Torch - Fall/Winter 2018-19

In the Junior School, teachers will often engage in mindful meditation with their girls after recess or when transitioning from one subject to another to slow their minds and bodies, acknowledge the moment they’re in and prepare themselves for what is coming next. This act helps students and faculty to recognize and appreciate the value of the moment. In addition, the norms of behaviour in the school—making eye contact, shaking hands, saying please and thank you, asking others how they are, opening doors, wearing the uniform with pride—keep the girls connected to each other by directing their attention to experiences other than their own. Recognizing others is as important as knowing what lies inside our own hearts and minds. Havergal students also appreciate others through engaging in community action. For example, as part of our Day 9 experiences, students in Grade 5 are contributing to a project called Canstruction ® , which is affiliated with one of our community partners, the North York Harvest Food Bank. Canstruction ® is an international competition that challenges designers, architects and engineers to design and build sculptural structures using unopened cans of food. Its ultimate goal is to raise awareness about hunger. Students apply their math, design and art skills to create and build structures made up entirely from canned foods and compete for titles such as Best Design, Best Use of Labels and Structural Integrity. After the competition, all of the cans are donated to the community that the North York Harvest Food Bank serves. Our girls learn about the cost of food and the economic situation of families less fortunate than their own. Equally as important, the students are challenged to reflect on what they are learning Left: Grade 5 students learn about food banks as part of the Canstruction ® project; Right: The Rev. Stephanie Douglas with Junior School students at Prayers. “ “ It becomes clear that planting the seed of gratitude helps each girl grow into her own purpose and passion. throughout the process, as well as to consider individual, group and wider world connections. Community partnerships and socially beneficial projects are found at every level throughout Havergal and are reminders to slow down, tune into the self and recognize others. At the Upper School, we provide unique opportunities to teach these habits, such as establishing device-free zones. These are places and times to put all electronic devices away and connect personally (rather than virtually) to others. Being device-free during House or while sharing meals, as examples, strengthens our personal connection to each other and reminds us to be thankful for the good company of community members. Gratitude is steeped in connectivity, which face-to-face conversations make possible in fundamental ways.

TABLE OF CONTENTS | FALL/WINTER 2018–19 • TORCH 11