A publication for all members of the St. Clement’s School Community — Spring 2019
Spring 2019
Our mission St. Clement’s School develops outstanding women who are intellectually curious, courageous, and compassionate. Principal Martha Perry ’85 Executive Director of Advancement Lisa Watson Associate Director of Communications Jason Fearon Editor Simon Vaughan, Communications Manager Copy Editor Joanne Thompson, Past Staff Graphic Design Underline Studio Contributing Photographers Jason Fearon, Staff Derek Monson, Staff Karri North Alisha Trigatti, Staff Simon Vaughan, Staff Illustrations Rami Niemi Sam Island Printing Andora Graphics Inc. Thank you to all of our community members who contributed photographs, stories, opinions, and personal expertise in creating this magazine. Your input is encouraged: Jason Fearon, Associate Director of Communications 416 483 4414 x2230 jason.fearon@scs.on.ca Alumnae Contact Meagan Thomas Associate Director, Alumnae and Donor Relations 416 483 4414 x2231 meagan.thomas@scs.on.ca
St. Clement’s School 21 St. Clements Ave. Toronto, ON M4R 1G8 Canada Telephone 416 483 4835 scs.on.ca
COVER PHOTO KARRI NORTH
Red Blazer is published twice yearly by the Advancement Office for all members of the St. Clement’s School Community.
SCS is a special place
There is a warmth in the hallways of 21 St. Clements Avenue that is unmistakable: from little smiles to big hugs, warm welcomes to shared celebrations. It is an environment of encouragement and congratulation, where Grade 1s know Grade 12s and birthday lockers are festooned with riotous colour. It is a community that all Clementines recognize as their own.
Red Blazer Spring 2019 |
1
Table of Contents
5-9 10-18 19-27 28-31 2
| Red Blazer Spring 2019
Life at SCS Principal’s Perspective .................................................................... 5 Highlights .............................................................................................. 6 At Issue (Q&A) .................................................................................... 8 Day in the Life ..................................................................................... 9
Features Cross-Curricular Learning ........................................................... 10 Alumna Scholar Essay ................................................................... 16
From the Desk Sports ................................................................................................... 20 Arts ........................................................................................................ 22 Math ..................................................................................................... 24 Advancement .................................................................................... 26
Experiential Education Out There ........................................................................................... 28
Community Making Connections ...................................................................... 30
I will always be grateful for the positive atmosphere at St. Clement’s. — Pamela Stagg ’66 on her time at SCS
32 34-39 40-42 43-48
Feature The Penguin’s Nest ........................................................................ 32
Next Chapter Alumna Profile .................................................................................. 34 Alumnae Connection ..................................................................... 36
Feature Space for Learning ......................................................................... 40
Bulletin Board Class Notes ........................................................................................ 44 Alumnae Association ...................................................................... 47 Staff News .......................................................................................... 47 Tempus Fugit .................................................................................... 48
Red Blazer Spring 2019 |
3
Life at SCS Principal’s Perspective
Did you know? There are between 17 and 20 different species of penguins in the world today.
Keeping Connected Martha Perry ’85 One of the many advantages of having our
small school community learn and play under one roof is the personal connection we so readily make every day. Whether it be coming together for assembly as an entire school, combining our older and younger girls for an activity, or simply seeing each other in the hall, we are all connected. Beyond our immediate school community, we value the important and strong ties we have with our alumnae, past parents, and staff, as well as with our local, national, and global communities. All of these connections contribute to create the special school we are. Making connections is a fundamental component of learning as well. As a School, we must ensure that we are enabling this for our girls such that they are acquiring the necessary knowledge and skills to thrive in their school years and beyond. There are many factors that contribute to our ability to do this, including
time, exemplary instructional practice, and enthusiastic and bright girls and young women. We are very blessed to have all three at the School, and are proud of the work that is being done at St. Clement’s to develop outstanding women who are intellectually curious, courageous, and compassionate. In this edition of the Red Blazer you will read about a few of the new programs that challenge our girls to make connections in their learning. Thanks, in large part, to the new timetable we implemented this year, our new Junior School Curious Kids program and our Grade 11 STEAM program can be offered during a flex time on Wednesdays, and our Middle School Integrated Arts and Technology program takes place during our longer 80-minute periods. The timetable also supports our faculty’s learning. Alongside the new time for our girls’ programs is additional time for our faculty’s ongoing professional development, with an hour embedded into the regular day every Wednesday morning. We hope this edition of the Red Blazer connects you to the exciting work being done at our School. Enjoy!
Whether it be coming together for assembly as an entire school, combining our older and younger girls for an activity, or simply seeing each other in the hall, we are all connected.
Red Blazer Spring 2019 |
5
Highlights
Life at SCS Highlights
6
| Red Blazer Spring 2019
1 Season’s Greetings The Junior School brought in the holidays with the annual Christmas Program.
2
3
4
5
6
Life at SCS Highlights
Images from top left: 1 2 3 4 5
8
6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Junior School Christmas Program Spirit Week Spirit Week Spirit Week Junior School Christmas Program Spirit Week Field Day Field Day Field Day Jingle Mingle Remembrance Day Jingle Mingle
IN NUMBERS 9 Teamwork Field day was celebrated indoors and outdoors at SCS.
