Vanier Intercom November 25, 2013

Volume M 11, Issue No. 14, November 25, 2013
Intercom is published regularly and serves to inform Vanier staff and teachers of notices and special events. It is posted on the Vanier College Website and distributed
electronically. Submissions should be sent to [email protected]. Submissions should be in WORD, and sent as an attachment. No formatting or bullets. Deadline:
4:00 p.m. on the Wednesday preceding publication.
Honours Social Science and Commerce
Recruitment Campaign
Darren Becker named the new Director of
Communications and Corporate Affairs at Vanier College
Please encourage your strong first semester students (ID number
begins with 13) to apply to the Honours Social Science and
Commerce program. They need to have an 80% average and be
presently taking 6-7 classes. Applications can be found in A-286.
You can also send me the names and ID numbers and I will
contact the students directly.
Vanier College is pleased to announce
that Darren Becker has been named
its new Director of Communications
and Corporate Affairs. Darren Becker
is a fluently bilingual communications
manager and professional with over
fifteen years of experience in
communications, public relations,
crisis management and journalism as
well as over ten years of experience in
intergovernmental relations.
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The deadline to apply is Tuesday December 10 , 2013. If the
teachers or the students have any questions they can contact
Loris Peternelli Honours Coordinator at:
[email protected].
Loris Peternelli, Social Science
Book offerings from the Library
Every year we receive updated editions of some reference books
and we are offering the older editions, on a first come first serve
basis, to anyone interested in taking them.
The titles are:
1. Martin’s Annual Criminal Code 2013
2. Associations Canada 2012
3. Libraries Canada 2012-2013
4. Financial Services Canada 2-12-2013
5. Governments Canada 2012 Winter/Spring
6. Governments Canada 2012 Summer/Fall
7. Directory of Canadian Universities 2012
8. Canadian Environmental Resource Guide 2012-2013
9. Canadian Almanac and Directory 2013
10. Canadian Parliamentary Guide 2012
Please contact Nina Arabian, ext. 7544.
Nina Arabian, Library Services
Prior to coming to Vanier College, Mr Becker worked for the City
of Montreal in the Office of the Mayor and of the Executive
Committee. Since starting with the City in 2001, he has held
several posts including those of Director of Communications,
Deputy Chief of Staff, as well as Press Secretary and Senior
Communications Advisor. In the past, he also worked as a
reporter and columnist for The Gazette and as an information
officer at McGill University.
“As a proud Vanier graduate I am very much looking forward to
working with staff and students in order to showcase the
college’s wealth of talent and variety of programs,” says Darren
Becker. “Vanier’s diverse community has always been one of its
major assets. As Director of Communications, I feel I have a
unique opportunity to contribute to promoting the best the
college has to offer on a local, national and international level.”
Mr. Becker will start work at Vanier College on December 2, 2013.
Marguerite Corriveau, Vanier Communications
Wednesday Concert
Mathematics & Science Centre
This Wednesday, November 27 beginning at 12:30 pm in the
Auditorium, the Music Department proudly presents the ThirdYear Jazz Improv group in its second recital of the year.
Final Set of Review Sessions
There is only one more concert after this one, so come on down
to the Auditorium and groove to the sweet sounds of our
Professional Music and Song Techniques combos. The group's
director and mentor, Nick Di Tomaso, promises this will be a
fabulous event, made all the more so by the fact that it is free!
Glen Ethier, Music Department
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Wednesday, November 27
Calculus II Review (D-508) during UB
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Wednesday, December 4
Calculus I Review (D-508) during UB
Mechanics & Waves Review (D-506) during UB
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Wednesday, December 11
3 Hour Crash Course: Organic Chemistry (D-508) – delivered by
alumni tutor
Outdoor Education Garage Sale!
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Thursday, December 12
2 Hour Finals Review: Chemistry NYA (D-508) from 1pm to 3pm
2 Hour Finals Review: Chemistry NYB (D-508) from 4pm to 6pm
The Outdoor Education program area
is having a Garage Sale on Thursday
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November 28 from 10am-4pm in the
lobby of the Sports Complex. Staff and
students are welcome.
