Imprint: June 2020 Issue by Stratford Hall

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JUN 2020 VOL 19/ISS 2

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

FROM OUR LEADERS

We’re All In This Together FROM OUR LEADERS

Message from the Board Chair FROM OUR LEADERS

We are All in this Together FROM OUR LEADERS

Letter from our Founders to our 2020 Graduation Class FROM OUR LEADERS

Always in this Together EDUCATE

Promoting Personal Community Wellness through Creativity, Activity and Service

MANAGING EDITOR Aldrich Tan Advancement Services Manager SENIOR COPY EDITOR Isabel Sankaran-Wee Director of Advancement PHOTOGRAPHS Clarence Chan Photography Aldrich Tan

EDUCATE

Old Words Navigate New Realities ENRICH

Learning Together ENRICH

Cognitive Flexibility and COVID-19 EXPLORE

What a Year! EXPLORE

Alumni Reflections PROFILE

Stratford Hall Alumni Profile: Where are they now? SNAPSHOTS

Class of 2020 Celebrations

Stratford Hall 3000 Commercial Drive Vancouver, BC Canada V5N 4E2 T: 604 436 0608 E: advancement@stratfordhall.ca www.stratfordhall.ca

REFLECTIONS

Stratford Hall: The Last Three Months... GRATITUDE

Thank You Stratford Hall for 20 Years! GRATITUDE

Happy Trails GRATITUDE

Can’t Stop the Feeling SNAPSHOTS

School Life

2020-2021Key Dates

Imprint is published twice per year, expressly for parents, students and friends of Stratford Hall. Imprint is copyright © 2020 Stratford Hall IB World School, Vancouver BC, Canada. Please contact our office to be added to the mailing list. IMPRINT: JUN 2020: VOLUME 19 / ISSUE 2

Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re All In This Together

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FROM OUR LEADERS

of us have had to do more, with less time and without the regular support of our classmates and colleagues at school.

The past few months have been nothing short of remarkable. What was set to be a year of planning for the future, through the creation of a new Strategic Plan and Campus Master Plan, and a celebration of the past, as the School marked its 20th year, turned quickly to months of sheltering in place and online learning. It has been a challenging year for students, parents and staff. All spring term plans changed as the entire school moved from face-toface instruction to Sabres e-Learning. And while COVID-19 has made school life complicated, different, and even overwhelming at times, we have seemingly arrived on the “other side”, as there are just days remaining in the 2019-2020 School Year. I am reminded of some important life lessons, especially since March! Through this challenging period, I have been reminded that we are capable of much more than we imagined. Had someone told me at the beginning of the year what would take place this year, I would not have believed them. I certainly would not have welcomed the challenge (or strain on my neck and eyes after regularly becoming “Zoomed out”). All

As educators, we learned that we could create and shape a new model of educational delivery in days and then further refine this model of online learning with the input of our students and families. Sabres e-Learning was a remarkable achievement for our school. Parents learned how to manage the expectations of SeeSaw, Zoom and online learning all while juggling their own busy schedules from home online! Students, perhaps the most agile of all of us, rose to the occasion at every turn: helping design Art Exhibitions, host the Arts Cabarets, working collaboratively on assignments via video conference, and sharing their PYP Exhibition showcases and MYP Personal Projects online! This past term, I was reminded that everyone needs help at some point. We tend to think that some people have it all together. Having spent 25 years in schools, I have seen this false assumption repeated by students and staff frequently. I, too, am guilty of assuming that “some people” just don’t need help. This is a false assumption. I was reminded throughout the last term that even those who appear to be the strongest need help sometimes. If you are like me, perhaps you were reminded that everyone needs help sometimes, and perhaps most importantly, that everyone needs to learn how to ask for help (even you and me). My final takeaway from the past year is this: we are better together. This was highlighted for me early in the school through the design of the

yet-to-be-released Campus Master Plan. With the help of an experienced planner, over thirty members of our school community - students, teachers, support staff, parents, and members of the leadership team, board, foundation, and founding society - worked collaboratively to develop an inspiring master plan. Unfortunately, we have not had the opportunity to reveal this plan to our community; that will come in the new school year. However, in my 25 years in schools, this is the first time I’ve been part of such an inspiring and collaborative project, which we cannot wait to share with you! Permit me to close with a word of appreciation to our faculty and staff. I witnessed the Stratford Hall faculty and support staff come together in the final term like I have never seen a group of colleagues do before. They accomplished more than they thought possible by supporting one another and by working together. I thank them for ensuring our students were provided the best programme possible in the midst of challenging circumstances. Sometimes it takes a crisis to bring out the best in a school or staff. While I certainly am not inviting another “shut down” in the province, I am confident that at Stratford Hall, we can respond to anything that comes our way! We are all in this together!

Dean Croy Head of School

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FROM OUR LEADERS

Message from the Board Chair I want to start by congratulating the Class of 2020! You have had one of the most challenging years, given the coronavirus pandemic. We have to acknowledge that Grade 12 is a really tough year for any student, let alone those tackling the challenges of the IB Programme. We wish you graduates great success going forward, and welcome your stories of university and life challenges overcome, and how Stratford Hall helped in preparing you. So here we are, at the end of the school’s 20th scholastic year. It’s hard to figure out whether we are actually a young or mature school. Considering how far we’ve come, from humble beginnings to leaders in the delivery of IB learning, I think we are quite mature. It’s a major milestone to us, but 20 years is young when considering the chronology of the average independent school anywhere else in North America. That’s one of the things that excites me about Stratford Hall - the potential for growth. The physical development of the school hasn’t been easy, and at times it was a tooth and nail struggle to get to the next stage. So considering how far we’ve come with our campus, I think we are quite mature. Soon we will unveil the Campus Master Plan to the entire community. The Campus Master Plan was created with input

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from major stakeholders - parents, educators, staff, Senior Leadership Team, Grade 11 students, and a few Board members. It’s not just about the “Middle Building”, it’s a whole campus re-envisioning. One that incorporates the thinking about what kind of school we want to be, and what kind of life experience we want students to have over the course of their stay with us. I’m not going to give anything away, other than to say the board was very excited to see the concepts and development phases. Of course, this depends on donor support and community advocacy. Our school budget is such that not quite 70% of spending goes towards personnel costs, and more mature schools have that closer to 80%, and some higher. That means more educators per student, more care, attention, and assistance towards providing an ever-improving quality of education and student life. What’s the difference? Payments towards our bank debt. If the debt was smaller, we’d have more to spend on students. Older schools have had a history of donations to lower or retire debt, and have facilities to support larger populations that help with that. We are in that awkward middle stage - not quite young, not quite old, and we just can’t fit more kids into the existing space. Getting moving

FROM OUR LEADERS

on a campus expansion is therefore a priority.

a Stratford Hall alumni returning as an educator!

