School Leadership

I’m grateful for the peer group at Havergal. I’m grateful for bringing us together as a school, and not just your grade. I also looked up to the older girls when I was in Grade 9, and then when I was in Grade 12, I so valued being a leader for the younger girls. I appreciated the ability to figure out who I was within a space where I never felt judged. I felt that every opportunity was an opportunity to take.

As women and as a girl-centered institution, we've been working diligently, and for a long time, on issues of equity and inclusion. What I've really focused on, and have come to enjoy, is the ever important role of a school that centers, in our case, on girls as learners. That role that we can play in both the advancement of girls and women across the globe, but also broader equity and inclusion initiatives. And, in our case, particularly through the lens of girls and women, it gives us an incredible opportunity to draw the circle wide and include, learn from, but also share our own experiences of that work with other equity-deserving groups. 

Our mission as a school is really a call to action. Havergal's mission is to prepare young women to make a difference and to take on an ever changing world with confidence, resilience, and a global mindset. Our focus as a single-gendered school allows us to expand, to share our learning and our understanding, with other groups. It's been a really powerful experience for me as a female leader to come to a school that focuses on that girl-centered learning experience.

Our School Captain, who is the head student leader at the school, really exhibits and lives our school values: inquiry, integrity, courage, and compassion. She approaches her work as a student leader and her role as a student leader with a genuine curiosity. I watched her host large gatherings, and large speaking events, in which she talks about her own experience and challenges the community to think more critically about the way we do things. I have been really blessed to be able to work with her. 

A lot of the time we can tend to focus on those Havergal students and those Old Girls who are extraordinary. There are a lot of them, and they do spectacular things. But there’s also the students and the Old Girls who are quietly making an impact every day, whether in school or in their community, and they’re really upholding the mission statement of the school to ‘make a difference’. Not too long ago we gave the Old Girls Award to a woman who wasn’t the fantastic scientist or the best-selling author — she was a woman who, in small ways, had dedicated her entire life to volunteering. And when you looked at her life as a whole, it was extraordinary. That helped send the message to students: you don’t have to be out there as a superstar to make an impact, you can also make an impact in small ways all the time.

I’m grateful for the peer group at Havergal. I’m grateful for bringing us together as a school, and not just your grade. I also looked up to the older girls when I was in Grade 9, and then when I was in Grade 12, I so valued being a leader for the younger girls. I appreciated the ability to figure out who I was within a space where I never felt judged. I felt that every opportunity was an opportunity to take.

As women and as a girl-centered institution, we've been working diligently, and for a long time, on issues of equity and inclusion. What I've really focused on, and have come to enjoy, is the ever important role of a school that centers, in our case, on girls as learners. That role that we can play in both the advancement of girls and women across the globe, but also broader equity and inclusion initiatives. And, in our case, particularly through the lens of girls and women, it gives us an incredible opportunity to draw the circle wide and include, learn from, but also share our own experiences of that work with other equity-deserving groups. 

Our School Captain, who is the head student leader at the school, really exhibits and lives our school values: inquiry, integrity, courage, and compassion. She approaches her work as a student leader and her role as a student leader with a genuine curiosity. I watched her host large gatherings, and large speaking events, in which she talks about her own experience and challenges the community to think more critically about the way we do things. I have been really blessed to be able to work with her. 

A lot of the time we can tend to focus on those Havergal students and those Old Girls who are extraordinary. There are a lot of them, and they do spectacular things. But there’s also the students and the Old Girls who are quietly making an impact every day, whether in school or in their community, and they’re really upholding the mission statement of the school to ‘make a difference’. Not too long ago we gave the Old Girls Award to a woman who wasn’t the fantastic scientist or the best-selling author — she was a woman who, in small ways, had dedicated her entire life to volunteering. And when you looked at her life as a whole, it was extraordinary. That helped send the message to students: you don’t have to be out there as a superstar to make an impact, you can also make an impact in small ways all the time.

There's just a real commitment to excellence in our teaching faculty, our administrative support team, and the other leaders here at the school. Nobody is ever satisfied with what they did yesterday, how they performed yesterday. It's just this sense of constant improvement, constant inquiry into how we might do things better to improve the experience for the kids. 