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Sunday, December 15
3 Hour Crash Course: Calculus I (D-508) - delivered by alumni
tutors
Items for sale include: snowshoes,
backpacks, sleeping bags, sleeping
pads, kayaks, kayak paddles, and other
assorted gear. All items are priced to
sell.
Interested students must sign up online at:
http://www.vaniercollege.qc.ca/msc/event-registration.php
Please feel free to share this information with your students.
Come grab something to play with
over the Holiday Break.
Haritos Kavallos, Math & Science Centre
Children’s Cultural Holiday Party
Bill Mitchell, Physical Education Department
Winter Biking skill share on Nov. 27
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Because of the rising price of gas, increasing traffic congestion,
concerns about personal health and personal finance, concerns
about the environment, and mainly because people seek pleasure
rather than frustration on the way to work, the number of happy,
healthy and thrifty people (those who ride bicycles) has increased
in the last few years.
But what of winter? Montreal is blessed with a thick blanket of
snow and as much fun as this can be, it does make riding a bicycle
more difficult.
Somehow, though, the number of people riding in winter has
increased in the past few years. Why? Because it’s not necessarily
as hard or nasty as it may seem!
If you already ride year-round, come share your tricks and
experiences, if you are interested in trying, come learn from
seasoned veterans about clothing and gear and pick up a few
nifty tricks for riding in cold and snowy conditions.
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November 27 , 12.30-1.30, room A-548
Richard Dugas, Student Services
Please join us for a wonderful Children’s Holiday Party!
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Saturday, December 7 , 2013
There will be Fun activities in the gym; a Light lunch and visit with
Santa and Free swim for all. See the flyer at the end of Intercom.
All children (1-10) of the Vanier Community are invited.
Please register your attendance online by clicking on the
following link: http://www.vaniercollege.qc.ca/staff/holidayparty or on Vanier’s Event page by November 29, 2013
Christine Legault, Purchasing Services
Peer Teaching Course
The Peer Teaching course is a special B-Block English course (603HS course) open to students in all programs and offered every
winter semester.
Every fall, I recruit students with strong English language skills
who are interested in learning how to tutor/teach and help other
students.
This course is an opportunity for exceptional students to gain
valuable pedagogical experience while also obtaining a B-Block
(603-HS) English grade.
Please encourage motivated and interested students in your
classes to apply for my course by Friday, November 29, 2013. The
students who apply must have already taken two English courses
and passed them with a grade of 75% or over. Furthermore, they
must be students who have not yet completed a B-Block English
course.
A new Student Research Center at Vanier
Application forms are available at my office (N-554) and at the
FSGS Dean’s office (B-208). The applicants will be interviewed in
early December and selected according to their level of
excellence, commitment, and responsibility.
If you require additional information, please do not hesitate to
contact me at ext. 7271 or send me an email at
[email protected]
Gabriel Bulgarea from the Physics Department has received
release time during the 2014 Winter semester to organize and
develop a new Student Research Center at Vanier.
Thank you for your consideration,
The Center was created in Autumn 2013 and is now located in the
A-476 Physics lab, and during the next semester, students will
display their research activities at different times in all the
Science Labs.
Spiridoula Photopoulos, English Department
English Exit Exam Workshops
The Learning Centre is holding two types of English Exit Exam
workshops for any student who is writing the English Exit Exam
on December 18th. Please encourage your students to attend one
of these workshops, as they provide valuable information in
helping them prepare for the exam.
"Preparing for the English Exit Exam" Workshops
This workshop will give information about the exam: what it looks
like, what one will be asked to do, how it is assessed and
suggestions on how to write it. We will also discuss tips on what
to do to pass the English Exit Exam. All of these workshops are
the same/
Wednesday, November 27th, 12:30pm, A-312
Wednesday, December 4th, 12:30pm, B-223
The main project underway is Research on the water, soil and air
quality at Vanier and in the surrounding area. The research will
use an international and multidisciplinary approach. The students
will also learn to write a scientific article to present their results
and research findings.
