The Exotic Car of Education

The StargazerGirls Learning, Innovation, News

By integrating FIRST Robotics into Physics curriculum, our students combine one of their co-curricular passion projects – FIRST Robotics – with their Physics labs, enhancing their learning because they’re studying what they love. The benefits of this programme extend beyond high school. When our students reach university, they are leveraging knowledge gained from various HNMCS Robotics-run after school workshops, including coding and solid modelling at the university level, into internships and job offers at companies such as Hatch and Pratt & Whitney Canada.

When you add to this the fact that HNMCS Robotics is one of only six all-girls FIRST Robotics teams in Canada, …

Becoming Saints: A Values-Based Education

The StargazerGirls Learning, News

On November 21st, Holy Name of Mary College School celebrated the 150th anniversary of the Felician Sisters’ arrival in North America. Sr. Celestine, founding teacher and HNMCS Board member, gave an inspiring address to students and staff: “Our work here at HNMCS is about becoming saints. It is not enough to know math, or science, or history but rather we must also become saints, full of love of God and love of neighbour.” This framework exudes respect for human dignity, by refusing mediocrity and calling all to their highest possible good.

Mathematics & Mental Architecture

The StargazerGirls Learning, Innovation, News

The need for conceptual learning is, perhaps, most needed in mathematics. To differentiate themselves from machines, students need to understand underlying mathematical principles so that they can be critical of machine output, make a wide array of applications, and understand why math problems are approached in certain ways to provide a deep appreciation of the discipline on a level not yet achieved by artificial intelligence. At HNMCS we take this approach to mathematics education seriously, exemplified by incorporating parts of Peter Liljedahl’s work out of Simon Fraser University in Vancouver.

Artistic Design Excursion

The StargazerGirls Learning, Innovation, News

Creativity CultivatedThe Artistic Design Independent course offers HNMCS students the opportunity to deepen their understanding of art in society. The experiential learning component of this course allowed students the chance to learn first hand from …

Future Prize

The StargazerGirls Learning, Innovation, News

The Future Prize ChallengeOn February 9th, two teams from HNMCS travelled to Upper Canada College to compete with other Grade 7 and 8 students from CIS schools for the coveted Future Prize. The Future Prize …

Middle School Speech Competition

The StargazerGirls Learning, News

Spectacular Speeches from Middle School StudentsIn late January, we began our annual Middle School Speech Competition. Each student in Grade 7 and 8 wrote and delivered a speech to their class. Our students chose their …

Unveiling the Power of a Thinking Classroom

The StargazerGirls Learning, Innovation, News

Unveiling the Power of a Thinking Classroom: Fostering Critical Thought and EngagementIn the realm of high school education, mathematics often stands as a pivotal subject that can instil critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and logical reasoning. …

Middle School Literacy Fair

The StargazerGirls Learning, News

Fair gives students a chance to browse new reads!On Thursday, March 9, the Middle School welcomed back the Literacy Fair! The students in Grades 5 – 8 read a novel of their choice and created …

The Pendulum Swing in Education

The StargazerGirls Learning, News

Pendulums swing. I get it. Some new idea comes around and we want to implement it yesterday. Then we tire of it, or find it’s not working the way we want, and we return, borrowing …

Opera Atelier Workshop

The StargazerGirls Learning, Innovation, News

On Tuesday March 1st the Senior School Music Classes participated in an afternoon session with Canadian Soprano Measha Brueggergosman. Ms. Brueggergosman is the Artist In Residence at the Toronto based company Opera Atelier. The Artist …