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Dr. Cinde Lock, Head of School

Over 2,000 years ago, the youth of Athens pledged an oath “to make the world greater, better and more beautiful” than they had discovered it.

This message—the importance of caring for and preserving our world—is perhaps more true now than ever before. Though you won’t find these exact words in any of the later pages of this edition of Pillars, this spirit and the Quaker values that align directly with our mission as a school are ingrained throughout. Indeed, our mission to instil in each individual the ability and responsibility to make the world greater, better, and more beautiful is woven into the very tapestry of school life at Pickering College.

It is this set of values that drew me to Pickering College—the notion that we are not just educating children but rather, through our work with the youth of today, we are shaping the future. This edition of The Pillars marks my very first address to the Pickering College community and records all the pursuits and achievements of our incredible students across the past school year, as well as the development of programs and academics at the school.

The theme of this magazine is “History in the Making,” and, while I am very excited to build upon the exceptional academic program at Pickering College, I am also thrilled to be joining the school at a transformational time. We will be breaking ground this year for our new academic building, “West Lake House,” and everyone at the school is positively buzzing with ideas and plans for the new opportunities that this remarkable new learning space will afford us. I know that this project has been a long time in the making.

Within these pages, you will learn how our Junior School students explored interactive lessons in the natural world and extended their knowledge of Indigenous and Francophone cultures. Meanwhile, Middle School students dissected the four Pillars (faith, freedom, friendship, and fun), participated in a nationwide poetry competition, and met with guest speakers about cell biology and the experiences of First Nations societies. In the Senior School, the students hosted a spirited Winterfest event, crafted and pitched solutions to global issues, and engaged in virtual coding workshops. The programs, across all grade levels, include integrated outdoor learning, relevant and supplementary to the themes of their units of study. What a wonderful experience for students to engage in experiential and hands-on learning that deepens their appreciation for the natural world and challenges them to become change agents of their own.

The Pillars also showcases the stories of an expert student fencer, a dancer who finds belonging through her art, as well as student volunteer initiatives and other projects. For instance, the ‘JEDI’ club champions inclusion and celebrates diversity at Pickering College through whole-school events, games, and presentations in an effort to draw our community even closer together.

Reading through this edition, I am awe-struck at the exceptional grit, perseverance, and creativity of our Pickering College students. I am inspired and cannot wait to see all of their ideas and initiatives in action throughout the year. I hope that you join in our community events. I am looking forward to getting to know you and becoming fully integrated into the school community.

Every step taken here by both students and staff is truly history in the making!

Cinde Lock, Head of School

Photo by Stan Behal