Principal’s Message

Katrina Samson

As we head into the last stretch of the school year, we’re reminded that in a few short months our Grade 12 students will become Havergal graduates. When they head out into the world, we want to ensure our graduates leave prepared to be women of influence. To equip them to be agents of positive change, we believe that an education that places girls at the centre of learning plays a critical role. 

Havergal faculty explore history, world issues, math, science, innovation and humanitarian issues through the lens of women. Putting the girls’ perspectives at the centre of our learning helps instil confidence and inspire our graduates to do the work still needed to build a more equitable world. As International Women’s Month comes to an end, it’s important to celebrate the progress that has been made while acknowledging that there is still a great deal of work to be done. Empowering our students to become the leaders of tomorrow means ensuring that they leave Havergal prepared to take what they have gained here to advance the role of all women in our society. 

During the Senior School years, our focus is not only on their academic enrichment, but also on equipping them to make the transition to university. We tailor our Wellbeing Program to focus on important conversations about wellbeing skills with student and parent communities. We discuss topics ranging from the importance of getting enough sleep to developing and sustaining healthy relationships, habits and skills that they will take into adulthood. 

Our belief in the value and impact of a female-focused education is supported by data and statistics. In their 2018 report: Fostering Academic and Social Engagement: An Investigation into the Effects of All-Girls Education in the Transition to University, researchers concluded that girls’ school graduates “are more engaged academically and socially than their co-educated peers,” and when compared to their female peers at coed schools, girls’ school graduates:

If there is any doubt about the role of an education that focuses on girls’ needs, one only needs to examine the outcomes associated with girls’ education to see the difference schools like Havergal make.

By investing in high-quality girls’ education in the primary and secondary years, we are making future investments toward increasing power and representation in places where women continue to be under-represented. In doing this important work advancing women’s equity, we are positioning ourselves exceptionally well to extend our privilege to help ensure the same rights that we have fought for and continue to advocate for are extended to others—to people of colour, our Indigenous community, gender diverse people and those who benefit from allies who support their efforts for inclusion. I want to encourage our community to continue to champion girl-centred learning while also advocating for a more equitable world for all. With our collective support, our  graduates will play an important role in shaping a better tomorrow.

Katrina

Message from the Board of Governors

Brad Radin, Chair of The Havergal College Foundation Board of Trustees  

The Havergal College Foundation is a registered charity that both receives and invests donations to support key priorities for Havergal College. The Foundation oversees an investment portfolio of mostly donor endowed funds, currently valued at $32,000,000. These endowed funds have been gifted over time by parents, Alums/Old Girls, graduating classes, faculty and staff. The Foundation disburses 4% of the value of the endowed funds annually to the school, exceeding the 3.5% Canada Revenue Agency requirement.

Working with investment advisors and in accordance with the Foundation’s Investment Policy Statement, the Foundation ensures that its resources are prudently invested with the aim of both growing and preserving capital, while maintaining the ability to provide stable grants to the College for priorities such as student financial assistance.

The Foundation is governed by a board of nine Trustees, including ex-officio appointments of Havergal’s Board of Governors and a member of the Havergal Old Girls Association.

Because Havergal’s annual revenues must cover not only the present year’s expenses, but also capital investment and infrastructure costs, fundraising is an essential ingredient to maintaining Havergal’s ongoing fiscal health and viability. We are grateful to generations of donors, past, present and future, for their generous contributions and ongoing belief in Havergal’s mission.

Founders’ Day Celebration

Building a Better Future on Strong Foundations

Save the date for a special Founders’ Day parent and student celebrations at Havergal on Thursday, April 21. Parents are invited to join their daughters for on-campus activities at the Junior School from 8 to 10 am and at the Upper School from 2:30 to 4 pm. 

More details to come soon. We look forward to seeing you on April 21!

New HC Swag on the HCPA Marketplace

HC Puffer Jacket

The HCPA is thrilled to announce that (for a limited time only) Havergal puffer jackets will be available on the HCPA Marketplace. We know how much everyone loves to layer up and stay cozy!  

We are delighted that these versatile black jackets are available in youth and women’s sizes. The jackets will have the Havergal crest embroidered in white on the chest. What a wonderful way to show your HC Spirit!

HC Towel

Whether you’re searching for a towel for swimming lessons, the beach or the dock, it’s always great to have an extra on hand. For a limited time, Havergal-branded towels are available for purchase through the HCPA Marketplace. 