At the moment, the school’s financial picture benefits only one constituency - the children. The Board and Senior Leadership Team work hard to ensure we squeeze every dollar so that the student experience is maximized. It’s another thing that sets us apart from the average independent school and a factor that has contributed to our relatively rapid growth and popularity. There’s always more to do, of course, and the work continues.

With my parting words, I know you will join me in thanking each and every faculty and staff member of Stratford Hall who worked so hard during this COVID-19 pandemic to ensure a safe environment for the children and an excellent e-learning experience. The team worked diligently over the Spring Break and the programs that greeted the students on their return were incredible. Our Head of School, Dean, and his Senior Leadership Team sought feedback from students and parents along the way to fine tune the program, and this process led to continuous improvement in e-learning.

Stratford Hall is also mature enough to have a viable and active alumni association. And it’s yet another sign of success and maturity when a former student graduates university and chooses to come teach at their alma mater. This 20th year marks the first time ever that we are celebrating

of having a better educational experience than most of the country come September. Please do your part, following the advice of our provincial health authorities, and the school will do its part, too. We’re all in this together! Enjoy your Summer Break, use the realities of living in a COVID-19 world to find new ways to improve your relationships, and stay physically and mentally healthy. We look forward to being together again soon.

Alain Quennec Board Chair

With British Columbia leading the continent in our coronavirus response, we stand a good chance

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FROM OUR LEADERS

We are All in this Together BY: MICHELLE DOUGLAS Senior School Principal

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FROM OUR LEADERS

The academic year of 2019-2020 brought many exciting moments for our community. With the launch of the Strategic Plan and Campus Master Plan sessions, our community came together in excitement for the future of Stratford Hall! From humble beginnings at the Italian Cultural Centre 20 years ago, to plans of expansion and architectural delights, our community has always come together with our students and their learning experience central in all decisions. I am fortunate to witness our students’ journey everyday as they discover, inquire and collaborate together. They pursue passions in their learning and find direction as they progress to graduation. They become extremely knowledgeable, principled, and caring global citizens during their journey to matriculation. And their journey, with the immense support of parents, staff and teachers, is a testament to how ‘we are all in this together’ every single day! For this graduating class of 2020, their journey culminated during a period of unprecedented uncertainty about the future. With the finish line in their grasp, uncertainty seemed to surround them in the most inopportune moment. However, in the face of this uncertainty, our graduates came together. They came together and persisted in carving out their own unique path to graduation. A matriculation journey they will cherish, just as others have done so in the past.

have gained a broader understanding of how to learn, communicate and innovate in our world. In carving out their own path, they have met uncertainty with the skills they have learnt in their journey at Stratford Hall. Skills they will continue to utilise as they venture onto their postsecondary endeavours and beyond. Alongside our graduates, our Senior School community faced uncertainty in the midst of the global pandemic. In the face of this, the Stratford Hall community united. We moved forward together and met uncertainty with compassion, action, and innovation. When our preset plans were disrupted, we didn’t hesitate into the unknown and together we thrived. We thrived because at the very core of Stratford Hall is the need and desire to ‘carve out our own path.’ To embrace the ever present uncertainty of the future and create a community we are proud to be a part of. A community of compassion, activism and excellence.

‘We are all in this together’ - is a

symbol of Stratford Hall’s long standing desire and ability to come together in solidarity; to actively support each other in our journey; and to make the world a better place, as we move through it embracing its uncertainty together.

However, in carving this new unique path, they have done what others have not done before. In adapting to new forms of learning, celebrating and social connection, they

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FROM OUR LEADERS

LETTER FROM OUR FOUNDERS

To Our 2020 Graduation Class Congratulations to you our 2020 Graduation Class. For many of you, it has been a long journey and for a significant number of you, a lifetime journey. Completing the IB Programme is a remarkable achievement. Thank you to our students and your families for your commitment to Stratford Hall. You are a special graduation class, and there are a number of reasons for this. For the first time in our history, we have a full graduation class of 44 students. As Founders, it has been our dream to hit this benchmark, to have Stratford Hall grow to full enrolment in all years up to Grade 12. Your class also boasts the highest number of Stratford Hall “Lifers”; twenty-one in total. A Lifer is defined as being enrolled in Stratford Hall continuously from Kindergarten or Grade 1, all the way to Grade 12. Finally, you are our 20th Anniversary graduation class.

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Your journey to graduation is to be celebrated and we are honoured to celebrate with you. You have worked hard and kept your focus to graduation. Although this year has been unusual because of the pandemic and your graduation celebrations have been so different, it does not mean that your year is any less important nor any less significant at Stratford Hall. You are missing the very important grad celebration events like the formal processional, gala reception, lively after grad and the more notorious afterafter grad. However, graduation in the grander scheme is something bigger than these activities. Graduation is truly a big deal, but why is graduation so important and what does it mean to us? For most, this is our first significant life milestone. There are few other events at this point in your lives that are more significant than this one. It’s about finishing one very important chapter and then moving off to your next

FROM OUR LEADERS

chapter. Graduation marks the completion of growing up from a toddler, to adolescent, to teenager, to becoming an adult. It is an important rite of passage. As adults recollecting on this event, graduation often comes with mixed emotions. It summarizes a time of life which is punctuated with happy, sad, difficult, and victorious times. You know graduation is significant by just looking at the sheer number of songs and books written, and movies made about senior year and graduation. Every generation will have their iconic works of art that marks the occasion. More than anything else however, graduation is transformational. When you walk out the doors of the school for the last time upon graduation, you become a different person. As you look behind you, even Stratford Hall becomes a different place. Your school may somehow seem smaller, perhaps more nostalgic. When you look back a year, or 5 years, or 10 years from now, what will this all mean? Stratford Hall will become that place where you spent your childhood, like a treasure box that holds your youth, captured and frozen in time. No matter where you go, what you do, who you become, Stratford Hall will be the place where you came from. While getting through your teenage years and becoming an adult is not always easy, we hope you will all find it in yourselves to treasure this time. In the coming years this will be your past. Accept this as who you are and be proud of where you have come from. With little doubt, every valedictorian speech around the world will include some mention of the coronavirus. There

are so many bad puns that come to mind. You will be known as the Corona or COVID class. You are the first class in the history of IBO to have their DP exams cancelled. On the bright side, yours will be the most unique graduation year ever; never to happen again in Stratford Hall’s history. Years from now, you will have something very different to boast about. When you come back for an Alumni reunion and you are asked “How was your graduation year?”, what a story you will have to tell. At that point in time, it would not have mattered what gown or suit you would have worn, or what celebrations you had planned. You will have a crazy interesting experience to share; something no other graduation year could match. Pause, reflect, and enjoy this moment in your life. Connect and stay connected with your classmates with as many as you can. Enjoy your future journey of who you will become. Come back to visit as Alums. We hope you will share your experiences, knowledge, and life adventures in the years to come. We look forward to hearing about your future achievements and contributions. Be proud of what you have achieved at Stratford Hall. We look forward to celebrating with you in December. Elaine and Harry Lee Founders, Board Members and Alumni Parents

