SCelebrating pirit St. Margaret ’s School
110
years
summer 2018
special anniversary edition
ST. MARGARET’S ANNUAL FUND
Celebrating
SUPPORT THE LEADERS OF TOMORROW
an extraordinary place
Cathy Thornicroft | Head of School
In this 110th anniversary year, I invite you to join me in helping girls
Welcome to the summer issue of Spirit. On Saturday, June 23, I had the great pleasure of presenting our graduating class of 2018 with their diplomas in front of an audience of happy and proud parents, family, and friends. For 110 years, St. Margaret’s School has been preparing young women to take on the joys and challenges of adulthood.
reach their potential. The amount does not matter – it’s about building a community of support to nurture
When this school was founded in 1908, most women did not have the right to vote, and had far fewer opportunities to work and contribute to society. Today, there are so many options to choose from and – because we are living in the digital age – change and upheaval seem to be the only constants in our lives. That is why we strive to provide an educational experience that empowers, enhances self-awareness, and builds confidence to define success on one’s own terms. Over the years, I have spent time with many of our alumnae, ranging from graduates of the 1940s to the present day, and so often they tell me, “St. Margaret’s gave me selfconfidence.� This is a wonderful tribute to our school and it is clear that having self-confidence has made all the difference to their lives, no matter what path they chose to follow.
the leaders of tomorrow.
In 2018, we are the only all-girls school on Vancouver Island and provide Canada’s first girls-only K–12 STEM curriculum. Now more than ever, it is time to celebrate girls and help them become confident, inspiring women.
Photo courtesy of: Daniel Jones
“ Back in the 1980s, there were biases around what women could hope to achieve and I believed it would have changed by now – but there are still very few women in tech and I am often the only woman at the table. That is why it is so important that SMS continues to support girls and help them to succeed.�
In this issue of Spirit, we have aimed to capture the history of this extraordinary place that has meant so much to so many women over the years. We have also tried to show where we are headed in the future and to celebrate our current cohort of outstanding and diverse students.
LYNDA BROWN-GANZERT (SMS ’85) Founder & CEO, Curatio.me Connector, entrepreneur, mhealth innovator – award winning digital media leader recognized as an international expert
&OR MORE INFORMATION ON THE 3T -ARGARET S !NNUAL &UND or to make a tax-deductible donation, please contact: "ARBARA 3UTTON #&2% $IRECTOR OF %XTERNAL 2ELATIONS EXT ) BSUTTON STMARG CA
Give online at: www.stmarg.ca/why-give/sms-annual-fund 3T -ARGARET S 3CHOOL IS A REGISTERED NON PROl T SOCIETY #HARITABLE REGISTRATION NUMBER 22
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SMS Spirit | 3
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At SMS, we strive to provide an experience that enhances self-awareness and builds confidence.
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Celebratingfacts about sms 27.
1.
1907—Margaret Barton and Isabel Fenwick arrive in Victoria from England.
110
1939—New house flags and house songs introduced.
The history of St. Margaret’s School is one of women and girls, families and individuals, and some men and boys—all devoted to a particular kind of education. Servite in Caritate. This year SMS celebrates 110 years, and to commemorate, let’s have a look at 110 facts that have contributed to the school as we know it today.
7. 2. 3.
1908—St. Margaret’s School is founded.
1909— Miss E. M. Fenwick and Miss Isabel Fenwick, sisters, were the first principals of the school.
4. 5. 6.
1910—St. Margaret’s School moves to 813 Cook Street.
1910—37 students enroll, including some boarders.
1911—First issue of St. Margaret’s School Magazine is published.
18. 19. 20.
1911—April 11 Tragedy strikes: the Fenwick sisters drown in the capsizing of the SS Iroquois as it leaves Sidney on route to Salt Spring Island.
8. 9.
1911—Margaret Barton, who survives sinking of SS Iroquois, becomes principal.
1911—St. Margaret’s School Site Company Ltd. registers under the Companies Act.
10.
1911—Land is purchased from Pearse estate near the corner of Fort and Fern Streets to build a new school designed by well-known Victoria architect Francis M. Rattenbury, who also designed the Parliament Buildings and Empress Hotel.
11.
1911—80 students enroll, including 10 boarders and 5 live-in teachers.
12.
13.
1912—Uniform is standardized.
1914—First debate club organized. 1920—School library is established.
21. 22. 23. 24. 25.
14.
1912— Uniform consists of a blue tunic, white shirt, red tie, black belt, and black bloomers with tights.
15. 16. 17.
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1912—Annual gym display is started.
1912—Grass hockey and netball are introduced.
1939—Home Economics Department opened. 1940—Annual school magazine resumes publication as the Cardinal S.M.S.
1970—10-mile walkathon from Fort Street to Lucas Avenue raises money for tennis courts at the new site.
37. 38.
1970—New school building and residence is completed.
1970—September the new school opens at 1080 Lucas Avenue.
1941—School becomes non-profit organization under Societies Act.
42. 43. 44. 45.
1972—First female Board chair, Mrs. Joyce Butler, elected. 1976—Tartan A-line jumper is introduced for Kindergarten to Grade 2 girls.
1976—English as a Second Language (ESL) program is offered.
1960—St. Margaret’s wins the 24th annual Bridgman Cup grass hockey trophy.
1928—St. Margaret’s amalgamates with St. George’s School for Girls. 1928—House system is introduced.
1931—Red blazer and red berets replace blue blazer and blue berets.
26.
1937-38—Old Girls’ Association celebrates 25th anniversary of Fort Street School with publication of Old School Tie.
32. 33. 34. 35.
1963—Mascot “Dudley Dribble Skitherford” replaces “Buddy.”
39.
1970—Graduating class presents school with a goat named Lorna.
1969—30 acres are purchased at Lucas Avenue.
1983—Eleanor Everall Sanderson writes The Story of the First Seventy-Five Years.
46. 47. 48.
52. 53.
1988—Outweek is introduced.
1980—Old Girls’ Association publishes 1988—S.M.A.R.T. Set (St. the Old School Tie annual Margaret’s Association of newsletter. Retired Teachers) is formed. 1982—Japanese program is introduced.
1983—Queen Elizabeth visits Victoria and passes by SMS.
1969—Property at corner of Fort and Fern Streets sold.
1969—Uniform change: Malcom tartan kilt replaces navy blue tunic (juniors) and navy blue pleated skirt (seniors).
50. 51.
1987—Sister school relationship is established with Kun-ei High School, a girls’ school in Osaka, Japan.
1978—Blue dress tradition comes to St. Margaret’s from the recently closed Strathcona Lodge School for girls at Shawnigan Lake.
1925—First “old girls” day is held. 1925—Old Girls’ Association forms.
1912—School bell ringing is introduced.
1912—School moves to new classroom building and boarding house on Fort Street over Easter weekend, one year after the Iroquois disaster.
1913—First annual sports day is held.
28. 29. 30. 31.
36.
40. 41.
54.
1989—Fenwick, Barton, Pearce, and French residences and Alexis Hall dining facility open.
1972—School is identified as nondenominational.