Havergal is very rooted in tradition, and it’s rooted in where it all started in the 1800s. The mission statement put forward by the principal at that time is ‘a place for girls to gain confidence, and to build a foundation to go out and make a difference.’ What I will say about Havergal, in light of what’s going on in our world right now  is that Havergal has always stayed very true to that statement.

Today, if you ask me how my perception of the school has changed, I have to give Havergal College credit. The world is changing, with technology, and the school is adapting to prepare these students for a future that none of us really know what it’s going to be like. Havergal is working hard to stay on top of that, and I’ve been very impressed with that.

Havergal College has made a real conscious effort to engage more of the Old Girl community—to inspire, to mentor, and to lead the current students, which I think adds a whole other element to the experience of younger students having real-life people to look up to and say ‘Oh my gosh, they came from Havergal and they did this!’

I’ve been really proud that the school has changed with the times, especially since it’s a school with so many hundreds of years of history. I was a little nervous that they wouldn’t evolve progressively, but I’ve just been so proud that every time I check their social media they’re like, ‘We’re doing this workshop on learning about emerging social issues. I have appreciated that.

Havergal is very rooted in tradition, and it’s rooted in where it all started in the 1800s. The mission statement put forward by the principal at that time is ‘a place for girls to gain confidence, and to build a foundation to go out and make a difference.’ What I will say about Havergal, in light of what’s going on in our world right now  is that Havergal has always stayed very true to that statement.

Today, if you ask me how my perception of the school has changed, I have to give Havergal College credit. The world is changing, with technology, and the school is adapting to prepare these students for a future that none of us really know what it’s going to be like. Havergal is working hard to stay on top of that, and I’ve been very impressed with that.

Havergal College has made a real conscious effort to engage more of the Old Girl community—to inspire, to mentor, and to lead the current students, which I think adds a whole other element to the experience of younger students having real-life people to look up to and say ‘Oh my gosh, they came from Havergal and they did this!’

I’ve been really proud that the school has changed with the times, especially since it’s a school with so many hundreds of years of history. I was a little nervous that they wouldn’t evolve progressively, but I’ve just been so proud that every time I check their social media they’re like, ‘We’re doing this workshop on learning about emerging social issues. I have appreciated that.

Our mission as a school is really a call to action. Havergal's mission is to prepare young women to make a difference and to take on an ever changing world with confidence, resilience, and a global mindset. Our focus as a single-gendered school allows us to expand, to share our learning and our understanding, with other groups. It's been a really powerful experience for me as a female leader to come to a school that focuses on that girl-centered learning experience.

One of the great benefits of being a larger school, with over 1,000 students from kindergarten all the way to Grade 12, is that we do have the opportunity to personalize student experience. You can have two students who certainly share an approach to learning that they're excited about, and are driven, but have very different interests, very different ways and approaches to learning. Their experience through the school will be very different, unified but personalized.

One of the great benefits of being a larger school, with over 1,000 students from kindergarten all the way to Grade 12, is that we do have the opportunity to personalize student experience. You can have two students who certainly share an approach to learning that they're excited about, and are driven, but have very different interests, very different ways and approaches to learning. Their experience through the school will be very different, unified but personalized.

My daughter loves attending Havergal and each year gets better for her! She looks forward to each and every day. She loves her friends, the clubs, programs and most important the faculty and staff at Havergal and the support they give her. She loves that the VP of the school is her baseball coach and that she can sit next to him on on a 2 hour bus ride and have a fun and engaging conversation. She loves that her PE teacher tells her jokes and she can joke back, she loves that she can go to her guidance councillor and ask about anything, she loves going to her math teacher to get extra help and get chocolate out of his candy bowl, she is so grateful that the people in the food service department will spend hours going through garbage to look for her retainer. These types of stories come in daily from my daughter. ... Havergal prioritizes the wellbeing of the girls and the teacher and faculty play a huge part in laying a solid foundation for self-esteem and confidence in the girls.