4 Houses at SCS
5
7
SCS choirs performed at the Christmas Carol Service
12 Grades participated in the Hallowe’en Assembly
SPRING / SUMMER SNEAK PEEK
Alumnae Reunion Weekend May Day Closing Ceremonies
10 We Remember Remembrance Day is always respectfully marked at St. Clement’s.
11
12
Red Blazer Spring 2019 |
7
Life at SCS At Issue
Q&A
When did you show courage in school and what tools or resources helped you?
ALÉ JARDINE, Grade
KATE ROSE, Grade
6
Trying out for any sports team is scary, but especially if you’re trying out for a team that’s a grade ahead. When I tried out for the Grade 7 Badminton team, I was a nervous wreck. I knew there were cuts and that terrified me, but then I took a few breaths and decided to go for it.
MARLEY CONSTANTIN, Grade
11
In Grade 10, I participated in an Australian exchange. It took a lot of courage for me to spend a month on the other side of the world. Thankfully, it was the most rewarding experience of my life! I made many meaningful and irreplaceable connections and memories.
8
| Red Blazer Spring 2019
5
On the first day of school it took a lot of courage to say hello and get to know everyone in my class. Everyone made me feel very welcome, and now I have lots of friends that I care about and who care about me.
MAXINE GRAY,
Grade 7
Last year I was going through some hard times with a friend without her even knowing. My teacher, Ms. Fonseca, spoke to my friend and also helped me to tell her how I felt. After both conversations, I felt much better.
LUCY FARCNIK,
Grade 12
In December, another student and I embarked on a Round Square service trip to Sri Lanka by ourselves. It was an incredible experience. We couldn’t have done it without the help, support, and love of Ms Melville.
Life at SCS A Day in the Life
A Day in the Life Francesca Kaiser ’22
Hobbies: Drums, baking, knitting
7:30 A.M. I usually wake up at 7:30 a.m. I live near St Clement’s, so it doesn’t take me too long to travel to school. I generally have to take two buses to make it on time for 8:30 a.m.
12:45 P.M. My afternoon classes are Computer Science and Math. I like Computer Science because it gives me a sense of what the future of technology will be like, and Math class pushes me to try harder at different problems.
3:30 P.M. Some days, right after school, I go to Powell Hall to rehearse for the Senior School play, The Sound of Music. I play a nun and the Lieutenant. Play practice usually runs from 3:30–4:30 p.m.
House: York
4:30 P.M. I occasionally spend time with a tutor after school. He helps me with my Math and Science homework if I need it, or with material that I don’t quite understand.
7:30 P.M. After tutoring, I finally go home and occasionally have a drum lesson. I started drum lessons in the summer because I really enjoy playing and listening to rock music. My lesson lasts for about two hours.
Clubs: Drama Club & Visual Arts Club
8:30 A.M. Tuesday morning is my favourite. I have Science for my first period. This eases me into the day by waking me up and focusing on the academic side of school. After Science, I have fun in a relaxing period of Drama.
9:30 P.M. After a long day at school and extra activities, I settle down at home and I finish up any homework that needs to be done. When that’s all done, I go to bed at around 11:00 p.m., preparing myself for the next day.
Red Blazer Spring 2019 |
9
Our academic program challenges every student to think critically and creatively and to problem-solve both independently and collaboratively. Our students are immersed in deep, subject-specific content that they connect across disciplines and apply to authentic, complex issues. Our teachers employ diverse, student-centred, and innovative pedagogies. Illustration by Sam Island Text by Simon Vaughan
Developing Modern Approaches to Learning at St. Clement’s School
St. Clement’s School has long strived to offer an academic program that is dynamic and innovative to accept and incorporate not only the constant changes in education but also the ongoing flux in the world at large. Establishing a balance between traditional educational practices and modern approaches is a cornerstone at SCS, with the School always aiming to provide the best learning experiences for students. As a result of continuous research and ongoing reflection, our academic and cocurricular programs have evolved to ensure rigorous, innovative, and engaging learning for our girls from Grades 1 to 12. From the way we teach to what we teach, everything is focused on challenging and stretching our girls’ learning.
12 | Red Blazer Spring 2019
Curious Kids Project Based Learning (PBL) has been one
Avenue or may be of a more global nature. Once the specific question has been chosen, the students research the subject, present their findings to their classmates, continue to research their chosen solution and then, utilizing self-reflection, peer and teacher feedback, refine their conclusion before sharing it with the community. Some of the Driving Questions that have recently been investigated at SCS have included:
such advancement and has been utilized at St. Clement’s School. Its most recent iteration is Curious Kids: a Junior School program held on Wednesdays and introduced at the start of this school year. As with all PBL teaching methods, Curious Kids provides students with an opportunity to gain knowledge and skills through a program that interests them, enables them to work within a group to solve a problem or a challenge, and provides them
with the time to create a public product that they can then share with others in the SCS community and beyond. The cornerstone of the success of Curious Kids is the selection of a problem or challenge that has sufficient scope for proper investigation and enough interest to fully engage the students and give them the drive to see it through to its conclusion. These driving questions can pertain to issues primarily of concern within the walls of 21 St. Clements
1
2 3
How can we, as a healthy living group, help people find sports that make them happy and healthy, for the SCS Junior School?
How can we, as environmentalists, spread awareness of the overuse of paper in art to help protect the environment?
4 5
How can we, as health experts, help Senior School students heading off to university to stay healthy during their first year?
How can we, as singersongwriters, learn the steps of composing a song for an audience, for our own curiosity, for our enjoyment, and for the enjoyment of the Junior School?
