A publication for all members of the St. Clement’s School Community — Fall 2019
Fall 2019
Our mission St. Clement’s School develops outstanding women who are intellectually curious, courageous, and compassionate. Principal Martha Perry ’85 Executive Director of Advancement Lisa Watson Associate Director of Communications Kristin Mills Associate Director of Communications, Special Projects Jason Fearon Editor Simon Vaughan, Communications Manager Copy Editor Joanne Thompson, Past Staff Graphic Design Underline Studio Contributing Photographers Jason Fearon, Staff; Derek Monson, Staff; Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy; Karri North; Alisha Trigatti, Staff; Simon Vaughan, Staff. Illustrations Rami Niemi Justyna Stasik Printing Andora Graphics Inc. Thank you to all of our community members who contributed photographs, stories, opinions, and personal expertise in creating this magazine. Your input is encouraged: Simon Vaughan Communications Manager 416 483 4414 x2257 simon.vaughan@scs.on.ca Alumnae Contact Meagan Thomas Associate Director, Advancement 416 483 4414 x2231 meagan.thomas@scs.on.ca
St. Clement’s School 21 St. Clements Ave. Toronto, ON M4R 1G8 Canada 416 483 4835 scs.on.ca
COVER PHOTO KARRI NORTH
Red Blazer is published twice yearly by the Advancement Office for all members of the St. Clement’s School Community.
Proud history, solid future.
Within sight of SCS lies St. Clement’s Church in whose old Parish Hall our School began 118 years ago. While we never forget those foundations, we always have our focus firmly on the future and continue to grow, adapt, and develop, alongside the intellectually curious, courageous, and compassionate Clementines we are proud to call our own.
Red Blazer Fall 2019 |
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Table of Contents
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Life at SCS Head Girl’s Message ........................................................................ 4 Principal’s Perspective .................................................................... 5 Highlights .............................................................................................. 6 At Issue (Q&A) .................................................................................... 8 Day in the Life ..................................................................................... 9
Features Achieving our Goals ....................................................................... 10 Well-Being at St. Clement’s School .......................................... 12 Programmed for Success ............................................................ 14 Graduating Class .............................................................................. 18
From the Desk Sports ................................................................................................... 22 Arts ........................................................................................................ 24 Academics ......................................................................................... 26 Advancement .................................................................................... 28
Experiential Education Out There ........................................................................................... 30
Community Making Connections ...................................................................... 32
St. Clement's enabled me to glean that I could face any challenge presented and do anything I dared to attempt in my life. — Dr. Pamela F. (Bethel) Etuk ’63
34-40 41-48
Next Chapter Alumnae Profile ................................................................................ 34 Alumnae Connection ..................................................................... 36
Our Space Active School Travel Survey ....................................................... 40
Bulletin Board Class Notes ........................................................................................ 42 Staff News .......................................................................................... 46 Tempus Fugit .................................................................................... 48
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Life at SCS Head Girl’s Message
Did you know? The powerful Emperor penguin has been recorded swimming as much as 500 metres below the ocean’s surface.
Here comes the 2019-2020 school year! Renéyah Brown ’20
Every year offers us a fresh start, a new beginning, whether it’s the first time we set foot in the School as a Clementine, or one of the last.
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As I write this, I am thrown into the past; I remember the summer before I entered Grade 9 at St. Clement’s and how the excitement of a new school overflowed into all aspects of my daily life. I hadn’t known what the School had in store, but the opportunity for new experiences left me ecstatic. It is funny how, despite now feeling as though I know all the ins and outs of SCS, I feel that same sense of bubbling excitement today. The continuation of these positive feelings into my final year at SCS stems from knowing the School so well while being aware that each year brings new people, new laughter, new challenges, and new opportunities for everyone. I look forward to again seeing the people that make this school amazing, staff and students alike, and to strengthening or making new connections with those I haven't yet had the opportunity to know. I can’t wait to
take my courses, help out with the school play, or look for new ways to challenge myself. Every year offers us a fresh start, a new beginning, whether it’s the first time we set foot in the School as a Clementine, or one of the last. The best thing about the new year is that it’s completely ours to shape! I am inspired by the remarkable examples of youth activism in our greater community, and that pushes me to be a better leader for SCS. I am ridiculously honoured to serve as Head Girl, and trust that with the collaboration of the dedicated Prefect team and the hardworking student leaders, this will be a fun-filled year for all SCS students, from the Junior School to the Upper School. I am ready to hear brand new ideas from all of my fellow students, and to strengthen relationships throughout the grades. Our School’s culture truly values the compassion, courage, and curiosity of its students, creating the perfect environment to empower its students and to enhance the experience of all members of our community. As you can tell, I am beaming with hope! However, the new and the unknown can be as terrifying as they are promising, and the thoughts we all face lurk in the dark corners of my mind: what if this year doesn’t shape into what I want it to be? The supportive nature of SCS, my friends, peers, and my family, gives me faith that I can get through anything. SCS has always felt like a second home, and this sense of love and community gives me the strength to do whatever I put my mind to. To any SCS students reading, know that I am here any time you need a friend. Finally, in true SCS fashion: GET EXCITED!
Life at SCS Principal’s Perspective
Did you know? The tallest penguin fossil ever discovered was in NZ and at 1.77m was taller than many humans!
Keeping Connected Martha Perry ’85
The importance of well-being and its
contribution to learning must not be underestimated. In order to be at our best – and thus open to continually growing and learning – we must identify and optimize the skills and resources that assist each of us in maintaining our well-being. These resources and skills are gathered through our participation in any number of academic and co-curricular experiences, and with the teaching, guidance, and facilitation of experts and peers alike. At St. Clement’s School, we believe that, in order to ensure our mission of developing outstanding women who are intellectually curious, courageous, and compassionate, we are responsible for providing the very best learning experiences in the very best environment. Let’s be clear, though: promising the best is not promising a smooth ride for our girls
as they are learning. Rather, it is promising to challenge them to challenge themselves, to provide opportunities for them to step outside their comfort zones, and to use guidance and care to assist them in their acquisition of skills over time. An important consideration is the need for staff, parents, and other mentors in our girls’ lives to provide balanced support that comforts whilst also stepping back to encourage the independent thinking that produces growth and fosters resilience. We have an exciting and important role to play in nurturing these girls to become the outstanding women we know they can and will be. As you read through this edition of Red Blazer, you will be provided with a window into the thoughtful and purposeful work that is being done at the School – through diverse approaches and areas of programming – to ensure our girls’ well-being and our mission. Enjoy!
Promising the best is not promising a smooth ride for our girls as they are learning. Rather, it is promising to challenge them to challenge themselves.
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Highlights
Life at SCS Highlights
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1 Fine Dining: The annual Grade 1 Tea Party boasts sartorial splendour and fine (sweet!) dining.
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Life at SCS Highlights
Images from top left:
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1 Grade 1 Tea Party 2 Grade 1 Tea Party 3 Mother-Daughter Bingo 4 Mother-Daughter Bingo 5 Junior School Dance Party 6 Windsor House Day 7 May Day festivities 8 Windsor House Day 9 Dr. Nilanjana Dasgupta, LINCWell Speaker 10 May Day festivities 11 Installation and Gold Belt Leadership Service 12 Installation and Gold Belt Leadership Service
IN NUMBERS 9 May Day: The annual May Day festivities always provide fresh air, exercise, fun, and lots of laughs. 7
19 AP™ courses offered in 2019-2020.
58 Clementines in the Class of 2020.
7:1 Our student-teacher ratio.
18,412 Books in SCS’s Lassonde Library!
10 Leaders: The Class of 2020 were presented with their Gold Belts at the Installation and Gold Belt Leadership Service at St. Clement’s Church. 11
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Life at SCS At Issue
Q&A
How have you displayed compassion at SCS and how did it make you feel?
KAREENA ARYA, Class
KATIE TSUI, Class
of 2026
I displayed compassion by comforting my friend who was hurt in school. It made me feel good because I was able to help her in the end.
SOPHIA HUTCHISON, Class
of 2022
I demonstrated compassion by welcoming my new classmates and ensuring that they felt comfortable at SCS. I felt good about helping out my new classmates just as my classmates helped me when I was new.
of 2021
I have displayed compassion while participating in the Horizons program that SCS offers at Stanley Public School. I supported students in Grades 3-5 with the topics of reading, writing, math, and fitness while helping to create a safe environment for learning.
AVA COOPER,
Class of 2025
When I first met my reading buddy, she was a bit shy. We blew bubbles, drew with chalk, and played tag. I knew what it was like to be a new little Clementine and I wanted to welcome her and let her know she could always count on me. It made me feel like a true leader to help her.
ANDIE MILLER,
MIRA GHAI, Class
of 2027
I showed compassion when I saw a new girl at recess. She looked sad so I talked to her. She seemed surprised but grateful. We talked and laughed. People welcomed me to SCS so I welcomed her.
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Class of 2020
When I took on the role of mentor for a new Grade 8 student, I was able to welcome her to our community with open arms, show her the ins and outs of SCS, and make a new friend. It was an amazing experience.
Life at SCS A Day in the Life
A Day in the Life Leah Martins ’22
Hobbies: Photography, friends, family, soccer, music
6:30 A.M. I have a lot of interests, so I lead a non-stop life. I wake up early and get ready for school. I live near the Scarborough Bluffs and get a ride to the subway, then walk the rest of the way.
