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Founder’s Day launches Centennial celebration
Leonard Schlemm ’29 and Justin-Harry BurdmanCastravelli 2019 cut the ribbon to formally begin the Centennial Celebration.
By Richard Wills, Publications Editor
Founder’s Day 2007 marked the beginning of a year-long series of events unlike anything ever seen at Selwyn House. Founded in 1908, the school has now embarked upon a full year of Centennial Celebration to mark its first century of academic excellence.
A full house of approximately 130 people turned out on November 22 in the year’s first snowstorm to help bestow the school’s highest honour, the Speirs Medal, to Ellen Pinchuk, art teacher from 1970-2005.
“For thirty-five years, Ellen Pinchuk was the heart and soul of art education at Selwyn House,” said Middle School Director Carol Manning. “Her ability to encourage young boys, emerging adolescents, and full-blown adolescents with both grace and humour was remarkable. No other
teacher in the school has ever taught such a range of students, and she did it so wisely and so well.”
“No teacher epitomizes excellence in instruction more than does Ellen Pinchuk,” said Headmaster Will Mitchell. “Her knowledge was profound, her preparation was thorough and her approach was up-to-date.”
“I was always proud to be part of a school that recognized students’ accomplishments in so many different disciplines and that gave them opportunities to realize their full potential,” said Ms. Pinchuk. “It would be a very boring world if we were all the same.”
The Old Boys Association added five teachers to its gallery of staff members who have served the school for 25 years. (More on page 36.)
The Centennial launch then commenced with two ceremonies. First was the unveiling of Selwyn House School - Celebrating 100 Years, a large-format commemorative book recapping memories of the Selwyn House experience over the past century. (More on page 32.)
At this point in the program, the school’s oldest Old Boy, Leonard Schlemm Sr. of the Class of ’29, was joined by the school’s youngest student, Justin-Harry Burdman-Castravelli 2019, to cut the ribbon to officially begin the year of celebration.
For more photos of Founder’s Day and the Centennial launch, visit www.selwyn.ca.