The puffer jackets and towels are only available for order until Friday, April 8, so visit the HCPA Marketplace to order yours today. Both items will be distributed via porch pick up in early May, with collection details to follow. All profits from HCPA Marketplace sales help fund parent engagement activities and the HCPA commitment to the Limitless Campaign.

Visit the HCPA Spring Marketplace here.

Making Connections Through Arts and Technology Courses

Kasia Ulbin, Senior School Art Teacher

Projects in both Media Arts and Communications Technology courses at Havergal are designed to engage students in creative expression through the use of digital media. Each year guest artists and speakers are invited to our classroom to offer a lens on career opportunities in the media industry while sharing how photography and film can serve as powerful tools for communication.

This year, the Grade 10 Media Arts students engaged in an interactive artist talk by award-winning Photojournalist Louie Palu to consider the authenticity of telling stories through photography. Students were invited to question the images they see in the media while reflecting on their own experiences and participation in image creation. 

As a final project, students were invited to participate in a Toronto school-wide youth group exhibition at Gallery 44. This was an opportunity for participants to create image based work as an expression to the theme “Silver Linings,” further exploring photography as a tool to communicate meaning.

Students in the Communications Technology Grade 11 course engaged in a talk with documentary filmmaker Jenny Jay, discussing the reality of working on passion projects while managing to be a successful woman entrepreneur in the film industry. 

They explored questions such as: how can we use filmmaking as tools to advocate for change and give voice to marginalized communities, allowing individuals to tell their own stories? How can we use art to foster community and serve as a reflection of the time we live in? 

Grade 11 student Azadeh H. says of the experience: “Learning about the importance of authentic storytelling and elevating the voices of people of colour really gave me the vision to have my mother tell her wedding story in her mother tongue. The production of my short documentary opened my eyes to the beautiful traditions of South Asian culture as well as my religion of Islam. Creating short documentaries inspires others to stay in touch with their culture and to learn about others.”

As a final project, students further learned about conducting effective interviews, framing concepts and editing to plan and produce their own short documentary films on a topic of interest. 

The Art Department is grateful for the opportunity to bring in guest artists to help contextualize the genres of their work and why it’s important to the world today.

Cross-Cultural Engagement Through Language Learning

Emily Rodriguez, Senior School Spanish Teacher

This year in my Spanish classes, it has been my goal not only to teach my students language skills in the curriculum, but also to make concrete and tangible connections to the many cultures that exist in the Spanish speaking world and communities. 

An example of this is through music, where I have my students learn about the various styles of Hispanic and Latin-American music and then learn the lyrics to a variety of songs. I was fortunate to be able to organize a special virtual event where my students had the opportunity to learn about, meet and talk to an up-and-coming musician from Mexico, Eddie Luno, who happens to be my nephew. 

Before the event, my students learned one of his songs by memory and then performed and recorded a video of his song. They were able to share this video with Eddie and it was a wonderful opportunity for cross-cultural engagement, connection and communication. 

Havergal’s Senior School Business Club

Wendy Hendry, Business Studies Teacher

DECA is a student business case competition designed to prepare emerging leaders and entrepreneurs for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality and management. In the past, Havergal’s DECA team has had many successful years in which students competed in regionals, provincials and even international business case competitions. Unfortunately, as a result of COVID-19, DECA Ontario had to take a pause for the 2021-22 school year. This presented a challenge for Business Club Heads Taylor J., Mandy W. and Cindy W., which they took on with enthusiasm. In place of DECA, they organized opportunities for the Havergal Business Club to participate in a wide variety of business-focused competitions (more than the group had in the past), which the Havergal students excelled in. Here are some examples of what they did:

We couldn’t be prouder of Angelina and all of our HC Business Club participants.    

This spring, our Business Club students can look forward to case competitions with Brock University, Rotman School of Business and another financial literacy competition with University of Waterloo. We wish them the best of luck!

Indigenous Education Partnership Brings Authentic Experience to Complex Ideas

Adam Caplan, HC-X Director, and Denise Hartford, Social Sciences Teacher

In late February and early March, Havergal was excited to have the opportunity to borrow the Canadian Geographic’s Indigenous Peoples Atlas of Canada map as a way to engage our community in Indigenous studies. However, when the delivery of the map was canceled because of shipping issues, Indigenous Education Consultant Mike Carlson found new ways to bring learning to life through the power of oral history. 

Carlson, a mixed Indigenous educator at the TDSB’s Kapapamahchakwew—Wandering Spirit School, joined Havergal for a week of conversation and community with students and educators in programs ranging from Grade 7 Social Studies to Grade 12 Economics to the Global Learning & Leading Diploma (GLLD). 