11:45 A.M. During lunch I do trivia with some friends. It quickly becomes an intense game as everyone tries to be heard over the others. It’s fun because I learn new facts, and at the same time marvel about other’s knowledge, and hear everyone shout out the answers.
8:30 A.M. One of my favourite subjects is computer science. In this class we learn about Java and how to build computers! I like it because it gives me insight about the everyday technology people use.
3:30 P.M. I leave to pick up my little sister from her school. I usually arrive at 4:30 p.m. and then we both catch the subway to where my Mom picks us up. As soon as I get home, I spend a few hours completing homework. House: York
Favourite Music: Pop, DISNEY!
Favourite Colour: Baby blue
6:30 P.M. Twice a week I play rep soccer as a goaltender. My teammates are amazing, and I love spending time with my friends from soccer. I joke about how diving for the ball makes me feel like an MI6 agent.
9:00 P.M. After soccer I arrive home and am welcomed by my two ‘puppies’, Finn and Molly. I then finish any outstanding homework that I worked on before practice and talk to friends. I usually go to bed around 10:30 p.m. if I don’t have a soccer game that night.
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Achieving our Goals
Text by Martha Perry ’85
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As we approach the third and final year of our current strategic plan, we are proud of our many achievements. The three key pillars of the plan – Excellence in Teaching and Learning, Leveraging our Close-Knit Community, and Ensuring Future Sustainability – have kept us focused and moving forward in delivering our mission of developing outstanding women who are intellectually curious, courageous, and compassionate well into the future. Thanks to our students, staff, parents, and alumnae, two years ago we gathered helpful feedback that indicated the following areas for ongoing improvement and innovation: attention to parent and alumnae
engagement and to our close-knit community; ensuring every girl has an adult with whom they feel comfortable and safe; ensuring our programs and work are clearly understood; and making a more compelling case for philanthropic support. With this feedback in mind and our plan as our guide, much has been accomplished.
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Excellence in Teaching and Learning
Leveraging our Close-Knit Community
Our School’s timetable has been adapted and changes implemented with positive feedback from the majority of students, staff, and parents. With this timetable, the School has been able to enrich our girls’ learning experiences with new programs and varied ways of instruction and to attend to the girls’ well-being through a mid-week late start, increased travel time between classes, and a predictable five-day schedule. Our girls are also reaping the benefits of our faculty’s additional weekly professional development. As a result of commitment from our staff and purposeful relationshipbuilding, the School has deepened connections with partners such as Wandering Spirit School in Toronto, Moose Cree First Nation in Moose Factory, and the Kasiisi Project in Uganda. All of these connections will enhance our girls’ opportunities for learning and understanding. A Grades 1-8 audit of the School’s teaching and learning was initiated in order to ensure our program’s equity, diversity, and inclusivity. Significant work has been done on our Campus Master Plan to address urgent facility needs to support our girls’ learning.
With our online Alumnae platform – SCSConnect – now in place for over a year and continuing to grow, we are able to leverage connections not only amongst alumnae but also with the School. Alumnae have been able to post and have had success in acquiring employment, and they have overwhelmingly indicated their interest in connecting with and supporting the School. The support of the School’s Parents’ Association (PA) contributes significantly to our close-knit community. Closer connections with the School’s Academic Administration and faculty have enhanced the community’s engagement with and understanding of our programs. The implementation of our School’s Diversity Strategy has been supported by the PA through their ongoing sponsorship of our LINCWell Speakers’ Series. Last year’s theme was diversity, and our community benefited from hearing Hadiya Roderique, Dr. Leonard Sax, and Dr. Nilanjana Dasgupta. In addition, signage with our School’s Mission, Values, and Diversity Statement has now been finalized and posted.
While we continue to progress toward the goals of this three-year plan, the Board and School have also been working hard over the last six months to prepare for the future. Our next plan, commencing in the fall of
Ensuring Future Sustainability The recommitment to a small school population while ensuring exceptional faculty and staff has been paramount, and the School will continue with this focus into the future. The School’s clearer focus on creating compelling cases for philanthropy has resulted in outstanding support from our community, including: surpassing our Annual Fund goal of $600,000 to enable the refurbishing of one classroom for each of the Junior, Middle, and Senior Schools; raising a remarkable $350,000 for our roof project to be completed for the fall of 2020; and the exceptional response from all constituents to our Philanthropy survey in the spring, informing and confirming the School’s work on facilities and fundraising. The School’s endowment growth continues with important programs such as our Grad Class Gift, which encourages each graduating class to raise over $25,000 to be endowed and directed to Financial Aid.
2020, will be developed over this coming year, and your input will be important. Stay tuned for information and opportunities for involvement in the coming months.
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LINCWell
Well-Being at St. Clement’s School LINCWell is a full school approach designed to craft a school experience for each of our girls that is characterized by Learning, Individualization, Nurturing, Creativity, and Wellness. Text by Heather Henricks, Vice Principal, Learning, Research, and Innovation
The “well” in LINCWell has always stood for wellness. In the decade since LINCWell was conceived, the terms “wellness” and “wellbeing” have become increasingly distinct. While wellness is generally defined more narrowly and often describes a physical state, well-being is more holistic and, depending on the description or definition used, may include physical and mental health, happiness, purpose, and engagement, amongst other things. It is also an active state that changes due to a number of factors including context. As a LINCWell team, we decided that a key step in refining our programming and support model was defining what we mean by the term “Well-being at St. Clement’s School.” As part of that process, it became apparent that there are a multitude of definitions of well-being, but upon closer examination, most of these are simply comprised of descriptions or lists of the elements or domains of wellbeing rather than actual definitions. In all of the available literature, one thing is consistent, however: well-being is a dynamic 12 | Red Blazer Fall 2019
and multi-dimensional construct. It is constantly changing and its attainment is not an achievement that someone works towards and then has for life once achieved. As Rachel Dodge, Annette P. Daly, Jan Huyton, and Lalage D. Sanders have proposed in The Challenge of Defining Wellbeing (www. internationaljournalofwellbeing.org), “a new definition of well-being (is) as the balance point between an individual’s resource pool and the challenges faced.” This definition resonated with us at SCS and will serve as a starting point for the refinement of our LINCWell programming. Recognizing that people have diverse needs, challenges, and strengths, at SCS we define well-being as a balance between an individual’s challenges and resources. It is a dynamic and contextual state in which people are empowered to reach the peak of their potential. We recognize that, as a school, we do not control nor can we influence all of the challenges our students face, nor can we provide them with all possible resources.
Some of this is determined by the family, social, political, and economic contexts in which people live. However, there are many challenges and resources that we can and should influence. We want all of our girls to wrestle with challenges at St. Clement’s. In our definition of academic rigour, we explain that “Our academic program challenges every student to think critically and creatively and to problemsolve both independently and collaboratively. We hold our students to high standards and encourage a growth mindset and the metacognitive skills that will help students to meet those standards.” The SCS academic program is built around the notion of balancing challenges with resources. In much the same way, our SEL (social-emotional learning) program is designed to provide our girls with the resources to balance the social and emotional challenges that children and adolescents inevitably face. The role of LINCWell is to provide students with as many resources as possible.
Well-being: A balance between an individual’s challenges and their resources.
LIN CW EL
Some of these come in the form of counseling or working with a learning strategist, and many of them come in the form of tools. In a previous Red Blazer article (Spring 2018), the concept of a LINCWell toolbox was introduced. Through the LINCWell program, students are introduced to tools that they may choose to access when faced with a challenge. The overarching goal of the LINCWell program is to provide students with as many resources as possible, and the ability to know when to use which tool according to their individual needs and preferences, in order to balance the challenges they will face at St. Clement’s and beyond. In short, well-being is a balancing act and SCS is the fulcrum that can assist our students to attain the equilibrium that will serve them throughout their formative, academic, professional, and personal lives.
