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The Simpson family (from left to right): Debbie, Abbie, Oliver and Colin.
W
hen Abbie Simpson started Junior Kindergarten at Havergal,
she was not quite four years old. And, as her mother Debbie
recalls, it was the first day of school and she was wearing a uniform
that looked like it would fit her in Middle School. “We’d always
admired Havergal,” says the mother of two and CFO of Maple
Leaf Foods, “but what really attracted us to it back then was the
combination of this wonderful school with great character and
resources right in the middle of the city, surrounded by beautiful,
expansive outdoor space.”
Abbie, who is now in Grade 5, loves to access the outdoors, where
she and her classmates have a variety of space for sports, hanging
out and free play. Abbie particularly likes how her teachers use
their outdoor space as a natural extension of the classroom and
their studies. In fact, when the Simpson family made a contribution
to Havergal’s
Limitless Campaign
earlier this year, Abbie selected
the Quilted Garden, the stunning natural space outside the Upper
School, to be named in her family’s honour.
The Simpsons were among the first families to contribute to the
capital campaign, which aims to raise $21 million—the school’s
largest fundraising effort in more than a decade—to support
major enhancements to the facilities in the Junior and Upper
Schools, including both the renovation of existing spaces and the
construction of new ones.
“We are delighted that these enhancements—which are expected to
be completed in time for the school’s 125th anniversary in 2019—
will contribute to a more inspiring learning environment for the
girls by enhancing connectivity between the various subjects, the
indoor and outdoor spaces and the technology that brings it all to
life,” says Debbie.
As Tony diCosmo, Havergal’s Executive Director of Advancement
& Community Relations, explains: “These enhancements will help
continue to develop our students’ abilities to think critically and
encourage cross-disciplinary thinking.” The idea is that the new
spaces will support our key areas of development to fulfill our vision
Paying It Forward
By Hailey Eisen
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HAVERGAL COLLEGE
Advancement & Community Relations