Inside Havergal
Message from the Principal
Dr. Katrina Samson
We’ve had a fantastic start to the school year, and I want to thank our students, faculty, staff and parents for helping make the transition back a smooth and positive one. Your energy, care and commitment set the tone for a positive year ahead.
At Havergal College, compassion is one of our core values — it’s something we actively live and teach. As a school dedicated to inspiring young women to make a difference, we believe that empathy, kindness and action are foundational to leadership and learning.
In our classrooms, compassion shows up in meaningful ways — through open conversations, collaboration and a deep commitment to understanding others. Our students are encouraged to lead with empathy and to recognize that how we treat one another is just as important as what we achieve.
This commitment is especially evident during Celebration Day, when our entire community comes together to support our Community Partners. It’s a powerful expression of what it means to care beyond ourselves. Our students learn how their voices, ideas and efforts have a direct impact on others — and they gain a deeper understanding of their role in the broader community. Thank you to all who joined us for Celebration Day. Your support enables our Community Partnerships to thrive and have an impact in our local community.
It’s hard to believe we are approaching Thanksgiving here in Canada. This season calls us to reflect with gratitude and act with generosity. Whether it’s through service initiatives, community engagement efforts or simply reaching out to someone in need, our students and staff continue to find ways to live our values in thoughtful and meaningful ways.
Compassion is not just something we value at Havergal — it’s something we practise. Every day, in big and small ways, our community is showing what it means to truly care.
With gratitude,
Dr. Samson
Message from the Board of Governors
Jill Fraser ‘87, Chair of the Board of Governors
Dear Havergal Families,
Welcome to the 2025–26 school year! I hope your summer was filled with rest, connection and meaningful time with family and friends. Whether you are joining Havergal for the first time or returning for another year, there’s a shared sense of excitement as we welcome our students back to campus and begin a new chapter together.
We were thrilled to kick off the year with one of our most cherished traditions — Celebration Day — on the evening of Friday, September 26. This community event draws inspiration from Ellen Knox’s powerful question: What will you do? It’s a day that reflects our commitment to both service and school spirit, as we come together to support our Community Partners across the GTA and celebrate all that makes Havergal unique. This year, immediately after Celebration Day, we introduced our inaugural Friday Night Lights, a soccer game versus Branksome Hall! Havergal is the first girls’ school to host this type of amazing event, which spotlights girls’ sports, builds community and spirit, and raises funds for the Ahead of the Game campaign. Thank you to our faculty, staff, students and families whose dedication makes this event such a success year after year. As always, there’s so much to look forward to in the months ahead — from the Junior and Senior Kindergarten Christmas Concerts to our Carol Services, Music Nights, theatrical performances and many other beloved traditions that bring our community to life.
The campus remained lively throughout the summer, with a wide variety of activities. We welcomed Ivy Camp back for its sixth year, hosted sports clubs and film productions and advanced several key facility upgrades. These included the refurbishment of the tennis courts, Phase One of the Junior School enhancements (washroom renovations and new library carpet), replacement of the Upper School roof, completion of Phase Two of the three-phase classroom furniture refresh and ongoing grounds improvements to ensure our learning environment remains safe and beautiful.
Looking ahead, our first Board of Governors meeting will take place on Tuesday, September 30, where we will officially welcome our new Governors who will be introduced in the October issue of Inside Havergal. At the same time, we will bid a fond farewell to three Governors whose dedication and leadership have left a lasting mark on our community. On behalf of the entire Board, I offer our sincere gratitude to Barb Callander ’79, Sarah Coombs ’90 and Lexi Ensor ’13 for their invaluable contributions. Each has brought unique insights, deep care and a steadfast commitment to advancing Havergal’s mission. We are profoundly grateful for their service and the positive impact they have had on the school’s future.
As we begin this school year, I encourage you to get involved in a way that is meaningful to you. Whether through the Havergal College Parents Association, Havergal Old Girls Association, the Foundation or by volunteering at events, your engagement strengthens our community. The time and energy you contribute are truly valued, and together we continue to make Havergal a place where students thrive.