1972—Positions of head girl and prefects are eliminated for one-year on trial basis.
49. anniversary.
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1983—School celebrates its 75th
...110 facts about sms
55. 56. 57. 58.
1989—Old Residence is renovated to house Junior School. 1989—enrollment grows to 247 students.
1990—Victor Clayton becomes first male head of St. Margaret’s School. 1990—Big Sister/ Little Sister program is revived by the prefect council.
59. 60. 61.
1990— First issue of In Touch magazine is published.
1990—ESL one-year certificate cultural program is introduced.
63. 64. 65.
81.
1993—First Grandparent Day is held.
2011—Entire SMS community recreates the 1970 walkathon to honour the school’s past.
1993—School celebrates its 85th anniversary. 1995—Rick Hansen visits the campus.
66.
1996—Visit to St. Ursula Elementary School in Sendai, Japan.
2008—St. Margaret’s School celebrates its
centennial.
82.
2013—Greenhouse on campus provides students with the opportunity to learn about gardening and plants.
2009—A contest to name the new magazine is won by landscaper Ross, with the winning name of Spirit.
67. 68. 69. 70.
1998—Lienart-Tikal Playing Field opens.
1999—Old Girls’ Association changes name to Alumnae Association. 2000—New south gym opens.
2004—Junior Kindergarten program is introduced.
77. 78. 79.
2009—In Touch magazine replaced by new publication, Spirit magazine.
2009—SMS is ranked the number one junior school in BC and number one high school on Vancouver Island. 2009—St. Margaret’s School becomes sister school to Shizuoka Eiwa Junior and Senior Girls’ High School (Japan).
1990—ESL two-year transitional programs are introduced.
71. 72. 73.
74. 75. 76.
2007—Servite in Caritate: The First 100 Years of St. Margaret’s School 1908–2008, by Deidre Simmons, is published.
83. 84. 85.
2013—Living wall is designed by our own Frances Dowling, landscaper, to honour our Chinese families.
2014—The Class of 2014 establishes a class endowment fund.
62.
1993—Old School Tie ceases publication.
2006—SMS Archives room is established.
Staff —Long-time staff member Deb Scott competes in three summer Olympics, four Commonwealth Games, one Pan-Am Games, and two world track and field championships. She finished in the top ten in the 1500 m at the 1985 Olympics in Los Angeles and was named the Victoria Athlete of the Year four times.
88.
Sports—SMS offers a variety of sports for the girls to participate in: soccer, volleyball, track, basketball, rugby, swimming, triathlon, tennis club, cross country, field hockey, and rowing.
89.
Store—The school store is named Dudley’s Closet, after our mascot.
2016—The garden at the front of SMS is designed by Minna Can, Grade 12 student.
90.
2006—New Junior School opens.
2006—Early Childhood Education program for three-year-olds is offered.
87.
80.
2011—Residences, dining room, and library are refurbished.
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86.
2016—SMS becomes home to bees.
residence—There are four residence houses to serve our boarders with two students per room with their own bathroom.
91.
on campus— St. Margaret’s School has six families who live on campus, including the Head of School and Director of Residence.
92.
on campus— SMS has a full-time Activities Coordinator who works hard to keep our girls busy and engaged by organizing lessons, clubs, activities, and long weekend trips.
93. 94.
Residence— Students from 12 different countries live in our boarding houses. Residence—27 boarding students volunteer as Res Council members or Res Leaders in their houses.
100. staff—Raj Baidwan in the kitchen has worked at SMS for over 40 years and now her daughter works at the school and her granddaughter attends grade 4; three generations of the family.
101.
Wellness— SMS’s new Wellness and Fitness Centre has dedicated areas for stretching and yoga, as well as 500 square feet of workout space and 1,200 square feet of open-air workout space.
95.
Residence—One of the most popular activities for boarders is Friday night campfire.
102.
96. 97. 98. 99.
Residence—Every boarder is part of an advisor group that meets monthly.
Wellness—The Wellness Centre offers fitness classes for students, staff, and parents.
Residence—All boarding students volunteer during the year in the Greater Victoria community. campus—The Junior School is LEED certified.
103. 104. 105.
Special Spaces—SMS has a state-of-the art culinary arts teaching centre. carver— Commissioned a renowned carver to create a Welcoming Pole for the school.
staff—Chef Daniel Hudson appeared on Top Chef Canada, Season 3. He also won Chopped Canada.
grad—The grad class has their very own grad lounge complete with couches and private study space.
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106.
today—SMS integrates Indigenous ways of knowing into our curriculum to honour the land we are on and the community we are based in.
107.
2017—Thanks to an anonymous donation, a one-kilometre chip trail is built on campus, called Twiggs Trail, to honour teacher Michelle Twigg’s legacy.
108.
cais—SMS completed a full Canadian Accredited Independent Schools (CAIS) accreditation that celebrates our academic and leadership programs.
109. 110.
2018—The new Service with Love Alumnae Award is introduced and awarded to five inaugural recipients.
2018—SMS names tennis as its premier sport moving into the future.
Service with Love As we celebrate our 110th anniversary, St. Margaret’s commemorates our commitment to the motto by launching a new award, the Service with Love Alumnae Recognition Award.
Service with Love has been St. Margaret’s motto since the founding of the school in 1908. This simple phrase captures the commitment to giving back to the community, which is a core value of the SMS educational experience. Women who have been educated at SMS understand the importance of giving back to the community to express love and gratitude for the gift of being here, for all that life has given to each of us, and for being able to serve others. Meet the inaugural award winners.
Lynda Brown-Ganzert, Class of 1985
Vicky Husband, Class of 1958 One of British Columbia’s best-known environmentalists and activists, Husband is a member of both the Order of Canada and the Order of BC. She is tireless in her drive to protect BC’s natural heritage, especially the coastal rainforest, with an emphasis on ancient forest protection, wildlife, and sustainable fisheries. She has focused on working toward environmental, economic, and social resource extraction that protects all values and is sustainable in the long term. She has been a leader in numerous conservation debates, including working for the protection of the ancient rainforests of Clayoquot Sound and Vancouver Island, the Great Bear Rainforest, South Moresby/Gwaii Haanas, and the Khuzeymateen Grizzly Bear Sanctuary. Her lifelong goal is to educate the public about environmental and resource extraction issues. Her work, done entirely on a volunteer basis, has earned her numerous honours, including a United Nations award. This spring, she gave an inspirational presentation to SMS students that focused not only on the important work she has done to protect the environment but also on leadership, and was then presented with the first-ever Service with Love Award.
Lynda Brown-Ganzert is the founder and CEO of Curatio, a digital health platform that helps patients find one another and the support they need. Widely regarded as a digital media expert who has played an active role in growing the sector across Canada, she has served in senior roles at companies such as Electronic Arts, Edelman, and Nordicity. She was instrumental in helping establish the Centre for Digital Media in 2007, home to Canada’s first Master of Digital Media program. Brown-Ganzert has won numerous awards as an entrepreneur, including Business in Vancouver’s Top Forty Under 40, Novartis Health 2.0 Global Challenge, and, most recently, Entrepreneur of the Year BC with Startup Canada. She has served on numerous boards, including that of the Canadian Interactive Alliance, Information Technology Association of Canada, Emily Carr University of Art + Design, and the Canada Foundation for Innovation. She was recently recognized as Chair Emerita at Simon Fraser University, where she had previously graduated with a Master of Education and a Bachelor of Arts (Communications).
