Student Life Programming:
Building Community and Connection Through Student Engagement By Jacqueline Butler, Acting Dean of Students
At HTS we take immense pride in our rich and diverse Student Life Program. From Athletics, Clubs, Integrated Arts and Technology and Innovation through to avenues for leadership and service, there are a wide
understanding of themselves as a person and their place in the world. Students experience many different camps and cityscapes within our province during Breakaway Trips in September, and are also
The essence of our Student Life Program goes beyond mere participation. It promotes courage, nutures connections and cultivates a genuine sense of belonging and community. array of opportunities for students to participate in. Plus, our students also have the privilege of travelling to gain a better
provided with opportunities to travel to other provinces and internationally through CAIS programming, service trips and cultural
“ Positivity showers others with possibility.”
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
Thomas Zachos ’17 By Colin Darling ’17, Alumni Relations Coordinator
16 Corridors
Thomas Zachos openly describes his life at HTS as a rollercoaster. When he arrived, his first challenge as an active kid was sitting still in class. He lived to play sports and was on every team he could try out for until his Senior School years when a new set of challenges surfaced: his body began failing him. Aged 14, Thomas suffered what would be the first of many seizures. Victoria ’20, his younger sister, remembers being terrified. His subsequent HTS years were spent juggling classes and doctor’s appointments
explorations. The essence of our Student Life Program goes beyond mere participation, though—it revolves around promoting courage, nurturing connections and cultivating a genuine sense of belonging and community, which is something we value greatly. Central to our approach is a focus on inclusivity—welcoming all students regardless of skill levels and experience. This inclusivity fosters a diverse and vibrant community where everyone feels valued and appreciated and is reflected in the variety of programs that students can explore. Whether it’s acting in a rehearsal, sweating it out in a sports practice or problem-solving alongside like-minded people, there
as daily tasks like walking and writing became a struggle. By Grade 10, he had lost his ability to play on sports teams and eat in the dining hall after being diagnosed with celiac disease. When many of his organs and muscles lost partial functionality, Thomas was forced to delay his graduation. Yet, despite the challenges, he remembers his time at HTS fondly. “The whole community was amazing. Especially for me who was struggling,” he says. His teachers and the Student Success team accommodated him in any way possible, even providing the ability to take tests on a whiteboard to make writing less taxing. In 2018, Thomas finally received a