How can we, as scientists, raise awareness about the problems pollution creates and convince others to stop polluting our environment?
Curious Kids meets for one hour each week during the Wednesday Flextime period. Students are divided into groups of 10-12 students, by their specific interests and in grade pairs with Grades 1-2, 3-4, and 5-6 together. The response to Curious Kids has been overwhelmingly positive, with many students expressing enjoyment at conducting research, working together with their classmates and students from other grades, and presenting their findings to a larger audience. Red Blazer Spring 2019 | 13
STEAM Project One of St. Clement’s most exciting Cross-
Curricular successes is the School’s Grade 11 STEAM project. Recently introduced to the grade, the STEAM Project provides an interdisciplinary approach to Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math. The project works especially well with Grade 11, as most of the students are in at least one Grade 11 science and/or computer science, design, art or Advanced Placement Capstone course.
1
To relate science to technology, society, and the environment. Connect a product or solution to at least two scientific disciplines or a scientific discipline and an art or humanities course.
4
To develop the learning competencies (the 6 Cs) through the design and collaboration process. 14 | Red Blazer Spring 2019
The project’s focus uses Design Thinking, an avenue of problem solving that incorporates ideation and development as part of a creative process to reach a solution. Not only does this approach enable students to solve problems, but it also fosters the development of the sorts of skills, strategies, and habits that serve them well in future studies and in their future professional endeavours. The goals of the STEAM project are:
2 3 To form effective interdisciplinary teams of members that are in at least two scientific disciplines (biology, chemistry, physics, etc.), or one scientific discipline and another relevant course.
To develop the skills, strategies, and habits of mind required for scientific investigation and/or design thinking.
The 6 C’s of Deep Learning are defined by Canadian author and educational consultant Dr. Michael Fullan, Global Leadership Director of New Pedagogies for Deep Learning, as Character, Citizenship, Collaboration, Communication, Creativity, and Critical Thinking. Not only are these academic and personal/interpersonal qualities and capabilities necessary for good learning, but their development is a fundamental aim of any STEAM project. The backbone of any STEAM investigation is to follow a path of Inquiring, Ideating, Incubating, and Implementing to reach a successful conclusion. For students at St. Clement’s, the product ideas that were investigated in Grade 11 STEAM included the development of bio-degradable make-up and packaging, the creation of a towel that warms and dries the user, and the invention of art
supplies that help develop fine motor skills. Service ideas included efforts at creating a resource service for homeless pregnant women and an Indigenous community centre that combined cultural programming with a crisis centre. The students also worked to design an app that guides users in overcoming internal biases, and one to help slow agerelated cognitive decline. Ensuring that St. Clement’s School continues to embrace change and adopts modern approaches to learning is a task that falls to the entire faculty, from the Principal and Vice Principal, to the Heads of School, and to every teacher. SCS encourages ongoing professional development for all staff and the exploration of new approaches to education. That commitment to learning helps ensure that Clementines will always be prepared for the future.
What is Cross-Curricular Learning?
Cross-Curricular Learning describes any approach to education that spans multiple disciplines and viewpoints with the intention of providing students with a course of learning that engages, challenges, and stimulates. When students are also tasked to create the initial driving questions, the outcomes include better imaginative engagement, a more creative approach to research, and a greater inclination to work cooperatively with their classmates. Furthermore, the students are more likely to investigate real-life issues and seek real-life solutions, and have a greater enthusiasm to share their findings. By not restricting the learning process to the confines of specific subjects, this approach enables students to explore topics across multiple subject boundaries and more fully investigate issues in whichever direction their curiosity and inquisitiveness takes them.
CROSS-CURRICULAR LEARNING IN THE MIDDLE SCHOOL The Middle School has utilized Cross-Curricular Learning in its Integrated Studies for global water issues as outlined in Education Outside the Box in the Fall 2018 edition of Red Blazer. Their investigations not only crossed curricular boundaries but also spanned grades, creating the opportunity for inter-grade leadership development. Similar efforts were used in the Middle School integrated arts and technology program in Grade 8, which combined dramatic, visual, musical, and technological arts. Our Grade 9 Civics Class was more experiential in its approach incorporating simulations, guest speakers, and off-site excursions. These programs will be reviewed in future editions of Red Blazer.
While Cross-Curricular Learning can take a number of forms including interdisciplinary, multidisciplinary, and transdisciplinary learning, the outcome is invariably better preparation for our girls for the challenges of university and their professional life beyond. Red Blazer Spring 2019 | 15
16 | Red Blazer Spring 2019
Each year, the Alumna Scholar Award, based on character, leadership, scholarship, service, and an essay, is given to a Grade 12 student. The winner is awarded $1,000 towards tuition. This year’s recipient discusses the importance and value of compassion. Photography by Karri North Text by Megan Scarlett ’19
I remember, quite clearly, one of the first
books ever read to me in the Junior School. It was Christmas time, and the School was warm against the bleak winds that made my knees cold when I went to play outside at recess. Mrs. Gleeson gathered all of the Junior students in the foyer, sitting in front of the school Christmas tree that twinkled with lights Mr. D. had set up that morning. I sat right at the very front. Then, just as she always did, Mrs. Gleeson brought out a book to read. The Giving Tree. “Once there was a tree…” she began. This was my first-ever lesson about compassion. There is a rather rational, compelling argument as to why compassion is an outdated value. Our world is changing. Deadlines grow closer and time grows shorter, and there really isn’t any time to be nice. Being nice only hinders our ability to be better, in academics, sports, or the professional world. When we are too busy worrying about others, we cannot worry about ourselves. We lose sight of our goals. We lose sight of success; Red Blazer Spring 2019 | 17
To empathize with someone is to open your heart and let in their experiences; their emotions. You gain nothing from empathy, but the other person receives an invaluable gift: your compassion.