Social Sciences teacher Denise Hartford describes the impact: “When students see artifacts such as a Wampum belt and hear first-hand about its significance, they experience the importance of the oral tradition. Seeing a photograph of a belt doesn’t capture the human component of history.”

In Economics, complex ideas about currency, trade, wealth and property rights are put into the context of big questions, such as “who owns the land” and “how we manage its resources.” It was enriching for students to contextualize competing views of resource extraction and concepts such as specialization with economic models set out in the curriculum.

We extend our gratitude to Mike Carlson, Indigenous Education Consultant, Anastasia Wowk, Manager of Learning Experiences, and the many faculty who helped create connections to this experiential partnership.

Team Gators Develop Innovative Environmental Solution to Freshwater Pollution

Havergal students (and sisters) Emily and Errita X. (Grade 11 and 10) joined forces as Team Gators to develop a solution to global warming for The Earth Prize, a $200,000 environmental sustainability competition for teenage students with the best solution to accelerate positive change toward environmental sustainability, as judged by The Earth Prize Adjudicating Panel.

The Havergal community is so proud of Team Gators for being named as top 10 Finalists in this global competition. We asked Emily and Errita to tell us more about their project; here’s what they said: 

“In October, Ms. Wowk from the HC-X sent out an invitation in the Upper School announcements to sign up for The Earth Prize competition. We were attracted to the opportunity of working with a large network of mentors and gaining more knowledge about environmental sustainability, while applying our knowledge on business management. We truly had no expectations or intentions of getting as far as we did.

Our proposal was to create custom macroalgae farms for cities near the Great Lakes and partner with bioplastic manufacturers as a supply chain to effectively change urban consumerism. There’s no doubt that climate change is a pressing issue. But, the most pressing problem lies in our waters, the H₂O compound that is now bombarded with pollutants, excess nutrients and low levels of dissolved oxygen. After seeing videos and articles about aquaculture in China and Australia, we were attracted by the feasibility yet effectiveness it can bring. Alarming statistics show that lakes absorb over a third of all carbon emissions and 90% of excess heat, which leads to dead zones, imbalanced ecosystems and poor water quality. Macroalgae will effectively and affordably remove toxins, carbon, excess nutrients and restore balanced ecosystems.”

Congratulations to Emily and Errita for their dedication to helping the Earth! We would also like to acknowledge another group of students from Havergal—Team Goddess (Carol R., Kaitlyn D. and Carina D.)—who also participated in the competition with a carpooling app.

Torch Magazine Goes Digital

The first ever digital issue of Torch magazine will hit your inbox soon. We can’t wait to share this issue with you, which you can enjoy from your favourite device!

Here’s what you can look forward to in this year’s edition:

If you don’t receive an email from the Communications & Marketing Team with your link to Torch magazine in the coming weeks, please visit havergal.on.ca/magazine/ and contact us at [email protected] to get on the next mailing list.

Happy reading!

The Importance of Skills Development in the Senior School

Deirdre Timusk, Head of the Senior School

If the events of the past few years have taught us anything it is that the need for globally-minded, innovative leaders who act as catalysts for change are needed more than ever before. Our Portrait of a Grad guides us as we design programming that will help students become courageous leaders for the future.  

As our students progress through adolescence and into early adulthood, we know that their needs will change. As a result, the program at Havergal has been tailored to meet those changing needs. 

In the Senior School, students learn the skills they need to critically interpret the events in the world around them from different vantage points. Visual and digital arts help to spur their creativity and encourage students to view their surroundings in a new light. The projects are designed to help give students voice and choice in their work.

The study of languages also provides a new perspective on the world. American journalist Flora Lewis once said, “Learning another language is not only learning different words for the same things, but learning another way to think about things.” These new ways of thinking and knowing are also developed by having conversations with people from outside our community who can help students see different perspectives. In addition, students are challenged outside the classroom to take part in competitions that hone students’ thinking skills and encourage them to be able to use their digital skills to be innovative and creative thinkers. 

These are just some of the ways the Senior School is helping to develop independent decision makers who will become globally-minded citizens, able to thrive in the complex and changing environment that is our world today. We need them more than ever before.

Danielle Kindree

Head of Science, Upper School

Ms. Kindree joined Havergal in the fall of 2021 after working at Appleby College as the Head of Science and Technology for five years. She has 21 years of experience as a Biology and Science teacher at co-ed and single sex schools both in Ontario and internationally (in Belgium and Egypt). During her 11 years of teaching internationally, she visited more than 75 countries and earned certification as an advanced open water scuba diver.

