O’Neill Drama Students Engaged in Evacuation Procedures at Oshawa’s Lakeridge Hospital

 Reported by Zachary Fortais-Gomm

On March 2nd 2012, fifteen of O'Neill's drama students aided Lakeridge Hospital in Oshawa, with a mock evacuation of their facility.

The evacuation procedures were practiced and assessed in order to indicate areas that need to be improved upon should an actual emergency situation occur. Students were tasked with impersonating patients and were told to act as any regular patient would. Many students were told that they were to impersonate a patient who does not possess the use of his or her legs. This presented a challenge to many of the students who rose to the occasion and presented the staff of Oshawa's Lakeridge Hospital with realistic problems the staff might be required to face in an emergency situation. The students provided feedback to the hospital staff that helped them to take better care of their patients during an emergency situation.

The insights offered into the experience of a patient and how many routine actions can become very terrifying to a patient represented invaluable information to the staff. These insights were taken into consideration by the professionals who are now taking steps to ensure that they can make the process of evacuation as safe, secure and stress-free as possible for their patients and staff should an actual emergency arise.

Everyone at O'Neill would like to thank Oshawa's Lakeridge Hospital for allowing O'Neill students to aid in such an important event.

O’Neill’s Lauren Reid Competes Successfully in Intel International Science Fair

Jade Goodman’s Interview with Lauren Reid

1) In what competition were you entered, placed in, and with what will you be recognized?

I competed in the Intel International Science Fair in Los Angeles, California last May. This was, I think, a 10 day competition. This is a high school competition so students from grade 9-12 are competing.  I was really lucky and won the GE Energy Award along with $2 500.00 and the Society for Experimental Test Pilots Award along with $1000.00.

2) With whom did you compete, and what did you do to make yourself stand out?

I was a member of Team Canada which was made up of about 20 of us from all over Canada.  At ISEF you have one day of judging for which I think I got judged about 15 times. Basically you present and defend your project. The judges are mostly all PhDs in your topic so it was pretty interesting. As for the shining part, I just did my best and tried to be as knowledgeable about my project as possible

3) Why are you interested in the sciences? How will your ability in science impact the future?

I have always loved science and math. I love how there is always an answer in math and how there is so much room for innovation in science.  I would love to pursue a career in science possibly in aerospace engineering and maybe even use everything I have learned over the years from my projects to change the future. There is so much in this world that can be improved and I think it would be really interesting if I can make changes in the future.

4) Are there any future competitions?

 Future Competitions: There is an ISEF every year, so for this year I was selected again as a member of Team Canada to participate.  This year it is taking place in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania for ten days again in May. I am so excited to have the chance to go back to ISEF and hope that I can do well again this year.

5) Is there anything else you wish to add?

So many people have different views on science fairs. Many people believe that they are very boring and there is no point in them. Well I know differently.  I have been involved in science fairs since grade 7 travelling to Winnipeg, Peterborough, Los Angeles, and soon Pittsburg. You wouldn't believe all the things I have learned and the people I have met from all over the world.  My teammates are some of my best friends that I still talk to. I send emails to my friends in B.C. and Saskatoon. A lot of people will do projects and discover what they want to go into.  I know I did.  There is so much to science fairs and it all starts with just a simple idea. Like my dad always says, “Keep Asking Questions!”

Black History Month and International Women’s Day Celebrated

As Reported by: Jade Goodman

Students and STAR members of O’Neill C.V.I. honoured and celebrated Black History Month and the 101^st International Women’s Day on February 23^rd. STAR members handed out maple leaves to the student body of O’Neill where they could inscribe the name of their role models, supportive messages, and memorable quotations to live by. STAR is an acronym for Students Together Against Racism.

The role models identified on the maple leaves included: famous neurosurgeon Ben Carson, Emily Murphy of the Famous Five, Nelson Mandela, Mother Teresa, Florence Nightingale, Oprah Winfrey, Ellen Degeneres, their mothers, fathers, grandparents, and celebrity-figures such as Taylor Swift.

For the grand finale of Black History Month and the 101^st International Women’s Day, STAR broadcasted the Oscar-nominated movie The Help in room 310 on February 24th and March 8^th. The Help featured women in power and highlighted the past’s ruthless discrimination and wrong-doings; the film helps people realize how much the 21^st century has improved gender equality and attempts to eradicate discrimination…the perfect combination to highlight these two significant events in February.

Black History Month and International Women’s Day were a great success, as student testimonials enthusiastically demonstrate:

“STAR had had an amazing opportunity this year to celebrate black history month by organizing an event to bring equality to the students of O’Neill by having a leaf campaign going around the school where students can write supportive words, messages and about role models.” –Mandy Yazdan, Gr. 12 STAR member

“Black History Month was a great opportunity for us to celebrate and embrace the multiculturalism in Canada!" – Vani Dagupatti, Gr. 12 STAR member