About Derek Logan

Kingsway College School Head of School

Technology and Dogs

Posted on January 16, 2013 by Derek Logan

My 16 year old daughter, Alyssa, has been lobbying, begging, pleading for a dog for the past couple of years. She leaves my wife, Heather, and I messages, demonstrates to us how good she is with our neighbour’s dog when she is asked to look after it, engages my mom to lobby on her behalf, changes the homepage on our computers and phones to a photo of a dog, etc. We constantly remind her of the responsibilities that go with a dog: cleaning up, walking it, feeding it, taking it to the vet, finding people to look after it when you are away, etc. etc. etc. Alyssa believes she is ready for the responsibility. However, as her parents, we know the dog will be both Alyssa’s responsibility and ours. When I think about it, it’s the same as when a child gets access to technology, and the world of cyberspace, through a computer or a phone. As a parent, you will strive to play a role in watching your child to make sure he or she is using and taking care of the technology responsibly, however it may prove difficult at times.

One of our faculty forwarded me the following post earlier this week that a friend of hers had posted on her Facebook site. I understand that it has been on FB for a while, but it was the first time I’ve come across it and I felt it would make interesting and perhaps thought-provoking reading for our families. As well, it may generate some solutions for any challenges parents of wired kids may be faced with.

A kid just got an iPhone from his parents. His mom wrote these [slightly edited] rules for its use:

It is my phone. I bought it. I pay for it. I am loaning it to you. Aren’t I the greatest?
I will always know the password.
If it rings, answer it. It is a phone. Say hello, use your manners. Do not ever ignore a phone call if the screen reads “Mom” or “Dad”. Not ever.
Hand the phone to one of your parents promptly at 7:30pm every school night & every weekend night at 9:00pm. It will be shut off for the night and turned on again at 7:30am. If you would not make a call to someone’s land line, wherein their parents may answer first, then do not call or text. Listen to those instincts and respect other families like we would like to be respected.
It does not go to school with you. Have a conversation with the people you text in person. It’s a life skill.
If it falls into the toilet, smashes on the ground, or vanishes into thin air, you are responsible for the replacement costs or repairs.
Do not use this technology to lie, fool, or deceive another human being. Do not involve yourself in conversations that are hurtful to others. Be a good friend first or stay out of the crossfire.
Do not text, email, or say anything through this device you would not say in person.
and again… Do not text, email, or say anything through this device you would not say in person.
No porn.
Turn it off, silence it, put it away in public. Especially in a restaurant, at the movies, or while speaking with another human being. You are not a rude person; do not allow the iPhone to change that.
Do not send or receive pictures of your private parts or anyone else’s private parts. Don’t laugh. Someday you will be tempted to do this despite your high intelligence. It is risky and could ruin your teenage/college/adult life. It is always a bad idea. Cyberspace is vast and more powerful than you. And it is hard to make anything of this magnitude disappear — including a bad reputation.
Don’t take a zillion pictures and videos. There is no need to document everything. Live your experiences. They will be stored in your memory for eternity.
Leave your phone home sometimes and feel safe and secure in that decision. It is not alive or an extension of you. Learn to live without it. Be bigger and more powerful than FOMO — fear of missing out.
Download music that is new or classic or different than the millions of your peers that listen to the same exact stuff. Your generation has access to music like never before in history. Take advantage of that gift. Expand your horizons.
Play a game with words or puzzles or brain teasers every now and then.
Keep your eyes up. See the world happening around you. Stare out a window. Listen to the birds. Take a walk. Talk to a stranger. Wonder without Googling.
You will mess up. I will take away your phone. We will sit down and talk about it. We will start over again. You & I, we are always learning. I am on your team. We are in this together.

Christmas Came Early

Posted on December 13, 2012 by Derek Logan

A joint post by Derek Logan and Andrea Fanjoy

Over the last few nights, both KCS and St. George’s on-the-Hill Nursery School held their Annual General Meetings. Voting on the amalgamation of the two schools was held, and we are excited to announce that the amalgamation has been wholly supported by the parent communities of both schools. As a result, the next few months will be full of new opportunities as we come together and go about the business of aligning our programs.

Those of you who know KCS know that there is something special about this place. To work here is to experience the proverbial 1 + 1 = 3. We all love what we do. We gratefully learn from and collaborate with each other, day in and day out. We’re frank about the challenges we face. And we’re determined to do our absolute best, pushing our boundaries so our best keeps getting better.

With the amalgamation of St. Georges and KCS, we will all have new colleagues. Faculty and staff from both schools are keen to meet, learn from each other and collaborate. Each of us bring experience and perspective that the other may not have, and that will make our best better.

