Elmwood Emblem: September 2015 by Elmwood School

Emblem SEPTEMBER 2015

ELMWOOD NOW AND THEN

CELEBRATING 100 YEARS: ELMWOOD’S EXTRAORDINARY PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE

BEST MODERN METHODS 100 YEARS OF EDUCATION AT ELMWOOD SCHOOL

A NEW SYMBOL FOR A NEW CENTURY THE NEW ELMWOOD COAT OF ARMS

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE: ELMWOOD’S 2014 – 2015 PHILANTHROPY REPORT

100 Years Calls for a BIG Celebration! The 2015 – 2016 school year is going to be jam-packed with activities and events to celebrate Elmwood’s Centennial. It won’t be a party without you, so come join in!

CENTENNIAL EVENTS: CENTENNIAL KICK-OFF CARNIVAL: Wednesday, September 9, 4 to 7 p.m. Let’s get this party started right, with an old fashioned carnival! Delicious food, fun games, and everyone’s favourite—the staff dunk tank! CENTENNIAL WEEKEND: October 2 – 4, 2015 We have an action-packed and fun-filled weekend of activities planned for the whole Elmwood community, with lots of opportunities to mix-and-mingle, relive the “good ol’ days” and see the Elmwood of today. Includes: •F OUNDER’S DAY Friday, October 2, 2015 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Elmwood Come for tours of the School and ‘Decades Rooms,’ kick-off cocktail party and book launch and alumni gatherings at nearby homes. •B IG BIRTHDAY BASH Saturday, October 3, 2015 from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Elmwood A day full of excitement, with a fun fair for children, Elmwood Theatre drama performance, BBQ lunch, sports afternoon and ice cream social.

•F OUNDER’S DINNER Saturday, October 3, 2015 from 6:30 to 10 p.m. at the Canadian Museum of History This is the can’t miss event of the weekend, and is sure to be one for the history books! We’ll gather in the stunning Grand Hall at the Canadian Museum of History, for an evening celebrating Elmwood’s 100 years of history, tradition and excellence. Throughout the evening, we will recognize and celebrate key figures in Elmwood’s history, including our founder, Theodora Philpot. To cap off the evening, we will welcome one of our alumnae, Catherine Clark ’95, to sit down for an interview with our special guest, award-winning, internationally acclaimed author, Margaret Atwood.

OLD GIRLS’ ART FAIR AND HOLLY TEA: Saturday, December 5 Two treasured Elmwood traditions will join together to be the “can’t miss” event of the holiday season! Join us for a cup of tea and some delectable treats and view some incredible art created by members of our community. ELMWOOD GALA: Saturday, April 16, 2016 Elmwood’s premier fundraising event of the year will be bigger and better than ever. More details and registration will be available in the coming months. CENTENNIAL FINALE: Friday, June 17, 2016 The whole community will be invited for one last chance to celebrate Elmwood’s 100th! Stay tuned for details.

•S UNDIAL SUNDAY Sunday, October 4, 2015 from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Elmwood Join us for prayers and see our plans for Sundial Plaza, and stay for our farewell brunch for Alumni.

For more information, and to register for the Kick-off Carnival and Centennial Weekend, please visit elmwood100.ca.

ELMWOOD EMBLEM | S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 5

A NEW SYMBOL FOR A NEW CENTURY

CELEBRATING 100 YEARS: ELMWOOD’S EXTRAORDINARY PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE

BEST MODERN METHODS: 100 YEARS OF EDUCATION AT ELMWOOD SCHOOL

Since humble beginnings in the fall of 1915, Elmwood School has certainly come a long way in the intervening 100 years.

Though teaching methods have changed significantly over the years, Elmwood School still stays true to the vision of the founder.

By Teresa Stirling and Janet Uren ’68

By Teresa Marquis

History was made as Her Excellency Sharon Johnston helped unveil the coat of arms of Elmwood School. By Lindsay Germano

21 Contents Message from the Headmistress... 2

A New Symbol...................................... 16

(Almost) All Grown Up.....................32

News and Notes..................................... 4

The Elmwood “Look”......................... 18

Alumni Spotlight................................. 34

A Winning Year...................................... 8

Celebrating 100 Years....................... 21

Alumni News.........................................38

Closing Ceremonies........................... 10

The Best Modern Methods ........... 26

Philanthropy Report.........................40

Graduate Success............................... 12

Dramatics, Hootenannies and Cabarets ................................................ 30

Class Notes............................................ 46

editor:

Teresa Stirling, Director of Communications contributors:

Elise Aylen Cheryl Boughton Ellen Ewert Lindsay Germano Teresa Marquis Donna Naufal Moffatt Evelyn Pike Kimberley Senf Blanche Talbot

Dwayne Brown Lindsay Germano Chandra Wiegand Chris Snow

The Elmwood Emblem is published twice a year for the entire Elmwood community by Elmwood’s Communications Department

design:

elmwood school

photographers:

Ryan Mesheau

261 Buena Vista Rd. Ottawa ON K1M 0V9 Phone: (613) 749-6761 Email: info@elmwood.ca www.elmwood.ca

above: Elmwood’s original home, the Keefer Farmhouse. Photo from the Elmwood Archives on the cover: top - Elmwood’s Class of 2015 celebrate their graduation. Photo by Dwayne Brown bottom- Whole school photo from 1918. Photo from the Elmwood Archives

E L M WO O D.C A

SEPTEMBER 2015

MESSAGE FROM THE HEADMISTRESS Cheryl Boughton, Headmistress

elcome to the Centennial edition of the Elmwood Emblem. It has been 100 years since Theodora Philpot welcomed four young pupils to a ramshackle farmhouse on Buena Vista Road. Under Mrs. Philpot’s direction, those early students studied all the usual subjects—reading, writing, English, history, geography and arithmetic. In accordance with the demands of the time, they also learned handiwork (sewing and embroidery) singing, recitation of poetry, rhythmic marching and scripture, and they took dancing and skating lessons. Our academic and co-curricular program has certainly changed since then, but Mrs. Philpot’s desire to develop well-rounded students ready for the next challenge certainly lives on. Over the last century, the school has grown and evolved, strengthened its mission, and changed the lives of thousands of young women. Elmwood has become a leading independent school in Canada, and is certainly the premier school for girls in the National Capital region. We have much to celebrate. And celebrate we will! We have a number of events planned throughout the year to commemorate this grand occasion. You’ll find details about all of our plans within the pages of this magazine, as well as on our Centennial website: elmwood100.ca. I must make special mention of our Centennial Weekend, to be held later this fall, on October 2 to 4. We have many activities planned, and hope that our alumni and their families, current students, parents and grandparents, current and former Elmwood staff and faculty, and anyone else with a tie to our community

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will come out and join in the festivities! The premier event of the weekend will be our inaugural Founder’s Dinner, to be held at the Canadian Museum of History on Saturday night. We anticipate that tickets will sell out, so please RSVP right away at elmwood100.ca. A celebration of this magnitude only comes around once a century, so you don’t want to miss it! As we look forward to the celebrations to come, starting with the first day of school, all the way through to our Centennial Finale on June 17, we also take the opportunity on the following pages to look back. We look back to the successes of last year, recognize the wonderful achievements of our graduates, and show appreciation for our donors and supporters. We also look further back, at the story of Elmwood through the years. I have found it to be utterly fascinating. This commemorative issue of the Emblem touches upon many aspects of the school Theodora built—I hope you will enjoy learning more about the School as much as I have. For those who are interested in a more in-depth view, we are thrilled to be publishing an updated version of the School’s history, written once again by Janet Uren ’68. The new book, entitled “Endeavour’s All: The Elmwood Story, 1915 – 2015,” will be launched during our Centennial Weekend celebration. It is an exciting time to be a member of this community. I look forward to celebrating with everyone. Happy birthday Elmwood School!

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1 Katy Irving ’22 researched ‘Our Hydro Story’ for her PYP Exhibition project. 2 Students take part in Sarah Jackson’s ’17 MYP personal project. 3 Emelyn Lantos ’22 spent some time in Elmwood’s garden as part of the desertification session during deep learning week. 4 Keerut Saran ’15, R-J Obhi ’15, Katya Brooks ’15, Valerie Molnar ’15 & Danielle Humilde ’15 take a turn in the photo booth at the 100 Nights Dinner. 5 Clarissa Lauzon ’26 with her Bronze medal from the Kangaroo Math Competition held at Ottawa University! 6 Summa Summarum Scholarship recipients Laura Alexander ’17, Emily Bangsboll ’17, Sian Bryson ’17, Sijyl Fasih ’17 and Sheetza McGarry ’17. 7 Sarah Brown ’20, Hannah Goldstein ’20 and Mackenzie Johnson ’20 show the fantastic artwork they created to raise awareness as part of the ‘Water for Life’ deep learning session.

NEWS AND NOTES Celebrating our Newest ‘Old Girls’ This year we put a bit of a twist on the tradition that has become the ‘100 Nights Dinner.’ Since the Class of 2015 was our 99th graduating class we decided to celebrate their last 99 days at Elmwood on March 5th. Following a wonderful dinner prepared by the Elmwood Bistro, Mr. Small addressed the Grade 12 class in a way only he can, with wise words, punch lines and inspiration. Jane Reisman ’07, shared her experiences and gave advice on what is means to be an Alumna, and Head Girl, Justine Beaulé ’15, encouraged her classmates to continue to stay motivated and enjoy their last days as Elmwood students, before making the transition to alumnae. It was a memorable night for everyone, filled with fun trivia games, a prop-filled photo booth and mingling with other Alumnae, Sarah Yan ’05 and Marielle McGovern ’05. Celebration of Learning A new whole-school event—the Celebration of Learning—encompassing the PYP Exhibition, the MYP Personal Project and Student-led Conferences was introduced on April 30, 2015. Grade 5 students were excited to present their Exhibition projects as part of the celebration. The Exhibition is the culminating activity for students in their last year of the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (PYP). Students participated in a six-week research process, during which they engaged in a collaborative, transdisciplinary inquiry that involved them in identifying, investigating and offering solutions to real-life issues. The central idea of the research was entirely student-driven. This year, using the

concept of “Energy” as their main focus, students explored the central idea that “Informed energy production and use is everyone’s responsibility” for their research. Their presentations took the form of written work, oral presentations, and the performing arts. Students also incorporated a wide range of technology. This year, some of the topics that were presented included: – Hydropower – Energy efficient homes – Light energy – Oil – Nuclear energy As the culminating exercise of the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP), Grade 10 students also shared their Personal Projects during the Celebration of Learning. The Personal Project is a self-directed project planned and executed by each student based on their personal interests. Through indepth investigations over an extended period of time, the students generate creative insights and develop a deeper understanding of their topic. Not only do students improve their ability to communicate effectively in a variety of situations, but also appreciate the critical process of learning. The final product is the result of a journey of learning, taking risks, experiencing failure but ultimately achieving personal pride and success. Students in all divisions of the school also took part in Student-led Conferences—an opportunity for the girls to share work from their portfolios with their parents. In addition, students led tours of “Bright Spots” in the Middle and Senior School including the FabLab, Artists in Action, Drama, Music and the World of Science. Special seminars were also part of the afternoon, covering

topics such as “How Girls Learn,” “The IB Experience” and “University Destinations.” This event was a wonderful opportunity for parents to celebrate the learning of their daughter(s) and to experience the range of exciting educational spaces and experts we have at Elmwood. Congratulations to all of our students for their hard work and excellent presentations! Strategic Plan Launch In tandem with the School’s new Celebration of Learning, our new 2015 – 2020 Strategic Plan was launched on April 30th. Mrs. Boughton, Mrs. Blackadar and Mr. Whitehouse presented an overview of the School’s strategic priorities for the next five years. The key objective is to provide each girl with the essential knowledge, skills and experiences to achieve success in a global community. Visit elmwood.ca/theelmwood-difference to view the Strategic Plan in further detail. Science Superstars and Math Masterminds! Out of 1600 candidates across Canada participating in the “Michael Smith National Science Challenge,” Emma Hunter ’17 got the top score in Ontario and was in the top 1% of student nationally and Qinchen Wang ’17 scored in the top 5%. Both Qinchen and Emma also finished top 2% of the entire province for Grade 10 students writing the Waterloo Math Competition. Grade 1 student, Clarissa Lauzon ’26 was awarded Top 25% in Canada and received a Bronze medal in the Kangaroo Math Competition held at Ottawa University. At the Ottawa Regional Science Fair Maya Ladki ’20 and Megan Wright ’20 were awarded the E L M WO O D.C A

SEPTEMBER 2015

NEWS AND NOTES Canada Meteorological and Oceanographic Society Award for their project “Into the Storm! – Is climate change producing stronger hurricanes?” Phoenix PlessasAzurduy ’20, Sijyl Fasih ’17 and Emma Hunter ’17, and Julia Crystal ’17 and Claudia Finak-Fournier ’17 were awarded Honourable Mentions for their projects. Excellence through Classics Elmwood’s Classics team attended the 2015 Ontario Student Classics Conference held at Brock University in St. Catharines, Ontario. The Conference is now in its fifth decade and involves close to 500 students from both private and public schools across the province. It is one of the most unique and innovative student conferences in Canada, as well as one of the largest. The girls participation in this Conference provides them with the opportunity to take part in a wide variety of Academic, Athletic and Creative competitions as part of a committed team of students. This year the team brought home five trophies, including the Thompson Trophy for top per capita score, and sixteen ribbons! Together we can do so much! On May 29th we raised a glass at our ‘Cheers for Volunteers’ event. Dedicated parents and friends of Elmwood gathered in the Auditorium to enjoy a lovely luncheon catered by the Elmwood Bistro. From the members of our Parents’ Association, to event chairs, volunteers and classroom helpers, we are so fortunate to have such a committed group of people that give their time to make such an incredible difference in our school community. A special thank you to Gayle McClelland, Chair of the Elmwood Parents’ Association for her enthusiastic approach, dedication, guidance and commitment. Planning for our Planet – Deep Learning Throughout the week of June 1 – 5, students in Grades 5 – 12 explored a topic of their choice related to the United Nations International Decade and Year goals as part of the Planning for our Planet – Deep Learning program. The themes for discovery included: – Desertification – Soil – Water for Life – Poverty – Sustainable Energy – Light and Light based technologies The girls had the opportunity to listen to experts from our community and then start their own journey of discovery. They had the choice to work independently or in multi-grade groups based on their 6

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individual passion and identified a problem and ultimately begin the work to solve that issue. Projects undertaken included: –P rototyping of an electrical conduction mat that can power a lightbulb when stepped on –A n investigation of quantum physics and the possibility of teleportation –F easibility of outfitting Elmwood’s roof with solar panels and the resulting energy savings –C leaning up the Nile with existing boat traffic –C reating a zero-waste clothing line –H ow to build a parking lot without killing the soil beneath it –C reation of a lightning energy collector – I nterviewing residents of a women’s shelter for a documentary –D esigning a website about poverty in Canada with links to local charities –R ecording 36 children’s audiobooks to help children in the poverty cycle learn to read. Celebrating our Athletes After a very successful year of sport at Elmwood, athletes, their families and their coaches were excited to get together to celebrate at our Annual Sports Banquet. Organized by Sports Captain, Paige Tremblay ’15 and Senior School Athletic Director, Mrs. Derbyshire, the evening was a complete success. In addition to team most valuable, sportsmanlike and improved players, a number of athletes were recognized with special awards. This year’s winners were: – Sophie Ackert ’15 – Great Yoi Honour Athletic Award, Wilson Senior Sports Cup – Paige Tremblay ’15 – Great Yoi Honour Athletic Award – Valerie Molnar ’15 - Great Yoi Honour Athletic Award, Elite Athlete Award – Zein Zaghloul ’15 - Great Yoi Honour Athletic Award, Maynard Sportsmanship Cup – Cynthia Sedlezky ’17 – Neale Sportsmanship Cup – Hannah Charness ’18 – Dunlop Sports Cup – Mia Fitzpatrick ’17 – Physical Education Gold Medal At the Middle School Athletics assembly later the same week, the following athletes were celebrated for their achievements this year: – Caitlin Walsh ’21 – Grade 6 Award – Phoenix Plessas-Azurduy ’20 – Jody Maclaren Cup – Ailish Saranchuk ’19 – Grade 8

Crowdy Weir Bantam Award, Grade 8 Award – Zaina Khan ’19 – Fauquier Junior Cup, Grade 8 Award – Kennedy Reid ’19 – Grade 8 Award – Avery Want ’19 – Grade 8 Award – Tara Rida ’19 – Grade 8 Award Elmwood Scholars Congratulations to Elmwood’s internal scholarship recipients for 2015 – 2016! MYP Scholarship – awarded to students who demonstrate academic excellence, contribute to school life and have shown exceptional understanding and practice of the International Baccalaureate Learner Profile. –A lexandra Boushey ’22 –L auren Jane Hudson ’22 –C harlotte McLaughlin ’22 –S ophia Moloo ’22 –A very Parkinson ’22 –M adighan Ryan ’22 Senior School Scholarship – awarded to students who demonstrate academic excellence, contribute to school life and have demonstrated positive leadership ability through involvement in school life and/or the greater community. –E mma Boushey ’19 –Z aina Khan ’19 –M aya Kors ’19 –A ilish Saranchuk ’19 –A shton Yau ’19 Summa Summarum Scholarship – awarded to students who demonstrate academic excellence, contribute to school life and appreciate the benefits of and understand the expected rigour and commitment level of the IB Diploma Programme. –L aura Alexander ’17 –E mily Bangsboll ’17 –S ian Bryson ’17 –S ijyl Fasih ’17 –S heetza McGarry ’17 Celebrating our Long-serving Staff A lovely celebration was held at the end of the 2014 – 2015 school year to honour staff members celebrating milestones. Congratulations to: –E velyn Pike – 10 years – Pauline Rubarth – 10 years – Patrick Kelly – 15 years – Stephane Dube - 15 years – Janice Clarke – 15 years – Beth Ellison – 20 years – Cheryl Tweedie – 20 years Thank you for your dedication to the School, and most of all, our students.

1 Mrs. Derbyshire and Mrs. Boughton with the Great Yoi Honourable Athletic Award winners: Valerie Molnar ’15, Sophie Ackert ’15, Paige Tremblay ’15 and Zein Zaghloul ’15. 2 Members of the Classics team, Pooja Moorti ’17, Elizabeth Coulter ’18, Asmait Fukur ’16, Vicky Bolitho ’16 and Hannah Keough ’18 at the 2015 Classics Conference. 3 Katya Jansen Poulin ’17 focused on wildlife photography for her MYP personal project.