however, I propose a radically different idea: being “nice” makes you better, not worse. Compassion is not just a tool for success; it is the key. The Giving Tree tells the story of a tree who loved a little boy who came to her every day. He would gather her leaves, and climb her trunk, and swing from her branches. He would pick her apples and play hide and seek and nap under her shade. However, as the boy grew older, he drifted away, only returning when he needed something, and, every time, the tree gave him what he asked for without hesitation. She gave and gave until she was nothing but a stump, all without the expectation of anything in return. Through this giving, she demonstrates compassion in its purest form: to love without the expectation of anything in return. Yet it is that very idea that contradicts our modern perception of success. Nothing should be given away for free, lest we lose it. In this, though, there is a flaw: if you never give anything away, you will never see anything in return. Empathy and emotional intelligence are things with which many people struggle. To empathize with someone is to open your heart and let in their experiences, their emotions. You gain nothing from empathy, but the other person receives an invaluable gift: your compassion. When you empathize, you give love and understanding without the 18 | Red Blazer Spring 2019
expectation of anything in return. The ability to empathize — to understand others — is absolutely crucial in professional life. Those who can grasp the thoughts and emotions of others can make smarter decisions and possess greater interpersonal skills. Suddenly, giving to others gives you something in return. Another sought-after trait in the professional world is a network. Whom you know matters, and it makes you valuable in the workplace. In The Giving Tree, the love between the tree and the boy keeps them together despite years and oceans between them. No matter how old he gets or how far he travels, the boy always returns to the tree, no matter what. Because of the compassion she showed him, he knew it was safe to come back. Imagine the kind of network you could build if you treated everyone like that. In short, compassion is not an outdated value. There is no such thing as being “too nice.” To be nice is to connect with and uplift others, and it is that — not numbers or grades or money — that defines success. By showing compassion, we create a community where everyone feels connected and valued. The world needs more communities like that. It needs more people with open hearts, because those who enter the world with an open heart will receive the world in return. It’s a good thing SCS starts in Grade 1.
THE GIVING TREE STATS
1964 Year The Giving Tree was first published
10+ million Copies sold worldwide
FAVOURITE QUOTE
“And she loved a boy very, very much — even more than she loved herself.”
From the Desk Spring 2019
From the Desk
The academic program at St. Clement’s supports our mission to develop outstanding women who are intellectually curious, courageous, and compassionate. We do this by ensuring that excellence is not just a word — it’s our commitment and our passion.
Sports Highlights from our fall and winter seasons. pg. 20
Arts Drama. Music. Installations. Design. Art matters at SCS. pg. 22
Math Math lives at St. Clement’s. You can count on it! pg. 24
Advancement Celebrating the generosity of our School community. pg. 26
Red Blazer Spring 2019 | 19
Sports From the Desk Sports
From juniors to seniors, SCS’s athletes braved wild weather and tough competition but always displayed spirit, sportsmanship, and tremendous skill.
Kick
Our Senior Soccer Team reached the consolation finals at the CAIS Tournament. The U15 Soccer Team ended their season with a narrow loss in the first round of the playoffs and the U12 Soccer Team braved a cold and snowy final day at Holy Trinity School. Dunk
After losing a close semi-final, the Senior Basketball Team finished 3rd at the CAIS National Tournament. Despite injuries and illnesses, the U14 Basketball Team finished 4th in their division. The U13 Team just missed a spot in the final four, while the U12 Team had a strong showing at the final tournament. Shoot
The SCS Field Hockey Team improved their skills over the season, finishing 4th before losing to Lakefield College School in the semi-finals. Serve
After an outstanding season, the U13 Badminton team finished 2nd in the final tournament. The U14 side played the season as an exhibition team. The Junior Badminton Team finished 4th overall while the Senior Badminton Team finished 4th at the finals. Stride
The Junior Cross Country and Senior Cross Country Teams both had excellent seasons. Ellie Stevens, Elizabeth Shannon, Yoyo Benchetrit, Kelly Lang, and Kate Botha (all ’21) were CISAA Champions (Yoyo and Kate finished 1st and 2nd respectively), while Molly Gipson ’22 was 2nd in midget girls and Sarah 20 | Red Blazer Spring 2019
Clements ’19 was 3rd in senior girls. All seven represented SCS and the CISAA at OFSAA. Stroke
The Tad and Junior Swim Teams finished 2nd at the Bishop’s Cup. The combined SCS team (Tad/U14/Junior/Senior) finished 3rd, while the Senior Team came 4th. Kristina Kurvits ’21 placed 3rd in 50 Free and 3rd in 50 Back; Emily Suggit ’22 placed 4th in 100 IM and 5th in 50 Breast; Cassandra Anderson ’21 placed 5th in 100 IM and 6th in 100 Free; Eve Botterell ’22 placed 6th in 100 IM and 4th in 50 Back, while Kaitlyn Ma ’22 placed 6th in 50 Breast. Slalom
In Alpine Skiing, Andie Miller ’20 placed 1st at CISAA while the Open Team finished 1st at the OFSAA Alpine Ski Championship in the Open Girls Slalom and won the Bronze Medal at the Open Girls Giant Slalom. Skate
The Senior Girls Hockey Team enjoyed a successful season with a 3-4-1 record. They won their final game of the season to move up to 6th place in a competitive division. Spike
The U11 Volleyball Team’s season was marred by weather while the U12 Volleyball Team showed their best form at the final tournament. The U13s finished the season tied for 6th, missing out on the playoffs by a tie-breaker while the U14s finished just short of the playoffs. Junior (2) Volleyball finished 4th and had a win in the first round of the playoffs. Junior (3) Volleyball finished 6th before capturing bronze in the finals. The Senior Volleyball team finished just shy of the playoffs.