A group of 13 students have already registered to participate in
the research project: Mrityunjaya Alapakkam Govindaraj, Melanie
Allard, Stacey Amar, Elaine Angelopoulos, Jonas Beaumier, Uri
Bender, Vladimir Cherniak, Gabriel Edery, Lior Elkaïm, Gregory
Klanjian Krikor, Cécile Kozadjian, and Craciun Purcarus. Most of
these students are also willing to be part of the STAR program run
by the Math and Science Centre. Many thanks go to Haritos
Kavallos and Didier Brûlé-Champagne for their help.
The students are currently doing theoretical studies on different
research topics and will start their experiments in the field and in
our science labs in January 2014.
"Practicing for the English Exit Exam" Workshops
This workshop will actually have students practice analyzing a
short story from a previous English Exit Exam and preparing an
essay of their own. It is recommended that students attend one
of the "Preparing for the English Exit Exam” workshops prior to
one of these.
Registration is required, which can be done on The Learning
Centre website or by visiting:
http://www.vaniercollege.qc.ca/tlc/workshops/practicingenglish-exit-exam
Monday, November 25th, 5pm-6pm, A-569
Wednesday, November 27th, 5pm-6pm, A-311
Kim Muncey, the Learning Centre
For this project, Vanier has an international partner, Mircea the
Elder College in Constanta Romania that has a long and extensive
experience in guiding college students in research activities and
international competitions. Vanier students will be in contact
online with their Romanian partners to share their ideas and the
results of their experiments.
Gabriel Bulgarea, Physics Department
Vanier Cafeteria
In response to suggestions and requests, the Vanier Cafeteria has
tried to improve its menu and offer healthier meals. Check out
this week’s Main Menu for November 25-29, 2013 attached at
the end of Intercom or by going online.
Mediterano: Meditarranean-inspired meals
If the Main Menu doesn't meet your fancy, the Cafeteria is also
offering meals from the Mediterranean such as piadas, gyros,
salads, wraps and flatbreads. Available Tuesdays, Wednesdays
and Thursdays at the "Mediterano" section of the Cafeteria.
Teaching Tip: Learning artifacts
Creative Sandwiches made for you
If it's a sandwich you're craving, the Cafeteria is offering 12 new
creative sandwiches freshly prepared according to your liking in
front of you. Ask at the far end of the counter.
Cafeteria Hours
Main Cafeteria: Open Monday to Friday, 7:00am to 3:30pm
N-Building: Open Monday to Friday, 7:00am to 3:30pm
Student Mall: Open Monday to Thursday 7:30am to 7:30pm and
Friday from 7:30am to 3:30pm
Image courtesy of
Stuart Miles/ Freedigitalimages.net
If you have questions, comments or suggestions please contact
Chantal Riffon, Vanier Cafeteria, extension 7938.
Chantal Riffon, Vanier Cafeteria
Back by Popular Demand...
Coffee, Hot Chocolate and Tea Sales
Nursing students participating
in this year's Malawi Nursing
Exchange are selling coffee,
hot-chocolate and new this
year, tea, to raise funds for
their learning
experience
abroad.
At the end of a good class session you give yourself a welldeserved pat on the back for a job well done. You are pleased
with your performance as a teacher.
Now could be the right time to take your teaching one step
further and try to answer the question: Did the students learn
what I taught? How can I check? The answer: with learning
artifacts.
Learning artifacts, sometimes called learning objects, are
anything that your students produce that will allow you to judge
how well they’ve learned the material. Used regularly, they can
also help you identify where students are struggling and some of
their misconceptions on the subject.
In March 2014, 8 students will
complete over 160 hours of bedside nursing in rural and urban
settings in Malawi, Africa. Students will complete their DEC
requirements, transport $50,000 in medical aid, and learn firsthand how poverty and cultural values and beliefs impact on the
health of a country. This transformational learning experience
costs each student $5,000.
Each year fundraising activities help to diminish this cost so that
the experience is more accessible to all graduating nursing
students. I thank you in advance for your continued support of
our efforts.
Melodie Hicks, Nursing Department
New PDO Drop-in Hours
Tuesday 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 a.m.
Thursday 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
PDO Room F-217
The PDO would like to invite you to our new drop-in hours. Come
by and chat with colleagues, peruse our many resource books and
magazines on education and enjoy coffee and snacks. Note that
the PDO is at your service 5 days a week. We’re just adding DropIn hours and hoping to see you soon.
