THE SHEPARDS

Mulgrave School Alumni Family Interviewed by Michelle Noble | December 2017

ABOVE: The Shepards with Cypress Mountain in the background.

ulgrave is the school it is today because of the dedication of our founding families’ drive for M excellence, coupled with the vision and passion that our current families possess. Our success can be attributed to the combined efforts of the entire Mulgrave community, past and present, and perhaps nobody believes this more than the Shepards - Curt, Helaine, Taylor, and Kate. The Shepards came to Mulgrave in 2002, and found an instant family. While their two daughters, Taylor and Kate, got involved in a myriad of activities like field hockey, dance, science competitions, and theatre productions, Curt and Helaine dove head first into the community where they spent their time spearheading Galas, attending assemblies, and organising grad events, BBQs, fundraisers, and MVP events - just to name a few! Today, six years after Kate’s graduation from Mulgrave, the Shepards are still heavily involved in the community. While Helaine sits on the Board of Directors providing insight and leadership to guide the school toward future success, Kate remains as a Class Representative for the Class of 2012, Taylor sits on the Alumni Advisory Board working to connect alumni families with our Alumni Association, and Curt can still be found at nearly every big event and assembly the school hosts. The love the Shepards have for Mulgrave is truly touching, and we’re lucky to have a family like theirs ‘Sheparding’ us into the future while still keeping us so connected to the past.

ABOVE: Kate & Taylor at the alumni Pathways event in 2014. ABOVE: Helaine, Zak, Curt, & Ms. Mitchell at the 2016 alumni Winter Social event.

We’re so excited to have the chance to spotlight your family. Can

you tell us about your first visit to Mulgrave?

Helaine & Curt: WOW! There’s a day we’ll never forget. We actually

made lifelong family friends on our initial Mulgrave tour; they

had two boys, we had two girls - the questions were broad and

varied. Our two families were happily shown around the school

by an extremely friendly, informative, and capable young student

tour guide. She clearly spoke from the heart and was genuinely

beaming with pride to show us her school. Kate enthusiastically

peppered our well-spoken guide with questions while Taylor was

totally enamoured with the snake in the science department. An

overwhelming observation throughout the entire tour was the

eye contact and personal greeting made by every student, staff

member, and parent we met. The warm welcome and individual

acknowledgement was sincere and very much appreciated. It was

amazing how much we gleaned just by watching our guide interact

with fellow students and teachers. It was a friendly, inclusive,

and caring environment; the sense of community was unfolding

before us. The formal presentation of the tour was delivered by

the founding Head, Linda Hamer. Her address was inspirational

and compelling as she shared her vision of education. There was a

resounding buy-in from the theatre full of attendees.

What year did you first arrive at Mulgrave? What was the school

like in those days?

Helaine & Curt: We joined the school in 2002. To this day, we

are forever grateful for the vision and generosity of our founding Lane campus a reality. While the building was now complete,

the ever growing WISH LIST kicked in with equipment and

supply needs. With each Gala, the community rallied together,

fulfilling the WISH LIST, stocking shelves, and providing materials

highlighted by each department. Members truly played an integral

role in building Mulgrave from the ground up. The Spring Gala was

a massive fun/fund raiser. While everyone worked together to

achieve a common goal, a further resounding benefit emerged as

camaraderie and lifelong friendships evolved. Friendship was, and

continues to be, the heart of the Mulgrave experience.

It was no small feat to move from a portable to a world-class

school in such a short time. This accomplishment was made

possible by the efforts, expertise, drive, and foresight of our

founding community. They set the template for future families,

teachers, and administration to continue this exciting and ever-

developing journey. Today, under the remarkable leadership of

our Head of School, John Wray, our highly skilled and dedicated

teachers, and the strength and passion of our current community members, we enjoy an outstanding level of education that is both

ambitious and always forward looking.

Being such a small school, the community played an integral role in building Mulgrave’s foundation. In what ways did the community

come together to support the school?