From the Desk Sports
ST. CLEMENT’S SCOREBOARD
Winter Jackets
It was so cold during the U12 Soccer Team’s final day that the team was forced to wear their winter jackets under their team jerseys.
Making a splash!
Our Junior 4x50 Relay Team shaved an impressive 6.93 seconds off their previous results this season and placed 2nd in the event. The relay team is comprised of Cassandra Anderson and Kristina Kurvits (both ’21) and Eve Botterell and Emily Suggitt (both ’22).
0
Skate Senior Girls Hockey Team: the puck stops here.
Goals conceded by the Senior Girls Hockey Team against Lakefield College School.
877 Points scored by the Junior (3) Volleyball Team throughout the regular season.
ST. CLEMENT’S PROUD
Run SCS enjoyed an outstanding cross country season this year.
Natalie Stewart ’21 skied for Team Ontario at the 2019 Canada Winter Games held in Red Deer, Alberta from February 15-March 3! The competition was held at Nakiska, site of the 1988 Olympic alpine events, and Natalie was cheered-on by everyone at St. Clement’s.
Red Blazer Spring 2019 | 21
Arts From the Desk Arts
From music and theatre to visuals arts and the written word, the creativity our SCS girls possess is boundless. Here’s how the arts take centre stage in our creative community.
Call me Cordelia!
Powell Hall was transported to Avonlea as the Middle School staged their production of Anne of Green Gables. Lucy Maud Montgomery’s Canadian classic tale of orphan Anne Shirley’s experiences on a farm in rural Prince Edward Island was brought to life in a production that provided plenty of laughs and much entertainment.
The Hills are Alive Art Matters
As part of St. Clement’s MADNESS Arts Banquet, the School’s foyer played host to a Yayoi Kusama-inspired installation entitled The Collaborative Café, while Powell Hall was turned into a soundscape where visitors were reminded of the impact we all have on the spaces we occupy. The annual banquet celebrates all forms of creativity with this year’s offerings also seeing the girls drumming with recycled drums, honing DJ skills, decorating cupcakes, and engaging in theatre stage make-up. DesignTO
Working with a public school for students with cognitive and physical exceptionalities, SCS’s Grade 12 design students turned their creative talents into a power for good engaging in a project to develop products that could ease teaching and learning. Following a traditional design path of research, ideation, and testing culminating with the 22 | Red Blazer Spring 2019
final prototype, the SCS students developed a multi-surfaced display that enables a kindergarten teacher to communicate with their class in an innovative way. The designs were presented at St. Clement’s and then exhibited in the Great Hall of OCAD University as part of the week-long annual DesignTO festival.
The von Trapp Family came to Powell Hall in March, in the Senior School’s production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s masterpiece The Sound of Music. The show was a rousing success with the stage overrun by Maria, the Captain, and all the talented von Trapp children, and had the entire school rocking to such classics as Edelweiss, My Favourite Things, Climb Ev’ry Mountain, Do-Re-Mi and, of course, the title song, The Sound of Music. Raising the Roof
Under the direction of Cindy Leech, SCS parent and supply teacher, an installation art piece was created by every single student and staff member (and a few other familiar faces). The painting of Toronto’s skyline made its debut at the April 6 Gala, where it was auctioned with all the proceeds going to the SCS Roof Project.
From the Desk Arts
BY THE NUMBERS
6 Finalists in the Red Reads event.
17 Students who participated in the annual Recital Night with representation from eight different grades.
Senior School The hills were alive with The Sound of Music.
24 Students in the SCS production of Anne of Green Gables presented in Powell Hall in November.
COMMUNITY
Red Reads this year celebrated the topic of community with the question, “What book best describes what community means to you?” The two winning titles were The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas and Garfield by Jim Davis.
CAROLS
Middle School Anne of Green Gables took over Powell Hall. St. Clement’s School marked the holidays with the annual Christmas Carol Service at a jam-packed St. Paul’s Church on Bloor Street before the girls and staff headed away for their well-deserved break.
Red Blazer Spring 2019 | 23
Math From the Desk Math
There are many things you can count on at St. Clement’s School, but our academic excellence in Math doesn’t just stand out in the School, it stands out in the city, the province, and even the country.
Math Mojo
Math Matters
In the Middle School, the positive math vibe is contagious. This year, in the Grade 8 Geometry unit, the students learned about shape and space with orange peel activities and through computer-based GeoGebra investigations. They got creative making nets that transformed into a variety of constructions. Our Grade 8 students also enjoyed a half-day workshop on Math Mindset, where they completed numeracy challenges and played math games including a computer game programmed by SCS’s Mr. Jones. The students in Middle School are constantly inspired and engaged through meaningful activities. It’s exciting and encouraging to see their math interest and confidence grow in these important developmental years.
