Oct. 31st, 2011 – Halloween for Hunger Campaign

YMCA Academy Beyond the Classroom, Community

On Friday, October 28th, the YMCA Academy students participated in ‘Halloween for Hunger’, a food drive initiative by Free the Children, with the goal of supporting local food banks. Academy staff and students collected over 200 non-perishable food items. Students who participated were able to ‘buy out’ of their 4th period classes to participate in a teachers vs. students dodgeball game. The teachers were no match for the spirited students, who managed to beat them in all three games. The food items collected will be brought to the local firehall by the ‘Me to We’ club students.

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Check out Free the Children’s Halloween for Hunger Website

Oct. 26th, 2011 – Open Studio: Various Projects

YMCA Academy Arts, Beyond the Classroom, Student Spotlight

It was truly an open studio today in the art room at the Academy!  Eight artists were busy at work on a variety of projects including acrylic painting, Japanese calligraphy, beading, stenciling, painting pumpkins, pottery designing and costume-making (oh, and a math culminating project).  Open Studio runs every Wednesday from 4 – 5pm in the art or math room.  Drop by, say hello and be creative!

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Oct. 20th, 2011 – Open Studio: Shodo Art Class

YMCA Academy Arts, Beyond the Classroom, Student Spotlight

Open studio, the Academy’s weekly art-making space, featured our own Susan Couprie (aka “Revered Mountain”) teaching a Japanese art called Shodo.  Students were taught how to create characters with black ink and special brushes.  Susan learned this art form while living in Japan many years ago.  Stay tuned for more photos from Open Studio in the weeks to come!

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Oct. 19th, 2011 – Me to We Halloween for Hunger

YMCA Academy Beyond the Classroom, Community

Dear Parents/Guardians:

The YMCA Academy’s ‘Me to We Club’ along with the grade 10 Civics and grade 9 Nutrition classes are organizing a food drive in support of Halloween for Hunger. The yearly campaign, run by Free the Children, encourages students to collect non-perishable food items for their local food banks.

Academy students are invited to bring in canned food items between now and Friday October 28th. As an incentive to bring in donations, on Friday the 28th in the afternoon all students who have brought in a canned food item will have the opportunity to ‘buy out’ of 4th period to participate in a ‘students vs. staff’ dodgeball game in the Central Y gymnasium.

Any questions can be directed to Michelle Johnson: michelle.johnson@ymcagta.org

Thank you for your support as we work to address the issue of hunger in our community.

Sept. 30th, 2011 – Picture from We Day Toronto

YMCA Academy Beyond the Classroom, Community

On September 27, The YMCA Academy Me to We club joined 18,000 other young idealists at the Air Canada Centre for a full day of musical performances and motivational speakers at Free the Children’s We Day. Artists included Nelly Furtado, Shawn Desman, Joe Jonas, City and Colour and Classified, and speakers included Danny Glover, Patch Adams, Spencer West and Free the Children founders Craig and Marc Kielberger. The Me to We Club left inspired to begin a full year of activities and initiatives promoting change at a local and global level. Stay tuned for more from the Academy Me to We club!

Academy students cheering at We Day Toronto 2011
We Day 2011 Toronto at the ACC
Group Shot of YMCA Academy students & staff at We Day 2011 Toronto

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