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FROM OUR LEADERS

Always in this Together BY: MICHAEL PALMER Junior School Principal

‘We are all in this together’ was our mantra during the latter part of the year but the Junior School learning community is always in this together. From our weekly assemblies to the Terry Fox Run, neighbourhood clean up, and special events, Stratford Hall students are always all in this together. Parents have been all in this together with the Junior School through Term 3 and throughout the year. I have been impressed by how active and involved parents are at the Junior School from Back to School evening to 3-way conferences, and the amazing turnout at the Winter Concert in December. Parents were together with us in Term 3 as they navigated through Sabres e-Learning with their children at home. I was pleased to meet with parents at virtual coffee mornings throughout the last term. And speaking of Term 3, the Junior School was not hindered by the school closure as we continued with our assembly program and the Grade 5 Exhibition. Each assembly had a theme such as House Team Colours, ‘Where in the world are you?’ and ‘Caught Dancing’. The PYP Exhibition showed the resilience of our Grade 5 students. Next year is sure to bring more challenges and changes. I am certain that the Junior School community will not be held back by any challenges or changes because we will continue to be “All in this Together”.

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EDUCATE

Promoting Personal Community Wellness through Creativity, Activity and Service BY: MEG CHAMBERLIN Senior School Vice Principal Throughout our time of Sabres e-Learning during lockdown, we all adapted our habits and patterns that we normally depend on to maintain a healthy mental and physical balance. To support ourselves and each other through this time, Stratford Hall students and staff tapped into the power of creativity, activity, and service, using these guiding principles to promote personal and community wellness. Creativity was explored through a variety of avenues in both the classroom and our advisory program. In the Senior School, advisory included biweekly games led by our grade leaders, two Arts Cabarets performances, historical journaling of living through the time of COVID-19,

and a photography contest with the theme ‘We’re All in This Together’.

In addition, advisors across Grades 6-12 delved into addressing racism through acceptance of self and others with their students in a 3-part series. Through building awareness, listening to others’ stories and experiences, and reflecting on our own role in building community, our students explored how we grow compassion and empathy on a local and global scale.

Activity was promoted through our Athletics Council’s weekly challenges and by setting aside designated time in our weekly schedule for students to exercise, get outside if possible, and explore a new hobby. Service to our community was at the centre of our efforts. As a community, we pulled together to support our neighbours at Queen Alexandra, recognizing their increased vulnerability at this time. Through our targeted efforts, we raised over $13,000 which went directly towards providing food and essential goods for young people struggling with food and shelter insecurity.

These are just a few examples of personal and community outreach that our Stratford Hall students have participated in over the past two months. As we move through this challenging time, I have been so inspired to see our students’ resilience, open-mindedness, and adaptivity as they have explored new avenues of creativity, activity, and service. We are all in this together.

CAS Photography Contest: We’re All in This Together Artist Statement: As described in Indigenous mythology, the hummingbird is a messenger of joy and prosperity to those in need. Just as we are in a time of global crisis, here lay two baby hummingbirds, neither more than a week old, awaiting their time to take flight and bring healing to the world.

Still Life with Apples by Paul Cézanne, 1895-98

Still Life with Apples by Moneek Rawan ‘22

Quarantine Art History Challenge

- Zubin Grewall ‘21 IMPRINT: JUN 2020: VOLUME 19 / ISSUE 2

EDUCATE

Old Words Navigate New Realities BY: GARETH JONES Individuals and Societies Department Head Here at Stratford Hall, old words have also taken on new realities. Class, lessons, homework, and of course, Zoom. These words mean something different to us now. Their meanings have been expanded upon or, in some cases, have completely evolved. But no single word has taken on a new and deeper meaning in our Stratford Hall-lexicon than together.

One of my favourite websites is www.etymonline.com. It is an online etymology dictionary for the English language. It provides the history of the word, including its origin, pronunciations, and previous meanings. It is fascinating to learn the story behind our words; how they changed over the centuries and have become part of our modern day vocabulary. On the Etymonline homepage right now there is a feature called Language in a Time of Corona. The subtitle is “old words navigate new realities”. For instance, as many of you know, corona is the Latin word for “a crown, a garland”, which in ancient Rome was “bestowed for distinguished military service”. For the rest of our lives, however, this word will not conjure up images of a prized head wreath. It has a new reality.

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What’s the etymology of together, you ask? It comes from the Old English togædere meaning “so as to be present in one place, in a group, in accumulated mass”. Oh, how times have changed. Together is much more than just physical presence. It is a way of being, a rallying point, a state of mind, a collective assurance, a metaphysical antidote. Together is what the Stratford Hall community has always been, but now it has taken on new forms. It is evidenced by the Arts Cabaret performers performing live from their homes and onto the screens of the entire Senior School student body. It is seen in our new and fearless prefects, leading the first ever Zoom assembly. It is witnessed by the creative work of our Councils, taking initiative to engage all students. We are still together; the old word is just navigating a new reality. Looking ahead to September, I too will be navigating a new reality as Senior School Vice Principal.

Aside from that, I don’t know what September will look like. There was no posting of “mind like a crystal ball” in the job requirements. But as I look at our school community, togetherness is not an issue I foretell.

The challenge will be to continuously speak the truths about our community to our hearts/minds. We ought not grow weary of remembering. We will not evolve our understanding if we fail to reflectively inquire. The old Stratford Hall-isms will not take on new realities if we don’t rightly consider the necessity for change.

So as I humbly step into this new role, I ask that you would join me in seeing the challenge ahead as an opportunity. This is an opportunity to move forward, in stride and together. An opportunity to step into a new reality, together. And ultimately, an opportunity to renew and strengthen who we are, together. The old word will take on a new reality and together we will define its new meaning.