“It was very moving for me to receive this award”
“This is honestly one of my greatest honours. I was at SMS for 11 years and this is where it all started for me,” Karen Clark Cole
Karen Clark Cole, Class of 1986 Karen Clark Cole is the CEO and cofounder of Blink, an evidence-driven design company specializing in digital projects, founder of Girls Can Do, a non-profit event series for girls with a mission to inspire a generation of possibility thinkers, as well as a contributing writer for Forbes. After SMS graduation, Karen studied fine arts at the Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design. She began her career in high-tech as a multimedia graphic designer working on cultural and educational CD Roms. She holds a degree in art history and visual arts from the University of Victoria and is a graduate of Capilano College in North Vancouver, where she studied information technology and multimedia. Currently a proud member of the Women Presidents’ Organization (WPO) and a former board member of the Seattle Youth in Focus organization. She currently sits on the advisory board for The Tronie Foundation. Karen also runs Blink’s Art Gallery and the Speaker Series program—she is a big advocate for girls and is the organizer of this event. Karen was awarded the Service with Love Award at this year’s Spring Reunion. “This is honestly one of my greatest honours. I was at SMS for 11 years and this is where it all started for me,” says Karen. “Coming back gives me great hope. I have been successful and it’s because of this school, the tight connections, and the friendships that I made—they were the formative years of my life, so it’s nice to come back and see it come full circle.” Elizabeth Rogers, Class of 1998 Travelling through Tanzania, Elizabeth Rogers noticed agricultural equipment that had been donated by charitable organizations sitting idle. Replacement parts were needed, and the remote, poor, rural communities had no way of securing them. “I realized that 3D printing could be the answer,” she remembers. That was the moment of inspiration for founding Kuunda 3D to create and support the 3D printing ecosystem in Tanzania and other developing countries. The primary focus is on inspiring creativity and innovation at a young age by bringing 3D printing and modelling education to schools and offering community workshops. Her journey from SMS to Tanzania took some intriguing twists and turns. “I remember Mrs. Blazey, the biology teacher, was a big influence on me academically,” said Rogers, who earned her first degree, a BSc in biochemistry, from the University of Victoria. “In general, SMS really planted a seed in me to travel and to do more
Vicky Husband
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internationally. Being exposed to students from different countries profoundly influenced my approach to life and I sought more international experience as I pursued my post-graduate education.” After completing her undergraduate degree, Rogers earned a master’s in space studies at the International Space University in Strasbourg, France. She returned to Canada to work in high-tech DNA sequencing and other scientific labs and in biotech. During this time, she became passionate about environmental sustainability and decided to enroll in the Rotterdam School of Management’s International MBA program to better understand the business and financial components of sustainability. “I have come up with a way to be my own boss, solving problems and getting new experiences every day. I am living the life I wanted to live,” she said. “SMS gave me a good start, with great teachers, a supportive environment and, because it was all girls, I gained confidence. I have always felt I can do whatever I want—that it is all achievable for me.” Pamela Allan, Class of 1941 Pam Allan was born and raised in Victoria and attended St. Margaret’s School from Grade 8 until graduating in 1941 as Head Girl. World War II was well underway. Upon graduation, she knew she wanted to be a nurse, so she went into training at the Royal Jubilee Hospital in 1943. “Then began three years of hard work mixed with fun and good times shared with other St. Margaret’s girls,” she said. In time, she decided to pursue post-graduate studies at the Montreal Neurological Institute. Upon completion, she was offered a job in Edmonton on the neurosurgical ward at the University of Alberta Hospital. A year or two later, Pam took a leave of absence to obtain the University of Saskatchewan Diploma in Nursing Service before returning as emergency supervisor. She continued her studies, earning a Bachelor of Nursing from McGill University and, a few years later, a Master of Public Health from the University of Minnesota, which she completed through a distance learning program. Pam was Director of Nursing Service and then Vice President of Nursing at the University of Alberta Hospital for a number of years before retiring in Edmonton. “I always thought my education at St. Margaret’s was straightforward, and I suppose that was because it was all I had known and I had nothing to compare it to,” she said. “But over time I began to realize that I seemed to know more about some subjects than my friends did. I do know that the curiosity and thirst for new knowledge that began at S. Margaret’s enhanced my life in so many ways.” Allan served as president of the SMS Old Girls’ Association in the early 1950s and has been an annual fund donor to the school since 1992.
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Alumna Aboard: life on a yacht
with her husband and cat, Spitfire
Jennifer Hamilton (née Clark) was an SMS student from Kindergarten until her final year, spring of 1980 in Grade 10. Before she and her husband, James, started their adventurous life of cruising the world in their Nordhavn 52, Dirona, Jennifer was a software engineer for IBM and Microsoft. James is the Distinguished Engineer for Amazon.com and so the couple have that in common along with their taste for adventure. Jennifer took a few minutes to speak with Barbara Sutton, our Director of External Relations, about her memories of SMS.
Q&A
What are your favourite memories from when you were an SMS student?
It’s interesting. Although I consider myself very much an engineer, some of my best memories are of music classes and piano lessons with Miss Frampton, singing in the Christmas Choir, and playing Helen Keller in the school play. I also very much enjoyed taking horseback lessons and participating in various sporting events such as field hockey and track and field. One of the things I really enjoyed about the St. Margaret’s was the exposure to a wide variety of experiences. Do you think that attending an all-girls school for 10 years helped you or inspired you in some way to pursue an engineering degree and to make that career choice? I received a BSc Honours in Computer Science from the University of Victoria in 1987 and an MMath with a computer science major from the University of Waterloo in 1997. I was a software developer, working mostly on computer programming language products such as C++, at IBM in Toronto from 1987–1997 and at Microsoft in Seattle from 1997–2013. I’ve long had a strong interest in math and computer science, and attending a school with a serious academic focus gave me the tools I needed to succeed in pursuing a technical career. For example, I was encouraged to participate in programs such as the Junior Math
SMS Spirit | 10
with Jennifer Hamilton
Competition, which reinforced my enjoyment of problemsolving and a healthy sense of competitiveness. Attending an all-girls school provided access to this rich technical environment without other distractions or competitions. Do you have any advice for our students about exploring career opportunities in the tech industry? I found the University of Victoria’s Co-operative Education Program very helpful in determining that computer science was the career I wanted to pursue. The program intersperses four-month work terms with school terms and gave me exposure to different companies and environments. This allowed me to learn first of all that I enjoyed the work and second what I liked to do most within the field without committing to a full-time job. So I would recommend getting as much work experience as possible early on, to help learn what you like and don’t like. Having the experience on your resumé also helps when pursing a full-time job. And even if you decide you don’t like that career choice and pursue another, having full-time work experience is helpful wherever you go. The tech on the Dirona is very impressive and your husband, James, has created and customized a lot of it. In an interview you did with an Australian publication, you mentioned that you had developed an interactive map
that tracks your travels all over the globe. Are there any other aspects of the tech that you have developed solo—or do you and James collaborate on most of the Dirona technology?
