Boarding School

Long after students graduate, Boarders and their parents will tell you that the friendships and connections formed at Havergal are lifelong. They will also highlight the tremendous academic advantages of being able to live and attend school at Havergal. Our Residence Dons are available day and night for advice, counsel and support.

Life as a Havergal Boarder is a balance between study time and leisure time to pursue co-curricular and outside interests. Boarders have supervised study time each evening and enjoy extended access to the Reta Weston Resource Centre and computer labs. When Boarders need extra assistance, the Dons are a willing and very helpful resource. Boarding staff work closely with teachers, guidance counsellors, health care providers, parents and staff to ensure that each Boarder reaches their academic goals and potential. Parents are informed of their child’s progress on a regular basis.

Havergal’s Boarding School hosts many educational and skill development events throughout each year. Special opportunities are offered for student leaders including Leadership Training and Overnight Leadership Retreats.

At Havergal, you are never very far from friends, supporters or advisors. One of the most significant outcomes of attending school away from home is increased self-reliance and the development of social confidence to adapt to new situations. To help students develop these essential skills, each Boarder is a member of a family group headed by a Don and two Junior Dons (senior students). The Don is in regular contact with her ‘family members’, and acts as an advisor, mentor, role model and leader. The Junior Dons assist the Dons and help plan activities for Boarders throughout the year.

The School’s Guidance Counsellors establish links with each Boarder, helping and monitoring their progress. The Boarding staff maintains ongoing communications with parents and guardians to inform them of their child’s accomplishments.

The Boarding School maintains around-the-clock security, with Dons on duty all the time. Boarders have full access to healthcare through the onsite Health Centre. The Food Services staff is attuned to the nutritional needs of each student, and laundry and room cleaning services facilitate each student’s comfort. Every night, after study time, a range of activities are offered, including aerobics, games and yoga.

As a multi-faith school with Anglican roots, Boarders from various cultural and religious backgrounds attend Havergal. Boarding staff will support Boarders’ religious practices and assist them in finding a place of worship that best suits them. The Upper School also has a Chapel, a quiet place for prayer and spiritual reflection.

All activities offered by Havergal are available to Boarders, including a wide assortment of clubs, sports teams, music opportunities plus a vast array of co-curricular activities. Arrangements may also be made to pursue special interests outside of the school’s offerings, such as tennis or horseback riding lessons. All Havergal students are actively encouraged to participate in community initiatives at local partner schools and other Toronto organizations. In addition, the Dons organize various games, crafts and off-site excursions on a weekly basis.

We regularly organize activities on the weekends, although these are most often optional. These activities can include going to a movie, visiting a local cultural attraction, partaking in a shopping trip or other adventure.

Boarders may also organize outings themselves with their friends. Boarders must get permission from the Boarding staff and must sign-out and back in with the Don on duty in the Boarding Office. These optional activities are balanced with the need  for rest and relaxation on weekends.

The Boarding School is closed during the Christmas and March Break holidays and there are no organized trips. Parents and/or guardians will need to make arrangements for their children during these holidays.

Havergal is committed to ensuring that Boarders feel they are important and fully engaged with the student body. Boarders and Day students get to know one another during orientation and through their shared school days, in assemblies, House Teacher Advisor Groups, on teams and clubs and by participating in school and community events. Each year, student leaders within Boarding plan special events and dinners.

Comfortable accommodation is provided in bright, airy rooms overlooking gardens and sports areas. In most cases, Boarders will have a roommate in their dorm room. Boarders also have access to a large, sunny common room, a favourite gathering place furnished with easy chairs, couches, a foosball table and a media centre. There is a separate study room with desktop computers and other common spaces for gatherings throughout both floors of Boarding.

Bathrooms and showers are communal. Typically you will share a shower and toilet with two or three other students. You will only need to bring your own toiletries and towels. You may also want to bring a pair of flip-flops or plastic sandals for walking to and from the shower.

Laundry service is available Monday through Friday and is covered by your school fees. We have fantastic housekeeping staff who will do your laundry for you during the school day. You will also have access to a laundry room that you can use during your free time in the evenings and on weekends should you prefer to do your own laundry. We will provide a tutorial at the beginning of the year on how to use the machines.

You will need to supply your own bedding (fitted sheets and a blanket or duvet). If you prefer, you can purchase these items when you arrive; there are several stores near the school to purchase bedding. You will also need bath towels both for day-to-day purposes (showering, etc.) as well as for the swimming pool. We recommend that you bring only one set of bed sheets and two sets of towels. This is ample given the availability of laundry services and more practical given the space constraints within the Boarding School.

You will be using the school network. Wireless access is available in the Boarding School, and each student room is equipped with an access port.

Havergal has fully adopted a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) or BYO Laptop/Tablet approach to the use of computer technology for Grades 5 to 12. The research and students themselves tell us, bringing a personal device to class is better for the learner. Teachers welcome personalized devices in the classroom; for students, BYOD is a more effective and efficient way of making use of technology.

We have food service at Havergal. Each day, from Monday to Friday, you will be served three nutritious meals in the Hawkins Dining Room in the Upper School, along with morning, afternoon and after school snacks. Breakfast includes hot items such as bacon, eggs or porridge and bread for making toast, bagels and cereal. Lunch will include a choice of hot entrees, a salad bar, soup and sandwiches. Dinner will include two “home-cooked” hot entrees to choose from, a salad bar, soup and bread with spreads. Vegetarian options are always available and special dietary restrictions or allergies can be accommodated. International and cultural diverse cuisine are featured often, along with organic food and seasonal produce. Juice, milk and water are always available. On weekends you will be served brunch and dinner with a variety of choices. The Common Room is stocked with various snacks (such as fruit, bagels, soup, sandwich meat, bread, milk, veggies, yogurt, cheese and juice) and has a small kitchenette.