ENRICH

Learning Together BY: GILLIAN LOUIE Junior School Learning Support Specialist To say the past 3 months has been a steep learning curve would be a gross understatement! We have all been faced with challenges unthinkable about only a few short months ago. The idea of households switching to parents working online from home, students learning online in various rooms all over the house was certainly not part of our plan last September! What has struck me over the past 3 months is not what students canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t do but rather what they can do. We talk a lot about differentiation and adaptation; we ask ourselves what can we as educators change to make learning more accessible to all students in the classroom. We make an effort to expose students to numerous tools in order that they can choose what tools fit their learning styles and needs. The online learning situation, while slightly forcing our hand in this regard, has shown that many of these tools are exceptionally helpful to students with both learning

exceptionalities and those without. Programs and apps that help develop schedules and scaffolding to structure the day, software that allows easy editing and dictation, websites that filter and adjust reading levels to make text more accessible are just a few examples. I have watched students become far more self-aware and stronger advocates during this time of online learning; finding ways of taking greater ownership of their learning in stride and what they can do. These are the skills they will be able to use when we return to a brick-and-mortar school environment and make their learning more efficient no matter what the learning situation may be. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been so proud to see our Junior School students finding ways to thrive during this unprecedented time and we as teachers have, in turn, been learning from them. We wish you all to have a happy, healthy and sunny summer vacation and cannot wait to see everyone again in September, when we can start learning and thriving together again.

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ENRICH

Cognitive Flexibility and COVID-19 BY: SUKH SANDHU Senior School Learning Support Specialist

Our lives have been impacted by COVID-19 and we have been adapting our lifestyles. This can be unsettling and stressful for children and adults. If we approach this time period with the right mindset, it can be a growth opportunity we benefit from for the rest of our lives. Our brains are capable of flexible thinking but sometimes it is difficult if we are more prone to rigid thinking. We live our lives with routines and schedules, and when these are all changed it can be incredibly difficult to adapt for some people. We can use this time to embrace flexible thinking to adapt our lifestyle during COVID-19. Our increased ability to â&#x20AC;&#x153;go with the flowâ&#x20AC;? will benefit us in the future. As an IB school, we look to our learner profile and see a connection to thinkers, risk-takers and the ability to be open-minded during these challenging circumstances. An example would be learning and working from home. Personally, I have been able to build new competencies which I will use in a post-pandemic world at school. I have been using Google Hangouts for quicker text communication with colleagues and students. I will definitely be using this application more often when I am at school and relying less on email communication. Be safe and embrace the benefits of cognitive flexibility as we go through the uncertainties of a pandemic. Below are two articles to explore cognitive flexibility (flexible thinking) for children and adults.

Resources Flexibile Thinking - What You Need to Know www.understood.org/en/learning-thinking-differences/child-learningdisabilities/executive-functioning-issues/flexible-thinking-what-youneed-to-know

10 Keys to Cognitive Flexibility www.opencolleges.edu.au/informed/features/10-keys-cognitiveflexibility/

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EXPLORE

What a Year! BY: MYRIAM DUMONT President, Stratford Hall Parent Association It is hard to believe that our school year is coming to an end. And what an interesting, challenging, and unique experience it has been. As I reflect on the past year as the SHPA President, I feel grateful to be part of such a giving and strong community at Stratford Hall. We started the school year with the Welcome Back BBQ. Everyone had a wonderful time catching up with old friends and meeting new ones. In October, teachers were recognized for their hard work by commemorating World Teacher Day. We ended 2019 with our Annual Craft Fair that raised $5,000 for our sister school, Queen Alexandra Elementary. In March, we were really looking forward to hold our first ever Grandparents & Grandfriends Day. We wanted to celebrate the contributions

and support of our broader family relationships. However, COVID-19 restrictions came along and forced us to change course in short order! We were quite sad about this missed opportunity and look forward to following through in new ways next year. Having no idea the magnitude of change that was now upon us, we all had to adapt and modify so many aspects of our lives. Teachers and staff worked hard in making changes to keep our children connected and learning. Families were impacted in many ways and were making their own shifts to adapt to the new normal. In April, we showed teachers and staff appreciation in a new way within our ever-changing landscape. Instead of a team luncheon, Door Dash gift cards and video greetings of gratitude were

emailed out. We wanted to ensure all teachers and staff were recongized for their contributions, support, and incredible flexibility to move to online teaching in a very short timeframe. No small feat! Like many communities, we are sad to have missed out on some of our traditions, one of which is the Night Market. So many people look forward to the fun and sharing times at our events-- and it is an adjustment to accept and find new ways moving forward. I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think of a better school community that encompases the spirit of togetherness like Stratford Hall. As our school year comes to a close, I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t help but feel comfort in knowing we are all in this together. Have a restful summer break and see you in the fall.

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EXPLORE

Alumni Reflections BY: ALLISON LEE ’10 Chair, Stratford Hall Alumni Association While I type this, I’m currently gazing out onto the brilliantly turquoise waters of Australia’s Whitsundays, listening to the soothing waves crash onto the shore of the beach. Wearing my sunglasses, I can feel the blazing hot sun on my face. Everything is completely serene, until the chugging Canada Post truck drives by and breaks me from my reverie. In reality, I have a YouTube video of the beautiful Whitsundays playing on my second desktop monitor, and the sunglasses are on because of my South-facing desk. Although I always understood the importance of mental wellness and practiced methods to keep my mind fresh and balanced, it’s never been tested in such a strange way until now. I’m sure we can all agree the last few months have been crazy. One thing that’s helped me stay sane (aside from sunny walks, green tea Häagen-Dazs ice cream, and page turning books) is knowing what’s happening to me isn’t an isolated event: I’m not in my own silo feeling the challenging effects of this unprecedented time. There’s comfort knowing others overcoming the same milestones and struggles. Whether it’s scoring the last roll of toilet paper at the grocery store, feeling suffocated from wearing face masks on the daily, or struggling to workout with wine bottles. We are all in this together.

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It’s amazed me how some have pivoted during this time. Never did I think a hospital grade Arc’teryx gown would ever exist. Or that the local distilleries would start producing mass bottles of hand sanitizer. The first half of 2020 has been the epitome of being “flexible:” learning how to survive, thrive, and enjoy living in this new normal. For me, it’s been inspiring reading optimistic news in these confusing, unsettling times. Yet, it shows me how our communities are willing and able to rally to help others. I’ve never seen such a show of continued support, ever. Just open your windows at 7:00pm for proof! During this time when feeling isolated is so common, I encourage alumni to create your account on SH Connect (www.shconnect.ca) and join the growing number of graduates around the globe. For me, Stratford was always a community of gogetters and risk-taking pioneers. Our “grassroots” beginnings truly meant we were all in it together, supporting one another in crazy endeavours that became stellar milestone achievements. I’m incredibly excited to welcome you back to this community on the alumni platform, and look forward to connecting with you there.

