Inside Havergal
Havergal’s Future-Ready Approach to Learning
Lindsay Norberg, Deputy Principal
At Founders’ Day this year, Dr. Mary Grant ’01 spoke to students from Grade 1 to 12 about how her experiences at Havergal helped her answer Principal Ellen Knox’s enduring question: “What will you do?”
Much has changed in the world — and at Havergal — since Dr. Grant graduated nearly 25 years ago. But what stood out in her reflections was that Havergal has always been a place focused on helping students develop the knowledge, mindset and skills needed to thrive in an evolving world. For Dr. Grant, this meant accepting support from teachers and peers when presented with a challenge, learning that growth happens outside of our comfort zones, surrounding herself with those who care, showing up early for a tryout, trying hard, being a team player, cheering for others even when disappointed with your results and focusing on progress over perfection.
At Havergal, being future-ready is about cultivating durable skills — those that will serve students well throughout their lives. Skills like creativity, critical thinking, empathy, communication, adaptability and ethical decision-making are developed not in isolation, but through a wide range of experiences across the school. These skills are embedded in classroom learning, co-curricular involvement and leadership opportunities, all supported by exceptional faculty.
Learning at Havergal is active and relational. Students engage with complex ideas, collaborate with peers and reflect on their growth. They ask questions, explore perspectives and develop the confidence to lead with purpose, all within an environment that is both intellectually rigorous and emotionally supportive.
Preparing for the future isn’t about predicting what’s next, it’s about empowering students with the tools to shape their own paths. By nurturing curiosity, compassion and courage, Havergal graduates are ready to make meaningful contributions, wherever life takes them.
Message from the Board of Governors
Obaid Afzal, Chair of the Financial Sustainability Committee
The Financial Sustainability Committee is a committee of the Board of Governors. Our primary mandate is to safeguard the long-term financial sustainability of Havergal College. As Chair of the Financial Sustainability Committee, I have the pleasure of working in partnership with an engaged group of volunteers, as well as Havergal’s Chief Operations Officer, Laura Sims, and Executive Director of Finance, Johann McCormack.
Our committee members include current and past parents and senior leaders in the community. We look to involve a mix of individuals with a wide range of backgrounds and financial experience. This provides the opportunity to bring a diverse perspective to discussions and broad insights in support of the financial decisions the school makes.
The Financial Sustainability Committee partners with the Property and Development Committee and Havergal’s Senior Leadership Team to ensure the financial plans are in place to support the long-term strategic direction of the school.
Our goal is to oversee and monitor Havergal’s financial plan by balancing the interests of multiple stakeholders, including students, parents, staff and faculty. Like all good financial plans, this is a balancing act requiring careful consideration of a series of trade-offs. The topics that we regularly discuss include:
- Capital spending that invests in the campus to maintain and enhance our facilities in support of our strategy and programs.
- Short and long-term financial plans and the funding required to support the wide variety of programs that are fundamental to the student experience at Havergal.
As the Chair of the Financial Sustainability Committee, I am happy to report that Havergal continues to be financially strong, benefiting from a disciplined, responsible and thoughtful approach to fiscal responsibility.
Obaid
This Month
The Havergal Difference Maker: Bringing Our Portrait of a Graduate to Life
Lindsay Norberg, Deputy Principal
Havergal has long been guided by a powerful and enduring mission: “Preparing young women to make a difference.” As part of our strategic plan, Empowering Excellence, we asked: What does it truly mean to be future-ready and how can we ensure our graduates reflect that vision?
This led us to redefine our Portrait of a Graduate — a clear framework that articulates the knowledge, skills and dispositions students develop during their time at Havergal. More than a list of outcomes, it brings coherence to our work in academics, wellbeing, inclusive excellence and leadership.
We call this vision the Havergal Difference Maker, which is a name that reflects our mission and the kind of graduate we aim to develop. It serves as a shared reference point that shapes how we design programs, support students and prepare them for life beyond Havergal.
The Havergal Difference Maker is a globally-minded, confident and resilient individual, equipped to navigate complexity, lead with integrity and contribute meaningfully in a world in constant flux.
The vision is grounded in three core pillars:
- Understanding Myself & Others: Building self-awareness, empathy and respect for diverse perspectives.
- Continually Learning & Growing: Embracing curiosity, reflection and adaptability.
- Being Inspired to Act: Taking initiative and making a positive impact in communities and beyond.
By defining this shared vision, we align every learning experience at Havergal with the future our students are stepping into, ensuring they graduate ready to lead, adapt and make an impactful difference.
Inside HC-X: Where Futures Take Shape
Adam Caplan, HC-X Director
In HC-X, we’re often asked what the X stands for. Is the X for eXperience? eXploration? Another X-factor? The answer is… Yes!
