Tributes

TRIBUTE

A Tribute to Catherine Kirkland

Catherine Kirkland is leaving RSGC after an incredible 20 years. Based on these messages from the community, it’s obvious that she will be missed. On behalf of the entire RSGC community, we wish you all the best in your next adventure, Ms. Kirkland!

End of an era! I hope the next chapter is as great as the last 20 years. Wishing you nothing but the best on your next adventure. Your kind nature, love for students and leadership will be missed. —Anthony Mariano ’12

A huge thank you to Ms. Kirkland, who helped shape me and all of the boys into the gentlemen we are today. Wishing her the best in her future endeavours! —Oliver Sabiston ’18

I simply can't imagine RSGC without Catherine, yet her legacy will live on forever in the Junior School. We will always remember to "Be kind." Wishing Catherine joy and happiness in the next exciting chapter in her life. We will miss her. —Mardi Michels, Junior School Teacher

Thank you for being a wonderful teacher, Ms. Kirkland. All the very best for your next phase. —Jane Lloyd, RSGC Parent Catherine cares deeply about all of the students at RSGC. She has an amazing capacity to really know the boys, as well as their families. Her legacy of teaching us to be kind and to take care of each other and the world around us will always be remembered. —Janet Stephenson, Junior School Teacher

So sad that our paths crossed for only a short time, but I am forever grateful for all of the kindness and support you’ve shown me and my family. Wishing you so much joy on your next adventure. —Lesley Stoyan, RSGC Parent

Catherine always has time for humour. Whether I was between classes or reporting back from a field trip, one of us would crack a joke and then we’d milk it until we were laughing out loud and doubled over. —Jay Kearsey, Junior School Teacher

I’ve never worked with someone who was so genuinely interested in how my family was. It wasn’t just about work with Catherine; she always took the time with her teachers to understand and appreciate what a balanced life was all about. —Brian Robinson, Junior School Teacher

So sad to think of all the boys who won’t get a chance to meet you! We have such good memories of you greeting us each morning with a smile and a lovely greeting. All the best for your next chapter. —Joanne Deshpande, RSGC Alumni Parent Thank you for welcoming me into the school in Grade 3, and helping me out every step of the way. You absolutely made my school experience, and I’m very grateful to have learned from you. Enjoy wherever you go next, and I wish you all the best. —Ben Furnish, Class of 2023

As long as I’ve known Catherine, her commitment to the success of every boy who entered the Junior School has been unwavering. I am grateful for her wisdom and friendship these past 20 years and wish her success on

her next adventure. —Paul O’Leary, Head of Senior School

Catherine is a wonderful friend and like a sister to me. She is a visionary, always sees what is at the heart of any situation and is full of wisdom. Learning from and with Catherine has been a great gift, and I have been stretched, supported and loved under her leadership. —Anna Magor, Director of Teaching and Learning, Junior School

Catherine has been the Head of the Junior School for 20 years, but she has always remained a teacher at heart. She has taught us about the importance of lifelong learning, taking risks, building community, loving our students and the power of kindness. Catherine’s impact on the school runs deep, and she has ensured that RSGC stands on a strong foundation of love, laughter, learning and joy. I am grateful for the impact Catherine continues to have on me as an educator and friend. —Stefanie Turner, Junior School Teacher

I will forever be grateful to Ms. Kirkland for instilling in me a respect for authority. I never wanted to let her down, and I always trusted that she had the best interest of the boys at heart. I thank her for her years of dedication to educating young Georgians, and wish her love and joy in the next chapter. —Otis Moore ’15

I am so appreciative of Ms. Kirkland and everything she did for me during my time at RSGC. At a time when I needed help, she treated me with so much empathy and understanding. It is difficult to find someone who better exemplifies the phrase “known and loved.” —AJ Mills ’16

I was lucky enough to spend 10 years starting off my day with a conversation with Ms. Kirkland on the layby. From her warm greeting and her endless support for initiatives and ideas, to the lifelong gift of music that she has given me, I am so grateful to have had such a kind and caring person as one of the most influential teachers in my RSGC career. —Joey Lisser ’21

Throughout her time leading the Junior School at RSGC, Catherine has been a progressive educator and a champion for all, especially the misunderstood. She has always been a great source of knowledge and comfort to parents, teachers and students. She has led the Junior School with her heart and soul, and at the core of all her decisions was always her love of children. I’ll continue to admire her courage, honesty, grace and respect for all, and I’ll miss our belly laughs and morning layby conversations. She was and will continue to be a most cherished friend, and I wish her the very best in this next chapter of life. —Jennifer Bonetta, Dean of Middle School Activities Catherine has been an incredible friend, teacher and mentor to me over the past 15 years. I cannot express how much I have learned from her. The quality that I admire the most is her staunch and unwavering love of each individual arrived. Who can forget her big smile every morning, waving and greeting the parents as they dropped off boys? I’ll never forget when I was feeling anxious and worried in Grade 4 and Ms. Kirkland sat me down, comforted me and explained what it was that I was experiencing. She always showed

me, Zachary and Harrison endless support and guidance, and encouraged us to use our talents and strengths! On behalf of the Crooks boys, we send our love and wish you all the best in the years to come. —Thaddeus Crooks ’14

child. It is this love that guides everything she does every day. She will be greatly missed. —Nadya Habib, Junior School Teacher

Catherine leads with heart and integrity, the impact of which is so evident when you walk into the Junior School. There is a tangible sense of love, community and connection. We have all been so fortunate to learn and grow with her. —Margaret Nozuka, Junior School Teacher

Words cannot describe what Ms. Kirkland has meant to me over the many years of attending RSGC. I will never forget her warmth and the way she made my family feel that we belonged —right from the day we

We love you, Ms. Kirkland! You will be missed dearly. —Belinda Zissopoulos, RSGC Parent

TRIBUTE

A Tribute to Nick Van Herk

Beloved teacher, counsellor and coach, Nick Van Herk is retiring after 31 years at RSGC. We asked some of his former students to share their favourite memories to help celebrate Nick in style.