E L M WO O D.C A

SEPTEMBER 2015

A WINNING YEAR ON THE STAGE AND IN THE GAME By Teresa Stirling, Director of Communications

ur athletes, musicians and actresses had a phenomenal year, bringing home trophies, medals and accolades, and making everyone at Elmwood very proud. On the athletics side, the Eagles truly excelled. It was a particularly good year for Sophie Ackert ’15, as she was victorious in two separate sports. First, as a member of Elmwood’s alpine ski team, she won the slalom gold medal at the OFSAA provincial alpine championships, as well as a gold medal in GS Level 1 and a bronze medal in slalom at the NCSSAA championships. She also led the GS Level 1 team to first place at the NCSSAA race. In the spring, she switched gears and

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competed with Elmwood’s rowing crew, winning a silver medal for rowing doubles with her partner Laura Morrison ’16 at the Canadian Secondary School Rowing Association national regatta. The duo continued to row this summer, and won gold at the St. Catharines Invitational Regatta. Other girls seeing success at the NCSSAA alpine championships included Allegra Richter ’17, who won bronze in the GS Level 1, Hannah Charness ’18 who won silver in the novice race and the novice alpine team who also scored a silver medal. Our snowboarding team also ruled the slopes this year— Paige Tremblay ’15 won gold, Heather Lounder ’17 won silver and the

snowboarding team won gold at the NCSSAA snowboarding championships. In the pool, Hannah Charness ’18 and Katharina Auster ’18 qualified for the OFSAA swimming championships in the open division, on the green Danielle Humilde ’15 won silver at the NCSSAA golf championship and went on to compete at OFSAA, and on the court Valerie Molnar ’15 won the senior women’s singles gold medal in the NCSSAA East Region badminton championship and the bronze medal at the NCSSAA Eastern Conference Finals. Our younger athletes would not be outdone by our Senior School girls! Cross country runners Frida Pohl ’23 and Zoe Lang ’22 placed first in their respective

1 Elmwood’s “Madwomen” on stage at the Cappies Gala. 2 Our jazz musicians at the nationally renowned Rex Hotel. 3 Danielle Humilde ‘15 competing at the NCSSAA finals. 4 Heather Lounder ’17, Paige Tremblay ’15, Sian Bryson ’17, Sophie Barnes ’16 and Katya Jansen Poulin ’17 at the OFSAA Snowboarding Festival at Blue Mountain Resort. 5 Sophie Ackert ’15 after her gold-medal winning run at OFSAA. 6 Megan Russell ’15 and Zein Zaghloul ’15 accept Elmwood Theatre’s award for Cappies Critics’ Favourite Play. 7 Sarah Miller ’15 and Maitland Shaheen ’15 accepting the Cappie award for Best Costumes. 8 Katharina Auster ’18 and Hannah Charness ’18 swam at OFSAA.

races at the Annual Pumpkin Run. Frida also won gold at the OISAA cross-country meet, as did Erica Leighton ’19 and Tara Hanson-Wright ’21 won silver. The Grade 7/8 relay team won two gold, one silver and one bronze at the OISAA relay meet and the Grade 6/7 relay team won one gold and three silver. Lilli-Angélique Potter-Dhieux ’21 placed first in the individual 400m, Hannah Goldstein ’20 placed second and Tara HansonWright ’21 placed third in the 800m, and Frida Pohl ’23 placed third in the 200m. The Grade 5/6 soccer team won their tournament and both the Grade 5/6 volleyball and basketball teams placed second in their tournaments. Finally, Maizie Solomon ’21 came second in the

Intermediate division and Caitlin Walsh ’21 placed third in the Advanced division at the Grade 5/6 badminton tournament. Then there was our unparalleled success on stage this year. Of special note were our Concert and Jazz bands—both groups performed at the Capital Region Musicfest under the direction of Mr. Gummeson. The Concert Band was awarded two golds, and the Grade 9 Jazz Combo earned three golds and was invited to perform at the national-level, invite-only MusicFest Canada in Toronto. There they received a silver rating, and in addition, played a set at the Rex Hotel, a nationally renowned Jazz venue. The members of Elmwood Theatre also

collected some hardware this year. Sarah Miller ’15 and Maitland Shaheen ’15 won a Cappie Award for Best Costumes this year, for their phenomenal work outfitting “The Madwomen.” And under the leadership of Director Angela Boychuk, the cast and crew of The Madwoman of Chaillot won the award for Cappies Critics’ Favourite Play. All in all, Elmwood was nominated for eight Cappie awards this year, tying our record for the greatest number of nominations over the past 10 years. Elmwood Theatre has a long history of producing excellent shows, and we were so pleased to see this recognized by students across the city. There certainly was a lot to celebrate in 2014 – 2015! E L M WO O D.C A

SEPTEMBER 2015

CLOSING CEREMONIES

2015 1

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1 MYP Scholarship recipients: Madighan Ryan ’22, Avery Parkinson ’22, Alex Boushey ’22, Lauren Jane Hudson ’22, Charlotte McLaughlin ’22, Sophia Moloo ’22 2 Imara Bhulji ’25 receives her Grade 2 Certificate of Achievement from Ms. Adolf. 3 Our Grade 5 students—ready for Middle School! 4 Emily Hartvich ’17 receiving her Grade 10 Certificate of Achievement from Mrs. Boughton. 5 Graduates Keerut Saran ’15, Ras-Jeevan Obhi ’15, Lauren Lambert ’15, Megan Russell ’15, Zein Zaghloul ’15, Emily Stephens ’15, Miriam Dakdouki ’15 and Valerie Molnar ’15. 6 Graduates Jenna Moledina ’15, Sasha Thomas ’15 and Claire Avisar ’15. 7 Ashton Yau ’19, Alish Saranchuk ’19, Abbigail Hamre ’19 and Kennedy Reid ’19 with their yellow roses following Middle School Closing Cermonies. 8 Grace Kremmel ’22 and Celia Batchelor ’22 with their yellow roses following Junior School Closing Ceremonies. 9 Elmwood’s Class of 2015 Grad Dinner, held at the Rideau Club.

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GRADUATE SUCCESS: Class of 2015 Size of Graduating Class

Post Secondary Entry for September 2015

100%

University Entrance Scholarships

94%

Ontario Scholars

77%

Total Scholarship Value Offered

$1,183,929 Average scholarship award per graduate

$38,191

International Baccalaureate Diploma and Certificate Candidates

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Post-Secondary Destinations for 2015:

Other Canadian Provinces International Ontario

23 %

29 %

48 %

University Degrees and Programs for 2015: SCIENCE, ENGINEERING AND MATH RELATED PROGRAMS – 29% • Biomedical and Electrical Engineering • Biomedical Mechanical Engineering • Biomedical Science (2) • Chemical Engineering • Geography • Kinesiology • Nursing • Physics

ARTS AND SOCIAL SCIENCES – 48% • Arts (4) • Arts and Contemporary Studies • Economics • English and History • English and Italian Philology • English Literature • International Relations (2) • Political Science • Public Relations (2) • Sociology Number of Graduates: 15

Number of Graduates: 9

DIRECT ENTRY PROFESSIONAL PROGRAMS – 6% • Dental Medicine • Law Number of Graduates: 2

BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS – 16% • Business Administration (2) • Commerce • Economics and Management • Management Number of Graduates: 5 E L M WO O D.C A

SEPTEMBER 2015

GRADUATE SUCCESS

IB Diploma Achievement

Zakiya Abdullah ’15

The 2015 IB Diploma results reflect another successful year for Elmwood with our school’s Diploma points again exceeding that of the world average. High-achieving subjects this year included English, Latin, Economics, Physics and Math. Our highest point scorer this year was Zakiya Abdullah ’15 with a very impressive 39 points. In addition to a fantastic overall score, Zakiya earned the full three out of three points for her Theory of Knowledge course and her Extended Essay. Only 10% of all Diploma graduates are successful in obtaining the full three points for these core components.

Elmwood average Diploma points World average Diploma points Elmwood average grade all subjects World average grade all subjects

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2012 2013 2014 2015 33 33 32 32 29.83 29.81 29.9 29.88 5.25 5.12 5.02 5.02 4.64 4.62 4.6 4.6

Percentage of grades 5 to 7:

2015 2014 2013 2012

67% 60% 75% 71%

2015 Post Secondary Destinations Ontario

International

Carleton University 1 Graduate Biomedical and Electrical Engineering

King’s College, London 1 Graduate International Relations

Queen’s University 3 Graduates Arts (2) Commerce

Nova Southeastern University 1 Graduate Dental Medicine

Ryerson University 1 Graduate Arts and Contemporary Studies University of Ottawa 7 Graduates Biomedical Science (2) Chemical Engineering English Literature Physics Public Relations (2) University of Toronto 2 Graduates Business Administration Economics Western University 1 Graduate Arts

Royal Holloway, University of London 2 Graduates International Relations Law St. Andrew’s University 2 Graduates Economics and Management Management University of Arizona 1 Graduate Political Science University of Exeter 1 Graduate Geography University of Helsinki 1 Graduate English and Italian Philology

Other Canadian Universities Acadia University 1 Graduate Kinesiology Bishop’s University 1 Graduate Business Administration Concordia University 1 Graduate Sociology McGill University 2 Graduates Arts English and History Saint Francis Xavier University 1 Graduate Nursing University of British Columbia 1 Graduate Applied Science and Engineering E L M WO O D.C A

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1 Her Excellency Sharon Johnston and Headmistress, Cheryl Boughton unveiling Elmwood’s Coat of Arms. 2 Mrs. Blackadar explains the symbolism of the Coat of Arms to the Grade 1 class. 3 Kaylah Carruthers ’22, Lauren Jane Hudson ’22 and Bianca Sugunasiri ’23 discuss all the different symbols found on the Coat of Arms. 4 Her Excellency Sharon Johnston and Headmistress, Cheryl Boughton with Elmwood’s Coat of Arms. 5 Chief Herald of Canada, Dr. Claire Boudreau, Janet Uren ’68, Headmistress Cheryl Boughton, Elizabeth Heatherington ’63, Her Excellency Sharon Johnston and Miramichi Herald, Ms. Manon Labelle, with the Coat of Arms. 6 Grade 4 student Maya Allen ’23 explaining the new Coat of Arms details to the Grade 1 student Alyazia Al Shehhi ’26. 7 Grade 4 student Olivia Howe ’23 holding a postcard with Elmwood’s Coat of Arms along with Grade 1 student Mia Betolli-Remonda ’26 holding her prediction of what she thought the Coat of Arms would look like. 8 Elmwood’s Head Girl, Justine Beaulé ’15, Her Excellency Sharon Johnston and Senior Prefect Sophia Caragianis ’15 with the Coat of Arms.

A NEW SYMBOL FOR A NEW CENTURY By Lindsay Germano, Communications Coordinator

ay 7, 2015 was a very exciting day in Elmwood history! We were thrilled to unveil our new Coat of Arms to the community, with the help of Her Excellency Sharon Johnston, Dr. Claire Boudreau, Chief Herald of Canada, and Ms. Manon Labelle, Mirimichi Herald. History was made as current students, faculty and staff, as well as alumnae and former staff, watched Mrs. Boughton and Her Excellency lift the drape to unveil Elmwood’s incredible Coat of Arms. We were honoured to have Her Excellency help us unveil the Coat of Arms. Elmwood has a long history with Rideau Hall and, in particular, with the wife of the Governor General. We were thrilled to carry on this proud tradition. The Coat of Arms has been thoughtfully designed to reflect the history, values and vision of the school. All guests in attendance received a postcard explaining in detail the symbolism of the Armorial Bearings: Arms: The school colours are gold and green. Gold symbolizes excellence and value, and green symbolizes youth and growth. The elm leaves evoke the once abundant elm trees that are the school’s namesake. The leaves also symbolize strength and growth, as well as the recognition of the importance of our environment. As Elmwood School is a girls’ school, the division of the shield alludes to triangles, an ancient female symbol. The four triangles also represent the four houses of the school. The

division of the shield is evocative of an hourglass, acknowledging the inevitable passage of time for students, teachers and alumni. The “X” shape alludes to the cardinal directions, which are essential to the structure of knowing where one has been and which new direction to take. The multiple directions represent the multicultural and inclusive nature of the school, as well as the long history of Elmwood graduates traveling to the corners of the Earth to continue their studies. Crest: The butterfly is a symbol of the soul and the mind, nimble with the ability to travel far, and is a creature that undergoes transformation during its life. After a time of development and growth, butterflies stretch out their wings to fly on their own, a metaphor for the transformative journey of each student as she grows and matures through the years she is at the school. Each spring, Elmwood students release butterflies as part of a beloved tradition in the Junior School. The butterfly rests on a circle of stars, which represent excellence and navigational knowledge, and allude to the school’s motto. Motto: This Latin phrase means “Highest of the High” and was adopted in 1932, after its inclusion in the school song. Elmwood students are encouraged to exemplify this motto by being academically strong, socially adept, confident and resilient young women. Supporters: The owls evoke wisdom, intelligence, knowledge and strength.

They are also the attribute of Athena, the Greek goddess of the arts, craft and skills. The rocky mount evokes Rockcliffe Park, where the school is located, and the nearby Ottawa River is represented by the waves beneath the mount. The daffodil is the school emblem and it was chosen by Theodora Philpot, the school’s founder. It signifies rebirth and the resilience of nature by heralding the spring every year. Mrs. Philpot was inspired by a poem by William Wordsworth, “I wandered lonely as a cloud,” also known as “The Daffodils.” In amongst the daffodils are trilliums, the official flower of Ontario. The Coat of Arms will be used in addition to our traditional Elmwood symbols, crest and motto. We are all very excited about the introduction of this new symbol to our community. It’s a beautiful design that pays homage to the school’s rich traditions and history while also capturing the spirit of the present school and its vibrant community. Many thanks to a number of people who were key in the creation of the Coat of Arms, including the Alumnae members of the Centennial Steering Committee: Elizabeth Hetherington ’63, Janet Uren ’68 and Sarah Murray ’79, who brought the idea to the committee originally; and to two other Elmwood Alumnae: Juliet Caragianis ’11 and Sophia Caragianis ’15, who played an important role in the development and funding of this Coat of Arms to honour Elmwood School’s Centennial milestone. E L M WO O D.C A

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THE ELMWOOD “LOOK” Excerpt from Endeavour’s All: The Elmwood Story 1915 – 2015 By Janet Uren ’68

he Elmwood “look” has evolved over the years, as a new centennial display of dolls amply demonstrates. Wendy Dennys was once admissions officer at the Junior School (she retired in 2006). For the centennial celebration, she donated her time to create a doll collection featuring the various uniforms over time. In addition, an Elmwood graduate studying fashion design at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, Julia Cork ’13, has brought the various uniforms to life through a series of fashion sketches. In 1916, a school photograph shows most of the young students in sailor suits (boys) or white pinafores with big hair bows (girls). In 1925, when the aim was to recreate an English girls’ school in Canada, a green serge tunic with box pleats—still worn at the Junior School— was adopted, along with a green and yellow knitted tie, green knee socks and

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sturdy Oxford shoes. Senior students in the 1960s—the age of adolescent rebellion—shocked Elmwood’s neighbours by blousing those tunics up over their belts to create “mini” uniforms. The school eventually decided to replace that rather childish style with something more sophisticated: a kilt (white and green, and later burgundy and green), worn with the traditional green blazer. The motif of green and yellow— school colours—somehow got lost in the exchange. For the centennial year, the school decided to renew the uniform and to do so with a return to the original green and gold. The result is a brand new Elmwood tartan—mainly green with narrow gold stripes and white and red highlights. The tie is a natty black cravat, and the green blazer—with fitted shape and gold buttons—is edged with tartan. It’s a new look for a new century.

Introduced in the 1920s, girls wore the dark green serge tunic with box pleats, a blazer with cording, and a striped knitted tie. In the early years, a dress was introduced for special occasions. It came to be known as the “white and yellow” and was not very popular. It was quietly abandoned after a few decades.

In the 1940s, when Elmwood girls went out for a walk, they wore identical outerwear. A summer uniform for Junior students was made of striped Liberty cotton in the 1980s.

In 1982, Headmistress Margaret White introduced a more sophisticated and mature look with the green and white kilt. Under Headmistress Carol Kirby, Elmwood was divided into Senior, Middle and Junior schools, each with its own uniform. Burgundy was added to the colour mix for Senior girls, along with fitted blouses to prevent the “hanging out blouse” look!

Middle school girls wore a plain green kilt and blazer. From 1996 to 2007, Kindergarten students wore polo-necked knit tops with a green jumper. After 2007, they reverted to the ubiquitous green tunic.

The Uniform in the 1930s • Undervest (very important) • Green bloomers •G arter belt with hanging suspenders •S ervice beige lisle stockings (pantyhose not yet invented) •T an cantilever shoes with small perforated holes all over and a strap across the instep with buckle •G reen serge tunic, hemmed to one inch above the knee when kneeling •G reen serge belt buttoned loosely around the hips • Beige cotton long-sleeved blouse •K nitted green silk tie with gold stripes • House pin, etc., on tunic

Today’s Junior students still wear the iconic green tunic. The crest was added in later years.. As part of the centennial celebrations, new uniforms were designed and the traditional school colours were reintroduced. An Elmwood tartan was specially designed, with a yellow, green, white and red colour scheme.

• Green blazer with school crest •G reen beret with school crest (to be worn on all outings beyond the school gate) • Camelhair coat.

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SHOW YOUR ELMWOOD PRIDE –

SHOP OUR CENTENNIAL STORE! Looking for a way to commemorate this moment in Elmwood’s history? You’ll find a number of limited edition Centennial items both online at elmwood100.ca and in the school store— the Eagles’ Nest.

ENDEAVOUR’S ALL: T H E

E L M W O O D

S T O R Y

1 9 1 5

–

2 0 1 5

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In celebration of Elmwood’s Centennial, we are proud to present our updated and expanded history book, written by Janet Uren ’68! This book captures the story of Elmwood School through the recollections of many who have been a part of it.

The School C H A P T E R

O N E

Beginnings 1915 – 1925

heodora Philpot stood out from the crowd in her time. She had seen some of the far corners of the world. She was not afraid to defy convention. She was capable of hard work and, even as a respectable married woman with children, she had plans that went far beyond her own front door. She was an entrepreneur, and her dream was to create a great school. The child of British parents, Theodora grew up in Burma, trained as a teacher in California and—horror of horrors—married a divorced man. Even then, she refused to be conventional. Instead of settling down and raising children on her husband’s meagre wages as a teacher, she founded a school on the outskirts of a colonial capital and drove herself to exhaustion balancing the demands of running a household with service to a school population that grew from 4 to more than 40 in only four years. In the end, she was defeated by her own success and left the school she created to others, who in their turn nurtured it and helped it to grow through infancy and adolescence into the Elmwood of today. Her contribution was nevertheless seminal. Elmwood was Theodora Philpot’s second educational venture. In the early years of the century, she was living in rough-and-tumble California, where her parents were trying, unsuccessfully, to grow oranges. There she met and, a year later, braved her parents’ disapproval to marry, an Englishman by the name of Hamlet S. Philpot. He was an Oxford-trained scholar who found teaching work in Baltimore, where Theodora bore two sons. In 1912, they acted on the suggestion of friends to found a school in Babylon, Long Island.

Please join us for the official launch on Friday, October 2 at 5 p.m. at the School. If you won’t be able to make it, but would like to order a copy of the book, visit our online store at elmwood100.ca or call the Communications Department at 613.749.6761.

CELEBRATING 100 YEARS:

ELMWOOD’S EXTRAORDINARY PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE By Janet Uren ’68 and Teresa Stirling, Director of Communications IT WAS A HUMBLE BEGINNING, WITH FOUR PUPILS TAKING THEIR LESSONS IN THE DILAPIDATED KEEFER FARMHOUSE IN THE FALL OF 1915. THE SCHOOL WE NOW CALL ELMWOOD HAS CERTAINLY COME A LONG WAY IN THE INTERVENING 100 YEARS. TODAY, ELMWOOD SCHOOL STANDS STRONG, AND ECHOES WITH THE FOOTSTEPS AND VOICES OF OVER 5000 GIRLS AND YOUNG WOMEN (AND A FEW BOYS AS WELL!).

Beginnings What is now known as Elmwood School (originally the Rockcliffe Preparatory School) was the vision of an ambitious Englishwoman named Theodora Philpot, who saw an opportunity in that old, run down farmhouse. She was an entrepreneur, and her dream was to create a great school. The building may have been modest and the students few, but the educational ambitions of the first headmistress were high. In the prospectus of 1916–1917, she wrote: “The discipline of the school and the instruction are in accordance with the best modern methods, and constant care is given to the proper development of each pupil and the fostering of good school spirit.” Starting off with only a handful of very young students, the school set out to attract a wider range in the second year. The school prospectus advertised for students in three age categories—under 6 years of age in the Junior School, from 8 to 10 in the Intermediate School and from 10 to 13 in the Senior School. Enrolment rose steeply after 1915. New teachers were hired, including a young Englishwoman, Edith Button—soon to be Mrs. Buck. However, resources for expansion were lacking. When the farm came up for sale in 1919, Mrs. Philpot turned to two parents—Lilias Southam and Ethel Fauquier. They bought the land, but in the end they had a different vision for the school. When Mrs. Philpot fell ill, and departed for England soon after, the owners appointed teacher Edith Buck in her place, and she spelled out her own vision for the school: “There must be self-control, courtesy, a willing obedience to law and order, simple experience in self-government, consideration for others, and a loyalty to School Ideals.” E L M WO O D.C A

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CELEBRATING 100 YEARS

In 1925, Elmwood was already an institution with traditions of its own and the beginning of a history.

Music teacher and house mother to the boarders, Miss Tipple, and the beloved school St. Bernard, Baron.

One of the earliest classrooms in the Keefer farmhouse.