With a Master’s degree in Education from the University of Bath (England), a Bachelor of Education from Western University and a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology/Biology from McMaster University, Ms. Kindree has an interest in aligning the teaching of science to thematic questions and in interdisciplinary studies.

Outside of the classroom, Ms. Kindree loves to practise yoga and participates in all sports—rugby and basketball are her favourite activities, which she played for many years. She is an avid sewer and enjoys making all kinds of items, from clothing to bags to table runners. At home, she’s kept busy with her two-year-old daughter Ellis and two active cats.

Principal’s Message

Katrina Samson

As parents and as educators, we know that Middle School is an exciting time of exploration and transition. We want to ensure our students have a safe and supportive space to explore new skills and interests as they begin to exert their indepence. At Havergal, we believe that shaping the strong female leaders of tomorrow begins with fostering a growth mindset today.

Throughout this key development stage, we encourage our Middle School students to try new things, keep an open mind and step out of their comfort zones. We work to instill in them the confidence to explore, while simultaneously reducing the pressure girls of this age often feel to be perfect. The Middle School years are a period of immense neurological development for girls. As adults, we think mainly with our prefrontal cortex, which centres on judgment and the understanding of long-term consequences to our actions. Because of the way the brain develops, teens rely more heavily on the amygdala when processing information. The amygdala is the emotional-response centre of the brain. This influences the decisions teens make, and we need to remember that teens are prone to feeling more than they are to rational thinking. This is also why they need parental and teacher encouragement to try, to explore and to take risks in a safe environment. They naturally feel more self-conscious and their concern for what others think increases at this age, so they do need encouragement to step outside their comfort zone, along with support in understanding why their emotions are so strong and powerful at this stage of their lives.  

It’s with this understanding of adolescent neurological development that we craft our Middle School Program. We know that ages 11 to 14 are key opportunities to have new experiences that foster strong and varied neurological pathways, teaching their teenage brains that they can try something new, they can challenge themselves and they can succeed. This process of exploration and repeated patterns of trial and error serves as the foundation for their confidence as young adults. The Middle School Program at Havergal is designed to provide students with the right balance of support, structure and choice to help girls thrive during this transformational time.

Our Form Program provides students with age-appropriate wellbeing sessions to help nurture the learning, social-emotional and interpersonal skills that are important in their development and will help set them up for long-term success.

To encourage exploration, our Co-curricular Program gives students the opportunity to discover new activities, explore and experiment safely while building confidence in a multitude of other disciplines in arts, athletics, community service and global learning. Students have the flexibility to develop new skills or discover new passions.  Equally important, girls are challenged to try something they never thought they would try, and with that, learn what they enjoy and what they do not. With a wide range of nearly 30 clubs, they can investigate interests ranging from Robotics to Drama.

Lastly, we want to ensure our students can access the support they need during this time. For this reason, we offer additional 1:1 development support. This individualized approach is different for every student and is offered to whatever degree is necessary. For some, this could mean working with a dedicated Middle School guidance counsellor or their Form Teacher. For others, this might be 1:1 time with the Head of Middle School. Finally, Middle School students have access to a variety of other health and wellbeing supports including a school social worker, nurse, athletic therapist or athletic trainer.

Linked here is a good article outlining the changes in brain development that happen during adolescence, along with tips for parents to encourage healthy habits in their teens. As we strive to empower the leaders of tomorrow, we look forward to working with Havergal parents in encouraging this phase of exploration and growth. By instilling a passion for learning and fostering a growth mindset, we can help ensure our students have the future-ready skills they’ll need to lead in an ever-changing world.

Katrina

March Break

The last day of classes before the March Break is Thursday, March 10. 

All students must take home all of their belongings from their lockers during this time.

Classes resume for all students on Monday, March 28​.

We wish everyone a restful and engaging March Break!

Highlights of the Middle School Performing Arts Program

Cissy Goodridge, Director of Performing Arts

The start of 2022 has been busy for our Middle School students in the Performing Arts.
 
On January 25, the Brenda Robson Hall was alive with sounds from our Grade 8 music classes. While our families could not come together for a live concert, our students and their teachers prepared a recorded video of their music showcase. The showcase featured performances by the band, vocal and string classes and was a delight for all who watched. View their performance here.
 
The Middle School Dance Troupe has been working regularly every Wednesday afternoon and their debut performance was shared in Prayers on January 20. The dance was set to Am I Wrong? by Nico and Vinz and was choreographed by the students. 
 