Is there any place that you have been that you feel you are glad to have seen – but perhaps you would not want to go back? (Adventures can be like that sometimes!)
I wrote exclusively the system that writes all the real-time data to the database on Dirona and the web-based tracking system on mvdirona.com. James wrote a lot of the other infrastructure on Dirona, but some of the more challenging projects, such as a custom network router, we did together.
We really enjoyed South Africa, but it’s challenging from a boating perspective. The weather can be severe, there aren’t many safe harbours, and the socioeconomic conditions are poor for large parts of the population.
You and James live permanently on Dirona now, exploring the world and sharing what you discover through articles that you write and the photos that James takes. Of all the places you have been, is there one that is your favourite – and why? That’s a tough question. We loved the South Pacific, Fiordland and Stewart Island in New Zealand were fabulous, and Tasmania, the Great Barrier Reef and the Kimberley in Australia were incredible. But one place that really stands out is Reunion, off the eastern coast of Madagascar. We arrived there after a 3,000 mile non-stop crossing of the Indian Ocean from Western Australia, after a brief stop in nearby Mauritius. Reunion is a French holding, so it has all the wonderful French food and culture. But it also has incredible scenery and hiking, and a live volcano that you can get quite close to.
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Do you have any plans to live ashore again someday, and if yes, where would it be? Not at this point. We love travelling and Dirona is such an ideal platform for us. We have no plans to stop, nor do we even know what country we might live in if we did. Finally, how is your cat Spitfire doing? Such a beautiful and adventurous cat! Spitfire is doing well. He loves living on the boat and we’re lucky to be able to travel with him. Bringing a cat into different countries adds some logistics challenges, but they definitely are worth it. You can follow the adventures of Jennifer, James, and Spitfire on their website at MVDirona.com
Celebrating
110
years of dining at sms The SMS motto has remained the same since its inception, Service with Love—but one thing that has truly transformed over time is on-campus dining. And while the food has always been served with love, the students haven’t always loved what was being served. That has all changed.
be unfamiliar to them. Past topics have included international and historical cuisine, unusual or uncommon foods, etiquette and manners, seasonal produce, methods of preparation and preservation, and much more. “Through conversations and the shared experience of eating together, we hope to build connections between boarders and day students. Food also plays a huge part of the identity of every culture and can be used to celebrate our diversity and strengthen the SMS community,” said Cathy Thornicroft.
SMS is thrilled to have Chef Hudson share his talent with the community. Not only a talented chef, he is equally as passionate about sourcing fresh local ingredients and creating relationships with local farmers.
The dining experience at SMS has changed significantly over the years extending beyond the dining hall to feeding hundreds of students and staff daily – in fact, an average of 400 meals are prepped and served each day. In 2017, SMS partnered with SAGE Dining Services and with a new service provider came Top Chef, Daniel Hudson, literally. Chef Hudson appeared on Season 3 of Top Chef Canada, was the winner of Chopped Canada, and appeared as a guest chef on Food Network’s Chuck and Danny’s Road Trip. (Hudson starred on Season 3 of Top Chef Canada with Danny Francis.) Hudson’s career began 16 years ago in the UK where he worked in one of the finest kitchens, Eastwell Manor. He gained hands-on experience from Michelin star chefs over the years. His motto in the kitchen is, “I do what I know and what I know, I do well.” He moved to Vancouver Island in 2005 and opened his award-winning restaurant Hudson’s on First in Duncan in 2012, and in 2014 he won a Vancouver Magazine Best Restaurant award.
The SAGE Spotlight Program
“It’s important to me to use local ingredients as much as possible because not only does the food taste better, but it’s healthier, good for the economy, and it’s important to forge those community relationships,” said Hudson.
All foods deserve a place in a healthy diet. There΄s room on your plate for a little bit of everything – as long as you adhere to the principles of variety, balance, and moderation.
In fact, just recently, he created a gourmet menu for the 110 Anniversary Spring Reunion using ingredients sourced from within a 110-km radius of St. Margaret’s School. Today, when you step into Alexis Hall, you’re immediately surrounded by an abundance of freshly prepared, mouth-wateringly delicious foods, and welcoming, attentive service. The dining staff works extremely hard to prepare food that is not only healthy but something the girls look forward to each day.
Choosing the right combination of foods can be confusing – especially when you have a wide array of dishes to pick from. The Spotlight Program is here to show you how to make informed, healthy choices.
Some of the menu items have even been adapted by our own kitchen staff, like Lead Cook Raj Baidwan’s traditional curry recipe. Baidwan has been a member of the SMS team for over 40 years. With the help of the SAGE program, students develop a positive relationship with food and make informed choices. Registered dietitians provide guidance and oversight to ensure that every meal meets SAGE standards.
SAGE’s registered dietitians make sure that every dish meets our high standards. They assign colour-coded dots based on the dish’s nutritional value and its fat, salt, and added sugar content. These dots signal whether you should eat lots of a certain food, or enjoy it only in moderation.
SMS uses the SAGE Spotlight Program to create menus with variety, balance, and moderation. Every dish is assigned a colour-coded dot indicating its nutritional value, including fat, salt, and added sugar content. The dot system signals whether one should eat lots of a certain food, or enjoy it only in moderation. Once a month, the team transforms the dining hall into an interactive dining experience. Using creative displays, informational guides, and tasting stations to bring each new topic to life, guests have the chance to see, touch, taste, and learn about exciting new foods. The displays introduce students to foods that might SMS Spirit | 12
SAGE, founded in 1990, is the leading food service provider for independent schools and colleges throughout North America. SAGE currently serves 21 all-girls schools and colleges focusing on safety, quality service, community, nutrition, education, sustainability, and delicious food made from scratch using seasonal, locallysourced ingredient.
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Naomi Darling
Q&A
with the lifers of 2018
Lauren Roberts
Kaitlyn Mingo Annika Tinis
How has the all-girls environment impacted you?
Lifers+
The class of 2018 is unique in many ways, and just like every class before them, they will leave a distinctive mark on the history of SMS and go on to become inspiring women. But what makes this class different?
Three out of the four girls are “Lifers-plus,” otherwise known as the first graduating class of students who started at SMS in the Junior Kindergarten program. Kaitlyn Mingo, Annika Tinis, and Naomi Darling were the first students to go through the program that prepares preschool-aged girls to enter into the academic kindergarten environment. Lauren Roberts joined the rest of the group the following year in Kindergarten. For 14 years of their lives, these girls have shared a bond and an experience that extends beyond the walls of SMS. We asked them to recap some of what made their time here special. SMS Spirit | 14
Since I have been in an all-girls school for my entire life, I have never had the experience of thinking I couldn’t do something because I am a girl. I have heard lots of teachers say that at other schools boys will usually raise their hand in class more than girls, but for me it has always seemed natural that girls would speak up whenever they want to. What has been the most impactful course, teacher, activity, club, or moment for you at SMS? That would have to be art, since it gave me the confidence that I could be good at something and learn about creative people in society. What message do you have for the next generation of SMS girls? They say that it doesn’t matter if you study when you’re little, but trust me it does. Grade 12 math is a lot harder when you can’t remember how to do long division or factoring. Save yourself and study when you first learn the concept.