LT
OO L
Growth Mindset
Positive Self-Talk
Emotional Intelligence
Grit
Executive Functioning
Mindfulness
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Program med
Success
for
Robotics is the way of the future in everything from medicine to transportation, and, for some St. Clement’s students, it’s also a great way to develop transferable skills. Illustration by Justyna Stasik Text by Simon Vaughan
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We are all aware of the speed with which
technology develops. The first commercial airline was born barely a century ago. Entrepreneurs, scientists, and engineers provided the advancements that led to jet engines, jumbo jets, supersonic flight, and space exploration. Not long after the launch of commercial flight, the word “robotics” first appeared in print. Now experts predict that within 10-15 years the two technological streams will meet, and airlines – or ride-sharing platforms – will inaugurate pilotless commercial flights. Thanks to some innovative and highly rewarding initiatives at St. Clement’s School, some of today’s Clementines could well be among the pioneers of this technology. The world is already accustomed to entirely automated industries and the ongoing development and testing of self-driving vehicles. That means that robotics clubs and competitions are not only among the best ways to promote STEM skills and enhance team building and other transferable skills, but also provide an introduction to fast-developing technology fields and a gateway to a promising career. At St. Clement’s, robotics is not just for tomorrow but also a valuable tool for today. Robotics clubs are not new at SCS, and the School currently offers LEGO Robotics for the Middle School and VEX Robotics for students in Grades 9-12. Although supervised and supported by staff, including computer science teachers Mr. Owain Jones and Ms Niki Mehta, both clubs are, for the most part, mentored and run by SCS student leaders from the Upper School. 16 | Red Blazer Fall 2019
“This not only enables peer-to-peer teaching,” Niki explains, “but also fosters leadership skills.” In addition to developing highly valuable coding abilities, the LEGO Robotics programs enable students to use robotics to produce solutions to real-life problems. They also teach design thinking, creative problem solving, collaboration, and teamwork. LEGO Robotics was developed by the famous Danish building-block company in the 1990s, and their Mindstorms platform and simple components are now among the most popular robotics systems, especially amongst beginners and younger designers. St. Clement’s School has been involved with LEGO Robotics competitions for a number of years, and the School often fields several teams. All teams must be student-led and taught, but may be overseen by a staff member or parent. In 2018, SCS’s Penguin Squad team received the Robot Design award for the most innovative and repeatable design with good construction and good programming. They succeeded in qualifying for the provincials. Robotics isn’t all about success, however. Sometimes the struggles and failures faced in a competition can provide even more valuable lessons than finishing first, as participants learn to overcome adversity and think of alternatives. From LEGO Robotics, St. Clement’s students often advance to VEX Robotics. This platform teaches students many of the 21st- century learning skills that will enable them to be successful in their digital futures. During the 2018-2019 school year, SCS had
This success – and the infectiously fun but tense atmosphere that inevitably surrounds any robotics session or competition – has encouraged more SCS girls to join the team.
three teams of 5-8 students each in the VEX Robotics program. “We had teams competing in regional events in Scarborough, Toronto, and St. Catharines,” Niki explains. “Two of the teams reached the provincial competition, and SCS also won two energy awards.” This success – and the infectiously fun but tense atmosphere that inevitably surrounds any robotics session or competition – has encouraged more SCS girls to join the team. In fact, Owain and Niki are anticipating twice as many participants this year and are excited by the prospect of having six VEX Robotics teams. That success does not come without its challenges, however. “Even before that great explosion in interest, the robotics clubs were confined to the use of one room on the second floor of the School,” Owain explains. The lack of a dedicated robotics lab has affected the teams’ preparation. For example, once they set up their robotics game field, they must invariably dismantle and remove it to accommodate the room for other uses, which has meant spending a great deal of time carrying, setting up, and taking down the field. “That’s time that could be better spent preparing for competitions,” Owain adds. Despite this, SCS’s robotics teams have always represented the School admirably and have often punched well above their weight. With the increased interest in robotics in general and especially in the hallways of St. Clement’s during the competition season, Owain and Niki are cognizant that the equipment required to keep all of the keen
Clementine robotics teams in action will also need to be increased. To make things even more interesting, this year the VEX Robotics competition is transitioning to a new system of controllers and motors, the V5 system. This change has seen SCS’s robotics budget pulled in two directions: firstly, in a one-time investment to update to the new equipment, and secondly, to accommodate the increased number of Clementines involved. In addition, the teams’ successes last school year, which took them to qualification for the provincial tournament in St. Catharines, meant that a large portion of the budget was spent on transportation rather than on increasing the inventory of robotics supplies. “Robotics is all about problem-solving,” Niki points out. “If the price of the girls’ success and the increased popularity of robotics at SCS is a challenge, then it’s a good problem to have.” Many of the SCS students on today’s VEX team began their robotics careers by participating in LEGO Robotics, and some of those remain as mentors for the LEGO team today. That collaboration and mentorship ensures that St. Clement’s tradition of robotics excellence continues from generation to generation. However, it presents an additional challenge. “As there are students on both teams,” Owain explains, “it would be ideal to have one physical space where both teams could work together.” Such a dedicated robotics space would also ensure that the School can host activities, meetings, and scrimmages with teams from
across the city, thereby gaining more handson practical experience for the girls. It would also enable SCS to invite more members of the community, such as programmers, parents, and experts in various subject areas, to offer their input and advice about robots and robotic solutions. In the meantime, St. Clement’s will continue to work with the Upper Canada College robotics team, who have assisted SCS with space to work in and the loan of materials, while SCS teachers, students, and parents have also lent a hand. “It’s been a great example of how the independent school community and SCS in particular works together,” Niki says. Last year for the first time St. Clement’s ran a Programming Team as a separate co-curricular activity. “We entered three different competitions,” Owain explains. “Woburn Challenge, the Canadian Computing Competition (CCC), and the Educational Computing Organization of Ontario Programming Contest. Many of our participants didn’t have any experience of programming competitions, yet over the course of the year they developed their problem-solving strategies and teamwork.” Not only did two of the three teams qualify for the regional qualifying competition, with the CCC team receiving a Certificate of Distinction, but St. Clement’s was also the only school with two all-female teams at the event. With so much talent at St. Clement’s, if the future of pilotless airlines lies in SCS hands, we can all rest assured that clear skies and happy travels are ahead. Red Blazer Fall 2019 | 17
Graduating Class Class of 2019
Graduating Class
Did you know? SCS was awarded Gold Certification for 2019 by Ontario EcoSchools in recognition of the School’s environmental learning and action.
Head Girl Jenna Seguin ’19 reflects on how the past of her class at SCS may affect the future of the world.
As kids, the Class of 2019 were obsessed with silly bands, card games, and books. We finished our homework in class and built Plasticine models as final projects. Then, one day, our awareness of the world around us sharpened ever so slightly. Our obsessions shifted to hamsters, pop music, and, yes, more books. We handed in brightly-coloured Bristol board for our final projects, and sweated over our first Scantron cards. When we reached high school, every day brought something new, and those new things did not always go well. We laughed at ourselves. Sometimes we cried. We danced. We got knocked on the head by pop flies, then hit home runs. We air-balled and shot clean 3s. We were not the first to fill the halls of 21 St. Clements and we won’t be the last, but I like to think we’ve brought our particular brand of leadership and camaraderie to those red-lockered halls. There is an overwhelming sense of positivity and teamwork in this year’s class. We want each other to succeed, and we want to succeed as a group. We are confident, thoughtful, clever, and kind. We are made up of fierce competitors, passionate advocates, and hilarious social media stars in the making. We are a group of ridiculously smart young women who will go on to be the engineers and coders, the artists and authors, the doctors and strategists, the writers and the thinkers that will push our world forward. We have made the most of each experience 18 | Red Blazer Fall 2019
we’ve been through at St. Clement’s. I believe this mentality is something that’s been instilled in us through our time here and will lead us well through the next steps we take along our winding paths. The world we are about to enter is an incredibly complex one. Alongside our own continuing journeys of self-discovery, we will be challenged to take on issues that will shape the rest of our lives and the lives of future generations. I can think of no better place to prepare us for this challenge than this school. Working as a collective of individuals to form cohesive communities, ranging from clubs and teams to our grade and, finally, to our school as a whole has taught us the importance of trying to understand each other’s voices. It has also taught us the great benefit of recognizing the value and weight of our own voices. As we gain experience in the coming years and our lives ahead, I believe it will be this strong sense of our own voices, this attitude of striving to make the most of any situation, and the kindness, competitiveness, and teamwork we’ve learned here that will help us to walk forward with a clear head and heart. Our ability to appreciate nuance and to think critically, as well as our understanding of the importance of empathy, will help us lead the world to a better place. This world needs the leadership, compassion, integrity, and wisdom that this year’s class offers. It needs us.
The world we are about to enter is an incredibly complex one. Alongside our own continuing journeys of self-discovery, we will be challenged to take on issues that will shape the rest of our lives and the lives of future generations.
Graduating Class Class of 2019
3
The number of dragons on the coat of arms of the Earl of Eglinton (after whom Eglinton Avenue was named). But not a single penguin!
GRAD CLASS GIFT
$28,810 For the fifth consecutive year, St. Clement’s graduating class has endowed a gift. The commitment by the Class of 2019 and their families is a testament to the bond between today’s SCS graduates and the future of the School. This remarkable and generous commitment is a legacy that will last in perpetuity, and investment income from the endowment will help deserving girls whose families would not otherwise have the means to receive an SCS education.
Class of 2019 On June 13, 2019, SCS came together at Roy Thomson Hall for the 118th annual Closing Ceremonies and Graduation.
A special thank you to the Co-Presidents of the 2019 Grad Class, Kira Dzulynsky and Charlotte Reed, for their role in helping this class reach the endowment level and beyond.
GIVING TO THE 2019-2020 GRAD CLASS GIFT
The Class of 2020 is hoping to endow a gift by the end of 2019-2020 school year. The Grad Class Annual Fund Reps will be working with the Grads and their families to do just that. Please look for more information on how you can participate in this important tradition.
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Graduating Class Class of 2019
Graduating Class
Our graduates are an accomplished group of young women. Congratulations to the Class of 2019!
$1.25M 100% Pursuing post-secondary education
Career Clementines**
10 Legacy Clementines*
54 Graduates
7
earned in average annual post-secondary scholarships 2016-2019
Our grads are studying
Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences, English, and Classics
8
Life, Health Science, and Biomedicine
7 1
1
Architecture
Kinesiology
1 Arts and Business
1 Nursing
9,808
12
3
Hours of community service contributed over their collective SCS career. That’s an average of 181.63 hours/student, far exceeding the required 50 hours/student to graduate.