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1920s The year 1923 was a big one for the little school. Under the leadership of its second headmistress, it took a new name—Elmwood School. At around the same time, the school began to develop a new identity, one that transcended the preparation of little boys for another, grander school down the road. That year, thanks to the generosity of Cairine Wilson, the school got a reconstructed assembly hall, twice as big as the old converted barn, with a permanent stage and “light and airy classrooms” above. The school population had grown substantially to about 80 students. A school magazine, Samara, had been established that recorded all the events of school life—the guest lecturers, the school outings, the charity drives and victories in archery and basketball. Elmwood even had a mascot, Baron—a large St. Bernard—compliments of the Southam family and one Miss Tipple. As Elmwood entered its second decade, the School was ready to move on to yet another new phase of life. The change in direction and status was marked in a concrete way by the erection of a new school building. In May 1925, the doors of the Keefer farmhouse closed for the last time on the retreating students, and the wreckers moved in. When the students returned in the fall— among them the first boarders—it was to a very different building and a new sense of the school as a hall of learning. In 1925, Elmwood was already an institution with traditions of its own and the beginning of a history. In 1927, the house system was established as a basis for school organization and competition. The houses were named after three inspiring women: Florence Nightingale, Helen Keller and Elizabeth Fry. In 1931, House Days were inaugurated on the birthdays of these patronesses. At the same time that the house system was created, Elmwood adopted a prefect system of school government. For many years, the head girl and prefects were appointed; today, they are elected to their positions by the student body—for most girls, this is their first exercise in democracy. 1930s and ’40s This is the era that saw the beginnings of the Elmwood Old Girls’ Association, and with it, a desire to give back to the school. Gifts from alumnae include the grandfather clock and the Parthenon Frieze, and more recently, a refurbishment of the auditorium and

funds to be endowed for an Old Girls’ Scholarship. Theodora Philpot gave the Association something in return, an ornately carved Bible box in which to keep their records. This box is still on display at the School, in the Heritage Room. As the 1930s came to an end, Elmwood girls joined cheering crowds to welcome King George VI and Queen Elizabeth to Ottawa. By autumn, Canada was at war, and Mrs. Buck was urging her students to make their own contribution to the war effort through fundraising efforts. Meanwhile, some Elmwood graduates were serving overseas, driving ambulances or suffering as war widows. A number of British evacuees joined the school population. The day the war ended, the girls were called to a special assembly for the solemn announcement. Afterwards, they attended a ceremony of thanksgiving in the Ashbury chapel. Soon after, the school expanded again. In 1946, Lilias Southam and her brother Franklin Ahearn honoured their father (inventor and businessman Thomas Ahearn) by funding a science laboratory and a memorial wing with fine new classrooms for the Junior School. 1950s and ’60s In 1951, Edith Buck retired after 31 years at the helm, and Emily Graham replaced her. Highly educated, intellectual and modern in her ideas, Mrs. Graham faced a real challenge in replacing Mrs. Buck. “It is not easy,” she wrote, “for girls who have for years associated their loyalty to Elmwood with their loyalty to Mrs. Buck to transfer their allegiance. I feel that it is a great compliment to Mrs. Buck’s training that they have been so intelligently and constructively helpful to me all the school year.” Elmwood in the 1950s and ’60s remained a very small school, with somewhere around 100 students, most of them local. Life had a quiet regularity to it. Every day began with Prayers, and classes were punctuated by the ringing of a handbell and by a sit-down lunch held every day in the dining room. There was great emphasis on courtesy and deference. Girls stood up whenever a teacher entered the room and spoke when they were spoken to. Elmwood’s next headmistress, Kathleen Bruce, was a passionate Christian, and education for her was a moral crusade. “In all the life and work of the School,” she wrote, “the development of Christian character as the real basis for Christian living is continually stressed.”

CELEBRATING 100 YEARS

Her successor, Patricia Blyth, was equally devout. However, she was also sensitive to new possibilities for women in the 1960s. That awareness was captured in a new policy statement, which stressed the need for academic achievement along with strong values. School literature increasingly emphasized the need to prepare girls for further education and careers. In 1966, Mrs. Blyth spearheaded a fundraising campaign to modernize the school’s science facilities. Elmwood began to broaden socially. The school population was growing as more middle-class families looked for educational alternatives to the public system. Enrolment, which for many years had hovered around 80 girls, grew to approximately 130. In 1966, the boarding school closed after 41 years. The Board explained that it had become “more and more difficult to find domestic and residence staff to cater for and supervise the boarders.” Implicit in their message was awareness of liability: it was a new age, and teenaged girls in the 1960s were not notably docile. 1970s and ’80s By 1970, the school boasted a strong academic program. There were seven Ontario Scholars in a graduating class of 22, and nearly all graduates were going on to some form of post-secondary education. Joan Whitwill, who became headmistress in 1969, was a scholar in her own right and the ideal leader for the times. The arrival of Morag Gundy as a science teacher in 1972 (she became headmistress in 1990) signaled the

Above: the Keefer Farmhouse after Mrs. Philpot had the barn moved over to use as an assembly hall. Below: The science lab built in 1946 in honour of Thomas Ahearn.

school’s continuing commitment to science education. One of the new generation of highly trained women scientists, Mrs. Gundy claimed that independent schools like Elmwood played a leading role in introducing women to science in the 1970s. The sharing of science and math classes with Ashbury during the 1970s helped the school to underwrite new programs. Ashbury boys came to Elmwood to study Latin. Joan Whitwill’s greatest contribution to the school as headmistress was almost certainly the introduction of the International Baccalaureate (IB) Programme in 1978. The IB programme

is arguably the most sophisticated educational system in the world. It is a programme that focuses on the “whole” girl and allows Elmwood girls to measure themselves against a world standard. The IB was a good fit for Elmwood, where the school body included many diplomatic children. The programme was offered first in only a couple of grades, but it has grown over the years to encompass every part of the school. In 1982, Margaret White took the helm as headmistress. The period she oversaw was one of growth. Young mothers of the day (a new cohort of welleducated career women) were beginning to recognize the value of single-gender E L M WO O D.C A

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CELEBRATING 100 YEARS

Here we grow again! Members of the Board of Governors, along with Headmistress Margaret White, and Vice Principal Morag Gundy, get ready to break ground on the expansion projects of the early 1980s.

education, and they were willing to buy the best possible education for their daughters. For many in the Ottawa area, that meant Elmwood. The school population nearly tripled, and Elmwood was desperate for space. The first renovation project focused on expanding the school building into what had once been a large courtyard facing Buena Vista Road. In 1988, a new gymnasium was created at the back of the school. Under Margaret White’s guidance, the school also embraced the old adage that “charity begins at home.” With the demand for its services growing in the latter part of the 20th century, it urgently needed to go beyond fees to finance growth and modernization. With the support of a number of Old Girls, the first Development Office was created to spearhead fundraising and alumnae

relations. Margaret White also oversaw the formation of the last of Elmwood’s four houses—named “Wilson” after Senator Cairine Wilson. Wilson became Canada’s first woman senator in 1930 and was a patron of Elmwood in the 1920s, the parent of students and a major benefactor. She was also a wonderful role model for her work during the Second World War, when she was a tireless advocate of refugees, especially Jewish refugees. Senator Wilson’s children attended Elmwood, her granddaughters also attended in the 1960s and 1970s, and her great-granddaughter continued there in the 1990s. 1990s to today Morag Gundy became headmistress in 1990, after teaching science at the

school for almost two decades. Under her leadership, there was a renewed emphasis on expanding on the school’s strengths and traditions, actively reaching out to the international community, promoting the prestigious IB Programme at Elmwood, as well as a focus on strategic vision, and the development of a plan that would enhance Elmwood’s reputation in Canada and internationally as a leading independent school. The ’90s were also a time of celebration. In 1990, Elmwood honoured its 75th anniversary, proud of its past, optimistic for its future, confident that Elmwood had “arrived” as a thoroughly modern school at the approach of the end of the century in which it had begun. As the school approached the new millennium, Carol Kirby became the ninth headmistress of Elmwood. During her tenure, the school was physically renewed once again. A new Junior School was constructed where the tennis courts used to stand, and major renovations made to the older structures of 1925 and 1946. New and renewed facilities in the older part of the school included a library, a new music room and an art studio. Both the building and renovation projects were the result of a growing awareness that Elmwood’s strength depends on its ability to create a culture of philanthropy at the school. An important part of Dr. Kirby’s legacy was an endowment to fund international projects for Elmwood students under the Dr. Carol Kirby Global Citizenship Program. Central to all this development was

ELMWOOD’S LEADING LADIES –

100 Years of Inspiring Headmistresses

Theodora Philpot, 1915 – 1920 Her vision… To create a “joyous, strong, companionable and free” community Born in Burma to Scottish parents, she trained as a teacher in California, founded a school in New York and left it to come to Canada. She founded the Rockcliffe Preparatory School (now Elmwood School) in 1915. 24

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Edith Buck, 1920 – 1951 Her vision… To create an English public school in the Canadian capital English-born Edith Button came to Elmwood as a teacher in 1917 and married a Canadian. She set in place many Elmwood traditions, such as a prefect system and the three Houses.

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Emily Graham, 1951 – 1955 Her vision…To awaken intellectual curiosity Emily Graham was a Cambridgeeducated mathematician and intellectual who taught at Queen’s University before coming to Elmwood.

Kathleen Bruce, 1955 – 1962 Her vision…To inculcate Christian values into education She was the first Canadian headmistress, a high school teacher in the public system and an army wife. She first came to Elmwood to supply teach and stayed on.

Patricia Blyth, 1962 – 1969 Her vision…To meld Christian traditions with modern curricula Oxford-educated, she modernized programs without sacrificing Elmwood’s traditional emphasis on literacy, culture and philanthropy.

Joan Whitwill, 1969 – 1982 Her vision…To establish a centre of academic excellence An Oxford-educated scholar, she came to Elmwood as a history teacher and, as Head, introduced the International Baccalaureate Programme.

CELEBRATING 100 YEARS

Theodora Philpot sent a carved Bible Box as a gift to the Old Girls Association. This is what she wrote about it: “ The motto, carved in Jacobean lettering, is taken from the tomb of Edward I in Westminster Abbey. Knowing what history tells us of the efforts and achievements left unfinished of this first of the Edwards, it always seems to me a touching little note, an appeal to carry on in spirit what he was trying to achieve, – PACTUM SERVA is what they wrote on the stone that they placed over the vault where he lies in Westminister Abbey. I like to think the same appeal will be with you as you open your box and begin your meetings…”

the ongoing commitment to ensure that Elmwood remained a state-ofthe-art school, renowned not only for its academic excellence, but also for its integration of technology and computer learning in the school day. An innovative laptop program was introduced, enhancing student access to technology, breaking down the walls of the classrooms to enable global learning. Elmwood also launched into the world of competitive robotics, opening doors to engineering and science to girls in a new and exciting way. The Senior School at Elmwood had embraced the International Baccalaureate some 20 years earlier. The 10th headmistress of Elmwood, Helen Spence, took the school’s commitment to internationalism even further by overseeing the introduction of IB into the Junior and Middle schools, thus making

Margaret White, 1982 – 1990 Her vision… To shape Elmwood as a recognized leader in women’s education A graduate of the University of Manchester, she saw the demand for women’s education increase and oversaw two major expansions at Elmwood.

Elmwood the first all girls’ school in North America to offer the program from JK to Grade 12. Elmwood has continued to innovate as it approaches its Centennial. Under the leadership of current headmistress, Cheryl Boughton, a one to one iPad program was launched in the Middle School, and a makerspace—the FabLab— was built in 2014. Classrooms have been renovated to accommodate 21st century learning: gone are the blackboards, fixed desks and wires—today’s classrooms are flexible, wireless learning environments. One of the fundamental changes that Cheryl Boughton pushed for early in her tenure was a simplification of the mission statement. “What we had was long and wordy. We talked it over and reduced it to this: ‘Inspiring each girl to reach her full potential.’ Every girl, every teacher at

Morag Gundy, 1990 – 1996 Her vision…To open the doors of science and maths to young women This Scottishborn graduate in biology from the University of Toronto supervised expansion of the school facilities and modernization of the curriculum.

Carol Kirby, 1996 – 2003 Her vision…To prepare young women for global leadership Newfoundland-born and educated, her challenge was to adapt the school within a global context and to integrate technology into the curriculum.

the school knows that statement and can repeat it. It resonates with me because I think that is what Elmwood has always done. It has always been a place where girls can grow as individuals into the women they become.” The heart of Elmwood has remained true to its original purpose. The school is strongly positioned in 2015 to adapt and to succeed in meeting the needs of tomorrow. It has a clear mission, is financially stable and supported by generous donors. It has a diverse, flexible and imaginative educational program. It has a healthy, loyal and sustainable school population. It has good facilities in buildings old and new, as well as talented and dedicated teachers and administrative staff. It has a vision for the future. Most importantly, it has a culture that has survived the ups and downs of 100 years.

Helen Spence, 2003 – 2007 Her vision…To achieve excellence through role modelling and mentorship A native of Manhattan and formerly principal in a public school, she promoted an active lifestyle, environmental responsibility and international citizenship.

Cheryl Boughton, from 2008 Her vision…To inspire each girl to reach her full potential Educated at Queen’s University, she taught in England, where she gained invaluable experience in singlegender, independent education. She will lead Elmwood into its second century.

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If your plan is for one year, plant rice. If your plan is for ten years, plant trees. If your plan is for one hundred years,educate children. - Master Guan

THE BEST MODERN METHODS:

100 YEARS OF EDUCATION AT ELMWOOD SCHOOL By Teresa Marquis, Senior English Teacher

ne hundred years ago, Theodora Philpot had a plan to educate children. Her philosophy seemed simple: “The discipline of the school and the instruction are in accordance with the best modern methods, and constant care is given to the proper development of each pupil and the fostering of good school spirit.” Within a few years, Mrs. Philpot’s vision had obviously appealed to increasing numbers of people, as the school grew quickly and confidently. It might be impossible to know exactly what prompted Mrs. Philpot to open Rockcliffe Preparatory School in 1915. Our young country was in the second year of the Great War, and the news from the front must have been shocking for the citizens of our capital city. In April of that year, our soldiers faced an intensive artillery bombardment at

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Ypres, followed by something not seen before in modern warfare—the terrible new weapon of chlorine gas. In this battle, Canadian troops suffered more than 6,000 casualties, with over 2,000 dead. John McCrae would go on to immortalize that battle with his poem “In Flanders Fields.” In May, the sinking of the civilian ocean liner Lusitania, and the subsequent death of 1,200 civilians, convinced many Canadians that the war had become a moral battle. At the same time, back in Canada, Lucy Maud Montgomery had just published her third book in the Anne of Green Gables Series, in which Anne, a woman, goes off to university to pursue her BA. Another visionary woman, Nellie McClung, was petitioning the Alberta Legislature for women’s suffrage. Robert Borden was the Prime Minister, and the conscription

crisis was yet to come. It was early enough in the war that many Canadians felt it was a moral duty to fight for the Empire. Imperial nationalism, military glory, loyalty and obedience—these were considered the backbone of the Canadian way. Amidst this backdrop, what we now know of as Elmwood School was born. The “best modern methods” for that period involved the understanding that teachers were the experts, from whom students learned the (indisputable) facts. The three “Rs”—reading, (w) riting and (a)rithmetic—were the fundamentals of the Canadian education system. As access to books was rare in many households, schools were an important means of attaining information. The 1923 issue of Samara makes this very clear with the obvious

What is now known as the Auditorium was originally an old barn on the Keefer property that Theodora Philpot had moved over to the main building, to be used as an assembly hall.

excitement about the school gradually building its lending library. To enhance the assimilation of new immigrants into the country, history, geography and literature focused on the British Empire, and during the war, increasingly on British military triumphs. The pacifist and suffragist, Gertrude Richardson, found the militarized curriculum alarming enough to warn of its dangers in the magazine “Canadian Forward.” Presumably this was a minority opinion though, as the curriculum continued to teach children the importance of loyalty and obedience, service and sacrifice. Cadet training for boys and physical education for both sexes was considered essential for creating healthy citizens and ultimately good soldiers for the Empire. Slate blackboards, when schools could afford them, were an important educational tool. The blackboards were at the front of the class, behind the teacher, who was physically

ought to be clearer thinking and better expression. When a pupil who is asked to answer a question fails to do so, let him remain standing while one or more of the others are called upon to answer.” In this same document, the authors are clearly advocating modernizing education. They discuss the danger of fossilization in the classroom and give as an example the study of British currency in the mathematics curriculum. Clearly this was unacceptable to the authors, as it would have no practical value to the youngsters in their charge. Of course, this nod to modernity did not yet include the idea that Canada itself might have had something to teach its students. Great Britain was still the golden standard. Within a few years of opening, Elmwood’s physical structure changed to be more suitable for a growing student body. In 1917, the barn was converted into an assembly hall and three new classrooms. By 1919, more

Slate blackboards, when schools could afford them, were an important educational tool. The blackboards were at the front of the class, behind the teacher, who was physically placed at the head of the classroom. The children, facing forward, sat in wooden desks lined up in rows. placed at the head of the classroom. The children, facing forward, sat in wooden desks lined up in rows. This very design reflected the idea that the teacher was the font of knowledge and that students must respect their place in this educational environment. The Ontario Teacher’s Manual of 1915 advises teachers on the correct method for students to respond to questions: “Pupils should […] stand to answer questions. They should really stand, not lean on the desk behind, nor on the half-raised seat. When the correct attitude has been assumed, there

property was acquired making room for even more expansion. The end of the Great War was memorialized with the erection of a flagstaff. By 1925, the old house was demolished, and within a year the boarding school was extended to accommodate 24 boarders. These inter-war years saw many physical changes, as the school grew to accommodate the growing numbers of students who wished to attend. When school opened in September 1939, however, the mood of the country can be reflected in the opening address of Samara.

The author writes: “This year we came back to school in September under very different circumstances…our country was at war.” She goes on to articulate what we might argue is one of the strengths of the Elmwood community: “…when the time comes to give up some of our comforts and luxuries, we will do our bit gladly.” The girls were very successful in collecting money for the Red Cross, the funds being used to help with its new wartime activities. At the same time a call came from a teacher in Northern Ontario who was distressed because many of her students were so poor, they could not attend school for lack of clothes and books. Our girls once again rallied and sent both clothing and books to their less fortunate peers. It would appear that, like the rest of Canada, Elmwood girls did their best for the war effort. The 1945 edition of Samara recounts that on May 7th the girls were told to go the boarders’ lounge to hear a news broadcast—the formal announcement of VE Day. One can imagine the excitement in the lounge on that day. Of course, that excitement also extended to the day and a half holiday resulting from the news of the end of the war. The school year ended with a closing address by Princess Alice, wife of the Governor General, The Earl of Athlone. She praises the girls for their hard work during the school year, but also warns them about poor enunciation and a growing lack of courtesy in young people. It would appear that generational divides have always been with us! The 1960s saw significant change around the world, and this was certainly reflected in the education system. School was no longer seen as a means to assimilate immigrants into a recognized standard of behaviour, nor as a training ground for factory workers. Children were no longer considered clay to be moulded. The public was demanding E L M WO O D.C A

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Idea paint walls, flexible furniture and wireless connections for students and teachers are hallmarks of the modern classroom at Elmwood.