Gift As we head into the holidays, as adults, we can reflect how Christmas has changed for us since we were children. We now tend to experience the joys of the season through the eyes of little ones while we reflect on the year past and the year to come. However, the excitement of new experiences and the things we appreciate hasn’t changed – the appreciation of a meaningful gift hasn’t changed either. In the staff room the other day, chatting with our new colleagues from St. Georges Nursery School, it became apparent that Christmas had come early for us grown-ups as we received the gift of new opportunity.

We look forward to a big new year. And we look forward to all the time we’ll spend getting better, together.

Derek Logan
Head of School

Andrea Fanjoy,
Assistant Head, Academics
You can follow Andrea on Twitter @afanjoy.

Our People + Effort = Successful Change

Posted on November 26, 2012 by Derek Logan

Last week we announced our proposed amalgamation with St. George’s on-the-Hill Nursery School (SGNS). The faculty and staff of both schools reacted to the announcement with a positive mixture of excitement and anticipation as we tackle our future together. Both organizations understand the benefits of amalgamation. I really didn’t expect anything less. And here’s why.

I joined KCS back in September 1999 as the grade 8 homeform teacher. At that time I taught history, Language Arts and geography to our grade 7 and 8 students. In 1999, KCS had one class in each grade, and we had approximately 150 students in the school. Our staff was about 25 people, a number of whom still teach at KCS today. Halfway through my first year, I was happy with my decision to join the KCS team. Even then, I knew this was a great school.

Over the past fourteen years, KCS has grown to 317 students and 46 faculty and staff. The school has faced many opportunities and challenges along the way – some planned for, others unanticipated. We’ve opened two additions to the school, one in March 2003, and one in December 2009. Those of you who have lived through a renovation know the inconveniences you have to live with during construction. We have managed our school through an economic recession and a flood in February 2010 that closed six of our classrooms for an extended period of time. Through each opportunity or challenge, I’ve watched the people at KCS listen, ask questions and propose solutions, and then get to work to make sure KCS comes out the other side a better school. And importantly because of that can-do, positive attitude, we’ve created many memories and had many laughs along the way. I know that the people at SGNS have had to face similar opportunities and challenges over that same time period that they have successfully dealt with.

Change either succeeds or fails due to the efforts of the people involved. Based on past experience at KCS, I am confident that the people at SGNS and KCS will all grow and learn together as we amalgamate the two schools at this exciting time. We have responded successfully to opportunities in the past, and I feel the future will be no different. In fact, with such a positive outlook with the faculty and staff of both schools, I am certain we will be better together. We are excited for the outcome of the vote at both upcoming AGMs, which will put a stamp of approval on this project and enable us to move forward.

Derek Logan
Head of School

It All Started With Two Words

Posted on October 30, 2012 by Derek Logan

I grew up a Notre Dame football fan. My Uncle Bill was an usher on fall Saturdays at the stadium. As a family we used to drive to go to the games in South Bend. My son and I have continued to go to at least one game a year for the past four years. To me, there’s no better way to spend a Saturday afternoon in the fall than at a college football game south of the border, especially when they are putting together a great season like this year. So when I see somebody with an Irish shirt on, I will usually talk to them.

A couple of years ago the younger brother of one of our grade 2 students (at that time) walked by my office as I was on my way into a Finance Committee meeting. He had a polo shirt on with an ND logo. I said to him something like, “Nice shirt.” He stopped, looked up at me, and said quite confidently for a four year old, “Do you like Notre Dame?” We then spent the next five minutes talking about the team. He quizzed me on my favourite players, etc. Sadly, I missed the first five minutes of our Finance meeting and likely missed a discussion on something like “leading Indicator”, “long-run average total cost”, or “tactical asset allocation.”

I was so impressed with this young boy, that I emailed his father about my encounter. Since then, all of our conversations, whether with the Dad or his son begin with our most recent observations on the football team. Last year my son and I met up with this KCS family at the Air Force game in South Bend.

And here’s where the story gets even better. Usually at the start of every school day, when Mme Giguère arrives at KCS and opens the French classroom across the hall from my office, she pops her head in and we talk about sports: football, hockey, soccer, golf, etc. (I will miss not only her talents in our primary French classes as she goes on maternity leave in February, but I will miss out on these conversations). At some point during these informal meetings over the past couple of years, we discussed Notre Dame and the story above. She has a cousin whose husband, Brad, played for the Irish at the turn of this century (no, not the 1900s!). Mme Giguère let Brad know about our student. He took the time to write an inspirational letter to him, which I understand is now proudly posted on the young boy’s bedroom wall. And in return, his Dad was able to find a number of tapes he had recorded of games in late 1990s, made a copy of them on a DVD, and sent it back to Brad. For the first time, he was able to sit down with his four children and have them watch him play in games at Notre Dame. Small gestures, kindly done, lasting memories for many people. Really, it doesn’t take much to make a difference in the lives of others. I’m proud to be surrounded by people who do this daily in our community.