Helaine & Curt: Great question! The school community was, and

continues to be, the heart and soul of Mulgrave. Parents, students,

staff, and administration all worked together toward a common goal - the school welcomed and promoted the volunteer efforts

to both help and support the school while making connections and developing partnerships with the larger community, not just

your specific grade. Mulgrave was one BIG family. An unintended

benefit was the bond the students formed with each other while

patiently waiting after school as their parents prepared for events,

both big and small. Teamwork and friendship was woven into the

fabric of Mulgrave.

Taylor, you now sit on the Mulgrave Alumni Advisory Board as

the Alumni Association Strategist with an aim to reconnect and

engage non-graduating alumni and alumni families with the

school. Why was this an important role for you to take on?

Taylor: The people are what make Mulgrave an exceptional

school. Obviously, the facilities and resources are phenomenal but

what is a ‘stand out’ in my mind, are the individuals and families

that make up this amazing community. I feel it is incredibly

important to keep all those who have been involved with Mulgrave

engaged - regardless of geographic location or years spent at the the years as they prepared me for the range of opportunities outside of Mulgrave. I am grateful for the direct instruction and

years of practice honing my collaborative skills, dating back to

group presentations (ie. Junior School Friday assemblies), to

opportunities for public speaking (ie. Middle School Night of

the Notables), to creative and comprehensive writing styles (ie.

Senior School Extended Essay), just to name a few. All the time,

effort, and hard work prepared me for both college and for my current career at Neoscape, a creative agency in Boston. The skills

I learned at Mulgrave are life skills that I utilise in both my daily

work and life in general.

What is your favourite Mulgrave memory?

Taylor: I have many fabulous memories of Mulgrave but one that

stands out in my mind is Hair for Hope Locks for Love. Everyone

congregated in the main lobby and filled the balcony above as

friends, teachers, fellow students, and parents bravely shaved

their heads (I cut my hair) to raise money for cancer research at

BC Children’s Hospital. This event remains vividly imprinted in my

mind as the level of synergy and excitement was beyond electric!

Music was blaring, people were cheering, and the play-by-play

school, they are all part of the building blocks that created this community. I attended Mulgrave for my Middle School years,

and am grateful for the important role it has played in my daily life. I have always considered Mulgrave to be both a school and

a community. I know others feel the same way, and so it was

important for me to provide avenues for people to stay involved

with Mulgrave after leaving.

Kate, do you feel Mulgrave prepared you for your university and

career experience in the United States?

Kate: Absolutely! Of course, I was both excited and slightly anxious appreciated the variety of teaching styles and assignments over

commentary was feeding the crowd as people were shedding their locks; the enthusiasm was similar to watching a sporting event.

This was a perfect example of a community coming together for a common cause - whether you were a participant, a spectator, or

a generous supporter, everyone played a role. When we delivered

the cheque and toured BC Children’s Hospital, I will never forget

the profound sense of pride we felt for being a part of Mulgrave –

ABOVE: Ms. Anson’s Film Class in 2012. ABOVE: Taylor with fellow 2008 classmates, Kian & Steve, at the alumni Pathways event.

a community that valued helping others.

Kate: Wow, there are too many memories over my 10 years to pick

just ONE! A recurring theme involved the three major aspects of

what makes up Mulgrave — the exciting opportunities offered at

the school, the unwavering support from the teachers, and, of

course, the amazing lifelong friendships.

The remarkable experience to explore new cultures and assist others, such as the service trip to Swaziland, the fall outdoor

camping trips that provided an environment to foster lasting

bonds between students, and the engaging and educational Spirit

Week activities, such as the vow of silence, are memories that will

be forever etched in my mind.

The teachers brought life to the courses and support to the students. From a young age, I remember the teachers emphasising

the importance of being a lifelong learner. Their support and

encouragement brought joy to the classroom, giving breadth and

depth to a variety of topics while sparking an internal curiosity for

learning.

And of course, the friends I made along the way brought my favourite memories to life. I am deeply thankful to have met such a

phenomenal group of friends. I know that these friends are for life,

regardless of where we are situated around the globe - we have a

special bond forever.