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innovation in teaching methods and in the curriculum. In response, curriculum developers moved rapidly away from the traditional approaches to education and began a new thrust towards programs that reinforced bilingual, multicultural and Aboriginal studies. However, the innovations that were being introduced in the ’60s and ’70s left many conservative elements nervous about the future of education in Canada. Thus, a backlash in the ’80s meant a return to perceived basics. Of course, in order for this to be successful, everyone has to agree on what these basics are, and this lack of consensus led to many debates. In particular, the ‘back to the basics’ movement seems to have placed less of an emphasis on the arts and physical education. By the 1990s, many Canadians wondered about how best to prepare students for the 21st century, prompting more school reform around the country. There existed a fear that in the new knowledge economy, if we did not prepare our students well, they would fall behind other industrialized countries. This would in turn affect our global competitiveness. At the same time, educators were cognizant of the importance of addressing the diversity of students’ abilities, backgrounds and interests. So, while the ‘back to the basics’ movement did not die, educators understood the need for an educational system that concerned the whole student. Let’s fast forward to fifteen years into the 21st century and one hundred years of Elmwood history. So much has changed in our world, and yet so much remains the same. It is this play between change and continuity that perhaps makes Elmwood so unique. Our technology has gone far beyond the slate blackboard decorating the front of the classroom. Instead, our wireless connections allow teachers and students to display, at the click of a button, the work we are doing on our laptops or iPads. The idea paint allows the whole class to stand up and to collaborate in the building of ideas. Elmwood has a 1:1 technology program, we aim for academic excellence and we advocate personal development via leadership opportunities and the Duke of Edinburgh Programme. All of the arts are fostered, and our students participate in many major competitions. The FabLab allows students to physically construct their understanding of the concepts being studied in class. Just as our founder wished to foster strong school spirit, we too consider this a cornerstone to the building of the Elmwood community. In addition, our student body is diverse and our teachers both reflect and

21st century skills, like creativity, collaboration and communication are fostered at every level, and through every subject.

foster that diversity. There is no longer a sense that one golden standard will apply to all the learning. Instead we recognize that there are many ways of learning and many things to learn. Most importantly, we now believe that replicative knowledge (knowing that) and applicative knowledge (knowing how) are complemented by the deep conceptual understanding fostered by the International Baccalaureate Programme. Educators are increasingly benefiting from the interdisciplinary research emanating from the learning sciences. This interdisciplinary approach— using research from fields as varied as cognitive science, educational psychology, computer science, anthropology, sociology, information sciences, neurosciences, education, design studies, and industrial design— has given us perhaps a greater insight into the varied ways in which people can learn. In particular, metacognition, an understanding of the internal processes involved in learning and understanding, plays an important role in our ability to transfer what we have learned in one situation to another completely unique situation. One thing that has not changed, however, is our understanding that learning is a goal towards which we all must strive if we are to be fully human. Reaching all the way back to Socrates, we understand and believe that

“education is the kindling of a flame not the filling of a vessel.” We are now looking at how to design learning environments that will foster 21st century skills of critical thinking, collaboration, communication, creativity and innovation, self-direction, global and local connections, and using technology as a tool to foster greater understanding. Since before the turn of the century, educators saw that to succeed in the future, students must learn how to be flexible—how to transfer knowledge to completely new situations. To be effective learners, we often must be willing to let go of previously held ideas. We can no longer just memorize facts and feed those facts back to the teacher in the form of direct application testing. Instead, just as in the world beyond the classroom walls, we must have dynamic assessments. These are assessments in which students are encouraged to judge how well their different strategies for learning worked. The theory behind this is that if we are able to internalize our process whilst doing something and then are given time to assess the efficacy of our methods, we will be able to transfer that knowledge to completely new situations. Thus, we are being prepared for future learning and not just being taught the “correct” facts for a test. You might have noticed a shift in pronoun usage in the preceding paragraph. This is because one thing we

have learned in the 21st century is that we are all learners. Teachers are experts in their fields, but their learning never stops, just as we know the learning of our students will never stop. In every new situation, we take what we know, critically evaluate this knowledge based on new information, and then build new knowledge. In his provocative book, The End of Education, Neil Postman writes: “There are many learnings that are little else but a mechanical skill, and in such cases there may be a best way. But to become a different person because of something you have learned— to appropriate an insight, a concept, a vision, so that your world is altered— that is a different matter.” This is the kind of learning to which Elmwood aspires. Students are no longer confined to straight rows with little interaction with one another during lessons. They still read, (w)rite, and do (a)rithmetic. However, they also collaborate to build together a new understanding of the world in which they live. Elmwood has grown significantly from the farmhouse in which began the dream of Theodora Philpot. While we use the Ontario Curriculum as a foundation, and the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme to extend our students, we have remained true to Mrs. Philpot’s vision. One hundred years on, we are still educating children by teaching them how to think. E L M WO O D.C A

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DRAMATICS, HOOTENANNIES AND CABARETS:

THE HISTORY OF PERFORMING ARTS AT ELMWOOD By Evelyn Pike, Junior School Music Teacher

hat was she thinking? What was going through Theodora Philpot’s mind when, in 1917, she had an old red barn—previously used to store hay for the riding stables on Beechwood—hauled across the field and attached to the farmhouse that was housing her fledgling school? Could she already hear and imagine the decades of theatre productions and music that would emanate from within this makeshift assembly hall, becoming the heart and soul of her new school? Theodora Philpot loved the dramatic arts, and right from the beginning, plays were included in the teaching of literature, with Shakespeare performed at the very first school closing. In 1919, the first in a long line of “dramatics” teachers was hired to help produce plays, complete with elaborate costumes, that were produced for an audience that often included the Governor General and his wife. Edith Buck, when she became the next headmistress, admitted that she too had an inordinate love of theatre, “and encouraged it almost to a fault in the school.” Music and drama were key to student life outside of school hours. In the days before television and “music-making machines,” people were expected to entertain each other 30

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and creativity was a way of life. Early music instruction focused largely on private piano lessons given by the first music teacher, Miss Tipple, who was also in charge of the “boarders”—the girls who lived at Elmwood. “Music evenings” were given on a regular basis for the headmistress and other friends of the school, causing anxiety and often gloom for the girls whose turn it was to provide the evening’s entertainment. In 1934, the students were thrilled to receive the generous gift of a gramophone and 12 records, enabling them to enjoy music not generated by their own talent. Elmwood boarders delighted in preparing cabarets and plays for one another, often after “lights out,” when such activities were officially forbidden. As one old girl reports, “In the main hall under the stairs, there was a big cupboard. (I think it’s a bathroom now.) We snuck down there and worked on our songs, and we got caught. They said we couldn’t have a cabaret, but we were so upset, they let us do it.” Dramatic performances were expected at every major celebration: Halloween, Christmas, Closings, as well as parties throughout the year. These plays took an enormous amount of work, especially those involving competition. Samara notes the

effect on life at the school: “The girls are rehearsing feverishly now and everywhere you find people quietly mumbling lines to themselves.” It is significant that in Samara’s House Notes, the play results featured largely, often before sports rankings. In 1945, Keller House triumphantly announced: “One of our aims was reached when we took first place in the house plays. Our play was Perchance to Dream and we can assure you that pie plates thrown down the back stairs made a very realistic sound-effect for a train wreck.” These unconventional sound effects may have been the reason that, “although Keller won the competition with Perchance to Dream, it was decided that Nightingale’s House Full was more suitable for presentation at the Bazaar.” In addition to recreational plays, the senior dramatic art classes put on more formal drama performances. In the early decades, these plays were seen as an extension of the drama class, and a chance for every student to showcase her talent; for this reason roles were usually shared, as in the play Henry V, where five different students played the lead role. It was not unusual for the audiences at Elmwood’s early productions to include the occasional duchess or princess from Rideau Hall, and the Ottawa Citizen of the day gave

The arts have been a focus at Elmwood since early days—be it performing musicals or plays, or learning an instrument, girls have always had opportunity to express themselves in creative ways.

them extensive reviews and all the serious attention due to professional theatre, under such headlines as: “Extraordinarily Good Performances by Elmwood Dramatic Art Classes” (1937) and “Elmwood School’s Senior Dramatic Art Class Upholds High Standards in Portraying Jane Austen Classic” (1940). In addition to the in-house dramas, a collaborative Elmwood-Ashbury play was, for many years, performed in the spring, often at the Little Theatre or at Glebe Collegiate. During the ’60s and ’70s, Elmwood girls joined the Ashbury lads in a series of Gilbert and Sullivan musicals, including the Mikado, Gondoliers, HMS Pinafore, to name a few. A new tradition in Elmwood Theatre was established with the Senior Drama Club in 1977; from then on, all students could audition for the drama, and practices were held outside of class time. Sometimes these productions involved collaboration with the music department, when Elmwood staged elaborate musicals such as You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown (‘93), Fiddler on the Roof (‘94), and Into the Woods (2000). When Angela Boychuck arrived at Elmwood School in 1994, she was stepping into an already vibrant drama program on which she put her own mark. Highlights of her first few years included hosting the Independent Schools Drama Festival (ISDF) several times, where 155 students from independent schools around the province gathered for workshops and performances. One of Mrs. Boychuck’s innovations was to shift the main action from the stage to the floor of the auditorium, a space that also underwent major renovations under her direction in 2009. A recent welldeserved honour, as we celebrated our hundredth year of drama at Elmwood, was winning the Cappies award for Best Play with The Madwoman of Chaillot, as well as being chosen to perform at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland for a second time. As with drama, music at Elmwood has also evolved significantly from its early beginnings. Initially, the main focus was on private piano instruction, singing and music appreciation, with many forays into town to attend concerts by notable musicians such as

Rachmaninoff and Horowitz. When choirs were formed in the 1920s, different groups took turns in leading hymns as well as the school song “Summa Summarum” at daily chapel. Samara of 1924 reports: “The choirs’ enthusiasm and effort made morning prayers much more enjoyable for us all.” Over the next decades, Elmwood choristers flourished under the leadership of many excellent directors, performing in out-of-town festivals as well as at Parliament Hill and Rideau Hall. A highlight was the trip to Austria in 2001, when the 31-member choir sang in the historic St. Stephens Cathedral. Instrumental music was gradually added to the choral music programme, beginning with co-curricular groups such as the folk guitar group in the 1960s, which performed at chapel as well as their own lively “hootenannies.” By the 1980s, a band programme had been established, in addition to various recorder groups, and even a string orchestra for several years. Instrumental programmes and choirs experienced an ebb and flow, depending on the particular passion and expertise of the music teachers at the helm. While a jazz band was introduced in 2003, it took on special momentum with the arrival of Nick Gummeson in 2008, under whose inspired direction the girls have won numerous accolades. Junior School students have been equally inspired by music and drama throughout Elmwood’s history. The younger students almost always prepared a nativity play for the Christmas concert, as well as choral pieces for chapel and other events. Early mention is made of Miss Tipple’s “Toy Orchestra” which presumably included rhythm instruments for the primary grades. For a few years beginning in the late fifties, Friday afternoons were dedicated to co-curricular activities, which greatly increased attendance at drama and music clubs. In 1957, the junior dramatics club was probably the busiest of all the clubs, performing Bluebird with a huge cast of 55 including little ones from Nursery School up to Form 4, a project that, according to Samara, “was quite a handful.” Later productions at Junior School included

musicals such as The Magic Flute and Hansel and Gretel. After moving into its new building in 2002, Junior School had room to expand its music and drama program, as well as offering a rich array of co-curricular arts clubs (French drama, Shakespeare club, ukuleles, chimes, African drums, recorders). Continuing the fine tradition of musical theatre, Junior School puts on three shows per year, in which every student takes part, under the direction of Evelyn Pike, with choreography by Alli MacDougall; these have become a very collaborative effort with support from many teachers, as well as the Backstage Club that makes sets and costumes. So what would Theodora Philpot think if she walked into her school today? She would likely be intrigued by the syncopated sounds of jazz emanating from the music room. She would be entranced by the creative energy occurring in the new drama studio, as students wrestle with a challenging monologue. And upon entering her old assembly hall, she might almost be run over by a host of excited little actors from Junior School, bursting into the auditorium to rehearse their upcoming musical. Perhaps she would remember the Keefer farmhouse and smile…because music and her beloved “dramatics,” and everything they have brought to generations of students, are still alive and flourishing here. Like the vestiges of that barn in the centre of her school, music and drama are still the core and cornerstone of a vibrant community that celebrates imagination, creativity and joy. E L M WO O D.C A

SEPTEMBER 2015

By Kimberly Senf, Senior Librarian

(ALMOST) ALL GROWN UP:

JUNIOR SCHOOL “LIFERS” MOVING ON TO MIDDLE SCHOOL

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This foursome of friends have been learning together and inspiring each other in the Junior School, and they plan to do much of the same in the Middle School this fall.

Charlotte McLaughlin ’22, Lauren Jane Hudson ’22, Kaylah Carruthers ’22 and Alexandra Boushey ’22 have spent the last seven years together at Elmwood.

here are four girls who met in Junior Kindergarten at Elmwood who have been together ever since—and they are about to embark upon another adventure together—Middle School. Alexandra Boushey ’22, Kaylah Carruthers ’22, Lauren Jane Hudson ’22 and Charlotte McLaughlin ’22 have known each other since their first day of Junior Kindergarten at Elmwood. And while that might not have been the day they all became fast friends, it’s one they all remember with a flurry of emotions when they think back to their first experiences at Elmwood. Seven years later, all four girls are moving on to “the big school” up the hill, known to everyone who is not a student in the Junior School as the Middle School. This foursome of friends have been learning together and inspiring each other in the Junior School, and they plan to do much of the same in the Middle School this fall. One of the first novel experiences that the girls encountered at Elmwood was hatching chicks in their Junior Kindergarten classroom. Mrs. Wakeham, their Junior Kindergarten teacher, received eggs from a local farmer and kept them warm in their classroom under heat lamps until they hatched. After they hatched, the new little chicks were kept in the classroom and according to Mrs. Wakeham, “were loved by the girls in the class all day long.” Charlotte in particular remembers those chicks fondly from her Junior Kindergarten year, and Mrs. Wakeham said that none of the girls wanted to send them back to the farm when it was time to say goodbye to their new feathered friends. When asked about their favourite Elmwood memories, Alexandra and Charlotte readily replied with

Exhibition, the six-week project that Grade 5 students take on in the last year of the IB Primary Years Programme. This year, the real-life issue that the students in Grade 5 researched was energy resources. Alexandra and Charlotte had both envisioned the project as one that seemed so huge from their vantage points in Grade 3 and 4, but upon tackling the project this year, they both realized that it was a worthwhile challenge that they were easily able to overcome in the final weeks of their Grade 5 year. Alexandra was particularly happy with the help and encouragement she received throughout the process from Ms. Holmes and Mrs. Weigand, the Grade 5 teachers, giving her extra confidence in her project. Charlotte has aspirations to be an architect, so Exhibition gave her the chance to research eco-friendly and energy efficient building design—she has even promised Ms. Holmes an ecofriendly home design after she’s earned her credentials. Listing all the achievements, interests and extra-curricular activities of these four girls would be nearly impossible, but it’s safe to say that each one of them has unique talents and interests that have sent them all in different directions. Alexandra has been involved with the cross country running and badminton teams, the Fibonnacci, French and Debate clubs as well as taking part in Irish dancing outside of school. Lauren Jane is a member of House Council, the Debate, French and Trivia clubs, as well as Trinity Drama, and is an active member in community theatre outside of school. Charlotte is involved with the Debate club, intramurals and the Robotics club at Elmwood, as well as a member of Elmwood’s elite athlete program for her competitive riding. Kaylah is also a competitive rider and

skier, and she is involved with the Fibonacci, Mandarin, French and Debate clubs at Elmwood. There is likely not a more varied list of activities out there, and this foursome has it all covered— from taking on math problems to horse jumping! All four girls attribute their lasting friendship to the Elmwood community. These girls have a strong bond after spending the past seven years together, but they are also welcoming of the new students that enter their class every year. According to Kaylah, some of her best friends are girls that she met at Elmwood and Lauren Jane believes that over the course of the past seven years, Elmwood has brought her and her friends so much closer together and kept their friendships strong. The girls even went on a motherdaughter trip to New York City together when they were in Senior Kindergarten, further solidifying the friendship that has lasted for years. Now that they have completed their time at the Junior School and are excited to start in the Middle School this fall, they all have specific aspects of school life that they’re looking forward to. The one aspect of Middle School life that they are all steadfastly looking forward to is access to technology—each of them is eager to have their own iPad. They are all looking forward to learning from different teachers throughout the day and being in different classrooms. Alex is excited “to be in a bigger world, with more people,” and Lauren Jane made the astute remark that she will likely become even more mature with all the older girls around. It’s safe to say that Kaylah, Charlotte, Alex and Lauren Jane have a mix of emotions regarding the start of Middle School and saying goodbye to the Junior School. But they won’t be far away, and there will be many new memories waiting to be made in “the big school” up the hill. E L M WO O D.C A

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ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

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Julia Fournier ’87, Laurel Dietz ’01 and Amanda Lovatt ’81

Driven. Focused. Inspiring. These are words that describe Julia Fournier today, and are likely the same words Mrs. Chance and Mrs. McGregor would have used to describe her back when she walked the halls at Elmwood. A Self-made Woman – Julia Fournier ’87 By Teresa Stirling, Director of Communications “Mrs. Chance told us all that we could do whatever we wanted and be successful at it. It was a true gift she gave me—to believe that I could accomplish anything.” Seems that Julia Fournier ’87 took those words to heart, and hasn’t looked back since. Bitten by the entrepreneurial bug early in life, in part due to having two grandfathers who started their own businesses, Julia has turned that passion into an incredibly successful, award-winning career in the global staffing industry. Julia started at Elmwood in Grade 8 and left after Grade 12 to start her postsecondary studies right away, instead of continuing on to Grade 13. Her father, Mr. Christopher Fournier, was a big believer in the school, and was on the Board for nine years, including three years as Chairman. Julia remembers standing by his side when the Board broke ground on the expansion project of 1983 – 84, saying “He taught me what it meant to build something for those he believed in: his daughters and the Elmwood community.” During her time at Elmwood, Julia participated in the International Baccalaureate Programme, and credits it for helping build a strong foundation for her further studies—first at Sheridan College and then at Harvard Business School, where she went on to take selected courses. In addition to Mrs. Chance, who she found to be a great inspiration, there were other teachers who she looked up to during her time at Elmwood: Mr. McCabe, who was her volleyball coach, her choir teacher Mrs. O’Brien, and Mrs. McGregor, who taught accounting—her favourite course.

Mrs. McGregor would likely be very impressed by where that love of accounting has led Julia. Today, she is President and CEO of HCMWorks Inc., a company she started in her home 10 years ago, as well as Payment Services Corp. (PSC), which she started in 2007. She is currently in the process of merging the two companies under the HCMWorks banner. HCMWorks, which specializes in helping organizations, including many of the world’s Fortune 1000 companies, manage indirect procurement and payroll costs, has rapidly become the industry’s dominant leader in procurement services with more than $1.5 billion in managed accounts. This growth and worldwide success surely is a testament to Julia’s leadership and entrepreneurial spirit. Julia was recently recognized for her success with two prestigious awards: Enterprising Women magazine’s Enterprising Women of the Year Award and the 2015 EY Sara Kirke Award for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. The Enterprising Women of the Year Award is widely considered one of the most prestigious recognition programs for women business owners. To win, nominees must demonstrate that they have fast-growth businesses, mentor or actively support other women and girls involved in entrepreneurship, and stand out as leaders in their communities. Many of the honorees also serve as leaders of the key organizations that support the growth of women’s entrepreneurship. Julia was recognized in the “Over $100 million in annual revenues” category. The Sara Kirke Award is presented to the woman who has shown the most outstanding technological innovation and corporate leadership—leadership that has significantly expanded the frontiers of Canada’s advanced technology industry. The purpose of the award is to celebrate

innovation, entrepreneurship and create positive role models for women. Certainly, Julia has become a mentor and role model to many girls and women throughout her career—not only through her leadership at work, but also as a result of her dedication to community service. Julia is a member of the International Women’s Forum and has been asked to address the Status of Women Committee. She is also cochair of Angels in Action, an organization founded to raise much needed funds for ovarian cancer research, and supports both the Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre and the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. In addition, she is a sponsor and honorary member of Fondation Solution Haiti (FSH). This Ottawa-based not-forprofit organization helps youth in a small Haitian town by providing tuition and school supplies. Driven. Focused. Inspiring. These are words that describe Julia Fournier today, and are likely the same words Mrs. Chance and Mrs. McGregor would have used to describe her back when she walked the halls at Elmwood. Julia has this advice for the girls studying at Elmwood today: “Learn as much as you can about the different jobs and opportunities that are out there. Get as much exposure to various positions, because you really don’t know until you’re out there what these jobs look like, what jobs are available to you, and you don’t really know what your interests are until you’re out there. And choosing a career is one of the most important decisions you make in your life.”

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“

Learning good social and leadership skills, learning to take the initiative and to think creatively can be just as important as succeeding academically.

