Catching up the latest news from Havergal’s Junior, Middle and Senior Schools

Junior School

Truth and Reconciliation Week Havergal College honoured Truth and Reconciliation Week from September 25 – 29th with in-school programming throughout the week. We were honoured to have members of our Indigenous community work alongside us and our students to guide us through our theme, “Celebrating our reciprocal relationship with the land.” Madeleine Alderson, Herbie Barnes, Theresa Kutknife, and the dance troupe Vision Dance will support our continued learning about residential schools and assist us as we do our part to honour the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action.

Arts Week Students worked with four visiting artists who shared their practice and expertise with the students. Student visual art work was on display for a gallery walk. The JS Musical – Annie, was a great success, as were the Prayers featuring dance, drama, instrumental and vocal music to kick off the week. It was a real celebration of the important role of the Arts in a Liberal Arts Education.

Earth Week Our grade 4 Earth Week Ambassadors acted as leaders who, along with their teachers, prepared thoughtful and engaging resources and experiences that aimed to celebrate our love for our Earth, educate our community about environmental issues, and encourage action to protect the planet.

Climate Change After learning about the impacts of climate change during their Habitats unit in Science, our grade 4 students created a video for CBC Curio that won an award! The video is now available on CBC Curio’s website for other students across Canada to watch.

Grandpals’ Day We welcomed over 300 grandpals to the Junior School in April. The energy was absolutely buzzing as our girls proudly toured our extended community around the Junior School, showed them their work, and introduced them to their friends and teachers. The pride and joy our students feel about being part of Havergal was palpable. Our grandpals were incredible guests! They were curious and engaged, asked fantastic questions, and really made the day a success.

Construction of a New Playground for JS Students We’re excited to have this new space for students to explore and play. Watching them navigate the ropes, climb the structures, and enjoy the natural elements of the playscape is more than just fun – it’s helping them build teamwork skills, problem-solving abilities, perseverance, and physical fitness. Seeing their joy and determination as they overcome challenges is truly special. These moments of play are also moments of learning and growth.

Middle School

Grade 8 Leadership in Middle School Assemblies Grade 8 students take charge of our Middle School assemblies with creativity and enthusiasm. Each form selects a theme, organizes the event, and presents to the entire Middle School community. It’s a cherished program that students eagerly look forward to every week.

Leadership Opportunities for Grade 7 and 8 Thirty students from grades 7 and 8 seized leadership opportunities this year through various exchanges and conferences. They participated in events like the CAIS Leadership Conference in Winnipeg and the Round Square Leadership Conference in Kananaskis, Alberta. For many, it was their first experience preparing for an interview as part of the selection process, providing them with practical skills to leverage in the years ahead.

Social Activities with COSSOT Schools Our Middle School students enjoyed 13 exciting social activities this year with local COSSOT schools. From bowling and dances to ice skating and cookie decorating, these events fostered friendships and community spirit among our students.

Grad Hunt and Gator Games The Grad Hunt and Gator Games were standout events in our Middle School calendar this year. These activities not only brought fun and excitement, but also promoted teamwork and camaraderie among our students.

Engaging Mornings with Grade 12 Leaders Middle School students had a great time spending mornings with our grade 12 leaders this year. During three special sessions, grade 12 students shared insights on topics like preparing for the first school dance and respectful behaviour on campus. These sessions were amazing experiences for all involved.

Senior School

Sort and Learn at North York Harvest Food Bank As part of our school’s commitment to sustainability and community engagement, the Forum for Change council partnered with North York Harvest Food Food Bank. Students collected and sorted food donations to support individuals and families in need while promoting eco-conscious practices. Throughout the weeks leading up to Earth Week, students collected non-perishable food items. These donations were brought to the food bank and students were given grocery store flyers and a daily budget of $6.67 to feed their families, providing a hands-on learning opportunity.

School Thrift & New Circles To culminate Earth Week, the Forum for Change council held a clothing thrift. The thrift aimed at promoting sustainability while also benefiting our community partnership, New Circles. Thrifting encourages students, teachers, and staff to participate in the spirit of recycling, reusing, and reducing waste. All clothing that remained after the thrift were taken to New Circles, which provides new immigrant families a place to find clothing to help their settlement in a new country.

Alvéole Honey Bees We welcomed the Alvéole Honey Bees, the newest members of the HC community, back in July. This partnership enhanced learning spaces, supported climate action, and fostered experiential learning opportunities for our students.

Music Night The Senior School’s band and strings students took centre stage at Music Night, delivering captivating performances that showcased their dedication and skill. Their talent left the audience in awe of their musical prowess.