Wishing you a joyful and successful start to the year.
Ms. Fraser
This Month
Compassion and Connection at Celebration Day
Fatima Kaba, Interim Director of the Forum for Change
From Cookiegrams to bouncy castles, haunted houses and even cornhole, Celebration Day is always full of energy, excitement and activities for everyone to enjoy. But beyond the fun, this annual event plays an important role in supporting our Community Partnerships.
Through these partnerships, students engage with local organizations in ways that allow them to learn, serve and grow. For example, at Art City and Grenoble Public School, our students spend time each week supporting younger youth by helping with homework, leading art activities and learning from each other. These experiences not only benefit the children in these communities, but also help Havergal students develop empathy, patience and leadership skills. Students also learn about how communities can support one another through initiatives we engage with at North York Harvest Food Bank and New Circles, where the focus is on honouring dignity and ensuring that everyone has access to what they need in respectful and empowering ways.
Celebration Day makes all of this work possible. By focusing our fundraising efforts into this single, joyful event, we can sustain our partnerships throughout the year without relying on multiple fundraisers. Families, students and Old Girls/Alums come together to celebrate the start of the year, knowing that the fun they’re having — whether playing games, enjoying delicious food or tackling a Spike Ball challenge — is directly supporting meaningful programs in the community.
In the end, Celebration Day is more than just a day of fun. It’s a chance to see how our school values of courage, compassion, integrity and inquiry come to life. It shows students that making a difference can be joyful, collaborative and impactful — not just for the Community Partners we support, but also for the students themselves as they grow into young women ready to lead and make a difference.
Thank you to everyone who made this year’s Celebration Day such a tremendous success!
Thrive Days: Building a Culture of Care and Compassion
-Liz Watt, Assistant Head of Junior School
-Caitlin Parsons, Registered Social Worker
-Kirsten Uhre, Director of Guidance (Grades 7–9) and Upper School Learning Support (Grades 7–12)
At Havergal, care and compassion are at the heart of who we are. Thrive Days, held once a month, provide intentional opportunities to pause, reflect and prioritize wellbeing. By weaving programming throughout the school year, Thrive Days embed wellbeing into the daily rhythm of school life, ensuring it becomes a consistent practice rather than a one-time event.
Across all grade levels, Thrive Days invite students to consider what it means to care for themselves, support others and contribute to a healthy community. In the Junior School, this is expressed through hands-on, student-led activities that help equip students with the tools to manage emotions and cope with the challenges that come their way. In the Upper School, Thrive Days are led by the Wellbeing Prefect and Council, engaging students in activities, discussions and initiatives to reduce mental health stigma and promote wellbeing across all domains — emotional, social, physical, spiritual and academic.
Rooted in Havergal’s Wellbeing Framework — Care for Self, Care for Others and Care for Community — Thrive Days underscore that wellbeing is both a shared responsibility and a defining part of the Havergal experience. They reaffirm our commitment to fostering a compassionate environment where every student feels supported, valued and empowered to thrive.
Parent Speaker Series Presents Jeff Selingo
Monday, October 6 at 7 pm
Havergal parents are invited to our Parents as Partners Speaker Series with New York Times bestselling author and researcher Jeff Selingo. Join us on Monday, October 6 at 7 pm in the Legacy Theatre to hear Jeff speak about his new book, Dream School: Finding the College That’s Right for You. The book draws on more than two years of research and a survey of some 3,000 parents to give families permission to think more broadly about what signals a “good” university and students the tools to discover their dream school.
As the climate of university admissions becomes increasingly more competitive, Jeff’s research and insights are invaluable to families. This event is free to attend but advance registration is required. Register today at: https://events.veracross.com/hc/579-PPSSJS
Celebrating Generosity Across Generations
Kate Crokam, Executive Director of Advancement
Havergal Old Girls/Alums have long upheld a tradition of giving back through their care, expertise and generosity. Their support is an investment in the next generation of women, creating opportunities for young women to explore, learn and grow through a Havergal education.