PROFILE

Stratford Hall Alumni Profile: Where are they now?

Jodie Leung ’15

Ahmed Khan ’13

Saskia H. Herrmann ’10

Since graduating from Stratford Hall in 2015, I have moved to Toronto to pursue a Bachelor of Design in Graphic Design at the Ontario College of Art + Design University. I am eternally grateful to have met so many talented artists and designers during my four years there and have no regrets about deciding to move to the East Coast. For my culminating thesis project, I created an experiential and satirical pop-up shop that exposed the wellness industry’s predatory practices through satire. A year of researching and exploring lead me to conclude that the quest for self-optimization is ironically exhausting and nearly impossible in part due to wearable technology, the quantification of self, and social media.

I have been working to grow my startup CellAgri, a news platform that explores the future of food with a new food technology called cellular agriculture. Cellular agriculture is the field of producing animal products, like meat or dairy or leather, directly from cells instead of raising animals to make the same products.

I live in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and works as a Strategic Innovation Designer at a Systems Thinking foundation. I love exploring the intersections between technology, science, and society to facilitate innovation for good. I did a Liberal Arts BA and a Science and Technology Studies MA. I further my education with a Design Thinking & Service Design program, after which I taught Bachelor and Master students at a university. I used the methodologies I taught to develop ‘The Empathy Game’, a globally published game that facilitates tuning in to each other’s experiences. I am currently digitalizing the game to enable connecting across screens in times of COVID-19. I represented the Netherlands as 15s national team rugby player for the past six years.

I have since begun my career as a graphic designer at TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival) – a cultural organization that I’m proud to say is committed to diversity and inclusion within the arts. Throughout my career I hope to use the powerful tools I have gained in visual communication to effect positive social change and challenge the understanding that graphic design belongs solely in the commercial realm to encourage consumption.

During my last semester at McGill University, after helping my friends host an event in the main student union building, another student group promised me a free meal if I sat through their presentation. It wasn’t the best dinner, but that presentation changed everything for me. I learned about this new field called cellular agriculture and how it could change how we would produce food in the future. I was blown away by the concept and its potential impact in the world. I had to get involved, and that’s how CellAgri began! I am currently in Dubai, UAE with my family waiting for things to settle before returning back to Canada.

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Class of 2020 Celebrations

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REFLECTIONS

Stratford Hall The Last Three Months... CHRIS BROGAN Teacher, Humanities and Theory of Knowledge (ToK) The pandemic has upended normal life. For those who have lost loved ones, lost jobs or have had to completely rethink their expectations, it has been a brutal three months. My family has gotten by better than most. With two teachers and two young children (plus an army of mice and head-lice as unwelcome but now eradicated guests) it has been busy; but the family bonding has been pretty special, and we have not had to worry too much about our safety (thanks Dr. Henry) or our income. Despite the hardships we have all endured—big and small—students and staff have rolled with the punches. I’ve had my children crying on my lap while trying to teach classes: nobody has complained. We’ve had to adapt courses and community events to an online platform: everybody pitched in and made it awesome. Stratford Hall has always been more than bricks and mortar. It’s a family that gets it done and keeps it fun. After 15 years teaching here, I have been impressed by the school’s growth and how we have transitioned from running on hope and adrenaline to an established and mature institution. That speaks to great leadership. But, I have been reminded recently of the feeling of our early days—the breakneck pace of improvisation and invention. It’s gruelling, but also exciting. That’s because Stratford Hall teachers, admin, and support staff are amazing. Give them a job and they’ll make it work. And that can-do attitude has filtered down to the students. They have risen to this challenge with weird Zoom backgrounds, semi-disguised pyjamas, and with patience. It will be great when all this is behind us, but I hope that we hang on to our renewed sense of community. When the rug is pulled from under you, it’s what matters most.

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LAUREN DAVIES Junior School Education Assistant At this time of year, the mood amongst faculty is often reflective (peppered in with a good dash of exhaustion and stress). This year, reflection may feel a little challenging because it is so easy to be caught up thinking of all the sadness, the fear and the anxiety that I’m sure we have all felt. However, I am so proud to be part of this amazing community in such troubled times. I have seen the teachers, caregivers and children rally together to make the most of this term. From 300+ faces in a zoom assembly, to sharing lunch and playing Pictionary in break-out rooms, we have still managed to share our smiles, love and enthusiasm for teaching and learning. A personal highlight for me was creating a video for the Grade 12 graduation, featuring their kindergarten buddies! Hearing our youngest community members sing for our departing ones filled my heart with joy. I wish everyone a safe and healthy summer filled with their loved ones. Take care and don’t forget to wash your hands! MELANIE DUECK Visual Arts Teacher History has shown us that an upside of adversity is its tendency to breed creativity and ingenuity, and DP Visual Arts students have demonstrated this in spades. Art 11 students went deep with their first self-directed artworks created in their home studios, plumbing the depths of their experiences in quarantine, examinations of identity, and reflecting the current cultural climate through their art. The Grade 12 students didn’t hesitate to move their much anticipated final exhibition online, showcasing their work and exchanging dialogue in live Zoom galleries. Thanks to the virtual format, this was the most well-attended art exhibition in Stratford Hall history!

REFLECTIONS

DENISE BRABBAN Math Department Head My own classroom, my tools and paperwork at hand. No busy traffic and bridge to cross in the morning and even an extra hour in bed. No on call taxi service required for an active teenage son. Sounds like a perfect world and there are certainly parts of the past few weeks that I have appreciated. But social interaction and connection are important in my life: a greeting, a smile, a catch up in the morning and around the lunch table and just the hustle and bustle of daily life. I have missed being part of the physical world. My friends, my students, my school are the joy in my life that can never be replaced by a computer screen. HAZEL CHEE Languages Department Head The recent turmoil has brought about many unexpected rainbows; it has confirmed my belief that learning can happen anywhere, and reinforces that transparent, honest communication is key. Sabres e-Learning has been fabulous. Well, realistically speaking, the next best thing to being in situ. I have relished each lesson and I’ve missed seeing students in person, but better to see them half awake in housecoats than not at all, and I feel confident we’re ending the curriculum and school year on the right socially-distanced foot. Mark Twain once said “I’m in favour of progress, it’s just change I don’t like.” yet we have changed, we’ve adapted, we’ve shown our true, resilient colours and at Stratford Hall, we are a stronger community for it. It has been strange to consider and lament former everyday goings on; rambunctious students (thank you ‘mute’ button), a cacophony of laughter echoing throughout the buildings, seeing students walk down our Commercial Drive corridor - I am, for one, looking forward to seeing students again in our new to be norm. Judy Garland singing Somewhere Over the Rainbow is a prelude of the great things to come. Soon we’ll be waking up with the storm clouds far behind us, and our troubles will have melted away like lemon drops, there are, indeed, better times to come.