Engineering
Systems Design and Computer Engineering
5
7
Business and Commerce
Where are they studying?
Canada
International
Top Choices • Queen’s University • McMaster University • University of Toronto • McGill University • Wilfrid Laurier University
Top Choices • University of Edinburgh • University of California, Berkeley • Tulane University • Tufts University • University of Nottingham
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AP Awards received • 10 AP Scholars • 6 AP Scholars with Honors • 16 AP Scholars with Distinction • 8 National AP Scholars (Canada) • 2 AP International Diplomas • 2 AP Seminar and Research Certificates
Science
1 2 1
Media, Information, and Communications
Biology and Business
3
* Clementines who are related to an alumna
** Clementines who have attended SCS from Grades 1-12
Veterinary Medicine and Surgery
1 Dance
Arts and Sciences
From the Desk Fall 2019
From the Desk
The academic program at St. Clement’s supports our mission to develop outstanding women who are intellectually curious, courageous, and compassionate. We do this by ensuring that excellence is not just a word – it’s our commitment and our passion.
Sports Our girls took on the city, province, and country and did SCS proud yet again. pg. 22 Arts A creative feast for the eyes, ears, and mind at every corner. pg. 24
Academics The best lessons learned are not necessarily the most obvious. pg. 26
Advancement Celebrating the generosity of our School community. pg. 28
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Sports From the Desk Sports
Our girls took on the city, province, and country and did SCS proud yet again.
Track and Field
Our Senior Track and Field Team had an outstanding season. After great success at CISAA, the team advanced to the OFSAA Track and Field Championships held at the University of Guelph. Emma Dale ’20 competed in the Senior Girls High Jump and came away with a gold medal, jumping a personal best height of 1.70 meters. Lucinda Pollitt ’21, competing in her first-ever OFSAA, finished in a very impressive 4th place in the Midget Girls Triple Jump and 5th place in the Midget Girls 80m Hurdles, while Kate Botha ’21 also came away with a 4th place finish and a personal best in the Junior Girls 1500m and a 5th place finish in the Junior Girls 800m. Meanwhile, our Junior Pee Wee Track and Field Teams enjoyed an outstanding season with many great individual results. Tennis
SCS served up an outstanding season in tennis with a particularly impressive display by our Senior Tennis Team at the CISAA Championships. Not only did St. Clement’s claim 1st place in the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd singles, but also 2nd place in the 1st seed doubles and 2nd doubles, and 4th place in the 3rd doubles. This resulted in the School being named team champions for 2019. Tilly Rigby ’19 and Yoyo Benchetrit ’21, went on to win Silver in the OFSAA Open Girls Division Gold Medal Match. Meanwhile, after a fantastic day of 22 | Red Blazer Fall 2019
close and tense contests, the Junior Tennis Team played in the finals against Havergal where they came away with the CISAA silver medal while our U13 Tennis Team finished in 4th place, and the U14 Tennis Team finished in 5th place. Softball
Our U14 Softball Team finished 3rd at this year’s CISAA Championships. After a heartbreaking 8-7 loss to Branksome Hall, we moved to the 3rd/4th place match and outduelled Havergal’s second team to finish 3rd. The Junior Softball Team had a great day at the CISAA Tournament, winning their first two games 8-1 and 8-2 against Country Day School and Branksome Hall, respectively. The team lost a very close game to Havergal in the final, coming away with the silver medal. The Senior Softball Team had a great season and narrowly missed out on the playoffs.
From the Desk Sports
ST. CLEMENT’S SCOREBOARD
1.70 Emma Dale ’20’s gold-winning high jump of 1.70 metres was exactly the same height as her mother’s effort when she was in Grade 11.
30 Tennis matches won by the Junior Tennis Team on their way to the silver medal at the CISAA Tennis Junior Girls.
Ranking Success: The Junior and Peewee Track & Field teams had a great season.
43 Runs scored by the silver medal-winning Junior Softball Team in the CISAA Softball Junior Girls.
ST. CLEMENT’S PROUD
After her sterling tennis career at SCS, the School wishes Tilly Rigby ʼ19 every success as she moves on to be a member of the Varsity Team at Tufts University in Massachusetts.
Net Gain The U14 Tennis team finished 5th at the CISAA Championships.
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Arts From the Desk Arts
A feast for the eyes, ears, and mind at every corner.
Arson
In May, the Grade 10 Dramatic Arts class set Powell Hall alight with their presentation of Arson. Written, produced, directed, and performed by the ADA3M class, the 25-minute production about a fire in a school science lab was tense and entertaining and left all in attendance with a burning desire to see what the creative Clementines create next. Sights and Sounds of Spring
There’s never been a shortage of talent at St. Clement’s as any visitor to the School can attest. Not only do the walls overflow with works of art and imaginative sculptures abound, but the halls are invariably alive with the sound of music! Each spring, SCS pays tribute to that creativity with Sights and Sounds of Spring. This annual celebration of the School’s literary, artistic, and musical excellence showcases the fine talents that fill 21 St. Clements Avenue. The display stretched from the foyer and throughout the halls with threedimensional paper sculptures, sketches, portraits, architectural drawings, paintings, photographs, and collages on display, all from the hands of dozens of talented Clementines. During the evening, Powell Hall hosted the School’s musical prowess. From Lead Belly to Vivaldi, Irving Berlin to Bruno Mars, SCS’s exceptional bands, choirs, and dance teams spanned the years and crossed the genres to 24 | Red Blazer Fall 2019
astound with their tremendous talents, all capably MC’d by the pun-tastic duo of Paige Harris and Hattie Coburn (both ’19). Lumina
Powell Hall became fashion central in April as St. Clement’s School presented the 12th edition of Lumina, the School’s fashion design show. To the theme of ‘Future of Fashion’, the annual creative celebration involved no fewer than 57 original designs assembled by 23 seriously talented Clementines. Produced by Meghan Lum ’19, the entire production required more than seven months of hard work and dedication and involved 80 designers, models, choreographers, and crew members. The result was 90 minutes of design excellence and outstanding entertainment. Lumina debuted in the 2007-2008 school year and has evolved into one of St. Clement’s largest annual events, most important student fundraisers, and the only production run entirely by students. This year’s show benefitted Sketch Toronto, a community-arts enterprise aimed at assisting youth, ages 16-29, living homeless, on the margins, and navigating poverty.
From the Desk Arts
BY THE NUMBERS
2 Joni Maguire ‘23’s placing in the Grades 7 and 8 category in the 2019 InCITE Creative Writing contest.
12 Lumina productions to date.
The 12th edition of Lumina – SCS’s fashion and design show – was a huge hit.
12 Grades that participated in the Sights and Sounds of Spring concert.
WRITERS AT SCS
Award winning Canadian authors Miriam Toews (above) and Anne Michaels (below) visited St. Clement’s this past year for readings, to offer advice, and to take questions from well-read Clementines.
Sights and Sounds of Spring displayed the School’s artistic prowess for the entire community.
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From the Desk Academics
Academics There are many lessons to be learned at SCS, but some of the most valuable are not necessarily the most obvious. Text by Heather Henricks, Vice Principal, Learning, Research, and Innovation
In St. Clement’s School’s most recent constituent survey conducted in 2017, enthusiastic involvement in Arts and Athletics was positively correlated with feeling better prepared academically. This connection is supported by many research studies, which have confirmed the positive outcomes associated with active participation in co-curricular activities. While the benefits of such pursuits are myriad, let’s focus on Arts and Athletics and one specific transferable skill associated with each. Arts
Through participation in the Arts, students learn how to take an iterative approach to creating something. The Creative Process involves a number of stages from “Challenging and Inspiring” to “Reflecting and Evaluating.” Throughout this process there is ongoing feedback, reflection, revision, and refinement. The term Design Thinking was first coined in the 1970s, though its roots can be traced back to the 1930s when educational reformer John Dewey wrote about the melding of aesthetics and engineering principles. At its core, Design Thinking involves the tackling of complex problems through a process of empathy, ideation, and experimentation. Whether through participation in the SCS co-curricular Arts program or enrollment in courses in Music, Visual Arts, Consumer Design, or Dramatic Arts, students in the Arts learn an iterative approach that seamlessly transfers to problem solving in any academic discipline. 26 | Red Blazer Fall 2019
Athletics
Involvement in Athletics is not only a great way to learn the values of leadership and teamwork, but it is also one of the best ways to practice dealing with failure. At St. Clement’s, we work with girls on the development of grit and resilience, and we teach them to deal with disappointment. Consequently, it is common to hear phrases like “failing forward” and “failing quickly” at SCS. Yet – let’s face it – it is actually not that much fun to fail. Sports offer an opportunity to fail in small ways, frequently, even at the highest levels. Professional baseball players have successful at-bats approximately one third of the time. Professional tennis players can make dozens of unforced errors in a match. Basketball players are deemed highly successful when they miss 60% of their three-point shots. It is impossible to avoid frequent failure, and so the key to success in sports is to learn to recover quickly from that setback. Athletes, whether at the elementary school or professional level, have to move on to the next play and cannot afford to dwell on each mistake or small failure. Everybody fails, and the key to success is how quickly you can move on from it. This lesson is transferable to many different areas of life. From fine art to fitness, the benefits of Arts and Athletics at SCS go well beyond the curriculum and can have positive influences that last throughout life.