This year’s Reunion Giving Challenge set a new record for participation, with Old Girls/Alums coming together in an extraordinary show of generosity. Each contribution, whether from a familiar supporter or a first-time giver, reflects women lifting each other up and ensures the next generation has the same opportunities and experiences that shaped these remarkable Old Girls/Alums.
We are excited to celebrate our winning classes. The Class of 1970 were leaders in participation, while the Class of 1975 set a new standard for total giving. The Class of 2005 joined our group of winners with a standout, transformational gift that underscores the incredible impact a single act of generosity can have on the wider community.
What made this challenge so meaningful was not only the friendly competition, but also the way it highlighted the Old Girl/Alum community’s steadfast generosity. These gifts reflect a shared purpose: ensuring that young women today and for generations to come benefit from the educational experiences, programs and opportunities that Havergal provides.
The Reunion Giving Challenge is a powerful reminder that the legacy of women supporting women is at the heart of Havergal. Generations of Old Girls/Alums have carried forward the care, values and commitment they experienced at Havergal, creating a ripple effect that empowers, inspires and transforms. This enduring tradition ensures that Havergal continues to flourish and that opportunities for young women grow stronger, year after year.
Parent Volunteers at the Heart of Havergal
In partnership with the HCPA, Havergal hosted a successful Celebration Day on Friday, September 26! Highlights of this event — a favourite tradition for many — included grade-specific games, a bazaar, a silent auction and friendly competition, with proceeds going to our Community Partnerships.
Later that evening, the HCPA continued to support the school by running the concession stand at Havergal’s first Friday Night Lights event, which was an exciting soccer match against Branksome Hall with the Gators taking home the win!
Our parent volunteers have been busy this fall hosting a number of events to support the community, including the Pre-Loved Uniform Sale and HCPA Marketplace, with all proceeds supporting Havergal’s Ahead of the Game campaign.
Thank you to all of our parent volunteers for helping to make these events a success for our community!
Used Text Book Collection
Wednesday, October 22
Families who have used textbooks (from 2021 to 2025) they no longer need and would like to recycle have two options this fall:
- Donate used textbooks to the HCPA.
The HCPA is hosting a textbook drop-off fundraiser on Wednesday, October 22 (8 to 11:30 am in the Ellen Knox Library). With this option, all proceeds from the sale of your books go towards supporting the HCPA. (A representative from Batner Bookstore will collect the textbooks from Havergal campus and then issue payment to the HCPA after determining which books to buy. Batner will donate declined books to the Salvation Army.)
- Return used textbooks directly to Batner Bookstore.
Parents can choose to return textbooks for payment (debit, credit or store credit) at Batner Bookstore (180 Steeles Ave. W., Unit 4).
For both options, please only return textbooks from the 2021 to 2025 school years that are in reasonable condition, with no watermarks, excessive writing, stains or missing pages; the spine must be intact.
Questions? Please write to [email protected]
Save the Date: Fall Bake Sales
Tuesday, November 4
The HCPA Bake Sale Committees will be hosting their first bake sales on Tuesday, November 4.
Upper School Bake Sale
The HCPA Bake Sale committee is hosting their first bake sale in the Ellen Knox Library between 8 am and 4:30 pm. We’re looking for parent volunteers for the following:
- Setting up and staffing at the Bake Sale: Sign up here.
- Baking and donating nut-free baked goods: Sign up here.
Junior School Bake Sale
The HCPA Bake Sale committee is also hosting their first bake sale in the JS Learning Hub between 9:30 am and 2:30 pm. We’re looking for parent volunteers for the following:
- Setting up and staffing at the Bake Sale: Sign up here.
- Baking and donating nut-free baked goods: Sign up here.
Please note: Junior School students are reminded to bring cash to the Bake Sale (up to $10) should they wish to purchase goodies. Thanks for your support!