What is your best memory at SMS?
What is your best memory at SMS? Winning a volleyball game on my birthday. It was a great day. How has the all-girls environment impacted you? The all-girls environment has given me confidence and given me a place to focus. What has been the most impactful course, teacher, activity, club, or moment for you at SMS? In Grade 9 I had a teacher who saw me for who I was, which gave me the confidence to be myself. What are your plans for the future? After graduation I will be attending UVic and hope to eventually study law. I would like to help with humans rights at some point.
My best memory is performing Wizard of Oz at the Belfry Theatre in the role of Dorothy. It was an amazing opportunity, and getting to know the other girls in the play is something I will always be thankful for. How has the all-girls environment impacted you? It has allowed me to find the sisterhood I never knew I wanted. What message do you have for the next generation of SMS girls? Join AP English. Trust me, not taking that class is my biggest senior year regret. What are your plans for the future? After graduation I plan to move to Nova Scotia for university and eventually go to veterinary school and become a veterinarian focusing on preventive care.
What are your plans for the future?
How has the all-girls environment impacted you? Being at an all-girls school with such small classes has allowed me to easily make friends, talk to people, and learn—all without judgment. What has been the most impactful course, teacher, activity, club, or moment for you at SMS? For me, it has been my peer group. I was lucky to go through my school years with smart and friendly people, and I believe that it has helped me be the confident, strong person I am today. What message do you have for the next generation of SMS girls? Have fun with your friends, talk to new people, and work hard on the things you love. What are your plans for the future?
I plan to go to Ryerson University in Toronto and study in the Creative Industries program.
After graduation I will be attending UVic to study physics.
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Lifer
in residence by Lotus Sol
I grew up in Sooke, BC, and came to SMS in 2014, beginning my high school journey and moving into my new home in Grade 9. I remember touring the campus for the first time and how it seemed so expansive and intimidating. I was nervous about starting at a new school and even more scared about moving into residence, but soon after my tour, I was nothing but excited! I knew residence would be a good fit because the support I needed would be provided, while also allowing me to develop my independence in a safe, nurturing environment.
To students considering boarding, believe me when I say that it will become easy to call residence your home—it was for me. The house parents are amazing people, and being in a multicultural community allows you to make friends from all over the world. After I graduate in June I plan to continue my studies at the University of Victoria in the Faculty of Science and explore new passions as a young adult.
Living on our beautiful campus filled with nature is very convenient. We are centrally located in Victoria, so anywhere you want to go is relatively nearby and easy to access. There are also many hiking and walking trails around the Saanich area, so there is never an excuse to stay indoors. For me, the best part about living in residence has been having my closest friends only footsteps away from me or in the neighbouring houses. These girls have become my main circle of support, and I’m not sure I would be where I am today without them. On occasion, I have found myself feeling like I did not have the same privilege of girls living off campus, but I always reminded myself that these are experiences that I am gaining that I could not get anywhere else.
“In Barton House, Lotus has had a very stable and accepting, supportive environment from which to explore who she is, explore her voice, and discover healthy personal boundaries while staying true to her generous and supportive nature. This is no small feat. I think that what is unique to boarding is that we support and care for the girls very much, but their own identities are not bound with them, so possibly there is more opportunity to explore who they are creatively, academically, and within relationships, and within a grounded, structured, skilled, and supportive environment,”
campus life
said Karla Dolinski, Barton House Resident Parent and Residence Counsellor.
In residence, there are several activities throughout the week and on weekends, and the options available are pretty amazing. Although there are over 30 girls in each of the houses, you eventually learn everyone’s name and grow as a family. My favourite memories of residence are having picnics in the field, making a swing in the stairwell, and having long chats with the house parents. I know that when I leave SMS, I will have many fond memories that will carry me forward as I continue my learning journey. There is so much I will never forget from the past four years.
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SMS Spirit | 17
Grandparents & loved ones day
Empowering
by Cindy E. Harnett
her to set her
Holding hands and skipping down the café-lined streets of Paris with my eight-year-old daughter singing “aux Champs-Élysées” was so authentic it was surreal. It was the half-way point of a five-month European backpacking trip and we were blissfully at home here—wandering Paris arrondissements, eating macarons, speaking French, and strolling along the Seine River. This wasn’t an epic moment like some others had been: watching my daughter, Lois Delaney, listen to the Pope give mass in Vatican City; receive her first holy communion and citizenship in Ireland; wave at Britain’s royal family; or sit in the choir pews for royalty and dignitaries during mass in Westminster Abbey. Nor was our skipping scene a postcard moment, as had been the sunsets on a Greek Island, the canals of Venice, coin tossing in the Trevi Fountain in Rome, picnicing on the Seine, or leaning against the Tower of Pisa. It wasn’t even an educational moment, such as watching my daughter discover her love for Dutch post-impressionist painter Vincent Van Gogh, count the books in Trinity College’s library in Dublin, name the five- to eight-sided shapes of more than 40,000 basalt columns of the Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland, stop traffic in a busy Rome street, or read Anne Frank’s diary in Amsterdam. Instead, this moment on a Paris street was about abandon built on
SMS Spirit | 18
the independence and the bond we shared as travellers. It was magic. It took only a dream to sign up for a year-long work sabbatical in 2012. It took grit to commit in 2017. But why were we sending our daughter to St. Margaret’s to reinforce resilience, confidence, lifelong questioning, and learning if we weren’t prepared to model it? Confident girls. Inspiring women. It starts with us, right? That was the guilt trip.
The real trip began when St. Margaret’s School so fully embraced the idea of education abroad and furnished us with inspired ways to cover the Grade 3 curriculum anywhere— making it impossible to back out. The plan: Lois Delaney would journal, record video, blog, and Skype with her class to bring her global experiences back to SMS. We’d sample local food, speak different languages, navigate with maps, and be guided by free audio tours we downloaded on our phones. We’d visit so many UNESCO world heritage sites we’d have to stop counting. Math skills would be enhanced in telling time, exchanging currency, calculating distances, and budgeting. And so, on February 14, 2017, with an SMS Dudley stuffed bear sticking out of Lois’s backpack, we boarded our first plane. It was the first flight of 16 that I had prebooked, along with nine hotels and short-stay rentals from February
own course: Abroad through June.