From the Desk Academics
BY THE NUMBERS
12 Sports in which SCS has teams.
31 Arts courses at SCS (12 in Junior School, 9 in Middle School, 10 in Senior School).
89 Participation in the Arts provides students with an iterative approach that seamlessly transfers to problem solving.
CISAA Athletic Banners awarded to SCS.
1,400+ Hours that a career Clementine spends in Arts classes by the time she graduates from Grade 12.
Athletics helps teach that we cannot dwell on each mistake or small failure.
ARTS AND SPORTS IN CANADA
97% of Canadians aged 15 to 24 attended the Arts in 2016* 54% of Canadians aged 15 to 19 participated in sports in 2010**
*Canada Council for the Arts, Demographic Patterns in Canadians’ Arts Participation in 2016 **Canadian Heritage Sports Participation 2010
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From the Desk Advancement
Survey Yields Helpful Insights on SCS Philanthropy Text by Simon Vaughan
In February of this year, we asked you, our
full St. Clement’s School community, to participate in a survey and to share your candid opinions and perceptions of the School’s vision and aspirations, as well as your own personal perspectives on philanthropy in general. The survey was designed to help us better engage with our community and to understand the philanthropic interests and capacity of our School. It will also assist us as we consider a potential campaign and future fundraising efforts for the development of our Campus Master Plan. In true St. Clement’s form, our community responded, with a remarkable 1,059 surveys completed. This outstanding result shows our full community’s commitment and care for our students, which makes St. Clement’s School special and will ensure its continued success. Responses were not only thoughtful, frank, forthright, and honest, but also invaluable as we move forward in our planning and with the growth of our culture of giving at St. Clement’s. The survey provided us with a wealth of valuable information about the School and our community, and it reinforced that SCS has a strong reputation, brand, and place in the hearts of this community. This was evident when a resounding majority of respondents expressed great confidence and satisfaction in the quality of St. Clement’s programs, the School leadership, and SCS’s position amongst peer schools. In addition, opportunities and recommendations were suggested. For instance, respondents expressed a need to focus on increasing engagement across all constituencies and to find ways for parents, 28 | Red Blazer Fall 2019
alumnae, past parents, past staff, and other key stakeholders to become more and better involved. The survey asked respondents to react to future directions that the School is considering and that would require significant philanthropic support. There was a general sentiment that expansion of SCS’s facilities is important to the future of the School, even amongst those whose personal philanthropic preference lies with Financial Assistance. While respondents see that the School is making positive strides with communications, members of the SCS community want to be more involved and to help further, and to do so they need to be informed of events and opportunities in a timely and thorough manner. There was also a recommendation that SCS increase its overall fundraising presence and be more proactive in its efforts to better communicate fundraising needs, priorities, and impact. The high response rate and the majority of answers made it clear that, just as has been the case throughout the School’s history, there remains an eagerness to support and engage in the work being done by SCS. Thank you to all who took the time to respond and send your comments. They are already making a difference as we develop strategies. Never more so than today, St. Clement’s School remains a community. If you have any questions about the survey, or wish to discuss the School’s future plans or your philanthropic interest, please do not hesitate to reach out to Lisa Watson, Executive Director of Advancement.
SCS was pivotal in our daughter’s education and in her development as a leader and a young woman with a clear sense of her mission and purpose in life. For that we will be forever grateful. — Survey respondent
From the Desk Advancement
We believe our daughter is getting the best education we can give her, and we want to support that. — Survey respondent
205
89% found the quality of the programs to be good or excellent.
major gift prospects were identified through the survey.
12%
5%
87%
— Survey respondent
have a positive or very positive attitude of SCS.
27%
ranked SCS highest or high amongst their philanthropic priorities.
indicated they would consider adding the School to their estate plans.
As a former student who relied on the bursary program, I’m motivated to give so that girls whose families are unable to afford the School’s tuition fees get the chance to attend SCS.
of respondents have included SCS in their will or estate plan.
89%
82%
regard SCS’s reputation when compared to peer schools as positive or very positive.
endorsed the leadership as strong.
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Experiential Education Out There
Out There Our girls embrace their curiosity at home and farther afield. Here’s a look at a few of the places they’ve travelled to learn and to be of service.
PERU April 2019
Shanice Ellis ’19, Khushi Patel
’21 and faculty members Paul Cobban and Patricia Westerhof travelled to Peru for the Round Square regional conference with the theme “Journey into the Unknown.” The SCS contingent returned to a house-building project in an earthquake-damaged area. They were delighted to find that the mural carefully created by Ms Chisholm and a team of SCS students in 2015 had been preserved. The conference-goers also journeyed into the unknown across a zip-line over a river, scaled a cliff, belayed themselves down, and mountain-biked along a river trail. In tamer exploits, they explored catacombs, the cat park in Miraflores, an artisan market, and ate lots of Peruvian food.
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SCS’s Round Square delegation were delighted to discover that a mural painted by previous Clementines was still in place.
Experiential Education Out There
Northern Ontario helped an intrepid group of SCS students to learn about themselves and each other.
MOOSE FACTORY, ONTARIO June 2019
In June, St. Clement’s spent time with our partners of the Moose Cree First Nation during a trip to Moose Factory. After travelling north by bus and train, the intrepid group spent several days canoeing and camping to their destination, braving cool nights and even black bears. While in Moose Factory, the group not only renewed our deep friendship with the community, but discovered the town’s infrastructure, learned traditional skills, and were even interviewed on the local radio station. WASHINGTON, DC November 2018
Dr. Jaime Malic and Mark Will
SCS not only explored some of Washington DC’s iconic sites, but also its history and contemporary politics.
led a group of politically and culturally curious Clementines to Washington, DC. They not only saw many of the US capital’s most famous sites, but they engaged with high school students from across the US in a series of workshops and a mock Congress. The group also visited the Canadian Embassy, where they met Alexi Drucker ’97, an International Business Development Officer at the Alberta Washington DC office, who provided them with insights into the worlds of public policy and foreign affairs. Red Blazer Fall 2019 | 31
Community Making Connections
Making Connections Our School community is always seeking ways to deepen our connections with the wider community. Here’s a look at how our girls and our staff are doing just that.
ALLY WEEK
In May, St. Clement’s School
marked its first Ally Week. Spearheaded by the School’s Diversity Student Committee and organized with students from the Indigenous Affairs Circle, GSA, and Because I Am A Girl, activities were carefully chosen to best illustrate the value of being an ally in our community and ways in which we can all help others. The events included a panel discussion by students, alumnae, staff, parents, and other members of the community; a visit by renowned social psychologist Dr. Nilanjana Dasgupta, and discussions in the Junior School and Homeforms intended to reflect on the diversity of SCS, the challenges that members of the School face, and how we can all use our bonds for the betterment of all at St. Clement’s. 32 | Red Blazer Fall 2019
St. Clement’s School held its first Ally Week in May, a celebration of the School’s diversity.
Community Making Connections
AP CONFERENCE
AP educators and administrators from across Canada gathered at SCS in April.
St. Clement’s School hosted the
Spring AP Conference in April, the first time that an AP International Professional Development Event has been held in Canada. More than 100 registrants from across Canada assembled at the School to discover more about the enriched education program that was first adopted by SCS in the 1980s. Since then, St. Clement’s has regularly featured amongst the highest-scoring schools in the country with more than 60 Clementines having taken the HSE4M-AP Capstone Seminar since its inception in 2014 alone. In addition to sessions led by AP presenters, several SCS students who were enrolled in AP courses were invited to address the groups to provide first-hand accounts of their own experiences. SCS AT THE GLOBAL IDEAS INSTITUTE
The SCS students shared their Global Ideas Institute discoveries with the rest of the School.
In October 2018, a team of six SCS students headed to the University of Toronto to participate in the Global Ideas Institute, an initiative of the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy. This year’s challenge topic was Plastic Waste Management, and in April the SCS team presented their solution to the problem of the accumulation of plastic waste at St. Clement’s School and in North Toronto at the day-long Final Symposium. Later, the team outlined their plan to the School at assembly during Earth Week in the first step intended to improve SCS’s recycling efficiency. Red Blazer Fall 2019 | 33
Next Chapter Alumnae Profiles
Did you know? The fabulouslyfeathered Macaroni penguin was named after sartoriallysplendid 18th century men.
