs, loose parts play, and LEGO builds.
Learning Through Stories: Inspiring Readers and Thinkers
Alumni, Bayview Glen News, Lower School, Newsletters and Publications, Prep School, The Glen, Upper School
This spring, Bayview Glen welcomed authors who inspired students to read deeply, think creatively, and reflect thoughtfully. Through shared stories and meaningful conversations, students discovered the power of storytelling to entertain, connect, and inspire growth.
Lower School Readers Inspired by Kevin Sylvester and the April Read‑a‑Thon
Exploring Identity and Belonging Through Prep School Author Visits
Lower School Readers Inspired by Kevin Sylvester and the April Read‑a‑Thon
Written by Laura Jessup,
Lower School Teacher-Librarian
April was an unforgettable month at Bayview Glen, filled with reading, creativity, and inspiration!
We were thrilled to welcome acclaimed and award-winning Canadian author and illustrator Kevin Sylvester to Bayview Glen on April 14. Known for his dynamic storytelling, humour, and imaginative worlds, Kevin captivated students with insights into his popular titles, including Apartment 713, MINRS, Time Surfers, and Hockey Super Six. His stories, filled with adventure, mystery, and relatable characters, have long been favourites among our readers.
During his visit, students had the exciting opportunity to hear directly from Kevin about his writing process, creative ideas, and journey as an author and illustrator. His engaging presentation sparked curiosity, inspired budding writers, and deepened students’ appreciation for reading.
April also marked Bayview Glen’s Read-a-Thon, and the entire school community embraced the challenge with enthusiasm. Students explored new books, revisited old favourites, and discovered different genres, all while building strong reading habits and celebrating a shared love of books.
April was truly a celebration of stories, imagination, and inspiration. Well done, Bayview Glen readers!
Exploring Identity and Belonging Through Prep School Author Visits
Written by Michelle Huynh,
Prep and Upper School Librarian
The Learning Commons welcomed two authors who provided Grade 7 and 8 students with opportunities to reflect on identity, belonging, and decision-making through storytelling. Through personal experiences, readings, and discussions, students explored how stories shape the way we understand ourselves and relate to others.
Eddie Kawooya connected with students through his Ace and the Misfits series, exploring themes of identity, belonging, and what it means to feel different. He encouraged students to embrace who they are, challenge labels, and reflect on their own experiences of being misunderstood or underestimated. Drawing on both his writing and lived experiences, he emphasized courage by encouraging students to stay true to themselves, even in moments of uncertainty. His message also reinforced compassion, highlighting the importance of supporting one another, and recognizing that community is something we build together. Through his visit, students reflected on how their voices, choices, and actions can positively impact those around them.
Maria Marianayagam invited students to think more deeply about their choices and how those decisions shape themselves and others during her virtual visit. Drawing on her novel No Purchase Necessary, a Forest of Reading nominee this year, she shared how she develops ideas and crafts engaging stories, along with a reading from the book. She sparked curiosity by encouraging students to explore different perspectives and consider the complexity of characters’ decisions. Her focus on ethical dilemmas also highlighted courage, as students reflected on the importance of making thoughtful choices, even when they are difficult, while approaching situations with empathy.
A key takeaway from both author visits was that stories are not only a form of entertainment but also a powerful tool for personal growth. The visits left students with a greater appreciation for storytelling, a deeper love of reading, and a stronger understanding of themselves and others.