The Financial Math Unit in Grade 11 Functions teaches students about interest and how to work with interest calculations using compound interest and annuities. Using Project Based Learning, the girls had to research financial information about someone. They could either choose a real person they know, their future self, or a fictional person they connect with or in whom they are interested. Then they wrote a report advising their person how to save for retirement based on their income, current spending habits, and housing situation. At SCS, it is important to make Math meaningful.
Math Mindset
Our Junior and Senior School teachers are collaborating through professional development as they complete a course on Math Mindset run out of Stanford University. This perspective enhances our students’ positive approach to problem solving and helps build increased confidence in their abilities and willingness to take risks. Two of our Math department members attended a Math Leadership summit where they heard from Math Mindset expert Jo Boler. They came home excited and with lots to share. 24 | Red Blazer Spring 2019
From the Desk Math
BY THE NUMBERS
9 The position that SCS placed in Canada in the Pascal Competition at the University of Waterloo.
13 The position that SCS placed in Canada in the Fryer Competition at the University of Waterloo.
Desktop St. Clement’s School’s academic excellence in math is long-standing.
50 SCS was the only girls’ school in Canada to finish in the Top 50 Schools in the University of Waterloo Math Contest.
40 Whiteboard SCS encourages problem solving individually and in teams.
The perfect score achieved by Laura Li ’21 in the Fryer Competition, one of only 8 students out of 5,000 who wrote the contest to achieve this result.
FRYER COMPETITION
The team members for the Fryer Competition were Laura Li, Priya Sivarajan, Victoria Li, Kelly Lang, and Heidi Hon (all ’21), while the Pascal Competition team included Natalie Lo, Laura Li, and Heidi Hon (all ’21).
Red Blazer Spring 2019 | 25
From the Desk Advancement
Your gift has an impact
There are many ways that people contribute to St. Clement’s School, and some of those begin with a simple conversation.
At SCS, there’s never a shortage of projects, activities, and initiatives. Sometimes, a quick conversation with a member of the community can pique a personal interest either in the project itself, or in the opportunity to become more deeply involved in the School. That first spark can lead to further questions, more conversation, and a realization that the initiative speaks to a person’s heart and mind, for example, a conversation about children’s Christmas gifts that led to a gift of learning for the whole School. Ultimately, it can result in a partnership with the School that makes the project come to life. 26 | Red Blazer Spring 2019
Major Gifts and SCS.
These partnerships are a part of Major Gift fundraising at St. Clement’s, a stream of philanthropy that enhances the daily life of the School. Major gifts can take several forms. They can be project-specific and help fund initiatives and events that are beyond the regular curriculum but important for the growth of the girls; they can form the prototype for a project that may become part of the girls’ learning; or they can be larger gifts that help to fund an existing program and thereby free-up operating funds that can be used to assist growth in other areas. All of these gifts are vitally important to helping ensure that St. Clement’s continues to develop outstanding women. A few recent instances have helped make the path ahead even more exciting for the entire community. Late last year, a quick conversation about Christmas gifts and STEM led St. Clement’s School parents Erin and Ralph Nella to make a major gift to the Junior and Middle Schools’ STEM program, much to the delight of the girls and their teachers. Thanks to this generosity, SCS was able to purchase enough Makey Makey Classic electronic invention kits for an entire class to work hands-on, as they turned bananas into pianos and everyday objects into game controllers. The Nella family also enabled the School to acquire two virtual reality headsets that are currently being tested by our faculty to determine how best we can introduce this leading-edge technology to the girls. Possibilities include leading the girls on a virtual ‘walk’ through a human heart to see how it works from the inside out!
Erin and Ralph also made it possible for our robotics and technology teachers — Ms Mehta and Mr. Jones — to purchase a new 3D printer. Erin said, “We have three daughters at St. Clement’s, and so, clearly, the School is very important to us. We wanted to make this gift to help the School give all the girls an edge in technology because that’s where the world is going.” Niki Mehta teaches SCS’s Grades 10-12 Technological Design courses, and this gift has enabled her to incorporate a 3D printing module into those courses too. “I believe we’re in the midst of a technological revolution,” she explains. “The maker movement has prompted the growth of a number of ‘making’ technologies, especially 3D printing. This technology has numerous applications not only in education but also in medicine, engineering, space science, architecture, and design.” Before the Nella’s gift arrived, Niki had planned to use the 3D printers at the public library and other makerspaces in the community which would have been a cumbersome and time-consuming process for students and their learning. “Having our own 3D printer in the School has certainly sped up the process,” Niki says. “The girls have been very excited by it, and have used it every single day since it arrived!” Ralph and Erin were thrilled to be able to help. “It’s expensive to operate a school and it’s not always financially possible for any school to obtain the latest in technology,” they explained. “If we could help do that, we were delighted to lend a hand.”
From the Desk Advancement
Did you know? The first clementine fruit was found in Algeria in the late 19th century in the garden of the orphanage of Br Marie-Clement.
