24 / 60
22
HAVERGAL COLLEGE
O
ld Girls and parents know well that Havergal College is more
than a school. In the words of one Old Girl: “We are a family
and a community.”
So true. And it is a fact that is well known by The Rev’d Andrew
MacDonald and me, The Rev’d Canon Susan Bell, respectively the
Assistant Chaplain and Chaplain at Havergal. Mr. MacDonald has
the care of the Junior School while I am the Chaplain for the whole
school, paying particular attention to the Middle and Senior Schools.
Havergal is an Anglican school. Anglican schools have traditionally
been those affiliated with the Anglican Church of Canada, while
serving the whole of their communities. This means that we are here
for students of all faiths and none.
So what does this mean and what does this look like on a daily basis?
Havergal is a place where education happens; however, unlike
some other schools, we take care to provide intellectual, physical
and spiritual learning. Havergal is a place where formation takes
place—where our students are invited to think beyond themselves,
to consider both their own spirituality as well as the spirituality of
others who represent the diversity within our community, our city
and our world. Havergal is a place where we explore what it means to
make a difference
, in the words of our school’s mission. Havergal is a
place where we seek to grow into the fullness of who each of us
was created to be.
Each week on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays, the community
gathers in the Brenda Robson Hall and in the Junior School Hall
for Prayers. These are services of prayer and an exploration of how
our values and spirituality are integrated daily into all our lives.
Mr. MacDonald and I help with preparation and support for
Prayers, and depending upon the day, Prayers may be led by
students, the Chaplain or by members of the faculty and staff.
Because we are a community—a family—each voice that is heard
in Prayers is valued. Because we are all on a lifelong journey of the
integration of our values, we welcome many different perspectives
on how that process happens.
In addition to their curriculum of intellectual and physical
education, during the rest of the week students also attend Religious
Education classes in the Junior School and the Middle School, which
are taught by Mr. MacDonald. Confirmation classes are offered to
the students in the Middle and Senior Schools.
As the school’s Chaplains, we are available for pastoral care and
counselling, and the beautiful St. Cecilia Chapel is available to
everyone in our community as a place of quiet and peace: for
prayer and for solitude in the midst of a busy school day.
The familiar rhythm of Prayers, pastoral support and intentional
spiritual education for all is what it means to be an Anglican school.
Discovering Spirituality at Havergal
By The Reverend Canon Susan Bell, Chaplain
Because we are a
community—a family—
each voice that is heard
in Prayers is valued.
Havergal College