”

Building Her Business, One Case at a Time – Laurel Dietz ’01 By Annette Bellamy Alongside her photo in Samara in her graduating year, Laurel Dietz ’01 wrote ‘Elmwood has made me who I am today, and it has done a fairly good job – I think – (but we’ll find out later).’ Little more than a decade has passed and that belief has been truly validated. Still only in her early thirties, Laurel is now firmly established in her own practice as a family lawyer in Victoria, B.C. Laurel’s Elmwood career began when she entered Grade 1, and she was on a path to become one of Elmwood’s ‘lifers.’ But her diplomat family was posted to Austria fortwo years and to Washington DC for another four years. Back in Ottawa for her Grade 8 year, Laurel returned to Elmwood and this time she stayed. When she graduated from OAC six years later, she took with her the English prize, the award for All Round Contribution to School Life, the coveted Golden “E” and a Prefect Award for House Head (Nightingale). House events were one of the features of Elmwood that Laurel most enjoyed, 36

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as they were exciting and provided the chance to bond with girls from other years. As Head of Nightingale, Laurel organized the first Monte Carlo Night as a Nightingale fundraiser. She recalls ‘Sleeping Children around the World’ being one of the beneficiaries. Laurel appreciated Elmwood’s small class sizes, which made it easy to get to know her classmates and teachers really well. She remembers with particular affection and gratitude Mrs. Faguy, Mr. McCabe, Ms. Ellison, and Mrs. Szymanski, who guided her through the mysteries of calculus. The small classes and high academic standards prompted her to seek out a smaller university with similar features. Her academic and extra-curricular achievements gained her a place at Mount Allison University in New Brunswick to study Anthropology. She did well there and enjoyed her university experience. As a result she was accepted to the JET Programme to teach English in Japan, and after further travels to Australia and Austria, where she has family, in 2007 she entered the Law Faculty at the University of Victoria.

Her experience in practicing law began in Vancouver, where she spent three years honing her skills with a small criminal law firm known for their work in advancing the law in BC on Charter rights. This experience demonstrated to her the need for the public to become more educated about our legal system as an aspect of increasing access to justice. Before long her memories of the beauty of Vancouver Island took her back to Victoria, where she is now proudly building her own business, specializing in Family Law. She appreciates being in charge of her own career as she can make her own decisions about the kind of work she takes on and the kind of service she provides. Laurel has this advice for today’s Elmwood students: “There are so many ways to live your life. While you’re at school it’s important to work on building the skills in your toolkit that will help you adapt to any new future circumstances you may find yourself in. Learning good social and leadership skills, learning to take the initiative and to think creatively can be just as important as succeeding academically.”

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

She believes her time at Elmwood affected her career path more than her university path. The strong academic program and the individual attention gave her great confidence and helped her develop excellent organizational and study skills.

An Organized Approach to Entrepreneurship – Amanda Lovatt ’81 By Elise Aylen, Director of Admissions Studying at Elmwood from Grade 9 to Grade 12 was a dream come true for Amanda Lovatt ’81. She was awarded a scholarship to attend the school and was excited about learning in an all-girls environment even though she lived a long distance from Rockcliffe. Amanda has fond memories of the school being a very warm and caring place with small classes and wonderful, devoted teachers. She loved the assemblies when the whole school gathered every morning for prayers, hymns and announcements. Amanda went on to hold leadership roles at the school—she was co-editor of Samara, Head of Photography and was also proud to be elected Senior Prefect in her final year.

Mathematics was always one of her strengths and Amanda appreciated Mrs. Outerbridge’s lovely and caring approach to teaching the subject. She continued to excel in mathematics after leaving Elmwood and went on to pursue her studies at the University of Waterloo, graduating with a Bachelor of Mathematics with a major in Computer Science and minor in Business. She believes her time at Elmwood affected her career path more than her university path. The strong academic program and the individual attention gave her great confidence and helped her develop excellent organizational and study skills. As she says: “It was cool to be diligent and study at Elmwood.” After university, Amanda spent 12 years at Bell Northern Research and Nortel before

taking advantage of the opportunity to stay at home and raise her two boys with the support of her husband. When she was ready to re-enter the workforce, she was excited to go the entrepreneurial route. She started her own business—Lovatt Effective SystemS—which provides organizational and productivity services for home offices, small businesses, corporate and government organizations. She found starting a business from scratch was difficult but very rewarding. Not content to rest on her laurels, Amanda has continued to gain skills and expertise, and now also consults clients on Information Management. The advice she would like to share with today’s Elmwood students is to follow their passion. It certainly has led her to success! E L M WO O D.C A

SEPTEMBER 2015

ALUMNI NEWS 1

Old Girls Gather in Boston Headmistress Cheryl Boughton, Deputy Head James Whitehouse and Director of IT Matt Perreault were thrilled to take time while they were in Boston for an educational conference to meet up with some area alumnae. They were joined by Salari sisters Samira (’04), who recently completed her studies in advanced dentistry at Harvard University, and Sahar (’12), currently at Northeastern for graphic design, Joanna Schembri ’09, who recently completed a double Masters program at Northeastern, and 2014 graduates Alexa Colbert, also at Northeastern, and Elaine Zhang, who is studying at Babson College. It was wonderful to hear about all these young women had accomplished since graduating from Elmwood. 38

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Familiar Faces Seen in the Auditorium We were thrilled to hold the third annual Spring Gathering for our retired faculty and staff on May 7th. This was a special year, as following the gathering we launched the School’s new Coat of Arms. It was so wonderful to have so many of our loyal and long-serving teachers and administrators on hand to participate in the historic launch. Alumni were also invited to the breakfast, and it made for a festive atmosphere. Thank you to everyone who attended, and we’ll see you next spring!

Visitors Always Welcome We love when our “Old Girls” come to visit! This spring, we hosted a number of alumnae for afternoon tea, so they would have an opportunity to see our new uniform up close. Thank you to everyone who dropped by! We were also thrilled that many of our young alums joined us for the Celebration of Learning. It was nice to see your familiar faces. And thank you to Valerie Touchette-Mosley ’10 for returning to the School, to share her experiences in the armed forces with our students.

1 Mr. Whitehouse, Mrs. Boughton and Mr. Perreault gathered with alumni in Boston earlier this year. 2 Valerie Touchette-Mosley ’10 3 Christiane McGovern ’07, Alexandra Zarama ’03, Marielle McGovern ’05 and Meagan Cork ’09 4 Danielle Seguin, Carole Schmidt, Jennifer Faguy and Annette Bellamy 5 Back: Christiane McGovern ’07, Nimroz Thawer ’92, Marielle McGovern ’05, Alexandra Zarama ’03. Front: Norma (Wilson) Davies ’42 and Elizabeth (Raymont) Heatherington ’63 6 Back: Elanor Brodie ’89, Janet Uren ’68 and Joan Matthews-Khan ’50. Front: Jeanette (MacDonald) Marett ’64, Marnie Edwards ’72, Judy (Nesbitt) Reid ’50 and Joan (Campbell) Gazeley ’55 7 Sarah Clarke ’13, Brenda Neale, Leslie McLeod, Danielle Seguin, Darlene Page, Annette Bellamy and Jennifer Faguy

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10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28

PHILANTHROPY REPORT By Ellen Ewert, Director of Advancement

Philanthropy at Elmwood – STRENGTH IN NUMBERS! In the 2014 – 2015 school year, the Elmwood community demonstrated their support through contributions to the Annual Campaign, the Gala and other strategically chosen projects—totaling over $666,000 from more than 500 donors.

DONATIONS IN 2014 – 2015:

$666,000 Annual Campaign

$376,000 Strategic Projects

$150,000 Gala

$140,000

IMPACT OF DONATIONS • Bursaries for financial-needs students

• Coat of Arms • Fringe Festival • Sports and fitness equipment

•P rofessional development for faculty

• Artist-in-Residence program

•E xperts@Elmwood Speaker Series

• Flexible classrooms • Science equipment

•D igitization and preservation of yearbooks

• Collaborative spaces • Mobile white boards

•C ommemorative Centennial history publication

2014-2015 Annual Campaign – By the Numbers! Our theme of “Strength in Numbers”

was so appropriate, especially when we reflect back on the amazing growth in the Annual Campaign. Take a look at the graphs below to see our successes “by the numbers.” Annual Campaign Revenue Growth

Annual Campaign Donor Growth

600

500

400

100

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–

15 –

14 20 14

–

13 20 13

–

12 20 12

–

20 11

10 –

0 20

– 8

20 10

8 0 – 07

0 20

– 10 20 10 – 11 20 11 – 12 20 12 – 13 20 13 – 14 20 14 – 15

– 8 0

–

200

300

Elmwood Gala – An Evening in the Garden After a long and cold winter, the Elmwood community was eagerly looking forward to our own garden party—with “An Evening in the Garden” Gala held in April. The gym was transformed into an oasis of flowers and greenery with everyone enjoying themselves and supporting a good cause—Elmwood School—at the same time. We are grateful for the leadership support shown by Michael Potter, Gala Patron and our six Corporate Partners: EY, Movati Athletic, Star Motors, Terlin Construction, Vista Credit and WiLAN. Heartfelt thanks to the Gala Committee members for making this evening possible, with special recognition to Nancy Greenley, the Gala Chair. Centennial Commemorative History Publication – Celebrating 100 Years! To celebrate Elmwood’s Centennial, an expanded and updated commemorative book of the School’s history, written by Janet Uren ’68, will be launched on October 2 at 5 p.m. A one-time opportunity was provided to Elmwood parents, staff, former parents and alumni to “sponsor” the book with a $250 donation and have their name(s) listed along with a special message. The response was outstanding with close to 100 sponsors participating. Wonderful messages were received including a few examples below: “Fond memories, life changing days, wonderful staff and lifelong friends – Thank You Elmwood.”

Class of 2015 Leaves a Legacy With an incentive of $5,000 in matching contributions, the Class of 2015 reached 100% participation and chose to establish their own endowment fund, which will support financial aid students in the future. Representatives from the graduating class presented a cheque at Closing Ceremonies to Mrs. Boughton, Headmistress, to establish the Class of 2015 Legacy Endowment Fund.

Thank You to our Corporate Partners! We were honoured to feature Elmwood’s six Corporate Partners in many Elmwood School events over the school year—including the Welcome Back Festival, the Father-Daughter Dance, the Experts@Elmwood Speakers Series, the Holly Tea and the Gala. Terry and Catherine McLaughlin (Terlin Construction Ltd.) Jeff and Tara-Leigh Mierins (Star Motors) Jacob and Jeannie Polisuk (Vista Credit) Jim and Pam Skippen (WiLAN) David and Debra Wu (Movati Athletic) Gary Zed (EY)

“Nine years as a boarder at Elmwood provided me with a firm platform on which to travel thru life’s journey.” “As a formidable century closes a new one opens with unimaginable opportunities for an Elmwood girl past, present and future.” We were also honoured to receive a significant contribution to cover the costs of our new history publication—a special thank you to the Peers and Snelling family for making this possible and allowing us to document Elmwood’s 100-year history! E L M WO O D.C A

SEPTEMBER 2015

PHILANTHROPY REPORT

THANK YOU TO OUR 2014-2015 DONORS We sincerely thank all our parents, past parents, grandparents, alumnae, staff and friends who supported Elmwood School, based on receipted donations, between July 1, 2014 and June 30, 2015. Donors to the Annual Campaign, Endowment Funds, the Gala “Learning on Wheels” and other Strategic Projects are included. Donors that have contributed in the last five or more consecutive years are identified with a * symbol. A special thank you for your unwavering dedication and commitment to Elmwood. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of our donor listing. If, however, there are any errors or omissions, please accept our sincere apologies and notify the Advancement Office so that the appropriate correction can be made.

FOUNDER’S LEVEL GIFTS $25,000 AND GREATER Chris Brennan & Stephanie James-Brennan * Dan & Denise Carruthers * Daniel Goldberg & Whitney Fox-Goldberg * Peter & Kelly Hudson * Terry & Catherine McLaughlin * Michael Potter * David & Debra Wu

VISIONARY LEVEL GIFTS $10,000 – $24,999 Anonymous Olivier Benloulou & Pascale Parisien Michael & Karen Fung Kee Fung * Christopher & Laurie Gillin Jeffrey & Tara-Leigh Mierins* Jacob & Jeannie Polisuk* Jim & Pam Skippen * Gary Zed *

PACTUM SERVA LEVEL GIFTS $5,000 – $9,999 James & Sarah Baxter Juliet Caragianis ’11 Sophia Caragianis ’15 Sean Murray & Jamilah Taib-Murray ’82 * Jonathan Richter & Raquelle Dupuis * Fayez & Nooren Thawer

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GOVERNOR’S LEVEL GIFTS $2,500 – $4,999 Rahim & Shahin Abdullah * Paul Beaulé Craig & Antonia Betts Michael Bolitho & Angelica Thiele-Bolitho * David & Cheryl Boughton * Robin Boushey & France Bourbonnais * Norma (Wilson) Davies ’42 * George Dolhai & Catherine Coulter * Doug Ducharme & Junya Devine David Goldstein & Kim Doran Mike & Nancy Greenley * Peter & Ann Marie Hume * Stanley & Susan Jacobson Alfred Jay & Kim Ling* David Little & Andrea Johnson Scott Parkinson & Jane Mathew James Ryan & Robyn Ryan Bell Ian & Melissa Shabinsky Lisa Stilborn ’83 George Tawagi & Francine Belleau Sulaiman Abdul Rahman Taib & Elisa Chan Ted Woodhead & Aileen Conway Eric Yau & Paula McNeil Yau * Chunpeng Zhu & Yun Xing

HEAD’S LEVEL GIFTS $1,000 – $2,499 Sanjay & Colleen Acharya Stephen & Sandra Assaly * Brook Bangsboll & Jan Kennedy Craig Bascombe & Lori Lovett Donald & Sheila Bayne * Allan & Sarah Bifield Jody Bothwell Ole Bredberg & Berta Canizares * Gregory & Pilar Bryson * Judith (Maclaren) Caldwell ’51 Nicholas Caragianis & Sarah Murray * Mitchell Charness & Janice Palmer * Richard Cuthbert & Jennifer Lefere Mario D’Addario & Vana Andreou Dave & Jill Dickinson * Ellen Ewert * Kareen Guida Andy & Krista Hartvich Nobutaka Hayashi & Natalie Piche Elizabeth (Raymont) Heatherington ’63 * Arthur Howarth & Michelle Martin

Huawei Canada Gary & Lori Hutchinson * Christopher & Karin Johnson Fahad Kafoud & Tamather Al-Obaidly Carol Kirby * Walter & Kristine McGinn Mark & Azhra McMahon Benjamin Merkley & Véronique French Merkley ’96 * Sarina Messina Marcus Minshall & Dominique Jacobson ’02 * Husein & Nimet Moloo Ed Morgan & Mollie Johnson Scott & Christine Murray * Robert & Joanne Nelson Peter & Nina Nicolini Kevin & Ann Nowlin Remi & Omobolanie Oni Andrew Pateman & Mary Noella MacInnis Brian & Cathy Peters * Cynthia Rathwell Nizar & Nadia Rida Annette Rossiter * Joanna Rozanski ’03 Andrew Sharpe & Cynthia Farquharson * Sanjeev & Lalita Singla * Shalin Sugunasiri & Jacqueline PalumboSugunasiri Brad & Heather Sweeney Nimroz Thawer Rajiv & Sheila Thomas John Thomson & Susan Sollars * Glen & Ann Tremblay * Simon & Penny Tucker Jose Urena & Noriko Yoshizawa Janet Uren ’68 * Obbe & Donna Vermeij Geoffrey & Silvana Waddington Haibin Wang & Yanli Zhang Kenneth Young & Valerie Nixon

CONTRIBUTOR’S LEVEL GIFTS $500 – $999

FRIEND’S LEVEL GIFTS UP TO $499

Lindsay Appotive ’01 Ercel Baker & Xiaobei Chen Jonathan Barker & Margaret Lawson Michael Barnes & Josée Berthiaume * David & Barbara Berks * Ginger Bertrand ’02 Marcos Bettolli & Ana Remonda Christine (McGregor) Blackadar ’88 * Peter Boehm & Julie Wayand Joan Brodie ’68 John Brooks & Anna Blauveldt * Gordon Brownlee & Carolyn Sims Donald Campbell & Anne Touchette Brent & Mary Capehart Frederic Casarramona & Lorie Derraugh-Casarramona * Mario Cuconato & Danielle May-Cuconato * Nicholas & Suzanne Dawes Sonny Dhanani & Lillian Lai Mohammad & Ahlam Elramahi Christopher Glover & Carolyn Foley Nicholas Gummeson Paul Jackson & Jennifer Irwin-Jackson Matthew Jones & Virginia Roth Liam & Korey Kealey Terry Keough & Lynne Watt Matthew King & Marta Morgan Arlie Koyman * Malek & Liana Ladki Charles Laplante & Joyce Baker Dennis & Andrea Laurin * David Law & Carol Watson Miriam (Cruikshank) Lewis ’34 Wei Lian & Qing Weng Michel Lucas & Donna Wishart * David & Diana Mason John & Gayle McClelland Robert & Micheline McElligott* Brian McGarry * Jasvinder & Satpal Obhi * Warren & Tracy Pratte Alaa Rostom & Catherine Dube Jack & Nadine Sabine * Lakhwinder Singh Saran & Baldeep Kaur Saran Emmanuel Simantirakis & Voula Karamanos Evan Solomon & Tammy Quinn Teresa Stirling * Joan Sun * Britt-Mari Sykes Pierre Trudel & Mieke Bos * Carolyn Wakeham David Wakeland & Ann MacDonald Katherine (Caldwell) Walker ’44 Timothy & Carolyn Walsh Weiwei Wang & Ling Yan Barbara Whitley ’36 * Barbara (Fletcher) Wiesner ’64 James Wight & Irena Streibl Mike Wilson & Stephanie Meyer * John Witherspoon & Rebecca Baker * Sophie Xing

Laila Abada Zakiya Abdullah ’15 Carmen Abela Sophie Ackert ’15 Jeff Ackert & Pam Chiles Pat Adams Jenika Adolph Maria Aho ’15 Matthew & Kathleen Aken Nicholas Akins & Holly Shaheen Osama Al Khalili & Ola Yasin David & Hilary Alexander Pedro & Ines Alicea Mohamed Allam & Meriem Boufassa Gerald & Barbara Amannt David & Sharon Appotive Ray & Rita Arseneau Dante Arcenal & Valerie Montegrande-Arcenal Alireza Assadzadeh & Janis Jones Michel & Carole Auclair Claire Avisar ’15 Elise Aylen Walaa Bahitham ’15 Ali Bahitham & Ibtesam Badhrees Alyson Bartlett * Andrew Batchelor Laleah Beaudoin Justine Beaulé ’15 Jason Beever & Liliana Bonventre Annette Bellamy Susan Bennet Vibov & Neelema Bhan Charles Birchall & Hilary Geller Chris Boland Dana Borschewski * Mary Jane (Finlayson) Bowie ’68 Angela Boychuk * Vera Briscoe Katya Brooks ’15 Malcolm Brown & Julie Mongeon-Brown Rita Browning ’62 Cheryl Brownlie * Richard & Kristin Brunner Jane Buckley Candice Butler Margaret (Thomas) Cameron ’68 Jean-Roger Cavé & Brigitte Gonga Lan Chen Xuan & Graeme Chen Nan Chen & Yu Wang Heawon Chun Gary & Marilee Chwast Arlene Clark Brown Janice Clarke * Norma (Baird) Clumpus Delean ’52 Patrick & Patricia Coady * Jackie Comerton Laura Grace Conlon Christian & Vanessa Cook Curtis & Christy Cooper Julian & Gulay Coulter Michael Crystal & Tracey Thompson * Sanja Cvetanovic Melanie D’Alessio Kishore & Sabita Dadlani Mariam Dakdouki ’15