In the Fall, St. Clement’s School will host Canada’s first Pollyanna Conference, dedicated to the in-depth exploration of implicit bias and issues surrounding diversity, equity, and inclusion, and to the sharing of experiences and knowledge. St. Clement’s is able to host the conference thanks to a major gift from two SCS parents. Their generosity will not only provide the girls with the opportunity to learn about these important issues, but will also enable them to engage with students and participants from beyond the SCS community and to hone their skills as event organizers and hosts. Also next school year, SCS will introduce the Sweet Readers program, an initiative that connects Middle School students with senior citizens in the early stages of Alzheimer’s. Begun in New York City in 2011, Sweet Readers has served more than 40,000 participants and provided more than 60,000 hours of programming. St. Clement’s will be only the third school outside the U.S. and the second in Canada to participate, with the entire community including faculty and staff fully involved and eagerly anticipating the opportunity to help others. Advancement is currently working to find a major gift donor for this rewarding program. These projects are possible only because of the generosity of members of the SCS community, and it is this generosity that helps make the School an even better learning environment. As Niki Mehta says, “We are truly grateful for all of these gifts. We just can’t thank our donors enough.”
We wanted to make this gift to help the School give all the girls an edge in technology because that’s where the world is going.
Red Blazer Spring 2019 | 27
Experiential Education Out There
Out There Our girls embrace their curiosity at home and farther afield. Here’s a look at a few of the places they’ve travelled to learn and to be of service.
SRI LANKA December 2018
In December, Lucy Farcnik
and Kayla Goodridge (both ’19) travelled to Sri Lanka with Round Square. Kayla worked on a construction project in a community near Wasgamuwa National Park, while Lucy assisted with Project Orange Elephant, an environmental effort to deter wild elephants from destroying crops. Both girls had the opportunity to lead their international groups for a day while learning about sustainability. Lucy and Kayla also saw some of the country’s wildlife, including wild elephants, monkeys, and peacocks, while on safari. 28 | Red Blazer Spring 2019
Lucy and Kayla’s travels included the ancient rock fortress of Sigiriya.
Experiential Education Out There
MOOSE FACTORY, ONTARIO January 2019
In Moose Factory, the girls learned many traditional skills.
In late January, an intrepid group of Clementines headed north to Moose Factory to renew St. Clement’s long-term partnership with the Moose Cree First Nation. The girls enjoyed winter camping while gaining a deeper appreciation for the traditional land of the Moose Cree First Nation. They learned about the impact of the ’60s Scoop, were taught traditional skills that they put to use sewing moccasins and mittens, and were privileged to be invited to attend the annual Round Dance in honour of the deceased. SAINT-DONAT, QUÉBEC February 2019
For several years, SCS has
The weather may have been cold in Saint-Donat, but the hospitality couldn’t have been warmer.
attended the immersive French program at Saint-Donat, Quebec, 135 kilometres from Montreal. Saint-Donat opens its hearts to St. Clement’s each year, providing our Grade 10s with a full francophone immersion experience and wonderful hospitality. In addition to acquainting themselves with the community and culture, the trip provides opportunities for our girls to venture beyond their comfort zones, with leadership development, alpine and crosscountry skiing, snowshoeing, and ice skating under the stars. Red Blazer Spring 2019 | 29
Community Making Connections
Making Connections Our School community is always seeking ways to deepen our connections with the wider community. Here’s a look at how our girls and our staff are doing just that.
CHURCH LUNCH
Holiday cheer SCS shared the joys of the season with the neighbourhood.
On December 5, St. Clement’s Church held its annual holiday lunch and a large contingent of Clementines were there to help bring some seasonal cheer to members of our neighbourhood community. With the Junior Choir in fine voice, the students made their way around the hall sharing hand-made holiday cards and making the occasion even more warm and festive. 30 | Red Blazer Spring 2019
Community Making Connections
COMMUNITY BREAKFAST
Breakfast of champions The community breakfast enabled all of SCS to start the day off right.
It’s the most important meal
of the day, and SCS’s annual Community Breakfast is now one of the most anticipated events of the school year. Hosted by LINCWell, St. Clement’s students and staff gathered in the East Gym on a brisk January morning to mix and mingle and break the night’s fast. With the aroma of freshly-cooked pancakes drifting through the air and platters of fruit, bagels, cheese, croissants, yogurt, and other goodies on offer, it was easy for the entire School to get their engines running for the day ahead. INTERNATIONAL INDEPENDENT SCHOOL PUBLIC SPEAKING COMPETITION
The St. Clement’s School
Welcoming the world SCS hosted the world at an international public speaking event.
community hosted the world in late October, as the International Independent Schools Public Speaking Competition came to SCS for the first time ever. More than 160 students from across Canada and the U.S. and as far away as Bermuda, South Korea, the United Kingdom, South Africa, and India competed over three days in this prestigious annual competition. Not only did SCS offer a warm welcome to all the competitors, but our very own Hannah Monger ’19 came out on top in After Dinner Speech and Impromptu. Red Blazer Spring 2019 | 31
The Penguin’s Nest Just off the SCS foyer there lies a door unlike any other in the building. Leading to neither classroom nor office, meeting room nor storage, it sits nestled between a large wooden wardrobe and a tailor’s mannequin replete with navy tunic and red blazer. Beyond the door resides a cozy nest of sorts. 32 | Red Blazer Spring 2019
From Red Blazer Blend Tea to PJ bottoms, SCS’s The Penguin’s Nest is a treasure trove of all things St. Clement’s. It’s not only the first stop for every new Clementine seeking their uniform, but often also the first stop when returning for a visit, this time for a little old school memorabilia. The school store has been an SCS mainstay for several decades. Initially offering only smaller items such as ties and socks, gradually its selection of wares expanded to include pens, stationery, and even lip balm. “When I first started at the School in 1991,” recalls Dolly Menna-Dack ’99, “I remember that if I needed something I would fill out a form and it would be delivered to my homeroom in a brown paper bag.” That service was available for younger girls,
while more senior students made their way to the third floor where they would place their order through a half-door and wait in the hall until it was filled. Before Barb Pepler joined as manager in 2008, the store was run by parent volunteers. “Shortly after I began,” Ms Pepler explains, “We decided to offer the full uniform in-house. Welcoming a new family for a personal uniform fitting in The Penguin’s Nest is now a real highlight for me and they are always so excited to try on the red blazer for the first time.” The uniform has mostly stayed the same over the years, but there have been a few changes. “I clearly remember the excitement when boxers were first introduced,” reminisces Sarah Gleeson, former head of Junior School at SCS. “Finally, an alternative to the bloomers!”