Jen Mitchell, Pedagogical Development Office
The goal of looking over these learning artifacts isn’t always to
give individual feedback and grades to students, but to help you
see how well they understand the material before you move on
to the next topic and before you assign a summative evaluation.
Students benefit from the chance to try out their understanding
and make mistakes before they get to that final graded
assignment.
Learning artifacts don’t have to be anything big or complex and
they don’t have to be more work for you to grade. Even a good
question asked during a class discussion can be a learning artifact.
Anything that will allow students to try to apply their learning in a
way that makes it visible for you is a learning artifact.
Ideally, you create varied opportunities for students to create
learning artifacts as a group and as individuals. Planning your
lessons to culminate in a specific learning artifact can help you to
keep the focus on your students’ learning.
Examples of learning artifacts
Quiz
Journal
Self-reflection
Concept map/ brainstorming chart
1 minute paper
See this and other Teaching Tips on the PDO web page
Jen Mitchell, Pedagogical Development Office
Academic Council
Vanier College Student Entrepreneur Club
Agenda
Friday, November 29, 2013, 1:00 pm, Room F-216
Teachers, could you please inform your students that the new
Vanier College Student Entrepreneur Club is holding its first
meeting on Wednesday Nov. 27, at 12:30 PM in room N-521.
1. Approval of the Agenda
At that time they will elect a President, Vice-President, Treasurer,
Communications Officer and Information Technology Officer.
Students who wish to run for an elected position should email
Gerry La Rocca or Peter Vogopoulos or be present at the meeting.
[email protected] and [email protected]
2. Approval of the Minutes of November 8, 2013
3. Business Arising from the Minutes
a) Respiratory and Anaesthesia Proposed Grid Change
b) Student Success Plan
4. Reports, Announcements and Correspondence
a) Board of Directors
b) Joint Coordinators
c) Pedagogical Development Office (PDO)
d) VCC Day
e) Others
5. New Business
a) 2014-2015 Academic Calendar
b) CEEC’s Recommendations – Action Plan and Time Line
c) Academic Space Committee Action Plan
d) Program Grid Change Procedure
e) Academic Dean’s Mandate Renewal (in camera)
6. Varia
7. Adjournment
Wanda Kalina, Office of the Academic Dean
On behalf of Academic Council
Annual Holiday Craft Fair
Our Annual Holiday Craft Fair
will be taking place next week,
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Wednesday, December 4 ,
from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Don't miss out on the chance
to buy handmade jewelry,
natural botanical cosmetics,
lavender sachets, wool toques for adults and children, pot
holders, hot pads, treats for pets, baked goods, Christmas
ornaments and more - all made by our very own faculty, staff and
students.
Find great gift ideas for the holidays and special occasions.
We only accept cash or a cheque. A portion of the money will be
donated to the Vanier College Foundation to help a needy Vanier
student. Hope to see you there!
Nora Soukiassian, FSSCAL
There is no cost to join the Club and it is open to Vanier students
in all disciplines. The above teachers are mentors only; it is
strictly a student-run club.
Mathieu Morin, from l’Association des clubs d’entrepreneurs
étudiants du Québec will be there to guide us through the
process of establishing our first Student Entrepreneurial Club at
Vanier and students will learn about the many benefits of joining.
Already more than 27 students signed up to become members.
Most of the activities will begin in the winter session.
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Meanwhile, on November 20 , more than 150 students attended
an Entrepreneurial information session and heard presentations
by Jean-Philippe Desjardins, Managing Director at Orangerine, a
successful internet company, who provided information on how
and where to obtain financial loans to start up a business. As
well, Rika Valmer-Michaud from Carrefour Jeunesse Emploi SaintLaurent, provided details to help students prepare a business
plan and explained the process of starting up a company.
Gerry La Rocca, Commerce Department
Children’s Cultural
Holiday Party
December 7th, 2013
Please join us for a HOLLY JOLLY
Children’s Holiday Party!
Schedule of Events:
Fun activities in the gym 11am – 1pm
Light lunch and visit with Santa 1pm – 4pm
Free swim 4:30pm – 6:30pm
All children ages (1-10) of the Vanier community are invited.