Jon Kellett ’00

My favourite Van Herk memories are, unsurprisingly, all related to basketball. When he was coaching us, he was always supportive: knowing when to make a joke to lighten the mood, and knowing when sometimes you just needed to sit in silence together. As an alumnus, it was great to see him go out of his way to come say hi (and sometimes even get in on our runs). When I returned to the college to coach the u16 and the Varsity team, he often found a way to duck into the gym, and coach my coaching, and cheer on the team. Van Herk provided influential guidance to every Georgian who walked the halls, and the College (and I) will miss him! —Thomas Robson ’14

I graduated from RSGC in 1996. At that time, high school was five years and I chose to do it in four. Mr. Van Herk was my economics teacher. Students in the class were mainly 17 year olds. I was the outlier at age 15, but I was a hard worker.

Nick was very supportive of me and this goal to complete an entire year in a shortened timeline. His belief in my best potential motivated me to work hard and excel in his classes, and ultimately achieve my goal of graduating early.

On the field, Nick enjoyed the banter with students as they played sports, and his mantra of ‘being balanced’ was evident to me from his own life and personality. He has been an asset to RSGC, and I am fortunate to have had him as one of my teachers during my years.

Thank you, Nick!—Netan Choudhry ’96

Netan Choudhry ’96

Watching Mr. Van Herk dunk on my brother [Alastair Kellett ’98] in Shield of Dreams never gets old. Enjoy retirement, sir! —Jon Kellett ’00

Congratulations on your much-deserved retirement! You made a difference in my life, as I wasn’t always the best math student (or student in general), but you got me through it. And, funny enough, I ended up using everything I learned from you in my career. —Duane Lee ’93

During a meeting with my parents in Grade 12, the discussion came down to the fact that I needed to raise my overall average to above 90 per cent in order to pursue many of the schools on my wish list. Mr. Van Herk asked me if I would be able to meet that requirement, and after I responded yes, he immediately pulled out a piece a paper and drafted a contract, in which I promised I would raise my overall average to above 90 per cent. I signed it in front of him and my parents, and ended up achieving that goal. I am forever grateful for his encouragement! —Jacky Yao ’10

I remember during my first meeting in Grade 11 with Mr. Van Herk, he asked me if I had identified any programs and schools that would be a good fit.

At the time, I imagined myself going to either Western or Queen’s, and had casually been considering Dalhousie. I was coming off a difficult Grade 10 year, missing most of the school year recovering from brain surgery. So, leaving the province for my undergrad felt as far away as Christie Pits on a rainy Rugby Phys Ed rotation.

Unbeknownst to me, Mr. Van Herk ranked where he thought I might fit best, and throughout the year in his Data Management class, he got to know me better as a student.

Following a trip to Halifax for some school tours that fall, and thanks to Ms. Girvan repping Dal as her alma mater, I began to seriously consider moving east for school.

Long story short, he knew Dalhousie BCOMM would be a great fit for me, before I had even started seriously considering the program.

Five years later, graduating with 12 months of co-op work experience, a six-month exchange to the UK under my belt, the lyrics to Barrett’s Privateers forever implanted in my brain, and with an incredible group of lifelong friends, I can’t imagine having had a better university experience anywhere else.

Thanks, Mr. Van Herk, for steering me in the right direction! Wish you all the best in your retirement. —David Munro ’09

VH told me that “click here and accept offer” meant that I got into McGill, which was where I did my undergrad. I thought it was a joke, but VH said that as soon as I left his office, I could run the hallways outside the library, scream and attempt a backflip/somersault to celebrate. I may have almost suffered a charley horse before first period, but it was worth it. Congrats on a great career, Mr. VH, and thanks for ensuring our goals were reached after graduation. —Anthony Mariano ’12 The first time I met Nick was after a long morning shift as a parent ambassador. I had the pleasure of sitting beside Nick during lunch in Ketchum Hall. He was introduced to me as our "much loved university counsellor." I felt a rush as I peppered him with a million questions about different colleges. Every time he tried to take a bite of his lunch, I would blast him with another query and despite not eating a morsel of food, he answered all of my questions in his gentle Georgian way. I asked if I could meet with him as soon as possible to discuss Connor's college options. He felt my urgency. As Nick got up to leave, he looked down at me and asked, "Mary, what grade is your son in?" I replied, "Grade 4." The entire table burst out laughing. Nick just smiled, rolled his eyes and said, "Mary, you have lots of time."

Well, here we are, eight years later and my son is heading to university, thanks to Nick's wonderful guidance. Enjoy your retirement, my dear friend, you deserve it. You will be so missed because you are so loved! - Mary Garafalo, RSGC parent