Distinguished Sisters Rubie (Ruby Bethel) Nottage ’62 Dr. Pamela F. (Bethel) Etuk ’63
The Nassau Guardian newspaper records Rubie (Ruby Bethel) Nottage ’62 as asserting that, “My father ensured that all of his young girls would be educated. There were four (daughters) out of seven children, and he said to each one of us, ‘I may not be able to leave properties and land for you, but if you have a good education, no man can take that away from you.’” The belief in the transformative power of education and the pursuit of quality education for their offspring led Marcus and Jane Bethel of Nassau, The Bahamas, to make the decision to send their daughters Ruby ’62 and Pamela ’63 (then nine and seven years of age respectively), to attend boarding school in Canada. Initially, the girls attended Moulton College on the northeast corner of Yonge and Bloor, but when the college’s trustees decided to close the school, the Bethels had to look elsewhere to continue their studies. Author, administrator, and teacher Miss Marion Victoria Royce, Moulton’s principal at the time, recommended that the sisters attend St. Clement’s School. The transfer from boarding school to day school was facilitated 34 | Red Blazer Fall 2019
by family relations, Nevis and Christine Rigby. “They were delighted to have us live with them,” Ruby recalls. In 1954, Ruby (then aged 10) and Pamela (aged 8), were introduced to the indomitable Principal Miss E. Gordon Waugh and Junior School Principal Miss A. M. Conway. Ruby began her studies in Grade 6 and Pamela in Grade 5, and they remained at the School until their graduation from Grade 13. From their homes in The Commonwealth of The Bahamas, both alumnae today reflect fondly on their time at SCS. “I well remember attending various services at St. Clement’s Church,” Ruby recalls. “My memories of singing Martin Luther’s ‘A Mighty Fortress is our God’ and, of course, ‘The Pilgrim’ still resonate strongly with me.” “Playing in the snow was good fun,” Pamela adds with a smile. After St. Clement’s, Ruby attended Queen’s University, graduating with a B.A. in Political Science and Economics. She obtained her Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) degree from King’s College, University of London, and an
I believe that St. Clement’s instilled in me a great respect for the value of academic rigour, and the importance of remaining intellectually curious. — Rubie Nottage ’62
Next Chapter Alumnae Profiles
LL.M. (Taxation) from University College, University of London, in 1969. “I believe that St. Clement’s instilled in me a great respect for the value of academic rigour and the importance of remaining intellectually curious,” Ruby reflects. “My own career exemplifies the fact that an exceptional education prepares one for change throughout the vicissitudes of life and for leadership within whatever society one finds oneself.” That remarkable career saw Ruby become only the fourth Bahamian female to be called to the Bahamas Bar as Counsel and Attorney and eventually to serve as a Justice of the Supreme Court of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas. She was Chancellor of the Anglican Church for both the Province of the West Indies and the Diocese of Nassau, Turks and Caicos Islands, and Co-Chair of the 2016 Educational Team established by The Bahamas Constitutional Commission to engage with the public prior to the holding of a national referendum on four proposed amendments aimed at the creation of equal rights for men and women within the Constitution of The Bahamas. While at SCS, Pamela was Intra Muros Editor for 1961-1962 and addressed the value and efficacy of silence in her editorial. “I referenced the career of Mahatma Gandhi,” she recalls. “He was keenly aware of the potential power of silence in making spiritual gains. If any one man were fully aware of the value of silence, it was he. Often in silence, he waited, worked, and won for his country, that independence so deeply desired by his people.” After graduating from SCS in 1963, Pamela attended McGill University, obtaining her MDCM degree in Medicine in 1969. She went on to complete her residency at New England Deaconess Medical Hospital (Harvard affiliate) as Chief Resident, and first female Chief Resident, in Medicine in 1974 and has since
$5,731.55 practiced medicine in Canada, the U.S., The Commonwealth of The Bahamas, and Nigeria. “The most valuable things I learned at SCS and took from my time at the School,” she says, “were a sense of self-reliance and an ability honed to deal with the realities of today and to face the challenges of tomorrow. They served me well in pursuit of Medicine which was at that time still predominately a male domain.” In 2018, Ruby ’62 and Pamela ’63 returned to Toronto for a visit accompanied by their two younger sisters, Paulette and Marion, who were also educated in Canada, at St. Mildred’s College (now St. Mildred’s-Lightbourn School). Their Toronto visit had been specifically designed to include a visit to SCS at 21 St. Clements Avenue, the same address at which they had enjoyed their education but a very different building. On arrival, the sister alumnae were warmly greeted by Principal Martha Perry ’85, who led them on a tour of the current facilities. The memories of that period, more than 55 years ago, evoked many fond recollections – the old-style student desks, the intimate classrooms, the long connecting hallways – memories of chatter, hard work, and laughter. Amid the flood of emotions, the sisters experienced a poignant pause as they viewed their graduating class photos. “I enjoyed visiting the homes of a few classmates, and I remember some very special teachers and members of staff, Miss Venables among them,” Pamela reflected. “The School’s small, limited space provided a warm, protected environment for students,” Ruby recalled. “That helped afford much personal interaction.” Although these distinguished sisters may now both be living at home in The Bahamas, a part of them remains undeniably and inextricably formed by their experience at St. Clement’s School.
Did you know? The amount raised by SCS for the 2018-2019 School charity focus, Camp Awakening.
The most valuable things I learned at SCS…were a sense of self-reliance and an ability honed to deal with the realities of today and to face the challenges of tomorrow. — Dr. Pamela F. (Bethel) Etuk ’63
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Next Chapter Alumnae Connection
Alumnae Connection
2 Reunion Weekend included a visit to the School by Julia Gray ’94 who was a guest speaker at assembly, and her mother Anna (Takacs) Gray ’64. 1
3
36 | Red Blazer Fall 2019
4
Next Chapter Alumnae Connection
5
6 Classes ending in “9” and “4” celebrated milestone reunions throughout the course of Reunion Weekend.
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9
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Images from top left: Reunion Weekend 1 Standing: Fran (Gamble) Darlington, Patricia (Towers) Ireland, Dale (Jamison) Dixon, Elizabeth (Walker) Wilson, Catherine (Curry) Graham, Cathie (Graydon) Moffat, Sally (Johnson) Tuck, Sheila (Farewell) McDowell, Dawn (Magwood) Jamieson, Carole (Brydon) Kinnear, Linda L’Aventure, Suzanne (Griffin) Rollason, Susanne (Butt) Koopman, Bonnie (Robson) Carpenter, Patricia (McDowell) Wideman Seated: Helen (Reid) Beattie, Diana Palmer, Valerie (Cane) Armstrong, Nancy (Dewar) Birtch (all ’59)
2 3
4
Anna (Takacs) Gray ’64, Julia Gray ’94 Jean Glaiser Steil, Anne McMaster, Rebecca (Pickford) Godfrey (all ’94) Gini (Jamison) Henderson ’72, Dale (Jamison) Dixon ’59, Barbara (Jamison) Price ’69
50th Reunion for Class of 1969 5 Standing: Brenda (Bain) Scherk, Joanne (Cashmore) Marchyshyn, Betty Richards, Susan (Angus) Kelly, Mariann (Williams) Boyko, Joan Magee-Slavkin, Olive (KellesKrause) Ridler Seated: Valerie (Fisher) Buchan, Judy (Eppes)
Simpson, Marg (Devey) Hilborn, Karen (Patte) Leighton (all ’69) Boston Reunion 6 Zarin Machanda ’97, Carolyn DeFalco ’13, Audrey Anderson ’09, Margaret Irwin ’13, Brie White-Dzuro ’08, Bridget Power ’08, Katie McAuliffe ’99 Reunion Weekend 7 Julie (Kwong) Seymour ’89, Oona Craig ’89, Sarah (Watson) Parsons ’89, Laura Denison ’89, Caroline (Sandusky) Munshaw ’89, Sandra Kahale ’89, Hilary de Veber ’89, Sara Posen ’88,
Carolyn Taylor ’89 Gillian (Cashin) MacPherson ’88, Laura (Poczok) Stevens ’89, Lauren Michel ’89. University Transition Chat 8 Eliza Glady ’18, Molly Ketcheson ’18, Brenna McPhee ’18, Allana Brandt ’13, Lauren Chu ’12 Reunion Weekend 9 Ashley Keaney, Andreia McLean, Christina Darby, Elle Bulger, Marissa Luff (all ’09)