Save the Date: Grade 1 and Grade 5 Breakfasts
Thursday, November 13 and Friday, November 14
The HCPA Grade Breakfast Team is hosting special Grade breakfasts for families in Grade 1 on November 13 and families in Grade 5 on November 14. These community-building events are great ways for new families to meet returning families as they enjoy a meal together and participate in fun activities. Havergal will send out invitations to families via email later in October.
Save the Date: Parent Pub
Thursday, November 20
The HCPA is excited to announce a new Havergal social event for current parents. Join us for a pub night on Thursday, November 20 to connect with old friends as you make new ones.
Parents/guardians will receive an email invitation to this event with more details soon.
Inside Focus
Honouring Truth and Reconciliation at Havergal
Nicole Cozier, Executive Director of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging
At Havergal, our commitment to Truth and Reconciliation is rooted in both responsibility and gratitude.
For many years, Indigenous education has been part of our journey — woven into curriculum in both the Junior and Upper Schools, strengthened by faculty who have pursued additional learning in First Nations, Métis and Inuit education, and enriched by the relationships we are cultivating with Indigenous partners. Our 22-acre campus also grounds us in land-based learning. Indigenous plantings have been intentionally woven into the landscape as part of our answer to the call of the land as an act of stewardship to learn from the past, live in right relationship with the land in the present and nurture a more sustainable future.
This year, we are marking Truth and Reconciliation/Orange Shirt Day with activities that span the week. We began with Prayers on Monday, September 29 at the Junior School, with messaging aimed to deepen students’ understanding of why we wear orange shirts on Tuesday, September 30, as well as to suggest ways students and teachers can engage in meaningful opportunities for reconciliation. On September 30, the Upper School community heard student and faculty voices focused on the past, present and future of reconciliation.
The week ends with activities on Friday, October 3. The Junior School will welcome long-time collaborator Herbie Barnes for a morning of storytelling and drama, followed by a student-created art installation responding to a call to reconciliACTION. The Upper School will host a half-day program with an opening gathering and 10 concurrent workshops — including Lacrosse History and Play, Sacred Medicines, Storytelling and the KAIROS Blanket Exercise — led by Indigenous partners.
We know reconciliation is not a single event, but a continuing commitment and relationship. We are grateful to the Indigenous partners who share their stories and teachings with us and we recognize the responsibility that comes with receiving those gifts. The deeper work lies in how we carry these lessons forward — facing the truths of the past, shaping our actions in the present and opening the way to a more just and compassionate future.
Meet Our Faculty & Staff
Krista Koekkoek
Head of Upper School
As Havergal’s new Head of Upper School, Ms. Koekkoek is responsible for ensuring a Grade 7 to 12 experience that is engaging, challenging and centres your exceptional daughters in an environment where she feels she belongs, is valued and can contribute. To do so, she collaborates with the Senior Leadership Team and partners with the Heads of the Middle, Senior and Boarding Schools — as well as the Student Support Team, co-curricular directors and Upper School faculty.
Ms. Koekkoek believes that healthy schools nurture purpose in both students and educators. When individuals can be themselves and make decisions that align with their values, it brings out the best in them and our community. Since arriving at Havergal, she has prioritized this type of learning for all. She believes that young women who know themselves and others, who continually learn and grow and who are inspired to act are well prepared to be the difference makers in the world — the school’s mission. Ms. Koekkoek values the dynamic teams in the Upper School that she partners with and their commitment to vision alignment, research and depth and breadth of programming. Our focus is on the healthy academic and social development of students.
With over 20 years of experience in independent schools, including more than 15 years in leadership, Ms. Koekkoek brings a wealth of knowledge to Havergal. She holds a Master of Education from OISE/UT and both her Bachelor of Education and Bachelor of Arts in French and History from Queen’s University. She has also been a registered psychotherapist and a recent graduate of the Canadian Association of Independent Schools’ (CAIS) LeAD program. With a passion for girls’ education, she is dedicated to cultivating a community where belonging is paramount and engagement stems from authentic shared experiences.