SCHOOL SCOOP

a first-ever “nail polish booth,” contributing $150 to the proceeds. Teachers and students took full advantage of the mini-manicure, with students delighted to wear nail polish, just this once, during school hours.

Stellar Record Of Activism

Dilnoor PANJWANI’01 is committed to making the world a better place. As guest speaker at Installation held on October 10, Dilnoor spoke of her experiences in the mountainous communities in Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Pakistan and India — impoverished environments where she gained an appreciation of education and access to knowledge. In her closing remarks, Dilnoor urged students to consider how they are going to take advantage of their education, seize life’s opportunities and, most importantly, give back to the world.

THE HOLIDAY BAZAAR Working Together for Others in Need

The Senior School community pulled together during lunch hour on December 10 and raised an impressive $1,900 in support of QGAP and Sheela Bal Bhavan — schools near Queenstown, South Africa and Jaipur, India that have had a special association with Branksome since 2004. Branksome staff managed

M.G. VASSANJI READS AT BRANKSOME HALL

VOLUNTEERS AT

The

TRADITIONS booth during the Admissions Open House on October 21 are Sheila MacFEETERS’74, Maggs WEST Barrett’66, Dodie ROBINETTE MacNeill’45 and Joan NEILSON’46. The booth featured photos and newspaper articles, archival movies and slides, SLOGANs from every decade, and a wealth of information, provided by our volunteers, on student life.

The day when a guest writer visits Branksome is always a special one. This was certainly so when M.G. Vassanji, two-time winner of the Giller Prize and member of the Order of Canada, came to read and speak to senior students and their teachers on January 27. We were entranced by his short story, When She Was Queen, and an excerpt from his most recent book, A Place Within. Mr. Vassanji’s visit was supported by the Rebecca CHISHOLM Clarkes’66 Guest Writers’ Fund, which was established upon Rebecca’s death in 1986 as a tribute by her classmates. The fund provides the school with the opportunity to showcase well-known writers to our students and staff. Through the generosity of donors to this fund over the years, the school has been privileged to have writers such as Mavis Gallant, Timothy Findley, Jean Little and Ann Marie MacDonald. Branksome is grateful to the many alumnae, parents and friends who continue to make the Guest Writers’ program possible.

Susan F.R. Kenny Trustee, Rebecca CHISHOLM Clarkes’66 Guest Writers’ Endowed Fund

Lunchtime on January 20 was spent in the gym watching the Inauguration of President Barack Obama. This historic occasion was one to be shared — teachers, staff and students felt the buzz in the air and cheered with the rest of the world as America celebrated an exciting new beginning.

Humour & Fun

BRANKSOME’S CURB APPEAL

If you breezed down Bay Street or through the Beach area in the winter months, you might have noticed these snazzy TTC shelters, left, promoting Branksome Hall. Located at Hambly and Queen Street East and at Bay and King for two months, the shelters are one of the new methods Branksome is employing to reach out to families whose daughters might thrive at the school.

These new banners, right, that adorn the school’s lampposts are another colourful, attractive way of letting visitors and passersby know “where learners become leaders.”

Mrs. McRae, striking yet stern, had her own kind of uniform — grey or black clothing every day. She was continually astounded at what we didn’t know, informing us that we needed extra classes with her on general knowledge, all the while fiddling with her half glasses, which frequently seemed to be caught in her hair. I can speak for many of us when I say that one of our most cherished memories of her is her phrase, “Your ignorance is nothing to celebrate!”

— Sasha DARLING’87