Derek Logan
Head of School

Perspective

Posted on October 25, 2012 by Derek Logan

The following commercial was shared with me earlier this week. I’m sharing it not to promote the organization, but the message. In the grand scheme of things, sometimes the “problems” that we think we have are really not problems. I’m keeping this one in my back pocket to use with my kids the next time they complain about something inconsequential.

Derek Logan
Head of School

Happy Thanksgiving

Posted on October 4, 2012 by Derek Logan

Life is complex, so on my desk I have purposefully put a sign: Keep It Simple. I read it dozens of times a day when I’m at school.

I know we all have various things going on in our lives that can make each day challenging, and that we are all juggling commitments with our family, our jobs, our friends, etc. This Thanksgiving weekend, my wish is that all of you step back, realize the many things we have to be thankful for in our lives. Sometimes we let our hectic lives get in the way of remembering to be thankful for what we already have.

Derek Logan
Head of School

My Top Five Favourite Stories from September

Posted on September 28, 2012 by Derek Logan

I must admit, compiling a list of my favourite KCS stories from the last month was difficult. But I thought I would give it a shot.

#5. Seeing so many of our former students attend the Welcome Back BBQ and hearing from a Dad of grade 9 student that his daughter told him she misses the welcoming feeling of the KCS community at her new school; she particularly misses her teachers.

#4 Having a grade 5 student come to Mr. Marshall and I to volunteer to help out with the touch football team this year. We asked him to come to my office to have a conversation about how he thought he could contribute to the running of the team. We expected him to say that he’s be willing to carrying the balls/water, help pick up the pylons after practice, etc. However, when he was asked, he looked at us, paused a moment, and said confidently, “Offensive coordinator.”

#3. Those of you who were able to attend the BBQ last week will have seen the vendor with the donuts. About 7:45 that evening, I ran into a family whose grade 3 son had eaten his fair share of the donuts as well as some cotton candy. You can only imagine what the rest of the night was like for the parents… Anyways, I let the student know that we were going to install one of those donut machines at the front entrance of the school on a permanent basis. I wish I had taken a photo of his face. It looked like I had given him the best present possible.

#2. Hearing the story from a proud mom regarding her son’s accomplishment in being a part of the cross country team, finishing the race, and being embraced and encouraged by his teammates as he crossed the finish line.

#1. Being called “cute” by a grade 1 student (see my September 5th Blog for more information on this story). My two high school age children kid me about this almost daily.

As I finished writing this, just after lunch recess, a grade 2 student popped his head in the door of my office and said, “Hi Mr. Logan.” As usual I asked him what he was doing. He told me that he had had just come from the main office where he had picked up an icepack. Naturally, I asked why. And for the rest of this story, you will need to ask me in person.

Derek Logan
Head of School

From Humble Beginnings: KCS European Battlefield Trip

Posted on September 20, 2012 by Derek Logan

Today we held our first European Battlefield club for our students who will be attending our school’s trip to the Canadian battlefields in France, Belgium and England next March. In preparation for the trip, student participants in both grades 7 and 8 attend a battlefield club bi-weekly to help them to understand some of what they will see when they arrive in Europe for their 10 day trip. My son, who attends grade 9 at a high school in Oakville, will be going on this trip with me in March (my daughter attended the last trip and my Dad the very first one). Like many of us do before we visit a place for the first time, I am having my son watch movies, read and look through photos from previous trips in preparation for March.

I can still remember as if it was yesterday, coming back from a history conference in 2001 that was held in Montreal, where I met over 100 history teachers from across the country. At the conference was a former history teacher (Don Bogle) from the Durham region, who was working for a school travel company in his “retirement”. He asked if there were any teachers who were interested in organizing a battlefield trip for their school. I joined a group of 20 teachers expressing interest. As in most groups, the level of interest and a willingness to do the work don’t often match: four of us ultimately organized trips for our schools for 2003. I guess it’s always easier to decide not to bring change to an organization than it is to do so. We were the only elementary school willing to organize a trip.

I can remember coming back, sitting down with Dr. Z at the time (my predecessor as KCS Head), explaining what I wanted to do, and then after a few discussions, he agreed to let me go ahead and organize our first trip. I assume at the time, he may have had some reservations, but the work that I had done with him in the past certainly gave him the confidence I could pull this off. I knew the impact of travel on my own understanding of history, and although there would be a tremendous amount of learning and understanding in order to make this happen, I was confident the benefits to the participants would be proven over time.