RIMI HANS Grade 1 Teacher These last three months of distance learning have provided both students and staff an opportunity to approach education in a unique way. Teachers have learned to re-evaluate our approach to teaching and have taken a crash course in using technology to facilitate learning. Students have learned to be flexible learners, explore their authentic feelings, share laughs, and apply the learner profiles in a real-life situation. Although we missed experiences that we would normally expect in a regular academic year, this year provided opportunities to create distinctive memories. In grade one a lasting memory was when students applied their agency and participated in a Lunch Laughs session where they shared jokes while virtually having a meal together. Distance learning allowed all members of our Stratford Hall community to work together to gain new perspectives on education. ANDREA RYAN IDEA Lab Coordinator Our goals in the IDEA Lab have always been to support students in being Design Thinkers, to be problem finders and solvers, to be empathetic, and take action. While we have been working and learning remotely, we have been struck by how well students are able to accomplish these things. Students have shown us that they have been able to transfer their creative thinking skills from the classroom to their homes. They have taken the prompts and creative challenges we have provided them and made it their own. From this experience, our hope is for students to continue to embody what it means to be Design Thinkers. Creativity is a skill that can be practiced and developed and that inspiration can be found anywhere. For it is in times like these that we need creative thinkers the most!

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REFLECTIONS

KYLE NYSTAD Senior School Athletics Director On Monday, March 30, I logged into a classroom and for the first time in fifteen years, I felt nervous, unprepared and full of anxiety. My teaching world had been completely turned upside down by COVID-19. Gone were the spatial and well-equipped facilities of Stratford Hall. In its place, 22 anxious students staring at me from their bedrooms, living rooms and garages waiting to find out how PE online would take place. Those first couple weeks had their challenges as we all learned together how to navigate the online learning environment. Zoom became our saviour and our mortal enemy at the same time as we learned how to screen share, the importance of having microphones muted before students entered the digital classroom and how to use breakout rooms effectively. There is still the occasional cat wandering across my computer screen as I instruct on exercise technique, or a young child asking for a snack during core. Very quickly though that sense of apprehension about teaching online turned to excitement as we, the students, faculty, staff and parents, worked to make the Stratford Hall online learning community the most robust we could. Through this all, it has been the support and feedback from the community that has helped to make this transition manageable. The community relationship between Stratford Hall teachers and families has only strengthened as we have responded to the needs of both students and parents after the first month of online learning. The notes of appreciation and thanks, the DoorDash gift certificates from SHPA and the level of support teachers have received from Stratford Hall administration and parents has helped raise teacher spirits and remind us of what a wonderful place Stratford Hall is.

SKYLER TODD PYP Coordinator In such uncertain times I have been absolutely impressed by the way our community has rallied together. What’s been most inspiring is the way people have stepped up in such creative and innovative ways. Something like COVID-19 certainly can’t take away hope and imagination, at least not within the Sabres community. AJ MERANI ‘14 Resource Teacher Having embarked on my journey of teaching this year, I can confidently say that it has likely been the best learning experience I could have asked for. I am so beyond impressed with the student achievement and success throughout this past term, where all main instruction and asynchronous learning were conducted online. As a teacher within the PYP, I was able to understand how adaptable, patient and optimistic our students are as they aspire to learn and thrive in any environment where rich and meaningful experiences are created. In other words, I believe these past few months have allowed for me to understand that learning can occur online, as long as there is a strong sense of community, safety and acceptance; which there was! Collaboratively, we worked with our students to ensure a strong sense of classroom community and inclusiveness, where everyone was given the opportunity to inquire and reflect on their learning journey. Whether it was seeing students partake in class meetings, mindful breathing sessions, unit of inquiry deep dive discussions, the Grade 5 Exhibition, social lunch time sessions, office hours for different subjects, or 5 minute obstacle course challenges in breakout rooms; I can wholeheartedly say that has been both informative of teaching practices and exciting to watch. I would like to express my gratitude to all of the students and colleagues! If we can both learn and teach online, I am confident that we can do anything! Go Sabres!

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REFLECTIONS

JORDAN HANNAH Grade 5 Teacher The final third of the 2019-2020 school year was filled with uncertainty. As a new teacher, seeing this amazing community come together in spectacular fashion to ensure that we continued to provide the best education for our students filled me with confidence. The new territory of online and home learning might have been intimidating to some, but this community of teachers ensured that we were working for one another, making everyone feel confident in what we were trying to accomplish. Despite the chaos, teachers learned to be better communicators with each other and with students, found unique ways to modify their brilliant lessons into digital masterpieces, and continued to differentiate and challenge their students every single day! I believe that this experience has strengthened the bond between teachers at Stratford Hall, and we are now ready to tackle anything that the future has in store for us! For Grade 5, the online experience came during exhibition - the culminating project for students going through the PYP. Since being a teacher, this is the first time I have ever seen students strictly collaborate in a digital space on a project of this magnitude. However, the students embraced the challenge and found ways to make their learning experience positive and memorable! The students took such responsibility and it was mind blowing how engaged and active they were in an online space. They scheduled interviews, set up collaboration times with their group, and even found ways to record and edit videos together. The students now have a toolbox of skills that they might not have been exposed to in a classroom setting, and are ready to explore endless possibilities during their education journey!

