Chronicle

As the new Havergal Old Girl Association (HOGA) President, Anna (McMeekin) Morrison ’03 builds on her family’s three-generation Havergal legacy and invites all Old Girls/Alums to stay connected and give back.

For the McMeekin family, Havergal is more than a school; it’s a thread woven through three generations, connecting grandmother, mother and daughters across decades of traditions, friendships and values that continue to ripple outward.

It all began with their grandmother, Jocelyn (Davis) Lazier ’44, who attended Havergal as a Boarder during the Second World War. Her stories of camaraderie in the Boarding School, the routines and rigour, and the friendships that sustained her left a lasting impression on her daughters. Her fierce loyalty to Havergal and her funny, affectionate recollections created the foundation for the McMeekin legacy.

Julie (Todd) McMeekin ’73 followed in her mother’s footsteps. She remembers the bustle of student life: organizing House Shout, preparing for Sports Day, planning Celebration Saturday and throwing herself into plays and community life. “The more engaged we are, the better life is,” she says. Morning Prayers also left an indelible mark: be kind, be honest, treat others with respect, think not only of yourself, but also of others. “Those are still the core values I hold dear, and they shaped not just my experience at Havergal, but also our family.”

Years later, Julie would return as a Junior School teacher while her daughters were in the Upper School, bringing new lessons from the Reggio Approach in Italy that changed how she taught and how she parented. “I found I could lead more effectively by listening and following. It was another ripple Havergal helped set in motion.”