Chaouki Dakdouki & Catherine Chung How Aneesh & Anna Dalvi Ralph & Elizabeth DeFelice Edward Deng & Christine Hou Erin Derbyshire * Pamela (Broome) Dewar ’60 Christine Ding ’15 Dongming Ding & Ruifang Xu Brian Dinsdale & Rosemary Fincham Margaret Doetsch Emma Dolhai ’12 Stephane Dube Blaine Duffley & Anne Gilbert Erin Dzioba ’15 Marnie Edwards ’72 Beth Ellison Richard Emmerson & Jee Won Lee Andrew Farinha & Anna-Karina Tabunar Bruce Farquhar & Christelle Desgranges * Frank & Judith Farrell * Najla Fasih & Muhammad Sarwar Paulina Finak Bernard & Katharine Fitzpatrick Andrew & Karen Foti Michael Kremmel & Katie Fraser Jon Frauley & Leigh Anne Currie Jennifer Gagnon ’07 Sallie (McCarter) Gall ’50 Gerardo & Editha Garcia Fabien & Aurelie Gaussorgues Gail Gavan * Joan (Campbell) Gazeley ’55 Lindsay Germano Youssef Ghantous & Rima Aina Kathleen Gillespie ’70 Audrey Giroux ’15 Claire Glazier * Wei Lian & Qing Weng Neha Goel ’04 Shilpa Goel ’09 Zoltan & llana Gombos Janet Graham Pierre Gratton & Lynn Mainland Sam Grbesic Sanjiv & Shalini Gulati John & Morag Gundy Samuel & YoungSook Hagadorn Bill Halloran & Sheila Gallant-Halloran Wendy Hampson ’73 Daniel Hanson & Sarah Wright * Nathan Harris Farah (Akhtar) Hasan ’91 Sarah Hay * Douglas & Susanne Heim David Spence & Helen Hirsh Spence Peter Ho & Giovanna Valente Ryan Hodgins Charles Hofley & Julie Pryor Hofley Allison Holmes * Derek & Elizabeth Howe * Brenda Huggins * Janet Hughson ’69 Danielle Humilde ’15 Max & Melba Humilde Michael & Anne-Marie Hurley

Ludmil Iliev & Jeevaa Thangavalloo Jacob & Billie Irving Michael & Lynda Iwanoff Meaghan Iwanowski Louisa James-Beswick ’15 Jan Jarvlepp Natasha Josselyn Michaela Kainz-Potter ’15 Gary & Stacey Kay * Judy Kearley Patrick Kelly * Joan (Matthews) Khan ’50 Sheraz & Shabana Khan Seema Khan Nadine Kilbertus * YamHean Kong Alan & Naoko Kors Gilles Laberge & Carmen Natividad Johanne Laflamme Mark Lalonde & Carol Todd-Lalonde Lauren Lambert ’15 Mark & Lisa Lambert Wolfgang Lassl & Ulrike Butschek Robert & Carolyn Lauzon Matthew Lawson & Milena Simic-Lawson Richard LeBlanc & Natalie Briscoe Mark & Mojgan Legault Terry & Francesca Lehman Marc & Diana Lessard Jason Levesque Jun Ma & Ying Li Mika & Sari Lietsala John & Crickett Lindgren Stephen Lounder & Susan Dent John Lundrigan & Tara Preston Alli MacDougall * Mark MacInnis Gloria (Vaughan) Mackenzie ’39 Leslie MacLeod Mohammad Mahin * Francie Marchard * Jeanette (MacDonald) Marett ’64 Teresa Marquis Rusty Martin Carol Martin Neuczki Mathurin ’08 Jean McCloskey * Rachel McGinn ’15 Kate Meadowcroft Gladys (Abankwa) Meier-Klodt ’81 Theodora (van Roijen) Merkenhof ’88 Keltie (Johnson) Mierins ’77 Sarah Miller ’15 Donald & Janice Miller Jeffrey Miller & Marcie Lorenzen Andrew Milne & Nihal Sherif Jenna Moledina ’15 Valerie Molnar ’15 Tom & Joanne Molnar Neil & Paula Moloney Mark & Akemi Montaldo Sudhir & Omprabha Moorti Erin Mulcahy Jean-Sébastien Nadon & Diana Huang * Mutinta Namuyemba ’15 Donna Naufal-Moffatt * Kylie Negus ’15 Cindy & Michael Negus Warren Newberry & Kellie Major

E L M WO O D.C A

SEPTEMBER 2015

PHILANTHROPY REPORT

Juliana & Trevor Nightingale Alayna Nowlin ’15 Geoff Noxon Charles O’Brien & Randi Klebanoff Marguerite (Uren) O’Connor ’64 Ras-Jeevan Obhi ’15 Michelle Olsheski Sarah Onyango ’83 Jian Peng & Juan Chao Matt Perreault * Evelyn Pike John & Monique Plessas Daniela Pohl Stephen& Nicole Posivak Walter & Andrée Potoczny Stephane Poulin & Stefanie Jansen-Poulin * Elisabeth Preston ’85 Shirley (Thomas) Prosser ’53 Lisa Pryor Malek Purran * JianHe Qiu & Yanbing Jiang Tara Rajan Judith (Nesbitt) Reid ’50 * Colin Robertson Kathy Ross & Wendy Mitchell Christina Rossi Pauline Rubarth * Megan Russell ’15 David & Juliet Russell Vicki Sainsbury ’67 * Eric & Michelle Saltel Ivan Sambles Raja Jang & Simrandeep Sandhu Anish & Naina Sanghavi Upkeerut Saran ’15 Andrew Saranchuk & Kim Gibner Robert Sawaya & Faten Fares Hugo Schotman & Inez Rensink Kimberley Senf

Pedro Serrao Maitland Shaheen ’15 Sohail & Nadra Siddiqui Shem & Joyce Simuyemba Jordan Small Andrew Smith & Meagan Enticknap-Smith Philip Smith & Alexandra Colt Jason & Wendy Smith Jean-Pierre Souaid & Dalida Jilwan Kelly Spence & Elizabeth Thompson * Emily Stephens ’15 Nigel & Andrea Stephens Ginny Strachan ’00 Bob & Jill Strachan Kathryn Suh ’82 * Mark & Ginny Sutcliffe Ramy Tadros & Eman Goubran Blanche Talbot * Artem & Anna Tevanyan Sasha Thomas ’15 Martin Thomas & Violina LozevaThomas Fran Thompson Maggie Thomson ’03 Jane Thornton Martha Torres Gregory Townsend & Anna Liberta Townsend Paige Tremblay ’15 Dixie Trudel Cheryl Tweedie * Mahendra & Tanuja Vaidya Troy & Joanna Van Haastrecht Rudy Vandenbelt & Danica Irwin Sandra Vizel ’80 Liviu & Madalina Voina Michael Walker & Beth Webster Scott & Kathryn Walker

Jennifer Walsh Chengmao Wang & Xinyu Yang Xiaowei Wang & Li Zhang Jeremy & Christine Want Judith (Carter) Webster ’63 Thomas & Inga Werdnik Frederick & Gillian Whichelo Derek & Annica White James Whitehouse Chandra Wiegand Cathy Wiley Anne (Tessier) Wimmi ’83 Jennifer (Oxenham) Woollcombe ’54 Michael & Deborah Wright Gang Wu & Li Sha Zein Zaghloul ’15 Steve Zate Ye Zhao & Rui Sun Renxu Zhou & Haiou Zeng Thomas Znotins & Sandra Fraser * Inta (Sipolins) Zobs ’76

Elmwood School Endowment Fund Elmwood School Old Girls’ Association Scholarship Endowment Fund Elmwood School Scholarship Fund Dr. Carol Kirby Global Citizenship Program Endowment Fund Joan Matthews-Khan Scholarship Endowment Fund Milena Sigmund Scholarship Fund Cairine Wilson Memorial Scholarship Fund Class of 2013 Legacy Endowment Fund Class of 2014 Legacy Endowment Fund Class of 2015 Legacy Endowment Fund

TRIBUTE GIFTS In memory of Mary Barnes & Leslie W.C.S. Barnes In memory of Leah Grace Bascombe In memory of Barbara Meggeson Dickie In memory of Sandra Sharpe In memory of Jim Tassie In memory of Ann Coghlin Hyde

ENDOWED FUNDS Giselle Campeau Scholarship Fund Norma Davies Scholarship Fund Paul Deacon Memorial Scholarship Fund Katherine Ellis Endowment in Memory of Mabel Dunlop ’29

Thanking Our Donors

Each year in the spring, Elmwood School invites its most generous donors to the Pactum Serva Society Donor Recognition Dinner. This elegant and inspirational evening provides our Headmistress, Cheryl Boughton, the opportunity to thank our donors.

From left to right: Mike Greenley, current Board Chair, Cheryl Boughton, Headmistress and Bonnie Robinson, David Mason and Jacob Polisuk, all former Board Chairs. 44

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PACTUM SERVA SOCIETY

Donors with cumulative giving history of $5,000 or more are permanently recognized on our Donor Wall located in the Atrium. Names are listed as requested by the donor. SUMMA SUMMARUM “HIGHEST OF HIGH” $250,000 AND GREATER Thomas Ahearn Rebecca Baker & John Witherspoon Rod & Sandy Bryden Elmwood School Parents & Friends Association Ethel Fauquier Sean Murray & Jamilah Taib-Murray ’82 Michael Potter John & Jennifer Ruddy Lilias Southam Senator Cairine R. Wilson PARENS “FOUNDER” $100,000 – $249,000 Chris Brennan & Stephanie James-Brennan Dan & Denise Carruthers Norma Davies ’42 Paul & Adelle Deacon Derek & Elizabeth Howe Peter & Kelly Hudson Brendan Lucas & Chloe Lucas Esme Pepall ’34 Jeannie & Jacob Polisuk Jim & Pam Skippen R. Howard Webster Foundation William White PATRONUS “PATRON” $25,000 - $99,999 Rita & Ray Arseneau Laureen Assaly Stephen & Sandra Assaly The Baxter Family Donald & Shelia Bayne Olivier & Pascale Benloulou J.P. Bickell Foundation Douglas & Sharon Black Jean-Luc & Catherine Brazeau Neil Bregman, Katherine Jeans & Ivy Bregman Janet Burns ’29 The Robert Campeau Family Foundation Nicholas Caragianis & Sarah Murray Catherine Coulter & George Dolhai Eleanor Creery Elmwood School Staff John, Louise, Veronique ’96, Isabelle ’98 & David French Michael & Karen Fung Kee Fung The Gillin Family Philip & Beata Garel-Jones Daniel Goldberg & Whitney Fox-Goldberg Mike & Nancy Greenley The Griffith Foundation Peter Griffiths & Willa Griffiths-Kersten Lucy Grossman-Hensel Morag S. Gundy Alice Hunt Carol Kirby Anja Kloch ’88

Raymond Kuate Konga Katie ’97 & Ruth Lark ’10 Kenneth & Christina Loeb David & Diana Mason David McClenahan Anne McDougall Terry & Catherine McLaughlin Burton & Susann Merkley Brooke, Ava & Mila Mierins The Peers & Snelling Family Brian & Cathy Peters Gordon & Wendy Peters Andy & Bonnie Robinson Rockwell International Canada Lawrence Schembri & Elizabeth Springer Janet Southam Ritchie ’30 Bob & Jill Strachan Ronald & Wendy Sumner Toller Memorial Fund Janet Uren ’68 Irena Wight Cairine R.M. Wilson ’31 David & Debra Wu The Yau Family Gary & Lisa Zed AUCTOR “BUILDER” $10,000 – $24,999 Rahim & Shahin Abdullah Peter & Denise Allen Jagtar & Manjit Basi Paul Beaulé Luc Berube & Odette Laneuville E.W. Bickle Foundation John, Johanna & Jennifer ’04 Blakney Michael Bolitho & Angelica Thiele-Bolitho David & Patricia Boomer David & Cheryl Boughton Robin Boushey & France Bourbonnais The Janet & Charles Burns Foundation Peter & Nenita Clark James & Vera Cody Elizabeth Coristine ’34 Michael Crystal & Tracey Thompson Mario Cuconato & Danielle May-Cuconato Elizabeth Davis The Dawes Family Gordon Douglas & Margaret I. Douglas Victor Duret & Hilary McCormack Katherine Ellis Ellen Ewert Stephen Gallagher Joan Henderson IBM Lori & Gary Hutchinson Alfred Jay & Kim Ling Cynthia Kasem & Julia Campbell ’08 Estate of Nancy Kneeland (Martin) Donegani ’38 Louis & Patricia Lamontagne Dennis & Andrea Laurin Allan MacEwen Joan Matthews Khan ’50 Jean C. McCloskey

Sarah McDonald ’04, Katherine McDonald ’09 & Heather McDonald ’11 Ian McDowell & Carrol Pitters John & Jane Melloul Benjamin Merkley & Véronique French Merkley ’96 David Milne & Pam Gibb-Carsley In Memory of Maxine Miller & Stuart Noble Harry & Lee Near Robert & Joanne Nelson Akiko Nishiyama ’78 N.E. Peters Foundation John & Liz Pigott Judy Nesbitt Reid ’50 The Kathleen M. Richardson Foundation Inc. Jonathan Richter & Raquelle Dupuis Michael Robinson & Mary-Louise Walsh Annette Rossiter John & Amy Russell Frank & Hannah Sellers In memory of Sandra Sharpe (1987 - 2007) Andrei & Nadia Shirobokov Sanjeev & Lalita Singla Helen Hirsh Spence & David Spence George Tawagi & Françine Belleau Fayez & Nooren Thawer John Thomson & Susan Sollars Fred & Jean Toller Gregory Townsend & Anna Liberta Townsend Glen & Ann Tremblay Biff & Dianne Wheeler Ruth Wijkman ’54 Allan & Marilyn Wilson Russel & Anne Wilson Thomas Znotins & Sandra Fraser AMICUS “FRIEND” $5,000 – $9,999 Faiza & Aly Abdulla David, Sharon, Ryan, Jaye & Brody Appotive Christian Asselin & Joanne Lefebvre Sol Avisar & Karen Brook Blake, Denise & Quincy Batson James & Sarah Baxter Mary Beattie David & Barbara Berks Craig & Antonia Betts Jody Bothwell Peter Bouzanis & Maureen Donnelly Gretta Bradley Ole Bredberg & Berta Canizares Gregory & Pilar Bryson Judith (Maclaren) Caldwell ’51 Juliet Caragianis ’11 Sophia Caragianis ’15 Nazib & Nimira Charania Mitchell Charness & Janice Palmer Yan Chen & Nancy Zhang Class of 2013

Class of 2014 Class of 2015 Helen Cooper David & Peggy Cork Glenn Coulter Anna Cundill ’35 Heather Dewar Luard Zahir Dhalla & Sahira Charania Mitchel Fein Chris Fournier James Frodsham The Geddes Family Debbie Gill Elizabeth B. Gill David Goldstein & Kim Doran The Guimaraes Family Nicholas Gummeson James Haebe & Sharon Ebata Maureen L. Harper ’84 Elizabeth (Raymont) Heatherington ’63 Arthur Howarth & Michelle Martin Thomas & Karen Howcroft Ann Marie & Peter Hume Caroline Kern ’69 Grant & Dawn King Peter & Susan Knowlton Kerry & Roshene Lawson Michael & Suzanne Lewis The Mackenzie Foundation Donald Maclaren ’38 Nancy MacLaren ’44 Gary & Louise Maffett Evva Massey-Henry ’69 Ann Marie & Peter Hume E.B. McDougall Brian McGarry & Joan Sun The McLaughlin Foundation Janis & Hilda Mierins Foundation Husein & Nimet Moloo Claudia Montgomery William & Mary Elizabeth Mulock Darren & Clare Nippard Bernard & Linda Normand Scott Parkinson & Jane Mathew The Paterson Foundation Jaime Pitfield & Nicole Jauvin Oliver Portner & Kathleen Gartke Nizar & Nadia Rida Patrick & Beverly Reid Susan (Reid) Senn ’77 Don & Meena Roberts Emile, Cheryl, Rachael & Paul Rodrigues Michael & Cynthia Rowland Joanna Rozanski ’03 James Ryan & Robyn Ryan Bell Ian & Melissa Shabinsky A.L. Smith Ann Southam ’37 Sulaiman Abdul Rahman Taib & Elisa Chan Ryan & Joanna Todd Brian Toller & Lorna Tener Robert & Madeleine Toller Weiping Tong & Ying Chen Raman Tuli & Caroline Bigue William & Barbara Turner Betty (Caldwell) Walker ’44 Ralph & Helen Westington Nhanci Wright E L M WO O D.C A

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CLASS NOTES 2

1960s Mary Garrett Elfring Attended Elmwood for two years: 1966 – 68 (Grade 9 and 10). Mary has an undergraduate degree from Bishop’s University and a postgraduate degree from Northern Illinois University. She lives in St. Charles and Chicago, IL and teaches English Rhetoric and Literature at Elgin Community College. She is married to Gary Elfring (36 years) and have three children: Mat, Adrianne, and Jessica. Mat and Jess are both married and Jess is expecting her first child in August (2015). Mary loves hearing news about Elmwood and how it is keeping up with all the technological changes while still maintaining its wonderful traditions. 1980s Lisa Stilborn ’83 Lisa recently shifted gears in her career. After eighteen years running a consulting firm she moved to become Vice President of the Canadian Fuels Association, a national energy association. In other news, Lisa remarried in August 2014 to David Robinson and is now the stepmother of three grown daughters, Kathryn, Hailey and Meredith and grandmother to Logan. In her spare time, she continues to pursue politics, which has been her passion since she was a student at University of Toronto. She currently serves on the Executive of the Ontario Liberal Party and is very proud to support Kathleen Wynne, Ontario’s first female premier. Lisa and Dave live in downtown Ottawa with their two tabby cats, Rufus and Rory. Theodora van den Merkenhof - van Roijen Attended Elmwood School from 1979 till 1981. During those years Theodora was in Grade 3/4 with Mrs. Scott, Grade 5 with Mrs. Schmidt and Grade 6 with Mrs. O’Brien as her classroom teachers. “I honestly enjoyed Elmwood School the most of all the schools I attended in my life, which were quite a lot since my father would be stationed to different countries every three years due to his job as a diplomat in the Dutch Foreign Service.” Presently Theodora is living in the Netherlands with her husband Frank and their half Labrador/half Cane Corso dog Boris.

