What have our school clubs been up to?
We take a look at what some of Central Peel’s school club’s have been doing recently, and what they have planned for the second semester. Moreover, we have an exclusive sit-down with CPSS Zonta’s president, Caitlin Serafino.
Mock Trial Since the success of this year's Mock Bail team, our school’s prospective lawyers have been finding other ways to keep busy. Mock Trial has been hosting tryouts all week in hope of finding promising candidates for this year's team! Apparently there’s been performances from Mr. Schikschneit and Mr. Leca as a wrestling coach? We hate to have missed it!
Interact Interact really made a difference in our local community during the holiday season with their Toasty Toes initiative! And now they’re kicking off the new year by opening up applications for new members. If you’ve had your eyes on this club for a while, now is the time to sign up!
Model UN Since hosting CPSSMUN VIII, their conference for the 2021-2022 school year, our school’s MUN team and its delegates have been preparing themselves for UTMUN, the conference hosted by the University of Toronto! Students can look forward to social events, conferences at other schools and maybe even a Valentine’s surprise…?
TED-Ed This year, TED-Ed has been hosting meetings with its general members where they discussed public speaking, debate and listened to some of Mr. Vidulin’s many stories. We're excited to see what this club has in store now that school’s are opening up in-person again!
Creator’s Wall With their awfully pretty Instagram posts and fliers around the school, Creator’s Wall has been nurturing our local creatives with weekly meetings, in which they discussed the art of storytelling with interactive activities. They also held movie screenings before the holidays in collaboration with CPSS’s film club!
Film Club Central’s film club has been preparing for a film festival with movie-makers from our very own school! Since the beginning of the school year they’ve been teaching their members about film and giving them time to work on their individual projects. With school going back in-person, we certainly hope the film festival is back on!
Dance Team During this year's Arts Alive concert, the dance team put on a stellar performance with acts that ranged from hip-hop, to Bollywood, to bhangra! We’ve heard word that the dance team might be back on and can’t wait to see what more they have to offer!
Heritage Council The Heritage Council has been promoting various cultures and heritages over the announcements, through showcases, and by hosting their events like Indigenous rock painting and a henna design contests! Hopefully, we’ll see more to come!
The Griffin’s Nest Oh, us? The Griffin’s Nest is just getting started and we hope you enjoy reading the first edition just as much as we enjoyed making it! Stay tuned for more to come.
“Zonta has given me an opportunity to speak on behalf of those who are not spoken for”
Exclusive Interview with the President of the 2021-2022 Zonta Club
Caitlin Serafino is the president of CPSS’s Zonta club for the 2021-2022 year. This is her second year in the executive team and is truly a goldmine of knowledge for the club. You might have also seen Caitlin around the school handing out girl guide cookies, carrying various baked goods and changing her hair every week. After sliding into her DMs one fateful Thursday afternoon, she agreed to sit down with us for an exclusive interview!
In your eyes, what is the purpose of Zonta?
I believe that Zonta’s motto encompasses everything that the club stands for. The organization serves to empower women through service and advocacy. This means getting involved in the community and making a difference. I know that personally, Zonta has given me an opportunity to speak on behalf of those who are not spoken for. Many of the issues that our Club focuses on impacts females as a whole.
What got you started with Zonta?
The experiences I have faced and what I have seen in my community have led me to take on a larger leadership role in eliminating issues that affect females. I was inspired by my Girl Guide leaders who have encouraged me to do what is right for others. I know that I am able to make a difference, even if it is a small one, and as a result, I looked for opportunities to join clubs and lead activities. With Zonta, I have met many wonderful people who are like minded in their desire for change.
What has Zonta been up to this year?
This year we have focused on our community. In January we invited a guest speaker, Nicole Bradbury, to come and talk to a club about some of the forms of discrimination that female athletes face. I believe that this has really enlightened our members and it shined a light on issues that are still impacting female athletes in Canada. Aside from our monthly initiatives, we also host discussions and activities during our weekly meetings. I really enjoy these as it gives students a welcoming environment to talk about current issues and some of their solutions.
Can you give us any hints for what you have planned for the second semester?
We are so excited to have more in-person initiatives! Something that we are definitely looking at doing is a menstrual product drive. Our school only started giving away free period products in 2021, but there are still females in our community who are unable to afford period products. By raising awareness on the pink tax on menstrual products and collecting period products, we are looking to break the stigma surrounding menstruation and to ensure that no one faces period barriers. We are always looking to collaborate with other clubs at Central Peel, so far we have some plans with Eco club and BSA as well!
What would you say to any students that want to get involved in Zonta but haven’t yet?
I would highly recommend them to approach someone that is in Zonta and learn more about the club. We are open to everyone at our school regardless of gender, sexuality, or age. This is what makes Zonta unique. You can reach out to me at zontacentral@gmail.com or @cassiesparrow on Instagram and I would love to tell you more. Even if you are unsure, you are always welcomed to join one of our meetings or come to our events to see if the club is the right fit for you. Follow @zontacpss to keep up to date with what we do!
By Gurleen Rangi
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