We launched with a month of home schooling in St. Pete’s Beach, Florida, followed by a family visit to Toronto. Then it was off to Athens. We hiked up to the Acropolis to learn how the Parthenon was built, surveyed ancient ruins, and walked the paths of Greek philosophers, politicians, and gods. On the Greek Island of Santorini we stayed in cave-like rooms carved into the cliffside over the southern Aegean Sea, rode donkeys, and visited the buried Minoan Bronze Age settlement of Akrotiri. In Rome we explored the Colosseum, the largest oval amphitheatre built in the Roman Empire, toured St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City, and marvelled at Michelangelo’s iconic Creation of Adam on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. Through one man’s sculpting, painting, and architecture, Lois Delaney studied art, history, math, and engineering. In Tuscany Lois learned to make pizza, ate cheese, and dipped biscotti in ice wine—we thought “this is life.” Along Venice’s narrow streets and canals, the more we got lost the more we found. We waltzed in the mist in St. Mark’s square, had Easter mass in St. Mark’s Basilica, lingered on the Rialto Bridge, watched glass blown on Murano Island, and at night retired on the docks with gondoliers. By the time we visited the massive landmark Louvre museum, Lois Delaney could compare great
SMS Spirit | 19
works of art. The Mona Lisa, meh. But Canova’s mythological lovers embracing in the sculpture Psyche Revived by Cupid’s Kiss overwhelmed her. She saw strength and imperfect beauty in a sculpture of Venus de Milo, the Greek goddess of love and the Winged Victory of Samothrace, depicting Nike, the goddess of victory. We climbed all 669 steps to the second platform of the Eiffel Tower, took in mass at Notre Dame Cathedral, and then one day, just hours after strolling the Champs Élysées, a police officer was shot dead. Lessons about terrorism, prejudice, and mass-scale tragedy began. At the Anne Frank Museum we learned about faith in humanity and resilience in the face of hate and despair. All this lay the ground for a Black Taxi tour in Belfast about the “Troubles” between unionists/ loyalists, mostly Protestants who want Northern Ireland to remain within the United Kingdom, and Irish nationalists/republicans, mostly Catholics, who want a united Ireland. Alongside world leaders we signed a “peace wall” dividing neighbourhoods. Often we’d be holding hands and skipping down a random European street, like we were home and home was us. To read the full story, visit www.cindyandlolo.com Password: stmargarets
accolades
SMS is full of students who participate in extracurricular activities beyond the classroom. Our girls are encouraged to get involved in the community and lead by example wherever they go. In this issue of Spirit we would like to recognize a handful of students who have been recognized in their respective areas.
Paige Hudak-Kesteven, Megan Brady (Gr. 8) • Member of the Island Ukuleles “A” Senior Ensemble group
Jamie Harker (Gr. 8)
Audrey Darrah (Gr. 8)
• Vancouver Island (Home Sweet Home Tour 2018), performed seven concerts
• 1st North Shore Triathlon Elite Draft Legal Youth
• 1st Pre-Novice Women Figure Skating Regional Championship
• Currently working on Gold Pin level
• Qualified to compete for Island Zone in 2018
• BC Winter Games in February 2018, pre-novice women, 2nd in free skate, 4th overall
Isabella Anderson, Ana Bird, Isla Lamb, Nina Corwin, Stephanie Wordell and Alley Roberts, (all Gr. 9)
• BC Summer Games in July 2018 • Canadian Sports Institute (CSI) carded athlete • Overall Champion Triathlon BC Elite Draft Legal Youth 13-15 years • 1st North Shore Triathlon Elite Draft Legal Youth • 1st Vancouver Triathlon Elite Draft Legal Youth • 2nd Vernon Triathlon Elite Draft Legal Youth
• RCV Ice Show Beauty and the Beast on Ice; cast as principal Belle and skated with Olympian Vaughn Chipeur
• Victoria City Rowing Club, Junior B (U17) division
• Vancouver Island Invitational, silver medal short program pre-novice women U14, bronze medal free program
• Monster Erg at UVIC
• Victoria Day BC Super Series, bronze medal pre-novice women U14
• Brentwood Collage regatta
Kaitlyn Mingo (Gr. 12) Annika Tinis (Gr. 12) Mel Woodard (Gr. 10) • Performed in the BC Provincial Honour Choir • Participated in the BC Youth Choir
Naomi Darling (Gr. 12) Lauren Ebata (Gr. 12) Sophie Beauchesne (Gr. 11) Lydia Li (Gr. 10) Jenny Qin (Gr. 10) Mandy Hoi (Gr.10) • Presented artwork in Limelight Youth Art Show
• Hungerford Cup/Head of Shawnigan regatta • Maple Bay regatta • Delta Deas Scholastic • Will be participating in the Western Canadian Championships
Sophie Beauchesne (Gr. 11) • Performed in The Nutcracker ballet with the Goh Ballet, Royal Winnipeg Ballet, and Alberta Ballet Company in several different roles • One of two students at Dance On It Studios to receive a scholarship to attend the Rhythm ‘N’ Soul Experience at The McTavish Academy of Art
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Reimer TRI-s for Youth Olympic Games
Maelle Reed (Gr. 11) • U18 Rugby Canada Women’s Sevens West Trial selection camp for a spot on the Canadian Youth Olympic (YOG) team • BC Elite Sevens U18 Las Vegas Invitational, silver medal • U18 Canadian Nationals in Vancouver, bronze medal • Invited by Rugby Canada Academy head coach to participate in the SANIX International High School Seven’s team in Japan. Travelled and competed against international field of teams from England, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and Japan and secured 5th place in their pool • Accepted in CSS (Canadian Sports School) for the 2018/2019 school year • Invited to enroll in Rugby Academy for the 2018/2019 school year
She’s only 17 years old, but her athletic career is that of a seasoned veteran. Colette Reimer got her start in Grade 3 when she joined the crosscountry running team—she was a natural. Since that time, a lot has changed, and while running is still her greatest strength, she has added two new disciplines to her repertoire. Reimer, who now competes in the sport of triathlon, has her sights set on qualifying for the Youth Olympic Games this September in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The Games will feature nearly 4,000 athletes competing across 32 sports, with the triathlon competition itself open to 64 athletes: 32 men and 32 women, born in 2001 or 2002. The qualifier for the Americas was held in Salinas, Ecuador, but Reimer opted out of travelling to that race and will have the opportunity to compete for a spot at the qualifiers in Quebec on July 14. While a single race will decide Reimer’s fate, the now Grade 12 student, who’s been competing in the sport for over five years, says that no matter what happens she will be happy knowing she has put in the work and done everything she could to qualify. “I definitely feel the pressure, but I know that no matter what happens, I’ve trained really hard and so have all the other girls. I’ll be happy for whoever gets the spot on the team that will represent the Americas,” said Reimer.
For Colette, who trains six days a week for upwards of 15 hours, it’s important that she has that flexibility in her schedule to allow her to compete nationally and internationally throughout the year. “Open dialogue with SY Principal Mrs. Hedderick and communication regarding Colette’s rigorous schedule has allowed the school to implement a great morning block system which supports students like Colette and others to pursue their path of athletics,” said Sheri Reimer, Colette’s mother. “SMS has been very adaptable when Colette has to leave school to travel for races and is always supportive to help her in any way. They look at this as an opportunity for her and always show excitement for her. This makes being away from school a lot less stressful, and she can focus on her racing at the time.” Colette admits that the training schedule can be gruelling, but despite missing out on some regular high school activities, it’s worth it. “Sometimes I feel like I’m missing out, but the opportunities I have been able to pursue because of triathlon, like travelling the world and meeting new people, are amazing and I feel like I’m gaining more than I’m losing,” she said. “Colette has been at SMS since the age of four. It feels like a family rather than a school,” said her mother. A quote I have often heard is ‘it takes a village to cultivate, nurture, and strengthen a child,’ and this is what we have experienced. Nurturing her from such a young age and instilling confidence, leadership, and compassion has helped round Colette into the amazing young women she is today.”