6 5

1990s Devon MacFarlane ’90 About 15 years ago, he changed his name from Allison to Devon. After having lived in Vancouver, B.C. for 18 years, Devon moved to Nanaimo, B.C. 2.5 years ago, where he is currently working with Island Health (the regional health authority spanning Vancouver Island and the gulf islands) as the Manager for Community Development and Service Integration. A couple of years ago, Devon completed the M.A. in Leadership program from Royal Roads University, and received the Founder’s Award, which is presented to one graduating student from each cohort who has exemplified the qualities of leadership, sustainability, and personal development. As a volunteer, Devon serves as the President of the Canadian Professional Association for Transgender Health, and he is cochairing the National Conference (Halifax, Oct 1st – 4th). 46

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Dr. Alicia (Robinson) Power ’97 BSc. Dalhousie, M.D. UBC Alicia is a family Physician in Victoria, B.C. Along with her colleague, Dr. Jenn Tranmer, she opened a new medical clinic on January 5th. The clinic’s focus is on maternity, pediatric and family care (www. growhealth.ca). Alicia is married to Keir Power and has two children, Wyatt, two and a half, and Evelyn, 10 months. 2000s Nicola Krishna ’00 Nicola and her husband Greg Crossley welcomed their first child, India, in January of this year. Nicola, Greg, and India live in Toronto where Nicola works in Public Relations. Emily (McQuillan) Murray ’01 Emily and her husband were married on May 3, 2014, so just recently celebrated their 1st wedding anniversary. They were married in farm setting Elmsdale, Nova Scotia, with friends and family looking on. In August 2014 they bought a house. Carina (Shalaby) Szczygiel ’03 Carina, and her now husband Mike, were married on September 6, 2014 at Notre-Dame Cathedral, with the reception at the Chateau Laurier. Carina just earned her Master’s Degree in Anthropology in April—her thesis was entitled “Leaving Kuujjuarapik: An ethnography of the Inuit experience of travelling down south to face justice.” Carina has been accepted into Carleton University’s graduate program on both a departmental and a domestic entrance scholarship. Alexandra Pattee ’06 Alex has recently graduated from the Yale School of Management with a Masters of Business Administration and is looking forward to beginning a new chapter of her career as a Consultant with the Boston Consulting Group in Toronto. After graduating from Elmwood in 2006, Alex completed her Bachelor of

1 Theodora van den Merkenhof 2 Nicola Krishna ’00 3 Devon MacFarlane ’90 4 Carina (Shalaby) Szczygiel ’03 5 Emily (McQuillan) Murray ’01 6 Anisha Sinha ’08 7 Alexandra Pattee ’06 8 Angela Skaff ’06 9 Karlye Wong ’06 0 Gillian McCracken ’13 Genevieve McSpaden ’09

Commerce degree at Queen’s University, graduating in 2010. Prior to beginning her M.B.A., Alex spent three years working in corporate social responsibility and international development. Most recently, she worked as an Associate Program Manager at The MasterCard Foundation, a global private foundation, where she contributed to the promotion of financial inclusion in developing countries, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa. During her undergrad, Alex spent her summers running an HIV education project in Guyana for the Red Cross, working at the Canadian Human Rights Commission and consulting for a microfinance institution in Cambodia. Alex’s passion for social responsibility, economics and commerce were ignited at Elmwood, particularly during her time spent in Mr. Main’s classroom. Outside of work Alex loves spoiling her two dogs, Henry and Richard. Angela Skaff ’06 Angela graduated from the University of Ottawa in 2010 with a Bachelor of Science and just recently graduated with her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Palm Beach Atlantic University. She is going on to complete a two-year Masters of Science degree combined residency in Clinical Practice and Health System Pharmacy Administration at the University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview. As a resident, she will maintain her national involvement in the American Society of Health System Pharmacists (ASHP) as the appointed new practitioner representative on The National Advisory Group for Management of the Pharmacy Enterprise. Karlye Wong ’06 Karlye graduated from Queen’s University in 2011, with a dual degree in Life Science and Civil Engineering, with a focus in Environmental Engineering. In the years following, her experiences have taken her from being a project engineer for remote infrastructure projects in the Northwest Territories to being a technical advisor for social housing developments in South Africa. At the moment, she is located in Toronto and has gone back to school to pursue a Masters of Environmental Engineering at the University of Toronto with the Drinking Water Research Group. With predictions that the world will suffer a 40% shortfall of water in the next 15 years, her next steps are to become involved in the international field of WASH (water and sanitation hygiene). While doing her research work at U of T, she is concurrently working on the development of rural distribution systems in Nairobi, Kenya. Anisha Sinha ’08 Anisha attended Elmwood from Grade 6 to Grade 12 and was part of the graduating class of 2008. Since then, she attended the University of Ottawa for her Bachelor of Science, where she received Honours in Biomedical Sciences. From there, she went on to complete her Masters in Business Administration with a specialization in Health Services Management from McMaster University DeGroote School of Business (graduated December 2014). Anisha has worked at St. Michael’s Hospital, London Health Sciences Centre and Shared Services West as part of the co-op program there. She also went travelling in South America earlier this year and is about to start her new full time job back at Shared Services West working as a Project Manager. Genevieve McSpaden ’09 Genevieve graduated from Elmwood in June 2009 and was the Admissions Prefect. Currently, she is working at the 3M Global Headquarters in Maplewood, MN as an Advanced Manufacturing Technology Engineer. She just celebrated her one-year work anniversary on July 14, 2015. Genevieve works on developing coating formulations for optical films. Gillian McCracken ’13 Gillian is crewing on the tall ship Black Jack for the summer, a sailing camp for youth. As a Watch Leader she’s setting sails, monkeying around the rigging up aloft, and helming her up and down the Ottawa River. Photo (at left): Gillian doing some maintenance work for the Black Jack this spring.

E L M WO O D.C A

SEPTEMBER 2015

CLASS NOTES

WHERE IN THE WORLD ARE ELMWOOD’S HEAD GIRLS?

Betty (Caldwell) Walker ’44

Betty (Caldwell) Walker ’44 “Busy is best for Betty – I live up to that motto!!!” Betty will soon be celebrating her 90th birthday with her entire family in Maine. Marathon in the Florida Keys is her home from mid October until mid May then she moves back to her condo in Greenwich, Connecticut. Betty is still playing golf and tennis, has a group of wonderful young friends that keep living up to her motto!! She takes advantage of the closeness to New York for the theatre. Betty is looking forward to coming to Ottawa for the Centennial! Philippa (McLaren) Hunter ’46 After Elmwood, Philippa studied Art at McGill University. Today, she lives in Toronto and is an artist represented by Roberts Gallery. Judith (Maclaren) Caldwell ’51 After nine years at Elmwood, Judith attended Bouve Boston for Physical Education, after which she auditioned for the Ice Follies and was to join them in January 1956 in Syracuse NY, but before she got there Betty (Caldwell) Walker’s ’44 brother Geoffrey came along and swept her off her skates! They had fifty-three wonderful years together before the dear guy passed away. During those years they raised three children; Cynthia (a nurse), Kathryn (a teacher) and Robert (a fundraiser for various academies and colleges in the USA). Judith kept herself busily involved being an at-home mom while volunteering in many different ways, her main thrust being for the Diabetes Association of Ontario, sitting on their board for many years, as well as being Regional Director for Eastern Ontario. In 2013 Judith was awarded one of the Queen’s Jubilee medals. Through the years Judith has enjoyed tennis, boating, gardening, traveling and enjoying her home on the St. Lawrence River. Judith is now chairperson of her church’s Board of Managers. Elmwood taught her to always keep a busy pace and be thoughtful of others! Photo: Judith on her 80th birthday while cruising the Danube, spent the day in Vienna, which was on her bucket list!

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Judith (Maclaren) Caldwell ’51

Patricia (Knowlton) Stachon ’52 Following her graduation from Elmwood, Pat went on to study nursing at the Ottawa Civic Hospital School of Nursing. As a member of the Victorian Order of Nurses, she worked in community health until her retirement at 62. She and her husband Joseph have also lived and worked on the family farm in Metcalfe for over 50 years, and the Stachons will be celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary in 2016! Pat and Joe have three children; David, Michael and Lindley, and five grandchildren. In addition to spending time with family, Pat can most often be found tending to her beautiful gardens, playing bridge or curling. She has kept in touch with some of her Elmwood classmates, including Judith Caldwell, Di Fraser and Sallie (McCarter) Gall. Jennifer (Woollcombe) Oxenham ’54 After Elmwood, Jennifer received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Queen’s University, with some of her studies done at Carleton College (now Carleton University). After graduating from Queen’s in 1957, Jennifer was fortunate to be selected as a guide in the Canadian Pavilion at the 1958 World Fair in Belgium. (The 48 Canadian Expo ’58 guides later formed an association, have had several reunions, and remained lifelong friends.) After Brussels, Jennifer moved to Washington, D.C. There, she worked as Social Secretary, for Mr. Arnold Heeney, Canada’s Ambassador to USA and father of fellow Elmwood friend and classmate Patricia ‘Tish’ Heeney ’54. It was in Washington that Jennifer met her British-American husband, Peter Oxenham, in 1960. A year later, they moved to Montreal where she took a job at the Montreal Children’s Hospital. Peter and Jennifer were married in Montreal and immediately afterwards sailed with all their belongings to Europe, where Peter worked in Geneva, Switzerland. They initially expected to be there for two or three years, but things turned out differently, as they are still in the lovely alpine country fifty-three years later. In Geneva, Jennifer became busy with pregnancies, two babies, three moves and making

CLASS NOTES

Patricia (Knowlton) Stachon ‘52

Jennifer (Woollcombe) Oxenham ’54

new homes for them. (Their daughter Elisabeth (Babette) was born in 1966 and their son John in 1968.) In 1972, Jennifer took an English teaching job for the Geneva public school system and for the next 15 years was a “professeur d’anglais” in large French speaking Geneva high schools. In 1991 Jennifer moved to Morgins, a small resort in the Swiss Alps, and started “Fair Weather Friends,” ski-guiding visitors in the vast area called “Les Portes du Soleil.” Next year Jennifer will be 80. She is no longer working as a skiguide but still loves skiing and has had the pleasure recently of skiing with their six grandchildren. Sheila (McCormick) Hipps ’55 After receiving her B.A. from McGill University, Sheila lived in Europe for five years, where she worked with an international non-profit agency. She then obtained her Masters Degree in Clinical Psychology from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota. Sheila worked as a Clinical Psychologist in Minneapolis and later retired to Tucson, Arizona where she still lives. She and her husband, an American born in Shanghai, have two sons and four grandchildren. Fiona McElwain ’66 After Elmwood Fiona went to Trinity (U of T) and got a degree in Art History. She lived and worked in Toronto at Educational Television (TVO) and J. Walter Thompson (advertising) until 1984. Then she met and married an American, Bob McElwain, and moved to Woodstock, VT where she has lived ever since. Fiona has a lovely village life filled with friends and sports and volunteer work at the local Arts Council, St. James Church and the Historical Society. Fiona has developed a passion for gardening which she does, not only at her own property, but has turned it into a part time job designing and maintaining gardens for different clients. Great loves are friends, books, music and travel (she sent us this two hours prior to leaving for France!) Her husband has retired so they are doing their best to explore different parts of the world and although she still loves skiing they spend part of the winter in Naples, Florida.

Fiona McElwain ’66

Kathy (Mulock) Gillespie ’70 Kathy attended Queen’s University where she obtained an Undergraduate Degree in Psychology. She then attended the Institute of Child Study at the University of Toronto for a Graduate Degree in Child Assessment and Counselling. After, she studied at Harvard University where she received a Masters in Education in Counselling. Kathy worked as a psycho-educational consultant at The Ottawa Roman Catholic Separate School Board and in other settings as well. After the birth of her second child Ian, she decided to stay home full-time. Kathy was very happy when her daughter Meredith was accepted into Elmwood for the middle and high school years. She graduated in l999 and was Head Girl. During the last four decades, Kathy has been involved, as a Board Member, parent and Old Girl. Kathy has volunteered to organize some of the Old Girl events. At the present time, Kathy is working on the Old Girls’ Art Fair and Holly Tea, to be held on December 5, 2015. She also enjoys visiting her children in Toronto and London. She has a three-year-old granddaughter Georgia in Toronto. Kathy is looking forward to reconnecting with past and present friends from Elmwood at the Centennial celebrations. Barbara Coyne ’75 Barbara attended Queen’s University where she received her B.A. Honours History and Psychology, University of Toronto, B. Ed. and University of Cambridge, England, M.Phil Education. She works as a special needs teacher/ABA therapist. Since becoming a teacher Barbara has lived and worked in Kenya, Toronto, Bristol (England), London (England), Connecticut (USA), Paris (France) and now Oxford (England). Barbara is widowed, has three adult daughters and Samson the dog! She does volunteer work for charitable organizations working in the areas of art, music and third world development. Barbara continues to be interested in all music (special interest in choral singing and piano), travel and reading.

E L M WO O D.C A

SEPTEMBER 2015

CLASS NOTES

WHERE IN THE WORLD ARE ELMWOOD’S HEAD GIRLS?

Lynne Houwing Evenson ’79

Katherine Bell ’89

Lynne Houwing Evenson ’79 After graduating from Elmwood, Lynne attended Queen’s University and graduated with a Biology degree. For the past 31 years, she has been working in research at the Central Experimental Farm with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, looking at environmental stresses on crop growth. She lives with her three children (two girls, ages 21 and 19, and one son, age 14) in Chelsea, Quebec. Sports has always been a big part of her life. She continues to run, cross country ski, swim and cycle. Before children, she also did a lot of white water kayaking. In the last 10 years she has become a very competitive dragon boater travelling around the world (Germany, Australia, Hungary, Malaysia, China, etc.) with the National dragon boat team. Lynne volunteers her time with local organizations: president for a number of years at a local sports and social club, president of a local garden club, and teaching children cross-country skiing with the local ski club. She has kept ties with Elmwood by volunteering over the years: President of the Old Girls’ Association in the 90s, board member for a few years and continues to help out when needed. Katherine Bell ’89 Just wrapping up seven years in Calgary, Katherine is headed to Aberdeen, Scotland for a three-year stint with husband Jonathan’s job with Talisman-Sinopec-Repsol. They are saying a sad goodbye to all their fabulous friends and Kate’s job at the Strathcona-Christie-Aspen Community Centre, where she was doing communications. Excited to give their children Doug (11 years old) and Gabi (9 years old) a taste of living somewhere new. They will miss all the wonderful skiing and mountain biking in the Canadian Rockies. Kate (McCloskey) Binnie ’97 Kate lives in Ottawa with her husband and two children. Her husband’s name is Max Binnie and they were married in 2008. Her two beautiful sons are Malcolm (age 5) and Henry (age 2). Kate has worked in communications and public relations since graduating from Queen’s University in 2001; first in Toronto and then in Ottawa with the Government of Canada. She is 50

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Kate (McCloskey) Binnie ’97

currently a senior communications analyst at the Privy Council Office and enjoying every moment. Her family enjoys biking, spending time at the cottage and traveling. Her husband’s family is in Portugal and her twin sister, Erin (McCloskey) Rebelo, lives in Kenya so a lot of their vacation time is spent travelling to see them. Photo: Kate, her husband and their son Malcolm at her sister’s wedding in Amboseli National Park in Kenya in 2012. Meredith Gillespie ’99 After graduating from Elmwood, Meredith attended Queen’s University for her Bachelor of Arts (Honours), in Psychology. She pursued her M.A. and Ph.D. at McGill University, receiving her doctorate in the area of School/Applied Child Psychology in 2010. Meredith is a child and adolescent Clinical Psychologist and works as the Program Leader of Psychology at Boomerang Health, a multidisciplinary paediatric clinic opened by The Hospital for Sick Children in Vaughan, Ontario. Meredith married Patrick Glinski (Ashbury, Class of 2000 and brother of Sarah Glinski, Elmwood Class of 1995) in Ottawa in 2008. A number of Elmwood alumni were in attendance, including Sarah (a bridesmaid), her Maid of Honour, Elizabeth Clarke ’99, bridesmaid Anne-Marie Bissada ’99 and cousins/junior bridesmaids Caroline ’12 and Courtney ’14 Mulock. Meredith and Patrick welcomed daughter Georgia in 2011. They live in Toronto. Pam Chuchinnawat ’00 After graduating from Elmwood, Pam went on to complete her Bachelor of Arts in International Relations (co-op) at the University of British Columbia (Class of 2005) then took the summer off to travel in China to explore her East Asian heritage. After her travel in China, Pam decided to stay in Thailand and joined the Thai Foreign Service. After some training, she officially started working at the South Asia Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, in 2006. She very much enjoyed the work in that Division, as she was able to travel to many interesting parts

CLASS NOTES

Meredith Gillespie ’99

Pam Chuchinnawat ’00

Mary (Pitt) Clarke ’01

of the world. Pam then decided to take a two-year leave from work to complete a course in Diplomatic Studies (Class of 2009) and a Master of Science in Contemporary India (Class of 2010) both at the University of Oxford. After graduating from Oxford, Pam went back to work at the Office of Policy and Planning. In 2012, she was assigned to the Republic of Korea for her first overseas posting and is still currently working in Seoul. Her work in the Republic of Korea is both interesting and challenging but overall very much enjoyable. When not at work, Pam tries to explore the Republic of Korea and neighboring countries as much as possible. She also met up with Erica Choi ’00 who is also currently living in Seoul. Mary (Pitt) Clarke ’01 Mary did a Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Ottawa and a Masters of Urban Planning at McGill. She works as a Community Planner with Acacia Consulting. Mary now lives with her husband, Christopher, and two sons, Oliver and Thomas, on Vancouver Island, B.C. where her husband is the Pastor of St-Andrews Duncan Presbyterian Church. Dorothy (Binkley) MacLeod ’03 After graduating from Elmwood, Dorothy went to Dalhousie University in Halifax and had an amazing four years. She graduated with a B.Sc. in Biology and French. She then went on to do her M.B.A. with a specialization in Health Services Management from the DeGroote School of Business at McMaster University. Dorothy has been with Trillium Health Partners (the hospital in Mississauga) for over five years. Currently, she is a Portfolio Manager of the corporate Project Management Office. She married her husband Jonathan in Muskoka at the end of May and honeymooned in Turkey and Greece. They felt very lucky that Brittany Gould Hughes ’03 and her 12-day-old daughter Ivy were able to attend. Dorothy recently became a member of the Advocacy Advisory Committee of the YWCA of Toronto. Dorothy and Jon live in the High Park area of Toronto.

Dorothy (Binkley) MacLeod ’03

E L M WO O D.C A

SEPTEMBER 2015

CLASS NOTES

WHERE IN THE WORLD ARE ELMWOOD’S HEAD GIRLS?

Katie (Houghton) Raska ’03

Katie (Houghton) Raska ’03 “Elmwood was a huge part of my life and shaped me into the person I am today. I loved my time at Elmwood, made amazing lasting friendships with peers and teachers.” Katie attended Elmwood from Grade 7 to Grade 12 and was Head Girl. She then attended and graduated from the Ottawa University with a Bachelor of Social Science. She had not decided what she wanted to do for a career so decided travelling would help her discover her passion. After living in Australia and traveling around the world, from Europe to New Zealand Katie discovered she loved helping people. Her fiancée had accepted a teaching job in China, so she followed and was also given a teaching position. Katie then discovered her love of teaching. She returned to Canada and attended Trent University, graduating with a Bachelor of Education. After graduating, Katie and her fiancée got married in Europe with close friends and family. They then decided to start a new adventure up north, and moved to the Inuvik, in the Northwest Territories. They have lived up north for about five years now and love it. They enjoy fishing, camping and boating in the 24-hours of sun in the summer and skidooing and hunting in the winter. They had a healthy beautiful son in December 2013, and have a new addition arriving in January 2016. Katie has been substitute teaching since they arrived and really enjoys teaching and getting to know all students in the whole school. Photo: Katie on the Ice road in Inuvik with her little son Ivan Raska Anneka Richmond ’04 After graduating from Elmwood, Anneka returned to Bonnie Scotland to study at the University of Glasgow. She completed a B.Sc. (Hons) in Psychology and was a flying member of the RAF Reserves for four years. With a military twist, the years in the reserves were spent nurturing the passions that were encouraged during her time at Elmwood—rugby, rowing, mountaineering/rock climbing, canoeing, skiing, leadership and of course, flying! Following university, Anneka worked for a psychologist in London for a year. As the economic climate turned, she escaped the global financial crisis by moving to Melbourne, Australia. She has been a resident there for five years. Although a young country, Australia has proved to be a 52

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Anneka Richmond ’04

mix between the North American and European cultures, with many fantastic opportunities for work and play. Marathon running, scuba diving certifications and a motorcycle license have kept Anneka busy in her downtime, and she shares her life with a beautiful man who works as a jazz musician. Her life is filled with love, creativity, spontaneity and occasionally—the bizarre! Anneka has been working in medical research for a group of orthopaedic surgeons. Their main focus is on the outcome of various knee surgeries, and she has been fortunate enough to have been published as a co-author in several peer-reviewed articles. Thoughts of a Ph.D. ebb and flow over time, although she now feel she knows more about knees than she ever needed to! As the daughter of a British diplomat, Anneka has always been incredibly thankful for the opportunities to travel to wild and wonderful places. This August she will be making her way to Pitcairn Island, where her father is currently serving. The island is the home of “The Mutiny on the Bounty,” and the local population consists of approximately 50 descendants of the mutineers. She is very much looking forward to visiting this historical island and has her fingers crossed for witnessing the annual humpback whale migration along the way. Anneka looks forward to the life adventures to come and still fondly recalls many special memories from her time at Elmwood. Kate Bifield ’05 After graduating from Elmwood Kate moved to Scotland to do a four-year management degree at the University of St. Andrews. During university she worked for Deloitte and the Royal Bank of Scotland but decided to follow her feet after graduation. Kate travelled, worked and volunteered around the world for two years, having visited 72 countries across six continents. She has tried a series of interesting things on her travels including sky diving, bungee jumping, shark cage diving and micro-lighting, most of them she’s glad she has done but never wish to do again. Kate moved to London in 2011 and started a career in the international broadcast industry. She previously worked for NBC Universal, and now at Scripps Networks International doing the marketing and PR for Food Network, Travel Channel and Fine Living