SKIPPER Grade 6 Teacher Despite the uncertainty and worry that started off this term, our students, staff, and parents put into practice many of the skills that we uphold at Stratford Hall including those of patience, resilience, and care. JULIA SODERHOLM Art Teacher Despite the strangeness of the past three months, I have been continually encouraged by the resiliency of our students and their imaginations. Their ever-evolving creative energy has resulted in countless stop-motion videos, colourful drawings, paper sculptures, and collages, all shared proudly with their teachers and community. In my own creative practice, I have found inspiration in our studentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ability to work with the materials they have at home to channel their creativity into truly innovative artworks. ADAM UNDERWOOD Drama Teacher Theatre is the antithesis of socialdistancing. It is dependent on people gathering together, whether it is as an audience or ensemble, to participate in a collective experience. I miss watching the students interact with one another in a shared space working together for common artistic objectives. That said, working from home has opened up new vistas in creative expression as the students are able to use and transform their home environments into theatrical spaces. Why not redesign your room to be a set design from A Midsummer Nightâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Dream? Why not perform a solo show in your garage? Why not ask your family to participate in a parody video of a Broadway musical? Constraints are useful in the Arts. They stretch the imagination in search of artistic solutions. The students have responded to our new constraints with wit, passion, and creativity. It has been a pleasure to watch them take bolder steps towards self-expression as they push the boundaries of their Zoom worlds.

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GRATITUDE

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GRATITUDE

Thank You Stratford Hall for 20 Years! BY: ELAINE AND HARRY LEE Founders, Board Members and Alumni Parents

There are those moments in time when a seemingly innocuous decision changes the course of your entire life. That was the case in the Fall of 1998 when the thought of starting a school became an unshakable idea which has led us to this point with Stratford Hall being a leading education institution in Canada. What began as a search for a school for our daughter, blossomed into a deeply rewarding lifelong project. Pioneering excellence in education for our youth, our journey included numerous and seemingly insurmountable odds; however, with a unified community, Stratford Hall emerged victorious each time. As Stratford Hall celebrates its milestone 20th year, we are concluding our tenure on the Board of Governors. Our journey with Stratford Hall has been both immensely fulfilling and humbling, beginning with just 55 students in rented facilities at the Italian Cultural Centre, to owning four buildings on two continuous city blocks and full enrolment in all grades. When we reflect on the remarkable achievements of our students and the school, words cannot adequately

express how proud we are of Stratford Hall. Even after 20 years of rapid growth, there are limitless opportunities for Stratford Hall still to come. Our future is bright, with the campus master plan and strategic plan currently underway now including the Middle Building, plus further excellence in our academic, sports and extra-curricular programmes. We are excited to witness future generations of leadership from our Board, Head of School, Leadership

celebrating our future achievements as well as attending our community events. If there is one thought that encapsulates our entire experience, it is we are truly thankful for the education our children received from Stratford Hall. This includes much more than the academics, but also personal growth, values, and selfconfidence. What is equally gratifying, is to hear the same sentiments echoed by the many families of our graduates and alumnis. For us, this is what Stratford Hall is all about.

While Stratford Hall was created for our students, it has also made a meaningful impact on our own lives: teaching us to follow a dream, summoning courage to face adversity, and showing us with the power of community, anything can be accomplished.

team, administration, teachers, students, and our families, lead Stratford Hall in its future direction. As alum parents, we look forward to appreciating the ongoing legacy of Stratford Hall and what it provides our students. We also look forward to encouraging community, volunteerism and philanthropy, and

We are proud of the achievements of the school. We are grateful for our current families who continue to believe in the vision of Stratford Hall. We are excited for Stratford Hallâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s future possibilities as it grows and continues to be an innovator and a leader in every aspect of Confidence, Excellence, and Integrity.

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Thank You Ms. Douglas 30

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Happy Trails BY: MARK PULFER Middle Years Programme Coordinator wanted to pursue it. She was a great proponent of restorative justice as a philosophy for dealing with the struggles that young people inevitably find themselves in.

I am writing this piece in tribute to a great educator, Michelle Douglas. After 4 years at Stratford Hall, Michelle is moving on to Crofton House where she will be their Director of the Senior School. We will miss her greatly and I wanted to put down some of my thoughts as to what I feel she has meant for the school and to myself as an educator. If there was a learner profile attribute that I would characterise Michelle, it would be ‘balanced’, but not balance in the way that it is thought of in the IB, but rather a balanced approach to leadership. She could be firm when the situation warranted it and she could be yielding at other times. Another learner profile attribute that I think of when I think of Michelle is ‘caring’, Michelle always had the students in mind whenever she made any decision. She would consider what is best for them, for their education and their social and emotional wellbeing. Michelle never wanted to give up on a student, if there was a way to reach a young person who was struggling, she 32

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Michelle was also extraordinarily considerate of staff. She was present around the school and would regularly share a story or a laugh! A conversation with Michelle always left one feeling reassured and confident in what one was doing. Additionally, Michelle always wanted to know what the staff were thinking, and, more importantly, how they were feeling. If the pulse of the staff was on a downward trend then she would consider ways to lift spirits. Moreover, Michelle was a fierce proponent of new teachers. She considered our relationship with the IB teacher education program at UBC to be a top priority and would regularly give new teachers an opportunity. As a result, over the years we have been fortunate to have many young, dynamic, innovative teachers join our school. I was asking around for input for this article and one of my colleagues, Gareth Jones, put it beautifully: Michelle graciously extends trust. She is encouraging and, as a result, motivating. He mentioned that one of the first lessons he ever taught was for one of Michelle’s Theory of Knowledge (ToK) classes. At the time, he was at UBC studying for his Bachelor of Education and he took a professional development seminar on ToK led by her. In lieu of a second day, she extended an opportunity to teach one of her ToK classes! What an opportunity he thought! And

it was. Gareth poured many hours into that lesson and was then put in front of students. While he knew that he was completely underqualified, Michelle gave him the opportunity and provided excellent feedback. She was very encouraging throughout the whole process, which made him confident in his ability to take the risks necessary to be a great educator. Michelle was also ready to make the right decision even if it was not the most popular one. She had high standards and she endeavoured to push the school to reach those standards. In that regard, she had a unique instinct about when to intervene in a given situation and when to get out of the way. Michelle recognised that there were many wonderful and innovative educational initiatives at our school and knew that often the best role she could take was to provide encouragement and support. As such, she was a great enabler of leadership in others at Stratford Hall, both among teachers and students. As a result, you wouldn’t see her presenting frequently at assemblies, rather she would yield her voice to others. However, when she did need to speak, one knew that it was important. Michelle will be missed next year, but the parting is bittersweet. She is staying within the Independent School Association of BC and I know that this will be of benefit to all of our schools. Michelle sees our schools as not so much in competition, but rather that education can be a tide that raises all boats. We are all very happy for her and wish her the very best. Happy trails, Michelle!

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Can’t Stop the Feeling BY: CAITLIN SHEPARD Diploma Programme Coordinator warm smile at the front door, as she leads Senior School assemblies, or encourages teachers to push their boundaries and reach for excellence.

