The Andrean at 65

The Andrean magazine is a mirror. It reflects the current picture of St. Andrew’s in each issue that hits your mailbox, your laptop, desktop, or phone. Whether you read the hard copy at home in front of a blazing fire or digitally on a plane to Hong Kong, the school’s message is most effectively spread worldwide.

For over 50 years of the college’s existence, Old Boys were sent a copy of The Review, the school yearbook, which had a small section dedicated to Old Boys news. Two members of the faculty in 1956 felt the alumni needed their own communication link. Henry Holden, a history teacher, and Lower School teacher, Michael Adamson ’44, gathered the news internally at the college, and The Andrean bulletin was published in October 1956 for the first time under the aegis of the volunteer Old Boys Association. By the mid-1980s, The Andrean was still a four-page leaflet.

In 1985, to mark the 60th anniversary of the school in Aurora, a group of keen parent volunteers on the SAC Association Council, with the help of an outside marketing consultant, produced a celebration issue that hit the mailboxes of all Old Boys, current parents, alumni parents, and anyone else remotely involved with the school. The die had been cast. There was no going back to a flyer!

Full-colour photography exploded on the wraparound covers, content improved dramatically, current students were honoured for their achievements, admission was promoted, and a computerized mailing list was compiled that reflected the full extent of the school’s ever-growing community.

The information-technology era arrived with immediate and dramatic effects and made communication a huge priority. Nowadays, many young boys from all parts of the globe explore the school online themselves.

The Andrean is now, and has been for many years, a brilliant reflection of St. Andrew’s College. X

By Jim Herder ’64, former Director of Development and Andrean Editor

As an avid reader/follower for 55 of The Andrean’s 65 years, the Andrean was Facebook before Facebook. Happily, it has maintained its analogue format complemented by colour photography and original content. As is true of many marriages, they say the first 65 are the hardest! Whenever I receive The Andrean, I look forward to reading the Old Boys News and any articles that might be written about Old Boys and their life stories and accomplishments. It’s a pleasure to read about students you taught and to see what they’re doing, who they’ve married, and how many children they have.

– David “Juice” Josselyn Retired SAC math and geography teacher

1965

1950 1960 1970

1956

Our four sons attended St. Andrew’s College over a span of 14 Years. The Andrean keeps us in touch with the school and our sons’ classmates, their careers, their families, their children. It is a living connection to the school and the students. We devour The Andrean, cover to cover, for school events, faculty connections, and for the connections to our sons’ contemporaries. It is our link, our tie, a knot, and a web to everything St. Andrew’s.

– Ted and Nanette Parent Past Parents of Adam ’03, Colin ’99, David ’96, and Michael ’94

1983 2007

I look forward to receiving The Andrean as it is now my closest link to the school. I usually read the message from the Head of School first to learn about any special projects that are either underway or soon to be started. Next, I turn to the Old Boys News. I look forward to updates about Andreans from my era, as well as the many students I crossed paths with in my 33-year tenure as a member of faculty.

– John Walden ’71 Retired Assistant Head of School and English teacher

2015

1980 1990 2000 2010 2020

1973 1998

I look forward to getting each edition of The Andrean. It is an excellent way to keep up with the activities and developments at the school. I look first at the Old Boys News section to learn of the events that have occurred to my schoolmates and the other generations of Andreans, both older and younger. I get similar publications from the other educational institutions that I have attended, and also the ones from my wife’s and daughter’s schools, and, while I am somewhat biased, I rate The Andrean as being the best. I also consider that The Andrean is excellent as promotional material for prospective students and parents.

– Bill McNeil ’66

I had a wonderful, life-changing time as a student, but I still think, on reading every issue, how much the place has improved. To me, it is that love letter I was always excited to get at mail call!

– John Stewart ’78