Updated: December 9, 2008

The Principal's Newsletter: June 2008

It was very encouraging to see almost 70% of our students enrolled in Physical and Health Education this year—students dedicated to improving their overall health and well being! Hopefully each individual feels better about general fitness, and realizes the correlation between health and academic success.

Complementing our current courses, we are eager to commence our grade 10, 11, and 12 Personal and Fitness Activities. These courses will focus on either aerobics in our dedicated aerobics studio, or in our modern fitness centre (with even more excellent equipment being added next year)! We are also excited to launch our grade 12 Recreation and Fitness Leadership course, which focuses on event management and logistics, theories of leadership, education, and promotion of fitness. The highlight of this course will undoubtedly be a four day Algonquin Park canoeing trip.

We are anticipating additional new courses such as grade 12 Exercise Science, grade 10 Outdoor Education, grade 11 Mentoring, and a grade 12 Leisure Course.

Athletic Council
The Athletic Council is a group of students who organize activities to help promote athletics at Stephen Lewis and facilitate opportunities for students to be active. This year the Council helped organize the activity day at Finlayson for the grade 9s, our first Annual Senior Boys' Basketball tournament, Applewood Camp Day, Fitness Friends (partnership with Applewood), various intramurals (including indoor soccer, floor hockey and basketball), healthy snack sales and the annual Athletic Banquet.

The Athletic Banquet celebrates athletics and our accomplishments at Stephen Lewis. In only our second year as a school we are definitely making our mark in ROPSSAA Athletics. Our successes included:

• The Bantam girls volleyball team was undefeated in league play and made it to the ROPSSAA Tier 2 Final capping off a great season with a silver medal.

• The Wrestling Team had a fantastic first season with the Jr. Boys placing 3rd overall at ROPSSAA and some outstanding individual efforts including 1 gold, 1 silver and 2 bronze medals.

• The Senior Boys Basketball team made it to playoffs, and won the Single A ROPSSAA championship.

• The girls Senior Lacrosse team finished the season with a 5-3 record and made it to the quarter-finals in playoff action.

• The Junior Girls Lacrosse team made it to the
  Peel Final, capturing a silver medal.

• And, of course, we can't forget the boys soccer team who represented Stephen Lewis at OFSAA as the Single A ROPSSAA Champions.

Each year at the Athletic Banquet, Senior and Junior Athletes of the year are celebrated. The Athletes of the Year are awarded for their demonstration of athletic skill, leadership, competitive spirit and commitment to their school and athletics.

The Principal's Newsletter: January 2008

Physical Education

Semester 1 Physical Education classes enjoyed a variety of activities.  All students used our spectacular fitness centre, and all were given the opportunity to challenge themselves on our rock climbing wall.  All of the females had a week session of dance with a fabulous guest instructor Ms Hillier. 

Our students realize the importance of physical activity, and the relationship with healthy relationships and academic success!

Students charting their future in Physical Education and beyond have various choices.  Healthy Active Living is offered in Grade 10 and 11.  Aerobics is offered in Grade 10 and 11.  Weight Training is offered in Grade 11 and 12.  For those headed toward sport administration, business, teaching, or interested in recreational pursuits such as squash, curling and outdoor education should consider Recreational and Fitness Leadership in Grade 12. Those interested in medicine, sport science and rehabilitation should consider Exercise Science in Grade 12.  Students are always cautioned to ensure that they have the proper prerequisites for all courses.

Although first semester students will not have the opportunity to participate in Physical Education classes this semester, there are many opportunities to remain active.  The Lewis Fitness Club is open every morning, and Monday to Thursday after school. The Badminton Club is still being offered, and intramurals will be available throughout the semester. 

If parents or students have any questions please visit the Physical Education Office or contact our staff at 905-363-0289 ext 442.

SLSS Athletics: 2007-2008

The first semester has been an exciting one for the Athletics Department. Fall sports included Girls Flag Football (Varsity), Boys Volleyball (Senior and Junior), Girls Basketball (Varsity), Cross Country Running, and Tennis. Each team progressed well and found success in both league play and tournaments.  The Junior Boys Volleyball Team finished third in their division and progressed to the semi finals in the play-offs.

The winter season has also been very busy with six teams in season. Teams include Boys Basketball (Senior, Junior, and Bantam), Girls Volleyball (Senior and Bantam), and the most recent addition of the first ever Wrestling team. Highlights of the season include an undefeated Bantam Girls Volleyball team and the Senior Boys Basketball team, currently in fourth place in their division. The Wrestling Team, coached by Mr. Mottram, has collected a number of awards. The team has won four Gold, four Silver, and one Bronze medal for SLSS. Congratulations also go out to the Junior Boys Basketball Team who were able to bring home a Silver medal from their tournament at Turner Fenton High School in Brampton

Fast approaching is our spring season. Returning from last year : Boys Rugby, Girls Field Lacrosse, and Badminton. New to the school, we will be offering Boys Soccer, Boys Baseball, Girls Slo-pitch, Track and Field, and Cricket.

Thank you to all of our athletes, parents, teachers and coaches for their ongoing commitment to Athletics at Stephen Lewis. Stay tuned to SLSS Athletics by following the "ROPSSAA SCORES"  link on our website (Departments/Athletics).

Family Studies

The Family Studies Department has had another exciting semester! We welcomed a new teacher,
Ms Skop, to our department.  We look forward to the continued growth of Family Studies as we prepare our students for the challenges of everyday living!

This semester, our Food and Nutrition classes headed off to the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair and cooked up a storm. Our Parenting students cared for our infant simulators with great success, and our Individual and Family Living students learned the skills to sew and cook proficiently!

Next year, in addition to our current program, we will be offering three courses for our Grade 12 students.  These will include: Food and Nutrition Sciences, Individuals and Families in a Diverse Society, and Human Growth and Development.  Food and Nutrition Sciences students will examine current Canadian and worldwide issues related to food, appropriate dietary choices, and food-preparation techniques. Students enrolled in Individuals and Families in a Diverse Society will study individual development, family behaviour, intimate and parent-child relationships, and the ways in which families interact within the diverse Canadian society. Students who select Human Growth and Development will examine how early brain and child development are linked to lifelong learning, health, and well-being, and will develop child-care and human-relationship skills through practical experience in a community setting.

We look forward to another successful semester in Family Studies with new foods, experiences and courses!

Above are photos of our triple gymnasium. The first photo is looking across gym AB at the folding wall separating gym C. Next is gym C with its climbing wall. In the second row you see two photos of gym AB. Bleachers pull out from the wall and in the ceiling is a drop-down wall that can be used to separate gym AB.

Outside there is a track, football field, basketball courts and tennis courts. We also have a fitness facility.