On Saturday, June 5th, under unusually sunny skies in Abbotsford, the GNS Senior Boys Rugby team defeated Ladysmith Senior Secondary School 34-12 to capture 5th place at the AA Rugby Provincial Championships. This win, in addition to the thrilling 17-5 upset win over Brentwood College in the first round of the provincial championships, unofficially, crowned GNS the top AA rugby school on the island in 2010. The emphatic and resounding win over Ladysmith capped off a hugely successful season that saw the boys finish in 6th place at the highly competitive CAIS Rugby Tournament in Lennoxville, Quebec; defeat perennial rugby powerhouse, Esquimalt Secondary, for the Colonel Hodgkin’s Cup in the AA City Final; and knock off the 2nd, 4th, and 6th seeded teams at the provincial championships.

Yesterday, the girls were crowned BC Champions, completing -- essentially -- a perfect season where they swept all five of the major trophies available to them.

This is the first year a GNS athlete in Grade 9 has qualified for the Track provincials since events have been added for Grade 8/9 athletes.

After winning the only berth from the Island to the A provincials, our golf team prepared for the Kelowna championship held at Gallagher's Canyon Golf Course. Our competition would be stiff, knowing we would face last year's champion from Maple Ridge Christian and other talented teams from West Point Grey Academy, Osoyoos and the Kelowna hosts from Immaculata.

After a long, arduous season of meets held in unseasonably cold and wet conditions, the Middle School track and field students are to be commended for displaying a strong commitment to the team!

After a brief, one-year hiatus, Celebrate the Arts came back with a vengeance! Over 130 talented GNS students marveled audiences with 30 acts crammed into an hour and a half. Over HALF of our Senior Students were involved this year, showcasing their talents through dramatic and comedic skits, superb instrumental playing, jazz and classical singing, and even spoken-word performances.

Senior School art students have embarked on a “New Extreme,” a program where professional artists lead after-school sessions with high school students in preparation for an exhibition at the Greater Victoria Art Gallery. After two-months of weekly workshops and master classes with Jamaican-born artist Eva Campbell, the eight GNS students involved will showcase their self-portraits at the Art Gallery from March 5 to 21.

This past week at Glenlyon Norfolk School, the Olympic spirit has taken hold of the Senior School. GNS hosted the first ever Science Olympics, created and carried out by members of the Science Forum, passionate students and teachers interested in promoting a healthy, fun attitude towards the science community.

Both our girls and boys Basketball teams came out on top last weekend at the Island Championships!

It’s not every day a group of five-year-olds welcomes world-class opera singers for a private concert! Tenor Benjamin Butterfield and Soprano Anne Grimm graced the Junior School music room for a special performance for our Kindergarten classes showcasing their amazing talents by singing songs from various operas. Their musical selections were chosen with a child’s audience in mind, and the children laughed and clapped along to the entertaining duo. The children particularly enjoyed the comic duet between an English teapot and a Chinese cup from Ravel’s The Child and the Enchantments and Anne’s performance as a fly in love.

After learning about the earthquake in Haiti, five-year-old Kindergarten student Calum decided he wanted to help the people. Free of the sense of helplessness adults often feel when tragedy strikes, Calum approached Mr. Eagle and Ms. Graham to think of a way to help Haiti. Calum, who loves reading, agreed that a Kindergarten Read-a-Thon would be a great way to raise money to send to Haiti!

On April 21, 2009, Glenlyon Norfolk School will be awarded the Capital Regional District’s (CRD) EcoStar Award for Environmental Education at a special banquet at Royal Roads University. These awards recognize outstanding environmental achievements and contributions by local businesses, groups and individuals.