We will be offering a wide selection of exciting programs for Fall/Winter 2017! We will email with details , and post them on our website, as soon as they are available.
Brain Power's Annual Math & Logic Olympiad LAST CALL TO REGISTER by March 2nd!
Special Guest Speaker: New York Times Best-Selling Author Jay Heinrichs
On February 8th, Jay Heinrichs, New York Times bestselling author of “Thank You for Arguing” joined our Public Speaking class by teleconference to share his vast knowledge on the art of persuasion!
Having spent 25 years in journalism and publishing, Jay Heinrichs is now a highly sought-after speaker on the subject of rhetoric and persuasion. He has spoken before major corporations, prestigious universities, and this is his second time speaking to us at Brain Power!
Meet Our AWESOME New Instructors!
Associate Instructor
Dara Greaves, Honours B.A. (English), Ph.D.
Dara completed her B.A. at the University of Victoria (British Columbia) and her Ph.D. (direct entry) at the University of Toronto. She recently defended her dissertation, New Woman Sympathies: The Affective Innovations of Fin-de-Siècle Feminist Fiction, which was funded by a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Canada Graduate Scholarship. At U of T, Dara worked with and was mentored by nationally-acclaimed and award-winning teachers. As both a course instructor and a teaching assistant, she taught topics including: Victorian literature and culture; contemporary poetry and prose; grammar and effective writing; feminist and LGBTQ+ issues; post-colonialism and aboriginal rights; and critical thinking. Passionate about pedagogy, Dara believes that academic ideas become the most vital and relevant in the hands of young people – who have the intellectual excitement of youth and the most time ahead of them to better our world.
Dara joined the Brain Power team because she loves impacting the lives of bright, curious young thinkers. When children and teenagers are given the tools for critical thinking and self-expression, she is consistently wowed by how thoughtful and sophisticated their ideas can be. Dara’s dedication to education, the arts, and social justice manifests in all of her endeavours. She is also an emerging screenwriter and filmmaker whose work explores contemporary social issues, as well as a writing mentor at SKETCH (a Toronto organization that empowers youth on the margins through art). Convinced that people learn best when they are having fun, Dara combines creativity and humour with a serious consideration of literature, ethics, and society.
Associate Instructor
Oscar Jarzmik, Honors B.A., M.A., Ph.D. (History; Middle East Studies)
Oscar earned his undergraduate degree from York University (Toronto, ON) and his M.A. and Ph.D from the Department of Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations at the University of Toronto. As a graduate student, Oscar specialized in the history and politics of the modern Middle East (Eastern Mediterranean). More specifically, he concentrated his studies in the Humanities on: a) the intellectual formations of state/colonial rule in the Middle East; b) how “power” is inscribed into the built and cultural environment of cities. As a graduate student, Oscar lectured and instructed sessions at the University of Toronto and Ryerson University. Over the years, he has also been involved in several social justice, educational, and community-building initiatives both locally and internationally. Oscar is an enthusiastic educator who believes in using an interdisciplinary, interactive approach to help students develop their interpersonal and critical thinking skills. Brain Power is so fortunate to have a brilliant language arts instructor who places great value in conscientious learning coupled with inspiring bright students to exceed their potential.
Brain Power's FREE Book Club!
Brain Power's Book Club is FREE for all Brain Power Students!**
Our monthly events are hosted by Brain Power teachers and special guests. Students are encouraged to participate in order to foster a love of reading, analyzing, and discussing great literature.
How it works:
Step 1) Check out our book list (in our newsletters and on our bulletin boards).
Step 2) Choose which month(s) you'd like to join us for our book club event. (If you are not sure of the age recommendation of a listed book, please inquire at the Brain Power office.)
Step 3) Sign up at the Brain Power office for the book club event dates you'd like to join.
Step 4) Get your book from the library (or purchase it) and read it before the book club event date.
Step 5) Fall in love with reading and discussing amazing literature!
** Participation in our book club discussions is always free, though their may be a fee for attending any extra events associated with the monthly reading and discussion (e.g. theatrical performances, films, etc.). That is why students (and parents) should sign up for book club meetings well in advance.
Join Us for Our Next BOOK CLUB! The Pearl by John Steinbeck
March 26 @ 5:00 pm
(Room 3 at Brain Power) Hosted by Hyla and Karine!
In John Steinbeck's The Pearl, Kino, an indigenous Mexican pearl diver, desperately needs money to pay for the treatment of his infant son, who has been bitten by a scorpion. As if in answer to his prayers, Kino finds a huge pearl that should be worth a small fortune...if he can manage to hold on to it (and his life) long enough to sell it.
Steinbeck's classic novella asks important questions about how we determine the value of anything, whether it be a pearl or a human life. It also sheds an unflattering light on the extent to which greed influences our thoughts and actions,even when we think that we are making our choices for the best and most moral of reasons.
Alumni of the Month: Nicole Rayskin
Currently: Business Administration at the Lazaridis School of Business, Wilfrid Laurier University; DECA top provincial winner (all thanks to my rhetoric and public speaking abilities I gained from Brain Power!)
Thoughts on Brain Power: The most reliable place to get educated way beyond the school system. I love the relationships I formed with my (brilliant) BP peers and teachers — and I still stay in touch.
Essay Competitions for Students!
Queen's Commonwealth Essay Competition - 2017
Young Voices - 2017
We are here to help our students with their submissions. See your teacher(s) for assistance.