Now that the academic Grade 8 Band course has finished, the Grade 8 Co- Curricular Band will start rehearsals in the coming weeks. Stay tuned for an email from Ms. Spigott with more details about rehearsals.
 
After March Break we will be starting auditions for the Middle School Musical Theatre Club. This musical review will showcase songs from a variety of musicals. If you like to sing and dance, Musical Theatre Club is for you. 
 
Bravo to all of our performers!

Athletic Opportunities Keep Middle School Students Moving

Carla Di Filippo, Athletic Director

Throughout the pandemic, Havergal never lost sight of the importance of athletics in relation to the wellbeing of our students. Athletes were thrilled to have the opportunity to put on their green and gold team uniforms and compete for the Gators. With a focus on reaching the most students, a priority was made to offer a range of different sports with various levels of competitiveness. 

All of our traditional athletic opportunities were back this fall, such as field hockey, basketball, soccer, swimming and cross country. In addition to these, two new sports were introduced: tennis training and disc golf. Tennis training was perfect for students who wanted to try tennis for the first time or work on their tennis skills with committed coaches. Disc golf is a fast growing sport with courses all over Toronto, including one on our very own campus! This fall students practised and played tournaments against other schools and even travelled to E.T. Seton Park to play on a professional level course. 

The competitive spirit continued into the winter season with sports such as badminton, volleyball, swimming and alpine skiing. Just like the fall, we wanted to offer more opportunities for our students to participate in athletics. With the purchase of new cross country skis and the enthusiasm of Mr. McCulloch, nordic skiing was the obvious choice. On any given day, you can find a team of students making their way around Ratcliffe Field training for the CISAA finals. We also offered a U14 Hockey Team for the first time in Havergal history. With no other school offering a girls team, the squad plays in the CISAA boys D2 non-contact league. It is an honour to watch the team battle it out on the ice as the only all-girls team in the league. 

Looking forward to the spring, we will be offering our most popular sports in ultimate Frisbee, tennis, track and field and softball. We are also offering rugby 7’s in the Senior School to build off our strong U14 touch league and a brand new Golf team. 

After a period of uncertainty during the pandemic, building strong relationships with others is a priority. There is no better way to meet others, gain confidence and reconnect with your classmates than through sport. Our Middle School students have done just that!

Perseverance, Resilience and the Middle School Play

Jennifer Mills, Middle School Drama Teacher

Another year, another show! However, this year saw Middle Schooler’s taking on some of the greatest challenges we’ve yet to encounter. With the unpredictability of whether or not we’d have a live audience, students showed incredible adaptability in adjusting to ever-changing circumstances. To accommodate COVID-19 restrictions, we selected the play Ten/Two by Lindsay Price. This allowed us to keep Grade 7 and 8 students separated while maintaining a large cast and crew. And while we missed the mixed-grade bonding, students were afforded the unique opportunity to take on a significant acting challenge: two-hander scenes. 

Our tech crew also learned more than ever by taking on greater responsibilities in lighting, sound and show-running. Finally, our design team did an absolutely gorgeous job creating our set. They took ownership over their designs and blew me away with their creative interpretations of the script.

We had one of the largest groups of students ever, with 61 students involved across acting, tech and design roles. Each student approached their role with great seriousness and I am immensely proud of how this group handled uncertainty this year!

Photos and a recording of the show are available here.

HCPA 2022-23 Nominations Open

Deadline: Friday, March 25 at 9 am

Are you interested in becoming more involved in the Havergal community? Now is your chance! The nomination process for the 2022-23 Havergal College Parent Association (HCPA) is now open and there are a wide variety of positions for parents in both the Junior and Upper Schools. Please read our nomination letter for more details and a full description of each volunteer position open for nomination. 

It is very easy to become more involved in the Havergal community, connect with an amazing group of parents and have some fun along the way. Nominate yourself or another parent for any of the open positions. Don’t delay, the deadline for submissions is Friday, March 25 at 9 am.

More detailed information about the HCPA nomination process, timeline and the HCPA code of conduct can be found here. A complete list of all HCPA Committee positions can be found here.

GO-VAXX Mobile Vaccine Clinic at Havergal 

On Saturday, March 5 the GO-VAXX mobile vaccine bus will be on-site at Havergal College’s Upper School parking lot (1451 Avenue Road) from 10 am to 6 pm to administer first, second and booster doses for those aged 12 and up, and paediatric Pfizer vaccines for children ages five to 11. Vaccinations will be available to everyone—students, parents, faculty and staff, Alums/Old Girls—as well as friends, neighbours and beyond. All are welcome!