Red Blazer Fall 2019 | 37
Next Chapter Alumnae Connection
Alumnae Connection
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38 | Red Blazer Fall 2019
15
Next Chapter Alumnae Connection
17 The Class of ’94 was well represented at Reunion Weekend to celebrate their 25th.
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Images from top left: Reunion Weekend 10 Judy (Northey) Robinson, Alison (Humphries) Growse, Jennifer (Cook) Myles, Jane (Seward) Domazet, Lori (Moss) Fleming, Cathy (Fricker) DesBrisay, Liz O’Brien, Jill (Crawford) Nelson, Averil (Smith) King, Heather Perkins McVey, Renée Birozes, Anne (Carveth) Mills (all ’79) 11 Jennifer Lovrics ’02, Joanne Thompson, Past Staff, Lindsay (Pennal) Artkin ’02 12 Melissa Wong, Rachel Kim, Claire Chadwick, Ciara Tersigni (all ’16), Principal
13
14
Martha Perry ’85, Elizabeth Talbot, Lea McBride, Lisa Dai, Meghan Fast, Genevieve Lamb (all ’16) Carolyn Taylor ’89, Gillian (Cashin) MacPherson ’88, Laura (Poczok) Stevens ’89, Oona Craig ’89, Zoe (Craig) Brewer ’86 Susanne (Butt) Koopman, Carole (Brydon) Kinnear, Nancy (Dewar) Birtch, Suzanne (Griffin) Rollason, Valerie (Cane) Armstrong (all ’59)
Career Day 2019 15 Lauren Chu ’12 and Lisa Khoo ’85 were among the panelists at Career Day in April Reunion Weekend 16 Pamela Fanaras, Amanda (Grantham) MacKenzie, Wendy Tsang, Amy (Brown) Langlois, Priya Sarin, AnneClaude Bedard, Julia (Griffin) Bosse, Jeanette Gevikoglu, Elena Holeton, Rebecca (Pickford) Godfrey, Martha Hatt, Andrea (MacIntyre) Rogers, Monique Chan, Natasha (Hutchinson)
17 18
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Moore (all ’94) Alli Quinn, Anne Gleeson, Katie Gouinlock (all ’06) Elspeth Paterson, Michele Donne, Mary Wong, Isabella Fink, Anna Peirce, Nikki Nevison (all ’09) Amy Ouchterlony ’98, Lauren (Burstyn) Lawrence, Rachel (Telch) Megitt, Bree Kruklis, Emma Sanders Finlayson, Maria Papadimitriou (all ’99)
Red Blazer Fall 2019 | 39
Our Space 21 St. Clements
Active School Travel Survey Each day, more than 500 students, faculty, and staff make their way to St. Clement’s School. For some, the commute is a short one, conducted entirely within the greater Yonge and Eglinton area, while for others the travel is considerably longer, as they journey from as far away as Oshawa, Caledon, or Hamilton. Earlier this year, we asked our community members to provide us with a snapshot of their commuting routines out of concern for the traffic flow around the School, the safety of the SCS community, and our interest in wellness and environmental issues. What we discovered is that our daily travels are as varied as the people who comprise our community. With 100% of staff, almost 50% of families,
and 73% of students in Grades 5-12 completing the survey, we learned that those who spend time at St. Clement’s have as many forms of travel as we have commuting times. From driving and carpooling to multiple public transit networks and biking and walking, all modes do indeed lead to 21 St. Clements Avenue. While the choice of commute may be influenced by many factors, including time constraints, distance, cost, safety, and other personal, professional, or family commitments, there was a shared desire to make the daily commute a positive event for the community at large. Concerns included an awareness of the health and fitness benefits that can come from
more active travels, the improved pedestrian safety that can stem from decreased traffic flow around the School, and a general wish to make commuting choices that do not contribute to traffic congestion and minimize the negative impact on the environment. As we continue with our investigation into active school travel, it is our intention to explore alternative commuting options. These may include organized carpooling, better facilitation for cycling, and other choices that may ultimately ease the stresses of our daily travels whilst helping our neighbourhood and enabling us to better plan for the future of SCS.
Say hello to your SCS network. SCSCONNECT is our exclusive online portal for SCS Alumnae. RECONNECT with classmates. GIVE BACK as a mentor. EXPAND your network. ADVANCE your career.
www.scsconnect.ca 40 | Red Blazer Fall 2019
Bulletin Board Fall 2019
Bulletin Board
One of the best parts of the St. Clement’s School community is that it is close-knit, supportive, and welcoming. Clementines, their families, and staff always have a place here.
Class Notes See what your classmates are up to. pg. 42
Staff News The team dedicated to developing outstanding women. pg. 46
Tempus Fugit Junior School masterpiece. pg. 48
Upcoming Events Don’t miss these 2019-2020 events. pg. 49
Red Blazer Fall 2019 | 41
Bulletin Board Class Notes
Class Notes
1950s
I also wish to thank our class participants who contributed generously to our Class Gift, supporting Financial Assistance. We collectively raised $4,000! Good times, good fun, great memories, all stemming from having attended an awesome school!
1990s
2000s
In June, we were delighted to have Lora Brovold ’98 back at SCS when she was visiting Toronto from Edmonton. Lora is Artistic Associate at Theatre Yes, and her acting credits are many. She is a graduate of the University of Alberta’s BFA Acting program and the Citadel Theatre/Banff Centre Professional Theatre Program.
We were delighted to have Caitlin Thompson ’02 visit SCS in May with her wife Shona and their daughter Florence.
1970s
We were delighted to have Mary (Paradine) Britnell ’55 visit SCS and her niece, Amy Paradine, Head of Middle School, in April.
From Nancy (Dewar) Birtch ’59, Class Rep In May, the Class of ’59 celebrated our 60th reunion. Nineteen Clementines from our class attended the Reunion Weekend’s Saturday luncheon! We gratefully thank St. Clement’s for all the special events, Friday evening through Sunday, spoiling us every step of the way! Principal Martha Perry ’85 welcomed us with her larger-thanlife smile, and a very informative speech at the luncheon. 42 | Red Blazer Fall 2019
1970s
We were delighted to have Valerie (Spencer) Keyes ’76 visit SCS in May while in Toronto from Ottawa. Valerie is Director of Personnel Security and Identity Management at the Department of National Defence. 1980s
Principal Martha Perry ’85 connected with classmates Alexandra Clarkson and Susanne (Bertram) Fletcher (both ’85) over brunch in April.
Congratulations to Jessie Barrie ’95 who is the new Head at Bosque School in Albuquerque, NM. Principal Martha Perry ’85 caught up with Jessie over coffee in March.
Congratulations to Cecilia Livingston ’03 (DMA 2015, MMus 2010, BMus 2008) who was selected for Glyndebourne Opera’s emerging composer development program. She is embedded there for two years, while also holding a Postdoctoral Fellowship at King’s College London. In addition, she was named winner of the Canadian Music Centre’s 2018 Toronto Emerging Composer Award and the 2018 Mécénat Musica Prix 3 Femmes for female opera creators in Canada.
Bulletin Board Class Notes
Principal Martha Perry ’85 enjoyed having breakfast with Iris Chan ’04 in New York City in February. Iris is International Client Development Director and Partner at Digital Luxury Group. She is also a long-time member of the SCS Alumnae Association Executive.
Annie Ewing, Claire DesBrisay, Kathryn Estey, Katie Alexopoulos, Michelle Liu, and Carolyn Sawicki (all ’08) attended an engagement party in July for classmate Alex Rancourt ’08 and her fiancé Calvin Chan of Vancouver. 2010s
We welcomed back Rachael Alexandroff ’08 in May to speak to our AP and 4U Physics classes about her research on black holes. Rachael is an NSERC Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Toronto and has a PhD in Astronomy and Astrophysics from Johns Hopkins University.
We welcomed back Roz McLean ’10 to SCS in February, along with her colleagues from Burgundy Asset Management to speak to our Business Leadership class about women in finance.
We welcomed back Tait Gamble ’18 in May to speak to our Indigenous Issues and World Issues classes about her First Nations and Indigenous Studies program at UBC. Congratulations to Victoria Wyprysky ’10, Assistant Vice President, Investment Banking, at Barclays Plc, on her move to Sydney, Australia to help relaunch the bank there.
Principal Martha Perry ’85 and Vice Principal Heather Henricks had a great chat with Simona Rocco ’17 about women in STEM over dinner in April.
We welcomed back Sam Wright ’18 to SCS in May to participate as a panelist at our first-ever Ally Week assembly. Sam and other members of the SCS community talked about aspects of their identity and addressed what being an ally looks and feels like for them.
Red Blazer Fall 2019 | 43
Bulletin Board Class Notes
Love
Sarah Lilleyman ’03 married Dr. Daniel Sheps on December 1, 2018 at Canoe Restaurant in Toronto. A number of SCS alumnae joined in the celebration, including Sarah Walkington and Stephanie Pinnington (both ’05), Laura Mustard ’03, Juliana Agostino ’02, Heather White, Lindsay Young, and Grace Cheung (all ’03), Kim Yeung ’02, Meghan Cowan ’03, and bridesmaids Mary Karantonis ’02 and the bride’s sister, Vanessa Lilleyman ’05.
with wedding and reception at the Guild Inn Estate. They were surrounded by close family and friends from Canada and the US, including Reema Shah ’04, sister of the bride, Adrienne Yuen, Lauren Wingham-Smith, Tory Dickinson, Laura Webb, Vicki Wang, Anna Holmes (all ’05), Catherine O’Halloran, Christina Barry, and Christina Scriven (all ’04). Neepa and Dhaval are both physicians and currently work and reside in San Diego, California.
Caroline Rance ’06 married Jonathan-Peter Giamos on July 5, 2019, at Hotel X in Toronto. SCS alumnae in attendance included bridesmaid Angela Wright ’06 and guests Charlotte Harbell, Alex Joyce, Kelcie Abraham, Vianna Phillips (all ’06), and Ali Azzopardi ’07.
Neepa Shah ’05 married Dhaval Desai on June 30, 2018. They had a lavish three-day Gujarati wedding celebration in Toronto, 44 | Red Blazer Fall 2019
Vianna Phillips ’06 married David Zekveld on July 9, 2019 at
the Royal Canadian Yacht Club in Toronto. SCS classmates Caroline Rance, Maggie Vincent, Charlotte Harbell, Kelcie Abraham, and Alex Joyce (all ’06) were in attendance.
Joy
Natasha Gevikoglu ’99 and Osman Ishaq welcomed Zain Ishaq to their family on April 29, 2019. Zain’s favourite pastimes to date are smiling, “chatting” with family, and playing in his baby gym.
Heather Gouinlock ’09 married Derek McFarland (Crescent ’08) on June 29, 2018 at St. Clement’s Church followed by a reception at Toronto Golf Club. Bridesmaids included Meagan (Hackney) Buchanan, Brittany Clarke, Daphne Papadatos (all ’09) and sisters Pippa ’13 and Katie ’06. Other SCS alumnae in attendance included Emily Kingdom, Caitlin Stewart, Kerrie McNair (all ’09), Elizabeth (Gouinlock) Little ’02 and Janet (Babcock) Gouinlock ’47. Heather and Derek live in New York City.