St. Margaret’s School supports athletes pursuing individual sports and aspiring to high levels of competition. In addition to athletic programs for all students that emphasize participation and wellness, the school offers flexible timetables that accommodate training schedules and recognizes individual pursuits.
SMS Spirit | 21
A parent’s
perspective on social-emotional learning
Creativity
by Cheryl Major
Families are a child’s first teacher and an essential factor in the cultivation of social and emotional competencies throughout a child’s life. When schools and families work together, they can build strong connections that reinforce social-emotional skill development. In fact, research suggests that evidence-based socialemotional learning (SEL) programs are more effective when they extend into the home.
At work:
Our Explorations Program
This was the topic of the recent discussion series offered at SMS and developed by CASEL (Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning) to support schools that wish to engage parents and caregivers in conversations about the social and emotional growth of their children. When parents begin to look for a school for their daughter, they likely never stop to consider what they, as parents, might learn themselves from her experience at the school. As parents, we consider the academics, the campus, the school’s values, and a gamut of other aspects of our children’s education, but we rarely ask, “how will this school impact me?” This spring, when St. Margaret’s ran a socio-emotional learning series for parents, I immediately jumped at the opportunity because, after just three years with SMS, I realized that my daughter was well ahead of me in this area and was, in fact, teaching me some of the self-management and relationship skills she had been learning when I was not at my best. This series of courses was just what I needed to not only continue helping her in her growth, but to develop my own skills as well. During the four one-hour workshops, we learned about the five core competencies of socio-emotional education: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, responsible decision making, and relationship skills—and how the school was focusing on these skills through all grade levels. We also explored gratitude, managing stress and anxiety, and navigating the parent-teacher relationship. We gained insight into the topics and tools our daughters were learning and explored resources for ourselves such as casel.org and Lynn Lyons’s video series on anxiety, so that the learning can continue at home.
learning curve, and there was great relief for all of us in knowing that other parents experience the same trials and self-doubt in trying to “do the right thing” when parenting and advocating for our daughters. For me, as the parent of young daughters, there was also great value in hearing from parents in the middle and senior years. I’m grateful for the opportunity to access the combined knowledge and experiences of everyone in the room for these sessions, and with active participation from the teaching team, administration, and parents from all three schools, these parent sessions really delivered the message of not only a whole-school approach but a whole-family approach to learning that exists at SMS.
Walk into the Multipurpose Room on a Tuesday morning and you will encounter a busy hum of Kindergarten to Grade 4 students working together on various projects. This is the Explorations program, where our girls ask questions, delve into open-ended thematic challenges and create—all the while building relationships with each other. Recently, our students created a gallery to feature their projects. Each project focused on how a problem could be resolved through better design. For example—have you ever had your zipper caught? The clothing group investigated zipper design and created a solution by gluing down the fabric tab. Although this is a simple solution, the data collection and design process emphasizes just how creative the girls can be when they work together. Our Explorations program gives students the opportunity to explore an issue, design a solution, and prototype their idea. The process of design is emphasized. The hands-on learning enables a deep and lasting experience. The students are empowered and take pride in their work.
According to Mary Lue Emmerson, Foundation Years Principal, “In Explorations, we have the opportunity to delve deeply into real world issues and develop student-driven inquiry projects. It is a fine example of what we can do as a small school—where the FY students from Kindergarten through Grade 4 work together and subsequently learn from each other, developing their critical and creative thinking skills.” “My favourite part of Explorations is getting to work with the younger students who I wouldn’t normally get to interact with. It’s fun getting to know them and feel like I can be a positive role model,” said Grade 4 student, Kimberly Davis. Explorations allows students to develop core competencies. Themes are often connected to the curriculum and in particular the applied design, skills, and technology curriculum. The K–Grade 4 teachers and specialist teachers meet regularly to plan and prepare the lessons. At SMS, we believe that this innovative approach is particularly effective for introducing our youngest students to the STEM teaching philosophy that is woven throughout the rest of their education here.
In the end, we all felt a stronger sense of community, and when it comes down to it, community is really what this school is all about.
The largest benefit of these forums, however, was that we all had a chance to share our struggles, hopes, and fears through discussion and self-reflection exercises. I quickly realized I wasn’t alone in my self-assessment of being behind my daughter’s socio-emotional SMS Spirit | 22
SMS Spirit | 23
Shining
at the World Scholar’s Cup in Athens of the more advanced concepts and stay on task during their weekly study sessions.
The World Scholar’s Cup (WSC) is an international team academic program with students participating from over 50 countries. Founded in 2006, the WSC has attracted a global community of future scholars and leaders, allowing participants to discover new strengths and skills. For three SMS students in Grade 9, the WSC was a challenge they just had to take on! Ines Khouider, Tesnim Mtiraoui, and Delphine Bouchard Stickland spent their free time over the last several months diving head first into studying a range of topics to compete on a global stage. That stage was in Athens, Greece, at the WSC this past February. For Ines and Tesnim, focus on competition began after they participated in a public speaking club in Grade 7. They had so much fun that they decided to enroll in a summer debate camp, which led, in turn, to taking a further step to become involved in the WSC alongside teammate, Delphine. After qualifying at regionals, the three girls travelled to Athens with chaperone Aldjia Abdelli (Ines’s mother) to compete among thousands of other talented students. WSC regional competitions take place in more than 40 countries around the world. The competition is fierce, with competitors required to work together in teams, participate in essay writing, debating, writing a particularly difficult test, and taking on a trivia challenge. Students are given the theme in advance and provided with a huge list of recommended reading material or topics to study. The event culminates in a global round.
“I really enjoyed studying and learning about all the topics. This year’s theme was mythology, and we got to learn about conspiracy theories, memory, and all sorts of interesting things,” said Tesnim. “The competition is made so that we have fun. It’s not about forcing ourselves to learn; it’s not even about the subjects or the medals. It’s really about so much more.” “My favourite part is probably the interaction with other like-minded students. There are so many opportunities, and I made friends with people from all over the world, including Israel, France, and Indonesia, and we still keep in touch. I also really love debating— there is such an adrenaline rush that you get after finishing an intense debate,” said Ines. Ines, who was selected to compete on the debate showcase, is particularly skilled in the art, but she wasn’t always so outgoing. “Ines has been very driven since starting at SMS in Grade 6. We are so thankful for all of her teachers, especially Ms. Boyce and Mrs. DaSilva. I don’t know what they did, but something just clicked, and she found her confidence and her motivation here,” said Aldjia. The SMS students took 19th place in the world in the Junior Division and 2nd place in the Americas, along with winning a plethora of other gold, silver, and bronze medals. Their dedication and outstanding performance at the WSC brings pride and honour to SMS. At the June Closing Ceremony, all three girls were given the Fiona Grant Award, which is presented to students who have achieved recognition at the national and international level in their area of passion through SMS.