GO-VAXX is a partnership between the Ontario government and Metrolinx, whereby GO buses have been converted to serve as mobile vaccine clinics to provide a safe, reliable and convenient option for people to receive their COVID-19 vaccine. 

Walk-ins are available, while supplies last. To book an appointment, visit the COVID-19 vaccination portal or call the Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre at 1-833-943-3900. Bookings are available beginning Friday, March 4 at 8 am. Visit Ontario.ca/vaccinebus for more information and watch for reminders on our social media channels.

Message from the Middle School Prefects

Zoe and Alexa

Middle School was an immensely formative time of our lives. We still remember our MS Prefects from Grade 7: Meg and Steph. Though we don’t remember their last names, we will never forget the joy, life and fun they brought to the Middle School. It has been our goal to do the same.

When we entered the Senior School, we lost touch with the Middle School, but it has been amazing to be able to reconnect with such a memorable part of our time at Havergal as Prefects. We have especially enjoyed leading our MS Council made up of 11 Grade 8 and 12 Grade 7 students. As formal leaders, it has taught us how to mediate large groups and has given us the opportunity to support budding leaders. With the help of our fantastic council, we have planned wildly successful events like our Halloween Movie Night. After two years of COVID-19 restrictions, it was an incredible way to safely gather the Middle School community for a fun social event. We were happy to plan it and thrilled with all the positive feedback we received!

Another part of our role that is not as obvious is getting to work with our outstanding advisor, Mrs. Patterson, the Head of the Middle School. Not only is she organized and down-to-earth, but she also loves and cares about each and every student. Her passion and appreciation is contagious and it has been an absolute pleasure to work with her. 

Though not everything has gone as planned so far this year, we wouldn’t change a thing. The Middle School is where the magic happens and we are so grateful to be a part of it again.

Jennifer Goldberg

Upper School Head of English and Drama

Jennifer Goldberg is the Head of Havergal’s English and Drama department and a Middle School Form teacher who currently teaches Grades 7 and 12 English. She holds three degrees from the University of Toronto: an Honours Bachelor of Arts, a Bachelor of Education and a Masters in History. Her scholarship has been published in Historical Studies in Education and she has presented at the National Association of Girls’ Schools, Conference of Independent Teachers of English and the Havergal Summer Institute. She has taught every grade in the Upper School and worked cross-departmentally in the Social Sciences, on the Admission team and as Havergal’s Chair of Teaching and Learning.

As part of the Middle School team, Ms. Goldberg feels privileged to work alongside colleagues who are experts in both their subjects and the learning needs of middle years students. She sees firsthand how the Middle School’s focus on discipline-specific understanding and thinking establishes the foundation for a high school experience marked by rich growth, challenge, and opportunity.

When she’s not in teacher mode, you’re likely to find Ms. Goldberg listening to an obscure podcast, baking her way through her latest cookbook acquisition or trying to broaden her toddler’s reading taste beyond his current favourite book, Toot.

Principal’s Message

Katrina Samson

With the start of 2022 well on its way, we’re pleased to welcome all of our students back on campus for in-person learning. Like many of you, we were also disappointed to shift to another period of remote learning; however, we forge ahead as we work, learn and play together at Havergal. The last two years have been challenging for all of us in many ways and we’re committed to our students’ wellbeing and supporting them during this unpredictable period.

As we are learning about and seeing the effects the pandemic has had on learning and development, we are paying special attention to how difficult this has been for our youngest learners. With this in mind, we are focused on supporting students in the development of key social skills, such as naming emotions and identifying what’s at the root of our feelings. These skills help ensure that our younger students are able to express emotions and share with the teachers, parents and caregivers how they are being impacted, enabling us to better respond to their needs.

Equipping our students with these necessary skills has been made possible with our great Social-Emotional and Learning Support Team, including the specialized skills of a Child and Youth Worker and a Social Worker. To provide additional social and emotional support, our teachers have spent a lot of time throughout the fall adapting their lessons in consideration of our students’ needs, and to meeting our students where they are at.

While this has been a challenging time for children, we’re aware that this has also been taxing on parents. As partners in your child’s education, we want to reassure you that—while your child’s learning journey may look different than you expected—we will continue to adapt and evolve to ensure our students have both the support and skills they need. We’ll also continue to support Havergal parents in this ever-changing landscape. With that goal in mind, we are organizing a speaking engagement with Dr. Alex Russell (child psychologist and author of Drop the Worry Ball). Once confirmed, more details on this event will follow.