As usual, there were many naysayers who questioned my sanity in taking grades 7 and 8 students (and their parents!) overseas. “To Quebec is okay…to France? You must be losing your mind!” Others would look at me when I told them parents would also be invited to attend as we needed a certain number of people to make the trip happen. These folks, many times teachers, would often shake their heads and back away slowly. Planning a trip overseas just after 9/11 only added fuel to the doubters fire. I still remember, about two weeks before we left in March 2003, we held a meeting in the library for all participants. A father stood up and asked me in front of the group, “What do you plan to do if terrorists storm the plane?” That moment will be forever etched in my mind.

A photo from 2003 of our first group of students, Ms. Gaudet and I at Vimy Ridge.

Needless to say, that first trip was a success that we continue to build upon. We have taken over 250 KCS students, parents and teachers on these bi-annual trips so far. And from those first four schools, dozens of schools across the country have followed the path our four schools began; we often run into boys from St. Andrew’s College in Europe during our trips. The naysayers back in 2002 could not see out into the future or what was possible in student travel and the positive impact it would have on the participants. Parents who attended the trip with their child(ren) often return to me years later to talk about the lasting impression the trip made. My favourite story is the Dad who called me the day after Remembrance Day in 2005 – he and his daughter had been on the trip in March of that year. He left me a simple voicemail: “Hi Derek, this is Dave. I now understand Remembrance Day.”

Dawn Biljetina and Jenn Macdonald have continued to build on the success of those first few trips. An important part of their effort was the formation of a battlefield club that participants would attend prior to the trip. Ms. B quickly realized that the participant’s experience on the trip would be so much better if they had read something, researched, watched documentaries, movies and YouTube clips on the wars, before they arrived at the ultimate classrooms: the battlefields in Normandy, Passchendaele and Vimy. Certainly not a novel or revolutionary idea from a teaching perspective, but one that helped enrich the trip for the participants. It was great to sit in the battlefield club today and see the learning the students are undertaking themselves and with Ms. B in preparation for March.

Two Influential Canadians

Posted on September 19, 2012 by Derek Logan

On September 27^th, KCS will be participating in the annual Terry Fox Run. Those of you who have been in the school over the past few days will have seen the posters our grade 4 students have made advertising this event for the school. Each year, our grade 4 students help to organize the run for the rest of the school by making posters, doing announcements in assembly, and setting up the course on the day of the Run. Terry Fox was certainly a Canadian who made a difference. This summer, my son and I travelled to Thunder Bay for the first round of the Ontario Cup soccer tournament. Just outside of Thunder Bay is where Terry had to stop his run. There is a beautiful memorial to him just outside of the city. If you are ever up in Thunder Bay, I encourage you to take the time for a visit. Here are a few of the photos I took there:

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Last night I was over at our neighbour’s house. Stephen had been playing at a golf tournament in Brantford earlier in the day. He had the opportunity to meet with Walter Gretzky, father of you-know-who. Stephen, who is South African, didn’t know a lot about Walter before meeting him and hearing him speak. Stephen’s first impressions were that he was a very down-to-earth, kind and thoughtful man. However, what stuck with him most from his meeting with Walter, was what Walter said during his conversation: “You learn more in defeat than in victory.” As fathers of children who are currently competing to play at the next level of athletics (Stephen’s daughter in swimming, my son in soccer), the message was a good one to remember for us when we are talking to our children about not always getting what they want.

Derek Logan
Head of School

Me to We Leadership Centre

Posted on September 14, 2012 by Derek Logan

Last fall Ms. Field (Director of Athletics) and Ms. Gaudet (Citizenship Coordinator) came to me and suggested we make changes to our outdoor education and leadership program for our grades 7 & 8 students. Last week saw the culmination of that initial discussion almost twelve months ago when our intermediate students attended the Me to We Leadership Centre in Bethany, Ontario during the first week of school.

Feedback upon their arrival back to school last Friday, as well as the various conversations I’ve had with students and teachers over the past few days, have helped me to realize that all of the work that went on behind the scenes over the past year to make this change happen is already having a positive impact on our students. It reminded me that too often we see the final product of something and forget about all the thought and efforts that went on behind the scenes to make it happen. The easiest thing would have been to keep the program the way it had been running for the past three to four years. But that is not leadership. If there is one thing I’ve learned as a Head at KCS over the past five years, doing the easy thing in the short term is almost never the right thing to do in the long term.

Over the coming school year, I look forward to seeing firsthand the development of our student leaders and the action they each take to make KCS and our community a better place for everyone. Going to the Me to We Leadership Centre was a great way to kick start these efforts.

Derek Logan
Head of School