CLASS NOTES

Kate Bifield ’05

Malene Hoftun Jaeger ’07

(a channel with HGTV content in Europe). Her job sees her travelling throughout Central/Eastern Europe and Russia on a monthly basis. Kate is a member of the Women in Cable Television (WICT) which is a network of women who support career progression within the industry. She also co-presents a request/chat radio show at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital on Thursday nights. Malene Hoftun Jaeger ’07 Since graduating, Malene has completed two separate degrees. First, a Bachelor’s in International Development Studies, majoring in Political Science, at the University of Oslo. During this first degree she spent a semester at American University in Washington, DC studying American foreign policy and interning at the NPR radio station WAMU 88.5, and finished off her degree with field work in Nepal to write her bachelor’s thesis “Capacity-Building in Practice – The Question of Sustainability. The Case of Gobar Gas Company in Nepal.” During her time at the University of Oslo, Malene led the University of Oslo branch of the Norwegian Students’ and Academics’ International Assistance Fund, a solidarity organization focusing on education in development cooperation, as well as North/South information and political advocacy in Norway. She also worked a summer as a volunteer representative for the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation at Norwegian music festivals, informing festival attendees of sexual and health rights in developing countries. Most recently, Malene completed a degree in Mechanical Engineering at the Oslo University College of Applied Sciences. Her thesis was conducted and written on behalf of Oslo University Hospital, The Intervention Centre and concentrated on product development within the field of medical technology. Specifically, along with her thesis group she created a mechanical device to correct for a medical condition called mitral regurgitation in the mitral valve of the heart. The device travels intravenously from the groin to the heart and is therefore a minimally invasive procedure applicable to the large high-risk patient groups otherwise not eligible for open-heart surgery. The repair system they created has the potential to become the first of its kind in the field of transcatheter mitral valve repair. The website for the thesis can be found

Sophia Dhalla ’09

here: http://student.cs.hioa.no/hovedprosjekter/maskin/2015/08/ During these degrees, Malene has worked in communications. First, six years as a consultant in Geelmuyden.Kiese, Scandinavia’s largest partner-owned company. Then, two years as an in-house communications advisor in DNO, a Norwegian oil and gas operator focused on the Middle East and North Africa. At Geelmuyden.Kiese she was fortunate enough to work for the Norwegian bloodbank, one of their clients, and helped increase the number of blood donors by 15% over the course of three years, receiving a SABRE Award for the results. At DNO, Malene was able to travel to several of their countries of operation in the Middle East while project managing the development of DNO’s new intranet, targeted at 400 employees in eight different countries. This fall she will be working with corporate matters at the Norwegian company Statkraft, a leader in hydropower internationally and Europe’s largest generator of renewable energy. Malene lives in Oslo with her boyfriend, who is also an engineer. Her three sisters, who also attended Elmwood (Marie, Anna and Astrid), also reside in Oslo. Marie is finishing up her medical studies and is currently working at the ER, Anna is pursuing her music career and Astrid has two more years of high school. ophia Dhalla ’09 “I can’t believe that it has been over six years since S I graduated from Elmwood!” Following her graduation in 2009, Sophia moved to Montreal, where she attended McGill University to pursue a Bachelor of Arts and Science. She majored in Biology and International Development, which allowed her to take courses in a broad range of subjects. During her four years at McGill, she was fortunate enough to make a great group of friends and explore the wonderful city of Montreal, which really enriched her experience. Sophia gave campus tours of the school as a student ambassador, and got involved with an organization called the Student Association for Medical Aid, where she helped organize fundraising events on campus for medical projects in developing countries. Outside of the classroom, Sophia also enjoyed teaching swimming lessons to children with disabilities on the weekends and volunteering with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Montreal. E L M WO O D.C A

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CLASS NOTES

WHERE IN THE WORLD ARE ELMWOOD’S HEAD GIRLS?

Juliet Caragianis ’11

After graduating from McGill in 2013, Sophia moved to Vancouver to attend Medical School at the University of British Columbia (UBC). She fell in love with the city pretty quickly and has loved everything about medical school so far—the environment, the teaching, her classmates and her professors. During the summer after her first year of medical school, Sophia did research related to paediatric neurology, for which she was able to attend a conference in Carmel, California—she also made a detour to visit San Francisco for the first time. Sophia also went backpacking through Southeast Asia for three weeks with two of her classmates, visiting Laos, Thailand and Cambodia. She is still living in Vancouver, and has recently started third year. Sophia is looking forward to immersing herself in the hospital as a clinical clerk this year, and is excited to see what the future brings! Juliet Caragianis ’11 Juliet has just graduated from Yale with a B.A. in political science—she wrote her thesis on the surrogacy aspect of the assisted human reproductive act (AHRA) in Canada and looked at ways to better protect all parties during the experience. After graduation Juliet did a mini euro-trip with some girlfriends from college, then finished in Ireland for her brother’s medical school graduation. Juliet has moved to London and is working in PR/Communications— just a short train ride from her sister Sophia Caragianis ’15, who will be attending St. Andrews for the next four years. Maka Ngwenya ’12 Maka is entering her fourth year at McGill University, where she is majoring in Accounting. She has continued to explore her passion for theatre by not only acting in productions, but also by playing the role of Producer for the Arts Undergraduate Theatre Society, the largest student-run theatre company at McGill. Over the past three summers, Maka has enjoyed a variety of enriching work experiences. She has had the opportunity to learn about the federal government while working as a Junior Analyst for the Corporate Management Branch of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency in Ottawa; mentor youth in Toronto as a Residence 54

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Maka Ngwenya ’12

Emmie Page ’13

Counsellor for a teen summer program at the University of Toronto; and explore New York City as an intern at an economics-based thinktank in the heart of Manhattan. Maka is excited to see what adventures await her as she completes her final year at McGill and goes on to attain her Chartered Professional Accountant designation. Emmie Page ’13 Emmie is entering her third year at the University of British Columbia, completing a double major in Biology and Oceanography. Emmie belongs to the UBC Sustainability Ambassadors and helps contribute to awareness events and organize sustainable living and eating practices on campus. She is a member of the UBC Varsity Rowing Team, training six days a week, before and after classes and each year they travel to Calgary, Victoria, Seattle and San Diego. They had a very successful 2014 – 2015 season and Emmie was a member of the winning boats at Western Canadian Champs and at Canadian University Championships. In April, the San Diego Crew Classic saw her team have the best Canadian finish since 1985. Emmie is home this summer and has spent some time volunteering for the Children’s Festival and ORC Learn to Row programs. She is also working full time as a swim instructor and lifeguard. In mid June she travelled back to Vancouver to participate in the Pan Am Torch Relay. She was nominated by the Head Coach of UBC women’s rowing to carry the torch while their women’s eight rowed down the Fraser River. She trains six days a week with the Ottawa Rowing Club during the summer months. She was part of a Lightweight double at Ontario Champs winning Silver and Gold in the LWT 8+ at the Royal Canadian Henley last summer. Her team has already traveled to Philadelphia to compete and will be hoping for repeat success at Ontario Champs and Henley again this July and August.

CLASS NOTES

CHECKING IN WITH ELMWOOD’S RETIRED STAFF LESLIE BAIRD (WIRES), English, Math, Social Studies, Geography, History, Computer Studies and Keyboarding, September 1983 – June 1999 Elmwood introduced Leslie to Child Haven International —the student event ‘International Night’ raised money for this local charity for the 16 years that Leslie was at Elmwood. Her daughter, Dr. Shannon Wires ’83, volunteered at Child Haven’s orphanage in Gandinagar, India. Her emails inspired Leslie and her husband and they became volunteers in Kathmandu for six months. Teaching the teachers creative ways to approach learning, instead of rote learning, was very rewarding. Leslie taught the older children how to organize a Sports Day, playing all the games that Elmwood’s Sports Days included. They loved it! This tradition still goes on in Nepal. Leslie had a morning and evening homework class, and is in touch with those young adults today through email. Returning twice allowed her to see them complete their college education, get jobs and develop from starving, destitute children to wonderful adults. This experience changed her life. Early retirement allowed Leslie to live her dream of traveling the world, trekking the Himalayas, a bus trip from Nepal to Lhasa Tibet, a one year boat trip on the canals in France, exploring Ancient Egypt, Turkey, Italy and Greece, learning to dive in Thailand, and hiking in Australia, Norway and Sweden. After a full day trekking in New Zealand, they joined a young couple at their campfire. It was Fiona Eden-Walker ’98, “Mrs. Wires, what are you doing here?” As if teachers didn’t do these adventurous things! Raising money for the great work of Child Haven, Ottawa Friends of Tibet and the Women’s Foundation of Nepal, is now Leslie’s passion. New orphanages and schools, a seniors home for Tibetan refugees, and a shelter for battered and abused women have been built. Leslie is on the Board of the Tibet Resettlement Project Ottawa, which is sponsoring and settling 90 Tibetans in Ottawa from a refugee camp in India. For the first time in three generations they will have citizenship in a country. What she loved about her experience at Elmwood she has re-created abroad, giving to others the benefit of the rich experiences which have blessed her life.

ANNETTE BELLAMY, English and Philosophy, 1979 – 2001 Since leaving Elmwood in 2001, Mrs. Bellamy has enjoyed spending leisure time with her children and grandchildren. She has also enjoyed keeping in touch with former colleagues and students in reunion lunches and high teas and via Facebook. Occasionally she has had the pleasure of returning to the Elmwood classroom, first to supply teach and more recently to assist in craft activities. Two years ago she was happy to help organize a visit of the Ottawa Children’s Choir to the school, where they joined with Ms. Pike and the Junior School Choir in a happy hour of Christmas carols and fantasies. Mrs. Bellamy is currently Vice President of the OCC and has been delighted to welcome children of her former students to the Choir. Mrs. Bellamy is always happy to return to Elmwood for events such as the drama productions and the Holly Tea. Elmwood has brought her some wonderful connections and she is looking forward to the opportunity to reconnect with many more former students at the Centennial celebrations in the year ahead. Photo: Former Faculty members Daniele Seguin, Carole Schmidt, Jennifer Faguy and Annette Bellamy. JULIE BOYD, Mathematics and Science, 1984 – 2010 Julie retired from teaching in 2010. Since then she and her husband’s lives have been busy with sons’ weddings and three grandchildren so far. Two lovely boys and a delightful granddaughter. They range from one to three years of age, and when they are all together it is pretty chaotic. Otherwise, Julie and her husband have taken advantage of travelling in the “quiet season.” Mexico and Jamaica being favourites so far. Julie has had the opportunity to spend more time on the golf course, which she enjoys very much. Even so, she has maintained some connection to Physics by doing some occasional tutoring, and to Elmwood by volunteering, particularly in the run up to the Centennial celebrations. Her husband rows at the Ottawa New Edinburgh Club, and enjoys seeing the Elmwood girls some mornings. He says that they liven the club up. “They are so cheerful, enthusiastic and polite.” Photo: Photo of Julie taken in P.E.I.

CAROL CLUBINE, Librarian, 1991 – 2013 Carol is really enjoying the slower pace of retirement but has activities to keep her busy. She and her husband have taken two trips to Europe. The first one in the fall of 2013, they went to the Mediterranean, specifically Italy, Greece and Turkey. They have just returned from a trip to Scandinavia and Russia. The picture of Carol was taken in front of the Cathedral of Spilled Blood in St. Petersburg Russia. The name is used because a tsar was assassinated in the church. The architecture and artwork inside are spectacular and as colourful as the exterior. Carol and her husband spend some time in Florida during the winter and her golf game has improved as a result. Not to forget her librarian roots, she belongs to two book clubs so is kept busy reading the monthly selections. Carol also does some charity work, creating knitted dolls for children in Africa who have been affected by HIV/Aids. WENDY DENNYS, Admissions Officer, April 1989 – July 2006 Since retiring as Admissions Officer, Wendy has taken an active role in her local community association including producing a bilingual newspaper with the help of a co-editor. For Elmwood’s centennial celebrations, Wendy is designing a display of American Girl dolls by sewing uniforms “through the years,” from the 1917 white dresses with daffodil yellow collars and cuffs, to the latest 2015 Elmwood tartan outfit. E L M WO O D.C A

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CLASS NOTES

SARAH MCCABE, Art and Sewing, 1980 – 2005 / MIKE MCCABE, History, 1981 – 2005 Sarah and Mike have enjoyed ten years of retirement. Time does fly and they have a bit too! They have taken two trips to China to visit their older son. He teaches in an international school there. The pandas in Chengdu and Terracotta Warriors in Xian were highlights. They also visited Thailand, Cambodia and Hong Kong. They visited former colleague Dr. Anita George in Hong Kong and were fascinated to see her school and beautiful apartment overlooking the harbour. There has been a trip to England to see relatives. Since travel is not always possible they had a series of teachers from Japan, Korea and Colombia staying with them. There was another fellow from East Timor and recently a Rwandan. Sarah and Mike volunteered with the National Gallery visiting schools across the city for a few years. Their local elementary school has become their favourite place to help out. They acquired a cairn terrier six years ago and he fills up their spare time very nicely. Photo: Sarah and Mike with their sons Thomas and Hugh. LINDA MCGREGOR Mathematics, Science and Business, Head of Junior School, Vice Principal of Academic Life, Director of Curriculum and Technology, September 1982 – July 2004 In 2004, Linda left Elmwood to begin a new position as Deputy Head of St. Margaret’s School in Victoria, British Columbia. In 2010, she retired from SMS as Head of School. Since then she is enjoying her retirement, spending time with family, friends, travel and exploring new interests. After 22 years at Elmwood, first as a teacher, then Head of Junior School and finally Academic Vice Principal Senior School, Linda has kept in touch with the school. She has followed with great interest the changes and innovations that have taken place over the years, especially in technology, which became a focus of her work in the Senior School. Highlights of her time at Elmwood would have to include the various building initiatives especially the addition of the gym and the construction of the new Junior School. As Elmwood celebrates the Centennial, Linda thinks of the many people in the School’s history who have contributed to this milestone:staff, parents, friends and especially the students. 56

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BERYL MILLINGTON French and German, 1981 – 2006 “I had a list of all I wanted to do when I retired but just can’t lay my hands on it!” Beryl did remember though that she wanted to learn to play the piano (regret wasted childhood lessons) and she really wanted to do art. Beryl took some lessons in watercolors but did not continue. Her art teacher was very keen that she should go to Art School but already languages and travel beckoned and soon Beryl was off to France and Germany. So travel was definitely number one on her list and she achieved this mostly through family and friends. Beryl took part in two incredible trips with ‘Go Ahead Tours.’ The first in 2008 was ‘The Magic of Italy Tour’ which she did alongside Kathy Mayes. And, in 2009 she went on a cruise that took her from St. Petersburg to Moscow. Her daughter Claire had a job which permitted her to spend time in different countries so she stayed two weeks with her in Marbella, Spain—with excursions each day she managed to go from Gibraltar to Nerja and also went over to Morocco. Then Beryl spent two weeks in Paris touring the small art galleries and beautiful little hidden areas she could not take groups of students to. With them it was the Louvre and the Musée d’Orsay, of course. Finally she spent two weeks exploring the new Berlin. They went to the Berlin Philharmonic for a wonderful concert where they sat behind the orchestra and every day she took her guidebook and literally did Berlin on foot. Beryl also spent time in Santiago de Chile when Claire did an internship there. Together they went twice to the Mayan Riviera (Mexico). She also visited her son Paul in California where they visited the Grand Canyon and Sedona. He now lives in Portland, Oregon so that is another part of the world she knows well—with a cousin in Seattle and Margaret Doetsch (former Elmwood Classics teacher) in Victoria. Beryl’s sister lives in Cape Town, South Africa—so that is a beloved and most envied destination for her. Her brother lives in Belfast, N. Ireland, so they are all scattered over the map and of course she has to visit her family! Beryl has also stayed in Belize and Toluca, Mexico with a beloved family who stayed with her many years ago. Spanish, French and German—the three languages she loves and which are the main influence in her life. After all that gallivanting Beryl has turned to simpler pleasures: gardening and baking very special cakes. She also loves to entertain. She adores reading and goes to book sales regularly which means she has a huge library!

BRENDA NEALE Phys. Ed., Senior School Athletic Director, 1982 – 2013 Brenda has been enjoying retirement (or unscheduled living) since 2013! After leaving Elmwood, she has taken her fond school memories to various corners of the world including China, United Kingdom, Hawaii, St. Maarten, Vancouver and the Caribbean. As a life-long learner, Brenda is pursuing new experiences ranging from completing courses at Carleton to volunteering at the recent FIFA tournament—helping at team practices, doping control, and with teams on game day. When not helping others and/or bettering themselves, Brenda and her husband, Jack (an active volunteer with the Red Cross), spend their spare time at their Crosby Lake cottage. JUDITH SABOURIN, French and Spanish, September 1973 – June 2006 After leaving Elmwood, Judith taught at Holy Trinity Catholic High School in Kanata until retirement in 2012. Since retiring, she and her husband Denis spend as much time as possible in their beloved Andalusia. They are also travelling to a place on their must-visit list. Alaska beckons in September! When in Ottawa, Judith volunteers at St. Matthew’s Anglican Church in the Glebe. In Spain, she’s been able to help people, what with three languages and a spattering of German! Judith always enjoys hearing from former students, delights in their achievements, loves to meet with them for coffee, as well as keep in touch with former colleagues, even in Spain. DANIÈLE SÉGUIN, French, September 1980 – June 1996 After leaving Elmwood, Danièle returned to the Bishop Strachan School (Toronto) where she and her mother had previously taught. Upon retiring early she came back to live in Ottawa, close to her son and his family. Danièle spent a few months in France, on a regular basis, each year, to take care of her mother. Since then, she has tried to maintain an active life in Ottawa, looking for new ways to spend her time: she took an English course at T.E.S.O.L and

did her practice teaching in Cuba. She started learning Spanish (the verbs in the imperative are a killer). She did not exercise her brain only: she started going to the gym regularly and trained with a coach; she also walked twice a day so she could cover the last 100km of the Camino de Compostela, in Galicia, Spain. Last June she also participated in the Dragon Boat Races. Giving guided tours of Notre-Dame Cathedral has provided Danièle with the opportunity to share with students and tourists her appreciation of the religious monument, which is also a precious example of historical and artistic heritage from the 19th century. Danièle has fond memories of Elmwood and spending time with some of her colleagues who have become steadfast friends is most enjoyable. Meeting with some of her former students who have become delightful young ladies is very pleasant too. “Have a good summer everyone. Let’s look forward to the next celebrations.”

1915

2015

One Hundred Years of Giving.

Countless Lives Changed. IN MEMORIAM Helen Dellaire passed away on August 4, 2015. In her role as Academic Administrator and Executive Assistant to Elmwood’s Board of Governors, Helen worked tirelessly on behalf of the School. She started at Elmwood in 1994, and was a remarkable employee with an incredible eye for detail. Those who worked with her knew very well what a capable person she was, dependable and thorough. Her work behind the scenes on the School’s timetable, Ministry reporting, report cards, Board matters, Closing Ceremonies and student information was integral to the smooth running of the school. She was a consummate professional, as well as a remarkably kind and thoughtful person. Helen was also incredibly funny. She had a dry sense of humour and she shared many laughs with her colleagues. She will be dearly missed at Elmwood. Our thoughts are with her family at this sad time.

From the very beginning, Elmwood School has benefited from the generosity of those who believe in its mission. Starting with the very land on which the School sits, all the way to the Hokki chairs that are so beloved by our current students, donations have made a difference to generations of girls in green. Your gift to the 2015 – 16 Annual Campaign will make an immediate—and virtually limitless—impact on our school. Every gift counts and participation from our entire Elmwood community is key to our success. Thank you for your support!

Visit elmwood.ca and click on “Donate Now” or call the Advancement Office at 613.749.6761 to donate today.

The best place for her future is a place with a lot of history. E L M W O O D S C H O O L â&#x20AC;&#x201C; C E L E B R AT I N G 1 0 0 Y E A R S O F E D U C AT I N G G I R L S A N D YO U N G WOM E N .

Do you know a girl who would like to join us? Call Admissions at 613.744.7783 to arrange a private tour, or come to our Open House on

Saturday, October 24 at 9:30 a.m.

Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: Elmwood School, 261 Buena Vista Rd. Ottawa ON K1M 0V9