Torch - Fall 2014

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| FALL 2014 • TORCH 3
The opening months of the 2014–15 school year have been a
revelation for me as Havergal’s 11th Principal. The year began with
the wonderful Grade 12 Mother-Daughter Luncheon, Celebration
Saturday in support of our community partnerships, the Junior
School Harvest Festival and Reunion Weekend with 320 Old Girls
returning to Havergal to rekindle friendships and reminisce about
their shared Havergal experience. I particularly enjoyed sharing lunch
with members of the Class of 1964 who were celebrating their 50th
anniversary since graduation.
Havergal is filled with history and tradition, and I believe that it is
always wise to mark special moments as they provide a supportive
framework for an innovative and promising future. As we
honour Havergal’s 120th anniversary, we celebrate this remarkable
achievement. The school recently hosted the Havergal at Koerner
Hall event, an evening that showcased the many artistic talents of our
current students and Old Girls in the artistic disciplines of music,
drama, dance and art. I hope that those of you who were able to
join us for this special occasion had a wonderful time. Our Heads of
Schools—Leslie Anne Dexter and Michael Simmonds—speak to the
importance of teaching the arts as part of a liberal arts curriculum in
their article on page 10.
The stunning photo on the cover of the Torch not only captures the
majestic beauty of the Great Wall of China, but also represents the
metaphoric journey of learning—a path that may not follow a straight
line but is sure to provide many different points of view along the
way. As part of the June 2014 Global Experience Program excursion to
China, led by Mandarin teacher Eunice Yu and Cindy Chi from Food
Services, students explored the history and culture of this country.
It is important for our students to learn about the world and to
experience it first-hand so that they can apply their knowledge to new
situations and engage with people who have different perspectives.
Our feature article for this edition of the Torch concerns our Old Girls
network and the many ways our Old Girls keep connected beyond the
ivy. Havergal is indebted to its Old Girls for offering our school countless
volunteer hours, bringing their professional expertise to bear as guest
speakers and mentors, and supporting the school with their donations.
Havergal Old Girls provide the foundation upon which our school has
been and continues to be able to grow and flourish. I hope you will enjoy
the article on page 16 as you learn more about the many programs and
offerings through which our students and Old Girls stay connected.
Finally, as always, Havergal’s Annual Report forms part of this fall
edition of the Torch. The report includes a complete listing of all those
donors who have contributed to the financial health and wellbeing
of our school. As we begin this year to articulate our new strategic
plan for success, I would like to take this opportunity to offer our
sincere gratitude to all those current families, Old Girls, current and
former staff and faculty, and friends of Havergal for their continuing
support. Simply put, the school would be unable to maintain the
level of excellence to which our students and broader community are
accustomed without your ongoing generosity.
In closing, I wish the Havergal community every blessing and much
happiness as the Christmas season of celebration approaches.
Holding the Torch High in 2014
By Helen-Kay Davy, Principal
Principal’s Message