“What impressed me most was how the girls were able to work together all on their own,” said Aldjia. “We went a few days early and the girls worked very hard. They woke up early and studied, and then we would go sightseeing during the day. In the evening, they would study again. They worked well as a team. It was very impressive and they were incredibly organized,” she said. More than simply a rigorous academic competition, the WSC is a celebration of learning that shows the alignment between diverse subject matter, challenges teams to work together, and requires competitors to focus on serious global issues. Participants research, discuss, and debate science, art, music, history, literature, and more. Most teams prepare up to eight weeks prior to the event. The SMS team was sponsored by Director of Curriculum and Instruction, Darlene DeMerchant, who helped the girls better understand some SMS Spirit | 24
A Welcome Pole carving tells a thousand stories
by Bev Waterfield and Carol Nahachewsky
A picture may say a thousand words, but a Welcome Pole tells a thousand stories. St. Margaret’s School has a long and proud history, and now, thanks to the Carver in Residence program, we are acknowledging in an authentic and visible manner our growing appreciation and respect for the Esquimalt, Songhees, and WSÁNEĆ peoples on whose shared traditional lands our school is situated today.
shared, such as a miniature dugout canoe, paddles, bentwood boxes, rattles, cedar headbands, and baskets. Students gained a deeper understanding of the importance of red cedar to the Coast and Strait Salish peoples. The Grade 5s are now looking forward to seeing the pole transform and appreciate that it will remain at SMS to send the message to visitors that we value all cultures.
This year we invited renowned Coast Salish artist and master carver Douglas LaFortune to be our Carver in Residence. In this role, Douglas has designed a Welcome Pole for SMS based on our Big Sister/Little Sister program. Douglas and his wife, Kathy, are currently providing our JK to Grade 12 classes with carving demonstrations on campus, presentations on the traditional uses of red cedar, and some fantastic storytelling along the way.
The theme of family is also meaningful to Douglas, displayed in his modelling of the Welcome Pole after his own granddaughters, Two Hawks (Seneca, who attended St. Margaret’s School) and Little Hawk (Avery). Our students were thrilled to hear that the figures are named after his granddaughters, and we all appreciate that he has personalized the pole in this way.
“The value of the Carver in Residence program is the opportunity for students to experience the process of creating something beautiful firsthand. It provides them with a greater appreciation for the final product seeing the passion put into the work,” said Head of School Cathy Thornicroft. The Big Sister/Little Sister Welcome Pole is one way to express “our commitment to embracing our Indigenous past.” Students in Grade 5 were asked to reflect on their recent visit with the LaFortunes and on the importance of the project. Feedback was extremely positive. The girls felt fortunate to be able to watch and listen to Douglas while he carved the pole. They were also grateful to be able to handle and inquire about the many artifacts that were
“This is a great school. I feel honoured to be here sharing my work with the community. The girls are very respectful and ask good questions—this has been a meaningful experience for me.” With this initiative, we are not only connecting to and across the curriculum, but enriching students from JK through to Grade 12, as well as the teachers and staff, with an understanding of Indigenous experience, ways of being, and knowing. Once the pole is completed and in position, we hope to use the space as a gathering place where we can reflect on the many values the Big Sister/Little Sister pole represents.
SMS Spirit | 25
110th Anniversary
"Crocodile line" in front of the Empress Hotel
Celebrating
110 years
Empress Hotel 2018
A FUNDRAISER FOR SMS
a shared history In 1908, acclaimed architect Sir Francis Rattenbury completed his work on the magnificent building we know and love today as The Fairmont Empress. That same year, St. Margaret’s School was founded, and a few years later Sir Francis designed the original campus, where his daughters were students. Today, SMS is the only all-girls school on Vancouver Island, and Canada’s first all-girls STEM school. The 110th Anniversary Tea is a shared celebration and a fundraiser for SMS. Keynote Speaker: Sally Armstrong is a Canadian journalist, speaker, and human rights activist. In addition to being well known for her many years of covering stories on girls and women in war zones, Sally is an acclaimed author, and her most recent title, Ascent of Women: Our Turn, Our Way—A Remarkable Story of Worldwide Change will be the focus her talk.
a fundraiser for st. margaret’s school at the fairmont empress
TEA Sunday, November 4, 2018 1:00 – 4:00 pm Fairmont Empress Hotel Join us for Anniversary Tea in the iconic Crystal Ballroom featuring: KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Sally Armstrong, OC Award-winning author, journalist, and human rights activist; four-time winner of the Amnesty International Canada media award; ten honorary degrees; and Officer of the Order of Canada.
SMS Emerging Leaders Award: Three young alumnae will be recognized for their contributions and presented with the inaugural SMS Emerging Leaders Award. Silent Auction: to raise funds for SMS scholarships and bursaries. Tickets are $150 per person ($50 tax receipt). For information and tickets, please contact: Barbara Sutton, Director of External Relations St. Margaret’s School 250-479-7171 ext 2122 bsutton@stmarg.ca
Tickets: $150 per person (with $50 tax receipt) Contact Barbara Sutton at bsutton@stmarg.ca or 250-479-7171 ext. 2122 to purchase. Event features inaugural SMS Emerging Leaders Award presented to three outstanding young alumnae, afternoon tea, lecture, and silent auction. All proceeds will support SMS scholarships and bursaries.
St. Margaret’s School
Confident girls. Inspiring women. Guests receive a complimentary copy of Ascent of Women by Sally Armstrong. St. Margaret’s School is a registered non-profit society. Charitable registration number: #10802 8614 RR 0001 SMS Spirit | 26
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“Choose an all-girls school because it’s time for change.” ELIZABETH ROGERS (SMS ’98)
Founder of Kuunda 3D Printing, Nairobi, Kenya Elizabeth Rogers at the base of Mt. Kilimanjaro
At SMS, we have been putting girls first for 110 years. Surrounded by positive role models, SMS girls are immersed in Canada’s first girls’-only K–12 STEM curriculum. Our average class size is 10 students to one teacher for a personalized educational experience. Learn more: www.stmarg.ca
Contributors and Spirit Team Cathy Thornicroft–Head of School Kelley O’Grady–Editor–in–Chief Contributors–Barbara Sutton, Director of External Relations, Bev Waterfield, Carol Nahachewsky, Cindy E. Harnett, Cheryl Major, Lotus Sol
Photography–Kelley O’Grady, Caley Hartney, Jeanine Stannard, John Yanyshyn, Visions West Art Director/ Designer–Laurie Darrah, Refinemark Copy Editor–Ruth Wilson, West Coast Editorial Associates Hillside Printing
St. Margaret’s School
www.stmarg.ca @saintmargarets
Confident girls. Inspiring women.
@stmargaretsschool @st_margarets
St. Margaret’s School 1080 Lucas Avenue Victoria, British Columbia, Canada V8X 3P7
Indicia here