Admission is a non-perishable food item! PLEASE Give generously!
Register your attendance online by clicking on the following link:
http://www.vaniercollege.qc.ca/staff/holiday-party
or on Vanier’s Event page
by Nov. 29, 2013
HURRY spaces are Limited!!!!!
A Vanier College sponsored event
Semaine 2
Lundi
Mardi
Mercredi
Jeudi
Vendredi
Week 2
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
SOUPE / POTAGE
Soupe aux betteraves
à la russe
Potage aux légumes
Soupe de pâtes et haricots
Soupe aux lentilles
Hearty vegetable soup
Pasta e fagioli soup
Soupe aux tomates
et aux nouilles
KETTLE CLASSICS
Crème de courgettes
Crème de poivrons
rouges rôtis
Crème de carottes
Crème de courge d’hiver
Crème de brocoli
Cream of carrots
Cream of winter squash
Cream of broccoli
Poulet à la sauce hoisin
Riz pilaf à l’espagnole au
poisson et aux fruits de mer
Lasagne au four
Beet soup russian-style
Cream of zucchini
Cream of roasted red pepper
Lentil soup
Tomato and noodle soup
Option végétarienne
SAVEURS DU MONDE
Option végétarienne
Possibilité quotidienne de
remplacer le plat principal par
une salade de fèves ou de
légumes secs (175 ml)
du bar à salades
Poisson au cari

Fish curry
Veggie Option
Chickpea and vegetable couscous
with harissa
Chicken with hoisin sauce
Option végétarienne

Rotini primavera à la
dinde fumée
Tourte au poulet
Primavera rotini with smoked turkey
WORLD FLAVOURS
Veggie Option
A bean or legume salad (175 ml)
will be offered daily at the
salad bar as a vegetarian
substitute to the main dish
Couscous aux pois chiches et
aux légumes à la harissa
Chicken pot pie
Tortellini aux légumes rôtis
Veggie Option
Tossed tortellini with roasted
vegetables

Burger de porc avec
salade de chou
Mijoté de bœuf maya
Pork burger with cole slaw
Longe de porc, sauce à
l’orange et aux canneberges
Crepe stuffed with ham and
Swiss cheese
Barbecue pork kaiser
Veal cutlet parmigiana
Spaghettini au basilic
et au citron
Quartiers de pommes de terre
rôties aux fines herbes
Spaghettini with basil and lemon
Herb-roasted potato wedges
Choux de Bruxelles à l’ail rôti
Petits pois aux carottes
Brussel sprouts with roasted garlic
Green peas with carrots
Salade de concombres
à l’aneth
Salade de chou et de pommes
Nouilles de riz au sésame
Side dish
Basmati rice with coriander
Whole grain rice pilaf
Sesame rice noodles
Mexicorn
Haricots verts à la
menthe fraîche
Patates douces à l’antillaise
Carribean-style sweet potatoes
Sauté à la sichuanaise aux
légumes et au tofu
Escalope de veau
à la parmesane
Pork loin with orange and
cranberry sauce
Pilaf de riz et grains entiers
Desserts
Petit pain kaiser au porc
barbecue
Mayan beef slowly simmered
Riz basmati à la coriandre
Vegetables / Salad
Crêpe au jambon et au
fromage suisse
Option végétarienne
Accompagnement
Légumes / Salade
Lasagne al forno
Fish and seafood Spanish
pilaf rice
Green beans with fresh mint
Mélange printanier de laitues
Salade du chef
Spring lettuce mix
Chef’s salad
Salade de légumes marinés et
d’haricots germés
Marinated vegetable and bean
sprout salad
Veggie Option
Szechwan vegetable and
tofu stir fry
Cucumber and dill salad
Coleslaw with apples
Tous les jours, il y aura un choix de fruits en coupe, de desserts à base de lait, de yogourts, de desserts à base de grains entiers et de fruits frais.
Produit céréalier à grains entiers / Whole grain product
A selection of fruit cups, milk-based desserts, yogurts, whole grain-based desserts, and fresh fruits will be available every day.