Durham public school students excelling in the classroom and community
August 12, 2021
An active learner and extracurricular seeker in high school, Magdalena Grammenopoulos made her four years count at Donald Wilson Secondary School in Whitby and is transitioning to post-secondary studies well-rounded.
She excelled in the classroom, was quite active in cultural activities and fundraisers and served as the Student Council’s Prime Minister, a role that enhanced her growth as she was pushed to think outside the box and step out of her comfort zone by leading the school community through myriad challenges and adaptations during COVID-19.
With students learning online in the last year because of the pandemic and rising concerns about their health and well-being, Grammenopoulos and her team created a website for them to listen to music to release their stress.
“Doing all of those things, I think, has helped to shape me into the leader I now am,” she said. “My teachers pushed me to do better and I willingly accepted the challenge. My peers were also very encouraging. That support network was important and it was because of them that my confidence grew, I learnt about the significance of teamwork and I was able to do things I didn’t know I was capable of before entering high school. The Donald Wilson experience was truly amazing.”
At the ninth annual Durham Black Educators Network (DBEN) Activating Students Success Awards ceremony, the teenager was the recipient of the Euleen Thompson Award presented to a graduating student pursuing post-secondary studies in the performing arts, theatre, music, dance, vocal studies, creative writing, film studies or film production.
Next month, Grammenopoulos starts Media Production Studies at Ryerson University.
“I applied to six schools and was accepted by all of them, but Ryerson was my top choice because the program is hands-on,” she said. “Since Grade 10, I knew there was where I wanted to go.”
She plans to become a Director of Photography.
Grammenopoulos love for the arts emerged when she started dancing at age six.
“I was doing the basics like jazz and ballet and when I turned eight, I made the competitive dance team and then did practically everything,” she said. “After about six or seven years, I realized I really wanted to perform and take on different characters. Once I stopped doing competitive dance, I turned to musical theatre.”
Magdalena Grammenopoulos (Photo by Ron Fanfair)
A member of Randolph Centre for the Arts for four years, Grammenopoulos left last year because of the pandemic.
“We really couldn’t do any musicals or plays because of COVID, so I thought the time was right to move on,” she pointed out.
Grammenopoulos is the older of two siblings.
Their parents, Peter and Tsahai Daley-Grammenopoulos, were born in the Greater Toronto Area to immigrants from Greece and Jamaica respectively.
Having her parents’ undivided attention at critical times in her life has been priceless.
“I am someone who am easily stressed out easily and when I reach that point, I tend to want to give up on things and doubt myself,” Grammenopoulos said. “When I feel I don’t have the will to do things anymore, they are the two people who will step in and remind me that I have to keep going and that nothing in life that’s worth having comes easily. I can’t count the number of times they have come to my side and help me work through things. Without that, I know I would have missed out on opportunities.”
Hard work does pay off and Kalle Stewart can attest to that.
The Dunbarton High School graduate was the recipient of the National Basketball Youth Mentorship Program Foundation Award.
“I put in the time and effort which were recognized,” he said. “That’s what is the most pleasing about this honour.”
During the pandemic, Stewart dedicated almost six hours daily to school work and studies.
“When I wasn’t doing that, I wanted to do something to help others because COVID put many people in bad situations,” he said. “There were very few volunteer opportunities with organizations that were either closed or allowing just a few people to enter their facilities.”
Stewart and his girlfriend -- Sabine Tuthill -- started a group, Kind People Food Drive.
Using social media and with support from friends and family, they collected over 450 pounds of food and 300 pounds of clothing that were donated to Glen Rhodes United Church for distribution to the needy.
Kalle Stewart (Photo by Ron Fanfair)
The church supports Out of the Cold which is an extensive emergency response and homeless prevention program, a food bank, LGBTQ2S+ Activism and refugee sponsorship.
“We also made donations to the homeless in Toronto and I was really surprised at how well we did,” he said. “It also felt amazing to be doing that kind of work to help others and bring smiles to their faces.”
Stewart will pursue Mechanical Engineering Studies at Queen’s University.
With a fascination for cars most of his life, his chosen field of study isn’t surprising.
“I just want to learn and know how every single thing works and my future goal is to work either in the automotive or space industry which I am really intrigued with,” he said. “That’s why I am, perhaps going to do Aerospace Engineering for my Master’s degree.”
Seeing his single mom work hard to pay bills and maintain their home inspired Stewart – he has a younger brother entering high school next year -- to develop a strong work ethic and resist procrastinating.
“I learnt that you have to work for what you want and there are no short cuts,” he added.
De-Mario Knowles was surprised on learning that the special awards weren’t only for high school graduates.
“This award is pretty cool because it gives students in Grades Nine, 10 and 11 a boost in their final years of school,” he said. “Graduates need assistance to pursue post-secondary-schooling, but so too does students like us, especially if your family is struggling financially. I am very grateful for it.”
Academically focused and intrinsically driven to learn, the Sinclair Secondary School Grade 11 student is actively engaged in his school community.
Knowles is an executive member the Celtic Black Student Union founded at his school two years ago.
“It’s a group of students that comes together to discuss critical issues, including racism and colourism,” he said. “Prior to the pandemic, we hosted workshops to introduce Black culture to our school.”
Knowles is also the Durham District School Board (DDSB) Equity Co-Chair and the newly-elected Student Trustee for Oshawa/Whitby.
He took up the new role on August 1.
De-Mario Knowles (Photo by Ron Fanfair)
A shy kid growing up, there were times when Knowles felt ignored and unwanted.
“I was good at doing school work as I devoted my time to studying, but I felt like I had no other talent,” he said. “I wasn’t athletic, I didn’t have good communication skills and I couldn’t do art well. I just felt like I couldn’t do anything. But my mother and grandmother (Valrie Knowles and Corall Miller (respectively) didn’t allow me to feel bad about myself. They uplifted me and told me to stay motivated. They are two of my biggest supporters.”
He plans to become a medical doctor.
“Since age four, I knew that was what I wanted to do because I love to help people,” said Knowles. “There are other ways of assisting people, but I like the Sciences. If you can mix your passion with something else that you truly love, I don’t think it will feel like if I am doing a job.”
J. Clarke Richardson Collegiate Institute student Tiara Lee won the Mark Joel Trailblazer Award named after the DDSB Superintendent who retired seven years ago after 35 years in public education, Pickering High School Student Noah Rudder was the recipient of The Power in Me Award, Maliea May of Ajax High School was presented the Queen Rising Award, Tiffany Bicette and Aja Young of Sinclair Secondary and O’Neill Collegiate & Vocational Institute respectively captured the Up North Naturals Entrepreneurial Spirit Awards and Durham Alternative Secondary School graduates Sherica Byfield and Sarwankumar Chandrikapersad Patik received the Ifarada Institute of Excellence Awards.
The Syfox Stepping Up Awards were presented to Zachary Neptune of Donald Wilson Secondary School and Joel Vicente of Pickering High School.
There were 85 applicants for the 19 special awards worth almost $10,000.
Each year, awards are presented to elementary and high school students for their leadership in school and the community. Selected by their teachers or administrators, the students’ nominations were reviewed by a selection committee comprising educators and community members.
Michaelle Jean Public School students Mya Foster, Egypt Morgan, Jasmine Moore and Anaiya Moore were the winners in the elementary category while the high school recipients were Kayla Escoffery and Chelsea Henry of Pickering High School, Veronica Frazier of Ajax High School and Sinclair Secondary student De-Mario Knowles.