What was the most inspirational aspect of the Mulgrave

community?

Kate: The support and encouragement from the teachers was (and still is) remarkable. They always made time for you and were genuinely interested in your overall well-being. In my case, the

constant juggle of the IB Diploma Programme and a full-time

professional dance programme was quite the balancing act, made

possible by my teacher’s support. I cannot thank them enough

for working with me to pursue my passion for both dance and education; this experience prepared me for completing a double

major in Business and Dance. Their work ethic has had a profound

impact on me.

Helaine, why was it important for you to stay involved with the

school even after the girls left Mulgrave?

Helaine: That’s an easy answer - I am extremely passionate about

education, and Mulgrave’s mission and vision continue to align

with my personal values. I am deeply proud of the school and its

achievements and want to support it any way possible. I appreciate

that Mulgrave members ‘walk-the-talk’, roll up their sleeves, and

work side-by-side to achieve a shared goal. The Mulgrave spirit

embodies commitment, tenacity, compassion, and humility. I love

that Mulgrave is never complacent - it is always forward-looking.

It has been my distinct honour and privilege to serve with many

Mulgrave community members in various ways.

What sets Mulgrave apart?

Helaine & Curt: One defining difference that sets Mulgrave apart

is the overwhelming commitment from all members involved. It

is the community that built our school and it is the community that continues to build our school today. Mulgrave is an incredibly

well-oiled machine. When joining Mulgrave School, it offers both

an incredible education and a remarkable community, which consists of students, parents, teachers, alumni, and administration all working together.

committed to the overall success of every student, with many

available early in the morning, after school, and reachable by email

in the evening. They are supportive, caring, and inspirational

leaders. Our family considers many Mulgrave staff members

friends for life.

What is your favourite Mulgrave tradition?

Taylor: This is going to sound silly, but I really loved that we were

greeted every morning as we walked, or in my case, ran into

school. Granted, I was normally late (I’m not a morning person)

and supported and dragged by one of my oldest friends as we stuffed everything from textbooks, badminton rackets, and field

hockey sticks into my bag. Their smiling faces were a great way

to start the day. I think having someone look you in the eye

and greet you at the door by name, sent a powerful message to each individual student that they were a valued member of the

Mulgrave community. That simple action set the tone for the day.

Helaine & Curt: There are so many wonderful traditions that Mulgrave

celebrates, it is impossible to select just one. We absolutely adore

the full school assemblies, such as Opening Day where the Grade

12 students are piped into the gym, walking hand-in-hand with the

new Kindergarten students. Symbolically, it is a powerful message of

friendship, support, and continuity. Every Remembrance Day, we are

moved by the meaningful stories shared and beautiful performances

given by our students and community partners. The overwhelming

tone in the gym is one of respect, honour, and compassion, which transfers into a teachable moment for everyone. And, of course, the

Grace Assembly where the students acknowledge the selfless parent

volunteers is another one of my favourite traditions. by our students, parents, grandparents, friends, neighbours, teachers, and administration. It is a very treasured time where

our community celebrates and supports our students across the Junior School grades.

As a school that started off in a portable, Mulgrave has

experienced considerable growth in all aspects, including its education, facilities, teaching, leadership, and size. What do you

think has been the key to the school’s success?

Helaine & Curt: Staying true to its core values has been key to

Mulgrave’s success. The continued commitment from the school’s

founding members is a true testament to their unwavering

support and continued belief in our mission and vision. Today, the

support of our core values is evident in the hard work, leadership,

and dedication of our current members. It’s similar to running a

relay - everyone carries the baton, and even when it is passed on,

they remain an integral part of the team. The overall endorsement

to provide the best quality education possible has been met with

resounding support from past, present, and future families.

What are the takeaways from your Mulgrave experience?

Everyone:

1. It will be a lot of work, but it is definitely worth it in the end.

2. Use the Mulgrave community – teachers, administration,

friends, and family – as a support system.

3. Get involved.

4. Enjoy the ride!

The Shepards, 2017

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