HC-X designs future-ready programs that emphasize self-development as a key ingredient in lifelong learning, career development and becoming a Havergal Difference Maker.
Through HC-X unique programs such as Digital Wisdom, TC-9 and our expanding suite of Digital Microcredentials, Havergal students orient their futures by exploring, experiencing and experimenting in different areas of their passion, curiosity and skills.
HC-X works in partnership with parents, Old Girls/Alums and leading professionals working in cutting-edge industries to connect students with mentors on a range of topics, such as capital markets, robotics and AI, media production, surgical sciences and climate action.
For example, this year’s newest Digital Microcredential offers students an introduction to Architecture & Design, working with architects at their firm offices downtown and visiting the sites of their projects across Toronto.
Another program is Havergal’s Next Surgeon experience. Participating students joined women surgeons at St. Michael’s Hospital to learn about their journey to medical school, work in the wet-lab and develop surgery skills.
In the Virtual Reality Club, students develop fluency in immersive media and ask questions about how these technologies can be applied for workplace learning and development.
Through these opportunities, students develop mental models of who they can become and they consider potential career pathways while developing their identity, competencies and networks.
Havergal students are invested in their futures and HC-X is all about providing them with opportunities to find their X-factor.
You can learn more about 2025-26 HC-X opportunities in the 2025 summer message parents will receive in late August, or in the Upper School daily announcements starting in September 2025.
Havergal College’s Heart Surgeon Program
Tori Curry, Grade 12 Student
Participating in co-curriculars is a crucial part of my Havergal College experience, and this year I had the incredible opportunity to lead and participate in Havergal College’s Heart Surgeon program.
Along with 25 other students across Grades 9 to 12, I spent two days at St. Michael’s Hospital where we were able to hear from different types of surgeons about their fields of medicine. We heard from a cardiologist, anesthesiologist and trauma surgeon and we even learned how to suture using real surgical tools!
I got involved in this program because it is a very unique and hands-on way to expand my knowledge and understanding of the medical field. I was curious if I wanted to pursue a career in medicine, and this program helped to give me valuable insight into what it takes to be a surgeon and what that lifestyle looks like.
I can confidently say on behalf of all the students who participated in the program this year that we each learned something new and fascinating, and we had an amazing time! Even if the experience taught some students that medicine may not be the best path for them, they still enjoyed it. A highlight of the program for me was watching the St. Michael’s surgical residents suture hearts and then practising ourselves on sponges! If this sounds appealing to you and you are wondering if your future could be in the field of medicine, I urge you to participate next year!
Empowering Excellence Progress Update: Year One
We are pleased to share a Year One progress update for our Empowering Excellence strategic plan, with key highlights and milestones we have achieved together. With a focus on three key pillars — Connection, Wellbeing & Belonging, Future-Ready and Transforming Tomorrow — we’ve begun our commitment by investing in programs, people and our campus. These initiatives underscore our commitment and build upon Havergal’s 130-year legacy of delivering excellence in girls’ education. We look forward to continuing our journey to prepare girls for success beyond the ivy.
The Gator Gala: Photos and Thank-Yous!
Thanks to everyone who attended this year’s Kaleidoscope of Cultures Gator Gala and a huge thank you to all our volunteers! We’re very grateful to everyone who supported the silent auction, proceeds from which will go towards the HCPA’s support of community engagement, wellbeing initiatives and financial support for students.
View the event photos here (the password is Gator). The candid shots are also available for viewing here.
Follow @gatorgala2025 on Instagram to see more candids taken by our talented parent volunteer Vivian Silverson.
This special evening couldn’t have happened without the hard work of the entire Gator Gala committee, led by Co-Chairs Jacqueline Lui and Ashmina Damani.
We’d love to hear your thoughts on this year’s Gator Gala! Please take a moment to complete this short survey — your feedback helps us make future events even better!
Moms’ Night Out at Taylor’s Landing!
You’re not going to want to miss this year’s Moms’ Night Out (MNO) on Thursday, May 22. Our organizers have planned something a little different for 2025. The venue? This year, we’re hosting at Taylor’s Landing, a lively venue closer to home. There will be a DJ and candid photographer, so be sure to grab your friends and get your tickets before they sell out!
Tickets are available only until May 10. Buy your tickets here. Questions? Contact our Moms’ Night Out Team: Adeola Fowodu-Olatunji (Chair) and Faria Umar (Vice-Chair).
HC Frames on Sale Now
The HCPA is pleased to once again offer families the opportunity to purchase beautiful Havergal frames. Featuring the Havergal crest embossed on a green matte, the frames are available in the following sizes:
- 4 x 6
- 5 x 7
- 8 x 10
- 8.5 x 11 (diploma)
- 11 x 14 (class composite/Marguerite collage)
Purchase your frames here by Thursday, May 1. Details regarding June distribution will be communicated separately.