To best describe the Havergal leadership team, I will refer to a quote that I read recently about leadership by Elenor Roosevelt: "To handle yourself, use your head; to handle others use your heart". The leadership and administration team are all more than capable, professional, strategic and are ahead of all the relevant and pressing issues that students face. What the leadership team does best is handle each and every situation in a caring and compassionate way. They truly care about the well being of all the girls and they put the girl's interests fist. This comes loud and clear in any discipline issue or problem. One thing Havergal is very sensitive to is effective communication. It's hard to satisfy everyone regarding communication but Havergal takes this very seriously and they are constantly reviewing the effectiveness of their communication.

My daughter loves attending Havergal and each year gets better for her! She looks forward to each and every day. She loves her friends, the clubs, programs and most important the faculty and staff at Havergal and the support they give her. She loves that the VP of the school is her baseball coach and that she can sit next to him on on a 2 hour bus ride and have a fun and engaging conversation. She loves that her PE teacher tells her jokes and she can joke back, she loves that she can go to her guidance councillor and ask about anything, she loves going to her math teacher to get extra help and get chocolate out of his candy bowl ...

To best describe the Havergal leadership team, I will refer to a quote that I read recently about leadership by Elenor Roosevelt: "To handle yourself, use your head; to handle others use your heart". The leadership and administration team are all more than capable, professional, strategic and are ahead of all the relevant and pressing issues that students face. What the leadership team does best is handle each and every situation in a caring and compassionate way. They truly care about the well being of all the girls and they put the girl's interests fist. This comes loud and clear in any discipline issue or problem. One thing Havergal is very sensitive to is effective communication. It's hard to satisfy everyone regarding communication but Havergal takes this very seriously and they are constantly reviewing the effectiveness of their communication.

We really do view parents as partners. In that partnership, we both bring our areas of expertise. Parents know their kids. They are experts in their kids. Teachers are experts in teaching, learning, and pedagogy. It's actually in the combination of those two things that we work really, really well together. And of course, at the center of that expertise is the child and their experience here at the school. So when we partner, when we bring the best of each area of expertise, for the benefit of the child, and that's where we see the most powerful outcomes. 

We really do view parents as partners. In that partnership, we both bring our areas of expertise. Parents know their kids. They are experts in their kids. Teachers are experts in teaching, learning, and pedagogy. It's actually in the combination of those two things that we work really, really well together. And of course, at the center of that expertise is the child and their experience here at the school. So when we partner, when we bring the best of each area of expertise, for the benefit of the child, and that's where we see the most powerful outcomes. 

Members of the school administration are very engaged in the daily activities at the school and are quite effective at engendering a positive learning environment at Havergal. However, what impresses me most about Havergal's administration and leadership team, is the level of communication they engage in with both parents and students. The school has an excellent online information system that allows parents to keep fully abreast of their daughters' schedule, assignments, test dates and extra curricular activities. By virtue of the online system and consistent correspondence from faculty and administrators, we are regularly informed of our daughter's progress in her classes, events taking place at the school, opportunities for student and parent involvement at the school, and any important issues involving the school, its students or its community as a whole. If there is ever an issue with our daughter that needs to be addressed, faculty and administrators are always easily accessible and responsive to any inquiries made by us. I never have any fear of our daughter falling through the cracks, as I know I will always be notified by the school of any issues which need our attention.

I cannot imagine that there is a school with a better leadership team and a more positive environment than Havergal College. From the Principal to the Senior Leadership Team to the Admin to the Teachers, Learning Support, Guidance, Food Services, Security - you name it - this school is made up of the most incredible individuals who work together to achieve common goals. The communication is great and I have never seen any incidents of issues being handled unfairly.

We have been very impressed with the school leadership at Havergal - both in the Junior School and Middle School. The school remains focused on the girls needs, and the administration create a warming caring environment at Havergal where the girls feel not only supported but able to take risks and learn from their mistakes. We have found the administration to be open and willing to hear any concerns and we have been impressed with their response to any concerns that have arisen. I feel the communication between the school, parents and the students to be great.

