Torch - Fall 2015

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| FALL 2015 • TORCH 19
For those interested in formal leadership
opportunities, they do abound at Havergal.
Most visibly, Grade 12 students can become
school Prefects, led by a head girl called
the School Captain. Prefects specialize in
different areas of the school, for example,
the Arts Council, Sports Council, Student
Council and others. They assist in running
Prayers, they liaise between the students
and faculty, and they are called on as
ambassadors to attend events such as our
annual Open House. “They are our go-to
girls,” says Martin.
Other leadership opportunities for Grade
12 students include roles such as House
Captains, who oversee House Councils
and organize everything from athletics to
friendly House competitions. “I think of
the House Captains as sort of the caretakers
of school spirit,” says Martin. Then there
are the six Senior Year Class Presidents
who oversee activities (such as special
assemblies, workshops, the Grad Gift) for
the graduating classes.
Students interested in any of these roles
apply in Grade 11, filling out leadership
profiles shared online with the Middle and
Senior Schools three weeks before the vote.
“We have a hotly anticipated school election
day, and we cast all of our votes on one
morning, from Grade 7 all the way up to
12, including faculty and staff,” says Martin.
She adds the election is made fun by the
real element of surprise. “I’ve been through
two elections now at Havergal and what is
actually wonderful is that we really go with
what the school chooses. That’s a great leap
of faith, but the school elects a pretty diverse
group of girls,” says Martin.
In the Middle School, formal leadership is
taken on by five Grade 8 executives who
are elected by their peers (at the end of
Grade 7), forming the Executive of the
Middle School Council. In an example of
leadership crossover between the schools,
these councils are co-chaired by two Grade
12 students, called Middle School Prefects.
Once the school year begins, there are also
Form elections, and the Executive is joined
by four reps for Grade 7 and four reps for
Grade 8 (each Form is between 22 and
24 students).
The Havergal Old Girls
Association Mentoring
Program
The Havergal College Old Girls
Association (HOGA) offers young
alumnae and experienced Old Girls
mentoring opportunities through
the Light the Way Program. Since its
inception in 2006, hundreds of Old
Girls have participated in the program.
Farah Ismail 1996 has been a member
of the Mentoring Committee since
2012 and has served as Chair since
2013. “In my role, I have been able
to utilize the skills I have developed,
such as effective communication,
organization and collaboration, to
work collectively with a group of
Old Girls who come from a variety
of backgrounds. Together, we share
the responsibility for developing and
sustaining the mentoring program,”
says Ismail. “Our goal is to make
mentoring and networking accessible
to all Old Girls, regardless of the sector
in which they work. The critical success
of the Light the Way Program is based
on the participation of Old Girls and,
particularly, mentors who are willing
and able to share their time and
expertise.” The Mentoring Committee
encourages experienced Old Girls
to volunteer their time in whatever
way they are able in order to ensure
continued success for the program.
For more information about the
program, visit
Grade 8 Executive on the Middle School Council