We’ve learned that we can’t predict the changes to come, but Havergal’s faculty and staff are committed to being a constant support and resource for students and parents alike. With wellbeing and future-readiness at the core of our curriculum, we’re confident we will equip and empower Havergal learners for whatever the future holds.

Katrina

Message from the Board of Governors

Debbie Simpson, Chair

In this first issue of Inside Havergal for 2022, it is my pleasure to offer New Year’s greetings to the Havergal community from the Board of Governors. I wish you all happiness and good health in the coming year.

As we approach the end of the first semester, I’d like to note the commitment of our faculty and staff in delivering the best experience possible for all students has been unwavering. I would also like to thank our parent community for their confidence in trusting the College to safeguard their daughters’ learning and wellbeing, their belief in the value of a Havergal education and their support of the school community. Our students have demonstrated remarkable resilience in adapting to this new and demanding environment with your support. 

At this time, I would like to remind everyone of the invitation from the Board of Governors to apply to serve on the Board or on a Board Committee, as mentioned last month. I encourage you to become involved. This year the committee is especially interested in identifying potential candidates with senior level experience in finance (CPA, CFO) and strategic change management as well as those with philanthropy/fundraising expertise. We are also very interested to hear from parents with students in the Junior School. The due date for applications has been extended to Friday, February 4, and all applications will be reviewed in February. Interviews will take place in March for those selected. More information can be found at https://www.havergal.on.ca/leadership-governance/board-governor-roles-responsibilities/. Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at [email protected].

As I look back on what we have accomplished so far this school year, I see our values at work. Thank you all for your efforts and support as we navigate through these trying times together.

Debbie Simpson

Re-registration 2022-23

The link for registration for the 2022-23 school year will be sent to families in a letter from Debbie Simpson, Havergal’s Board Chair, on Thursday, January 27. Completed re-registration forms are due, along with payment, by Tuesday, February 8.

The Admission Department appreciates your prompt response, as our re-registration numbers help guide us in the number of offers we will make to new families later in February. Please do not hesitate to contact Maggie Houston-White ([email protected]) if you have any questions.

Family Day Long Weekend

February 18 to 21

There are no classes on Friday, February 18 and Monday, February 21 for the Family Day Long Weekend. Classes will resume on the morning of Tuesday, February 22.

We hope that families have the opportunity to enjoy a relaxing and safe break.

Supporting Student Wellbeing at the Junior School

Megan Robar and Sarah Szolopiak, JS Health & Physical Education Teachers

This year in the Junior School we have been continuing to grow our Wellbeing Program to meet the needs of the students at each age and stage. From connecting with emotions, creating inclusive classrooms, developing growth mindsets and embracing mistakes, the students have developed strong tool kits to support their own personal wellbeing. 

The Wellbeing Program is linked to our Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, which has helped students dive deep into who they are and develop an understanding of the people in their community. In mid-November, we had the opportunity to implement Thrive Week, which provided students with different ways to foster and maintain positive mental health. The Five Thrive components that we focused on at the Junior School include: 

By the end of the week, the students had developed strategies to support all five components to flourish and build an understanding of who to rely on when their Five Thrive might not be enough. 

The concept of Thrive is something we will circle back to throughout the year as a way to enrich connection and build continued wellbeing support. 

Learning and Growing in the New Junior School STEM Lab

Darryl Reiter, STEM Coordinator

The re-opening of the Junior School STEM Lab last fall was a welcome and long-awaited occasion. The former lab was closed in 2016 to accommodate the renovation of the Junior School and was relocated to the new wing in 2021. This modern space embodies the notion that the learning environment is the third teacher and comprises different zones for different instructional purposes.

At 1,400 sq. ft., the new space is double the previous lab and features a demonstration amphitheatre, mobile work desks, a whiteboard wall and a large outdoor learning area. A wall of windows overlooks the Burke Brook woodlands.

Students use the space for 60-minute STEM explorations, when they perform science investigations and design challenges.

Recent projects include:

The Junior School community is grateful for the generosity of our donors, who helped to make these new and inspiring spaces a reality.

Digital Wisdom

A Junior School Program Foundation for Thriving in the Digital Era

Adam Caplan, Director of HC-X

Kids growing up in the digital era face unique challenges and opportunities that require a new kind of approach. Enter HC-X–Havergal’s Innovation Hub–and our innovative course, Digital Wisdom. Informed by research from the World Economic Forum and the OECD, this program is part of the school’s Strategic Direction, Havergal 2020+: Future Proofing the Next Generation. 