I can still remember that sunny August morning, our first meeting back at work after the summer of 2016, the room filled with teacher back-to-school nerves, with the added layer of anticipation, as we were all about to meet our new Senior School Principal for the first time. Then all of a sudden, Justin Timberlake starts singing. Wait. What? I know this song. Who doesn’t love this song? Awkward teacher seat-dancing ensues, as Michelle introduces herself to us by pumping Justin Timberlake’s Can’t Stop the Feeling into the room. Now this may seem like an odd way to introduce yourself to your new staff, but looking back on Ms. Douglas’ tenure at Stratford Hall, it was in fact, very fitting. You see, Ms. Douglas simply can’t stop the feeling. She leads with kindness, compassion, and heart. Some might say she’s “got that sunshine in [her] pocket” as she greets students with a

But it’s not just her smile. Ms. Douglas is also incredibly accessible. Many academic leaders say “my door is always open” but Ms. Douglas’ door, in fact, always is. She always lets you know you are welcome when you poke your head in and ask if she’s busy, when clearly she is. Her ability to multitask, and put whatever she’s doing on hold, in order to give you her undivided attention is phenomenal. Speaking of “phenomenal”: it’s one of Ms. Douglas’s favourite words, using it to shine praise on an impressive new student initiative or staff undertaking. What is also phenomenal is her stickynote note-taking. Think carefully. Have you ever seen Ms. Douglas without a pad of fluorescent sticky notes within arm’s reach? It is the only way someone so busy, and required to be in multiple places at the same time, can stay as poised and on point as she does. And while her sticky notes are definitely her secret weapon, they are not her greatest claim to fame. Most staff and students will remember her fondly for popularizing the concept of “the learning pit.” She taught us all, that as unpleasant as it may sound, we should value our time in the pit, for it is in the process of climbing out that the real learning happens. Thanks

to Ms. Douglas, there is not one student or teacher at Stratford Hall who has not at one point said with both exasperation and a smile, “I’m in the pit!” But Ms. Douglas also built a culture at Stratford Hall where one can not only feel comfortable admitting when we were faltering, but also where students and staff work together to help guide each other back to solid ground. Creating a culture where it is okay to not only be open about the challenges we are facing but also where we are comfortable leaning on our networks of support, might just be Ms. Douglas’ greatest legacy at Stratford Hall. And those students who found themselves in the pit--and then either through their own ingenuity, or with the helping hands of others, found their way out again--will have Ms. Douglas to thank for years to come as they move forward with the knowledge that no challenge is insurmountable, nor does it have to be faced alone. Ms. Douglas, we would all say that you’ve got “that sunshine in [your] pocket” that will forever be remembered at Stratford Hall. Thank you for all that you have done for our students, our teachers, and our school.

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School Life

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Grade 9-10 Basketball Boys finished 3rd in the GVISAA Central division

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Updated June 2020 - Subject to Change

2020-2021 Key Dates 2020

September

Tuesday 8 Wednesday 9

Senior School New Student Orientation, 10:30am School Opens - First day of school for all students

October

Friday 9 Monday 12 Wednesday 21 Thursday 22 Friday 23

Teacher Pro-D Day (school closed) Thanksgiving Day (school closed) Parent-Teacher-Student Conferences, 4:00-8:00pm Parent-Teacher-Student Conferences, all day (school closed) BC Pro-D Day (school closed)

November

2021

Friday 6 Monday 16

December

Friday 18

January

Monday 11

February

Thursday 11 Friday 12 Monday 15 Thursday 25 Friday 26

Last day of class before Winter Break, Early Dismissal, 12:00pm WINTER BREAK: MONDAY, DEC 21 - FRIDAY, JAN 8 Classes resume after Winter Break Teacher Pro-D Afternoon, Early Dismissal, 12:00pm ISABC Pro-D Day (school closed) Family Day (school closed) Parent-Teacher-Student Conferences, 4:00-8:00pm Parent-Teacher-Student Conferences, All Day (school closed)

Monday 29

Last day of class before Spring Break (full day) SPRING BREAK: MONDAY, MAR 15 - FRIDAY, MAR 26 Classes resume after Spring Break

April

Friday 2 Monday 5 Friday 30

Good Friday (school closed) Easter Monday (school closed) Junior School Student-Led Conferences (Junior School closed)

May

Friday 21 Monday 24 Saturday 29 Sunday 30

Early Dismissal, Kindergarten - Grade 12, 12:00pm Victoria Day (school closed) Graduation Convocation (no classes for Kindergarten - Grade 5) Graduation Dinner and Dance

June

Friday 25

March

Friday 12

Last day of class before Midterm Break (full day) MIDTERM BREAK: MONDAY, NOV 9 - FRIDAY, NOV 13 Classes resume after Midterm Break

Closing Assembly, 11:00am-12:00pm (noon dismissal)

* Pro-D Day = Professional Development Day (no classes for students) 38

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W E A R E A L L I N T H I S T O G E T H E R ! CONGRATULATIONS 2020 GRADUATES You make us proud! No matter what the world throws at us, your years of hard work, the memories made, the relationships built, the all-nighters pulled, the problems set, the hours and hours of labs conducted, the late-night essays completed, the big wins won, the tough losses taken, the extracurriculars you poured your heart and soul into, and the friends who became family, no one—and nothing—can take that away. You are the class of resilience, and the class that is truly ready to be changemakers. Congratulations Class of 2020. We wish you the very best that life has to offer. Reach for the stars. Follow your dreams. We are all in this together. Now and always.

THE PRIMARY YEARS PROGRAMME

GRADES K-5

THE MIDDLE YEARS PROGRAMME

GRADES 6-10

THE DIPLOMA PROGRAMME

GRADES 11-12

OUR MISSION Stratford Hall educates students to the highest global standards through the programmes of the International Baccalaureate. Excellence and confidence are developed through a challenging academic curriculum with further emphasis on creativity, action and service. We foster a strong pluralistic community built on integrity and respect.

OUR VISION Stratford Hall strives to be a global leader in the International Baccalaureate community. Our students will gain a deep understanding of the world around them, and they will act on their connections to the outside community. They will excel to the best of their abilities, and graduates will be equipped to achieve their chosen goals. This is accomplished by acquiring and retaining the best teachers, and by a commitment to a balanced and enriched curriculum. The success of Stratford Hall is deeply rooted in the establishment of a supportive, knowledgeable and committed community.

STAY CONNECTED www.stratfordhall.ca

@StratfordHallSchool

@Stratford_Hall