Lija Flude ’01 and her husband Benjamin Castro welcomed their second child, Adrian, on April 7, 2019. He shares the same birthday as his big sister Maddie (3) and she is absolutely thrilled with him!
Bulletin Board Class Notes
Karen (Row) Armstrong ’75 is a very proud Grandma!
PEACE
Ruth (Manson) Evans ’43 March 15, 2019 Mother of Nancy Evans ‘82 Mary (Spence) Squires ’44 July 5, 2019 Pamela (Cowie) Gray ’49 April 23, 2019 Tory (Gossage) Fulton ’03 and her husband Drew welcomed Bennett Lee Fulton on February 16, 2019 (President’s Day!) at New York Presbyterian Hospital.
Nicole (Hanbidge) Case ’05 and her husband Mike were thrilled to welcome baby Kieran Jude on January 27, 2019. At 9 lbs 1oz (and growing rapidly), he makes an excellent addition to the team and older siblings Ronan and Maeve promise to “turn him into a mischief maker” very soon. Please send help!
Martha Mann Southgate ’57 May 27, 2019 Sister of Judith (Mann) Steiner ’61 Mother of Rebecca Southgate ’82 Heather (Nixon) Diduch ’57 August 24, 2019 Predeceased by sister Janet (Nixon) Macey ’54
Sheila (Jarrett) Adeney ’49 August 23, 2019
Kathleen (McCutcheon) O’Grady ’59 March 20, 2019
Christine (Matthews) Buckner ’49 June 2019 Sister of Anne (Matthews) Tetley ’57
Susan Brightling ’77 May 3, 2019 Daughter of Anne (Brooks) Brightling ’48
Beverley (Butler) Lewis ’51 August 19, 2018 Predeceased by sister Barbara (Butler) Flynn ’45
Natascha Rodrigues ’03 August 17, 2019
June (Wallis) George ’52 May 12, 2019 Hillary Armstrong ’05 and her husband Agop Koulakezian welcomed their first child, Anne (Annie) Lucine Armstrong Koulakezian, on June 16, 2019 (Father’s Day!).
Janice (Rogerson) Latcham ’54 February 16, 2019
Red Blazer Fall 2019 | 45
Bulletin Board Staff News
Staff News
New Roles
Welcome New Staff
Retirements
Michelle Kim, Senior Development Officer, Advancement Reed Patterson, Junior and Middle School Teacher
Hannah Abner has accepted the full-time permanent position of Integrated Studies and English Teacher.
Ana Fonseca has accepted the role of Middle School Teacher.
Jennifer Wareham, Middle and Senior School Teacher Isabelle Bangambiki, Junior and Middle School Teacher Cameron Baldassara, Junior School Teacher
Caroline Rance ’06 has accepted the role of Admissions Officer.
Britney Pascoe, Extended Day Arts Program Coordinator and Associate Teacher
Patricia Westerhof, English Curriculum and Department Leader, is retiring after nineteen years at SCS. Author of Catch Me When I Fall and The Dove in Bathurst Station, while Patricia may be leaving SCS, she has no intention of hanging up her pen or her keyboard! Farewells
Welcome Back
Kate Faber has accepted the role of Upper School Social Sciences Teacher.
Alex Carlson, a past St. Clement’s School teacher, returns as a Junior School Teacher. Andrea Dinsmore returns from a sabbatical as a Junior School Teacher. Nora Scott has accepted the role of Junior School Teacher.
Jason Fearon has accepted the position of Associate Director of Communications, Special Projects.
46 | Red Blazer Fall 2019
Kristin Mills, Associate Director of Communications, returns from her maternity leave.
Mark Bunten, LINCWell Guidance Counsellor, has accepted a position as a full time Guidance Counsellor at TMS in Richmond Hill. Mark started at SCS in 2004 and has taught Social Science courses including AP Economics, Geography, and Social Studies and has been Social Science Curriculum and Department Leader. He will be joined at TMS by his two sons.
Bulletin Board Staff News
Love
Christine Calderon, Admissions Recruitment Officer, has moved to Barrie with her husband and accepted the position of Manager of Admissions at Kempenfelt Bay School.
Lex Gallagher, Health and Physical Education Teacher, has decided to spend more time with her young children. Lex has been with SCS since 2007 during which time she has taught all three divisions, served as House Program Coordinator on the Student Leadership Team, and has coached basketball, softball, tennis, and volleyball.
Julie Guarasci, Curriculum and Department Leader, Health & Physical Education, her husband Michael, and their boys welcomed Lauren Isabelle Warner into the family on May 2, 2019.
Joy
Aparna Singhal, Mathematics Teacher, married Gene Campodonico on July 26, 2019. Their celebration included a Sangeet (music) and Henna party before their Hindu wedding ceremony which was officiated by a female Hindu priest. Family and friends enjoyed foods from Peru and India and a reception filled with heart-warming speeches and hours of dancing!
Hillary Armstrong ’05, Junior School Teacher, and her husband Agop, welcomed daughter Anne Lucine Armstrong Koulakezian into the world. Annie was born on June 16, 2019, a perfect Father’s Day present for Agop.
Jelena Diklic, Library Technician, has accepted the position of Librarian at Bayview Glen School.
Lija Flude ’01, French Teacher, and her husband Benjamin Castro, welcomed a baby brother for their daughter Maddie. Adrian Benjamin Castro Flude was born on April 7, 2019. Sheryl Faith, Grade 6 teacher, has accepted the position of Dean of Academic Development and IB Coordinator at Leo Baeck Day School.
Courtney Pratt, Junior School Teacher, and her husband Jenner, welcomed daughter Rowan Mei Pratt on July 18, 2019.
Caroline Rance ’06, Admissions Officer, and Jonathan-Peter Giamos were married on July 5, 2019 at Hotel X in Toronto at a beautiful ceremony surrounded by family and friends.
Red Blazer Fall 2019 | 47
Bulletin Board Tempus Fugit
In many workplaces, it is customary that when someone leaves a job after an extended period of time, an effort is made to mark their departure.
48 | Red Blazer Fall 2019
A few words are spoken; there’s a card, often a cake, and sometimes a gift. Just what form that gift takes can vary from something connected to their personal interests and private life to a thoughtful memento of their work or place of work. In 1991, Jane Huston retired from St. Clement’s School. Mrs. Huston had taught at SCS from 1971-1974 before returning in 1981 to serve as Head of the Junior School for the next ten years. Finding a retirement present for someone with such a long connection to the School was never going to be easy – until it was decided to present her with a portrait of her beloved Junior School. As anyone who has ever stepped inside 21 St. Clements Avenue knows, the walls of the School are lined with photographs. There are
portraits of the School’s founder, Reverend Thomas W. Powell, and many principals, as well as class and school photos that date back to 1921. The portrait for Mrs. Huston, however, was unique. Over the course of several days, each Junior School student was asked to draw a self-portrait in their St. Clement’s uniform of navy tunic, white blouse, and knee socks. The drawings were all made approximately to scale and, when placed together, created a unique and very personal representation of a group of Clementines. Mrs. Huston passed away on December 12, 2018, and shortly afterwards her family presented that portrait to the School. It now hangs proudly in the office of Principal Martha Perry ’85.
2019–2020 UPCOMING EVENTS
November
January
Race, Privilege, and Community Conference
LINCWell Speaker Series: Dave Mochel
Saturday, November 2, 2019
Wednesday, January 22, 2020
Admissions Open House Tuesday, April 28, 2020 May
Alumnae Reunion Weekend Admissions Open House
Recital Evening
Friday, November 15, 2019
Wednesday, January 29, 2020
Alumnae Book Club
Alumnae Book Club
Thursday, November 21, 2019
Thursday, January 30, 2020
Middle School Drama Production Friday, November 22, 2019
Women and Philanthropy Panel Thursday, November 28, 2019 December
St. Clement’s School Application Deadline Tuesday, December 3, 2019
Monday, December 9, 2019
New Parents’ Information Evening Thursday, May 7, 2020
February
Alumnae Book Club
Grades 4-6 Spring Showcase
Thursday, February 20, 2020
Thursday, May 14, 2020
Senior School Drama Production
May Day Festivities Friday, May 15, 2020
Friday, February 28 and Saturday, February 29, 2020
June
March
Grades 1-3 Spring Showcase
Lenten Service
Thursday, June 11, 2020
Wednesday, March 4, 2020 April
Snowflake Sale & Jingle Mingle
Friday, May 1 to Sunday, May 3, 2020
Lumina Fashion and Design Show
Grade 6 Graduation Assembly Tuesday, June 16, 2020
Friday, April 3, and Saturday, April 4, 2020
Junior School Christmas Program
Closing and Graduation Ceremonies
Alumnae Book Club
Thursday, June 18, 2020
Friday, December 13, 2019
Tuesday, April 7, 2020 *Dates may be subject to change.
Carol Service and Alumnae Christmas Party Thursday, December 19, 2019
Sights and Sounds of Spring Wednesday, April 22, 2020
Visit scs.on.ca for more details.
St. Clement’s School Open House Friday, October 25, 2019 8:45 – 11:00 a.m. Friday, November 15, 2019 8:45 – 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, April 28, 2020 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. Pre-register for our Open House at scs.on.ca/open-house