At Havergal, Digital Wisdom is a course that runs over four years–from Grades 5 to 8–with the goal of building students’ knowledge, skills and mindsets with increasing complexity and sophistication as they grow. Students learn to navigate various opportunities and reflect on the challenges of digital culture and the impacts on their online and in-person lives. 

Through Digital Wisdom, students in Grades 5 and 6 get to know their rights and responsibilities as Digital Citizens. They build an understanding of personal information and privacy and they begin to actively steward their digital footprint. By investigating the impacts of disruptive technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence, students become equipped with the tools to adapt and thrive no matter what the future brings.

Now in its second year, Digital Wisdom weaves together to build a foundation for thriving in the digital era. 

Mother Daughter Breakfasts

The Mother Daughter Breakfast events at Havergal have become an annual tradition enjoyed by select grades in both the Junior and Upper Schools. While this year’s events cannot be held in-person as originally planned, the HCPA’s mission of fostering community spirit is the primary objective. Our event Chairs have been hard at work planning a creative version once again this year with the promise of some fun and special memories for both moms and their daughters in Grades 1,5, 7 and 9 on the following dates. 

If your daughter is in one of these grades, you will receive an email invitation in the coming weeks.

Inclement Weather Procedures

The Principal or her designate makes the decision to close or cancel school. The safety of students, faculty and staff are a priority. Situations such as extreme weather conditions or the loss of essential services (e.g. water and/or power) may require the school to close. The school consults the Environment Canada website, the Weather Channel (as well as other schools) in making a decision regarding school closure due to inclement weather. In the case that Havergal is closed to inclement weather conditions (i.e. snow day), remote learning will not occur. 

When information warrants the school will be closed the following day while students are at school:

When information warrants that the College will be closed prior to the school opening on the same day, the decision shall be made by 6 am:

When information warrants the school will close and Day students will be sent home during the school day:

Learn more about any of Havergal’s policies and procedures on the Family Handbook website: https://sites.google.com/havergal.on.ca/familyhandbook-2021-22/.

Havergal’s Annual Impact Report

Released before the holiday break, Havergal’s 2020-21 Impact Report features inspiring stories from our donor community—including parents, alumni and former faculty—and also contains colourful infographics, a snapshot of the school’s past fiscal year, stunning photos of our newest learning spaces and donor recognition lists. With the Limitless Campaign coming to a close, we celebrate and thank our generous donors for their ongoing support, which helps ensure that young learners are inspired and encouraged to realize their full potential.  

Explore our Impact Report online in an easy-to-read ebook format or via the giving section of our website.

What Does It Mean to Thrive? 

Kate White, Head of the Junior School

This is a question that we have asked our students in Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12 to get curious about this year during our first ever Thrive Week. Originating in 2009 at the University of British Columbia, the concept for Thrive Week is a time to come together as a community to learn about, talk about and explore ways to support our mental health. We are deeply aware that the last two years have brought about unprecedented challenges, particularly as we have shifted between being on campus and learning remotely. The impact on our mental health cannot be underestimated. 

By starting these conversations with our youngest students in Junior Kindergarten, it normalizes the subject, supports them in developing a greater understanding of their own mental health and helps them to build toolkits of skills and strategies to build resilience. 

Research has shown us that there are five consistent ways to help promote a positive mind. Referred to as the “Thrive Five,” these are: Moving More, Sleeping Soundly, Eating Well, Giving Back and Connecting/Saying Hi. We know, however, that fostering and maintaining mental health cannot be isolated to one week, so we continue to focus on thriving year-round. 

For this reason, as we returned to campus after another round of remote learning, one of our goals for the remainder of the year is to continue to challenge students to “get curious” about the things that make them thrive. From curling up with a good book, meditating, spending time with family and friends, laughing, connecting with animals and expressing ourselves through art, there are so many ways to boost our mental wellness so we can continue to flourish no matter what challenges the future may hold.

Dora Scharf

Junior School French Teacher

Mlle Scharf joined Havergal’s Junior School as a French teacher in September 2020. Prior to arriving at Havergal, she taught French to students across various grade levels from Kindergarten to Grade 8 at the Ottawa Jewish Community School.

Mlle Scharf enjoys helping students develop their language skills in a nurturing and stimulating learning environment. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from McGill University, a Bachelor of Education from the University of Ottawa and a Masters of Education in Social Justice Education from the University of Toronto (OISE). She has experience coaching soccer and leading Arts programming.

In her spare time, Mlle Scharf loves to cook, read and browse fashion blogs. She enjoys traveling both domestically and internationally and is working towards visiting all 50 states (seven more to go)! Like any native Montrealer, she loves a good bagel.