Communication between the school (teachers and administrators), the child, and the parents is paramount to the academic, social, and emotional success a child will have at school. Havergal believes in this philosophy as well and strongly encourages and practices open lines of communication with the families. Their ultimate goal is to develop strong, independent, young female leaders, who will make a positive impact in our community. In order to achieve this, transparency and good communication is necessary with the families. Havergal teachers provide continuous feedback on the progress of each child, including phone calls, emails, visuals (photos and video updates of learning), and many opportunities for in-person feedback. The leadership team exercises the same level of communication with families and with the girls themselves.

Members of the school administration are very engaged in the daily activities at the school and are quite effective at engendering a positive learning environment at Havergal. However, what impresses me most about Havergal's administration and leadership team, is the level of communication they engage in with both parents and students. The school has an excellent online information system that allows parents to keep fully abreast of their daughters' schedule, assignments, test dates and extra curricular activities. By virtue of the online system and consistent correspondence from faculty and administrators, we are regularly informed of our daughter's progress in her classes, events taking place at the school, opportunities for student and parent involvement at the school, and any important issues involving the school, its students or its community as a whole. If there is ever an issue with our daughter that needs to be addressed, faculty and administrators are always easily accessible and responsive to any inquiries made by us. I never have any fear of our daughter falling through the cracks, as I know I will always be notified by the school of any issues which need our attention.

I cannot imagine that there is a school with a better leadership team and a more positive environment than Havergal College. From the Principal to the Senior Leadership Team to the Admin to the Teachers, Learning Support, Guidance, Food Services, Security - you name it - this school is made up of the most incredible individuals who work together to achieve common goals. The communication is great and I have never seen any incidents of issues being handled unfairly.

We have been very impressed with the school leadership at Havergal - both in the Junior School and Middle School. The school remains focused on the girls needs, and the administration create a warming caring environment at Havergal where the girls feel not only supported but able to take risks and learn from their mistakes. We have found the administration to be open and willing to hear any concerns and we have been impressed with their response to any concerns that have arisen. I feel the communication between the school, parents and the students to be great.

Communication between the school (teachers and administrators), the child, and the parents is paramount to the academic, social, and emotional success a child will have at school. Havergal believes in this philosophy as well and strongly encourages and practices open lines of communication with the families. Their ultimate goal is to develop strong, independent, young female leaders, who will make a positive impact in our community. In order to achieve this, transparency and good communication is necessary with the families. Havergal teachers provide continuous feedback on the progress of each child, including phone calls, emails, visuals (photos and video updates of learning), and many opportunities for in-person feedback. The leadership team exercises the same level of communication with families and with the girls themselves. Three times a week, the morning prayer sessions are a time for self reflection and reminders about appropriate behaviour and the development of strong character traits. This is done with a positive, inspirational vibe that resonates with each child. When problems arise, the leadership team takes the opportunity to discuss the issues in a broader sense and offer the students options of how to handle themselves in challenging situations. Girls are given the opportunity to explore and discuss their feelings and provide suggestions on conflict resolution tactics. The girls are always given a voice and this is empowering!

It is clear that Havergal prioritizes a positive and healthy school life for the girls. They put a lot of work into the well being of all their girls - from programs, talks at prayers, staff ie. social workers, physio therapists, councillors - from the nurturing and caring faculty, senior leadership team all the way down to training the parents. It is all about the wellbeing of the girls and a positive student life. My daughter loves attending school because of the many examples given in the first question. The school has a positive and happy buzz to it. Starting from the early morning with the security guard waving and smiling at the girls, to the faculty and staff knowing all the girls names, heads of schools coaching teams and engaging with the girls. All these things make the girls feel special and important and sets a strong foundation for a positive school life for the girls at Havergal College.

It is clear that Havergal prioritizes a positive and healthy school life for the girls. They put a lot of work into the well being of all their girls, from programs, talks at prayers, staff ie. social workers, physio therapists, councillors - from the nurturing and caring faculty, senior leadership team all the way down to training the parents. It is all about the wellbeing of the girls and a positive student life. My daughter loves attending school because of the many examples given in the first question. The school has a positive and happy buzz to it. Starting from the early morning with the security guard waving and smiling at the girls, to the faculty and staff knowing all the girls names, heads of schools coaching teams and engaging with the girls. All these things make the girls feel special and important and sets a strong foundation for a positive school life for the girls at Havergal College.