All questions (including those about ordering and pick up) should be directed to [email protected]. Please note that HCPA Marketplace initiatives are not affiliated with the HC Green & Gold Shop.
Thank you for your support of the HCPA!
Torch Magazine: Now Available Online!
Discover how excellence takes shape at Havergal in our latest edition of Torch magazine, which is now available online at torchmagazine.ca.
This year’s issue explores the strength of connection, belonging and shared success at Havergal. From standout student accomplishments to the lasting influence of Old Girl/Alum involvement, Torch captures the many ways our community comes together to support and uplift one another.
Dive into stories of inspiration, leadership and collaboration as you enjoy a visual reflection of some of the moments that make this year unforgettable.
Inside Focus
From the Classroom to the Community: Growing Leaders Through Service
Liz Watt, Assistant Head of the Junior School
At the Junior School, future readiness begins with empathy, optimism and real-world experience. Our students aren’t just learning about leadership — they’re living it.
This year, Grade 6 leaders collaborated with our community partner North York Harvest Food Bank, running two successful food drives at the Junior School. They also had the incredible opportunity to volunteer on-site, gaining first-hand experience in community service and making a meaningful impact beyond the classroom.
During their time at the food bank, our Grade 6 students made and labelled boxes, packed food, weighed items, learned about food insecurity and witnessed the direct impact their efforts have on the greater community. Courtney Earl, a Grade 6 student, reflected: “Visiting the food bank was an eye-opening experience for me because I saw what happens to all the food after it has been donated. I had no idea how much work goes on behind the scenes to get the food to those in need. It felt good knowing we were helping something bigger than ourselves.”
Our Grade 5 students were also stepping into leadership this year through a winter initiative with New Circles, a not-for-profit organization that promotes equity and dignity by supporting individuals and families — many of whom are newcomers to Canada. Havergal’s Junior School took part in the New Circles gift-giving program, organizing a successful Holiday Angel drive in which students donated gift cards to five New Circles families. Grade 5 students then visited the organization to sort donations and see clients who directly benefited from their efforts. It was a powerful experience — one that sparked empathy, connection and a deeper understanding of community needs. At Havergal, we believe girls who make a difference are true leaders — and our students are rising to that call with heart and purpose.
These collaborations — fostered through community learning and the involvement of both students and parents, including parent-child volunteering sorts, reflect our belief in reciprocal relationships. Our students don’t just contribute; they gain valuable insights; develop and deepen their cultural understanding; and engage in meaningful work that fosters a strong sense of purpose.
Community and Corporate Fundraising Manager of the North York Harvest Food Bank Judith Reda had this to say about our partnership: “With one in 10 Torontonians now relying on food banks, the role of young change makers has never been more vital. Our partnership with Havergal is a powerful example of what’s possible when education meets action. Through meaningful engagement, Havergal students are not only helping to address urgent needs today — they’re growing into compassionate leaders who will shape tomorrow. We’re honoured to stand alongside the Havergal community in this shared journey of learning, service, and impact.”
We know that preparing students to face tomorrow’s challenges means empowering them today — with heart, voice and action. As educators, it’s our role to create meaningful opportunities where students can see the real-world impact of their actions. This is how we cultivate the skills they’ll need to step beyond our ivy walls and help shape a brighter future.
Meet Our Faculty & Staff
Sarah Ewen
Upper School Faculty
As a Special Education Specialist, Sarah Ewen brings a unique perspective to the Math Department and supports students with a caring and intentional approach to mathematics intervention. Ms. Ewen’s expertise in creating personalized support and enrichment opportunities for students promotes a mastery mindset to math, where students can cultivate confidence in themselves as learners and as mathematicians.
Ms. Ewen has a passion for growing her understanding of cognitive processes for learning and applying them through research-informed teaching methods. During her Bachelor of Education, she researched spatial reasoning abilities and strategies for youth with disabilities, analyzing specific spatial reasoning behaviours in the LEGO® Robotics program at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital. In the math classroom, Ms. Ewen seamlessly embeds research-informed methods, prioritizing routines for executive functioning and the development of students’ study strategies.
Returning to Havergal as a member of the faculty is a full-circle moment for Ms. Ewen (Old Girl, Class of 2011), who says “being a Grade 7 Form teacher is my favourite part of my job. I remember being a new girl in Grade 7 myself, so I find a lot of fulfillment in supporting our Middle School students.”
When you see Ms. Ewen with her students, what’s most apparent is her dedication to middle-years education, as well as the unique learning and identity-formation that occurs in these transformative years. She believes that Middle School is when students are building a foundation of academic strategies and habits that can set the trajectory for high school and beyond. Her expertise and nurturing presence facilitates not just academic success, but also bolsters students’ understanding of themselves as learners. Welcome back to HC, Ms. Ewen!