Ms Pepler’s job isn’t just about making sure that there are sufficient quantities of uniforms and basic supplies, however. She also strives to come up with new SCS merchandise. Each December, the School hosts its holiday market, an event much anticipated by the entire SCS community and for which the search for new and creative offerings starts early. “I am always on the lookout for products that are made in Canada and can be proudly identified with our SCS branding,” Ms Pepler explains. “This year, I found a beautiful wooden charcuterie board, made from Canadian cherry trees by a woman in Guelph. We had the St. Clement’s crest branded on it and it’s now a year-round favourite.” Scattered throughout the store among the mugs, tumblers, and tunic pins are bears
wearing House hoodies and even tiny SCS uniforms. And penguins, of course. The School’s relationship with the penguin stretches back to 1988 when “Pete” the Penguin made his debut at St. Clement’s School. “We decided that the School needed a mascot,” then-head girl Marjorie Wonham ’88 recalls. “We considered all sorts of options but agreed that we didn’t think some sort of a savage animal really suited us, especially being such a small school fielding teams to compete against other, larger schools.” “Penguins are smaller than a lot of other mascots,” Marjorie explains.” And a penguin’s colours were similar to those of our uniform: the black flippers and white chest are a bit like our white shirts and dark tunics.” Initially known as Pete, the penguin
has stuck around ever since, even if it has lost its first name in the intervening years (and changed gender). Shortly after its introduction, the school store began selling small stuffed penguins and in 1994 it was officially named The Penguin’s Nest. Today, The Penguin’s Nest is a hive of activity throughout the school year with some things always in demand. “Since I started ten years ago,” Ms Pepler recounts, “I once calculated that I have sold approximately 8,600 pairs of socks, 1,350 ties, 1,200 tunics, 700 red blazers, and 675 Clementine bears.”
Red Blazer Spring 2019 | 33
Next Chapter Alumna Profile
Drawing your own path Pamela Stagg ’66 As Pamela Stagg ’66 attests, the St. Clement’s
School she attended wasn’t quite the same as the St. Clement’s School of today. “During my years,” Pamela recalls, “some science experiments had to be done outdoors on the basketball court, because there were no exhaust fans in the science lab, and there was no proper gym — just a low-ceilinged room in the basement that doubled as a sort of gym and a sort of assembly room.” For a creative person like Pamela, however, there was a much bigger concern than shortcomings in the science department: “There was no art.” Pamela came to SCS after attending a convent boarding school in England. A review of her academic and curricular record resulted in her being put ahead two grades, a decision that was not without problems. “It was a very tough transition,” she now admits. “What made it easier was the kindness and friendliness of the girls in my class, and the French teacher who stayed late to tutor me and bring my French up to Canadian standards.” When it came time to retire her gold belt, Pamela chose to pursue her creative dreams. That decision did not meet with universal support at SCS, however. “The headmistress made it clear that my choice of art college had her disapproval,” 34 | Red Blazer Spring 2019
32.8M Pamela recalls. “‘St. Clement’s young ladies go to university or into nursing,’ she told us.” Pamela followed her heart and attended the Ontario College of Art. After working for several advertising agencies, she started her own business and then in 1987, she took a course in botanical painting. “I was encouraged to exhibit competitively in England,” she says. “To my great surprise, I came home with the world’s top prize, the Royal Horticultural Society’s Gold Medal.” It was the start of a new and distinguished professional avenue. “I painted during the day to take advantage of natural light,” she explains. “I wrote advertising mostly at night and taught botanical painting on the weekends. It was a good thing that I was a workaholic back in those days!” Since then, Pamela has been commissioned by the Royal Canadian Mint to design the trillium gold coin, has been exhibited with The Group of Seven and at Oxford’s Ashmolean Museum, and was recently honoured during the Art of the Plant exhibition at the Canadian Museum of Nature. Among all the accolades and accomplishments, one of which Pamela is most proud was seeing a student of hers, Noriko Watanabe of Japan, awarded the very same Royal Horticultural Society’s Gold Medal as she had been, while a Canadian student, Margaret (Peg) Graeb, won the Bronze Medal. Now retired, Pamela likes nothing more than to kayak and watch birds. She still teaches — this time, classes in bird identification. While Pamela has achieved her success as an artist and entrepreneur by acting against her principal’s advice, she remains very fond of her old school and in particular its people. “I will always be grateful for the positive atmosphere of St. Clement’s,” she reflects. “It helped me at that difficult time.”
The number of clementines in tons produced worldwide in 2016.
After SCS: Ontario College of Art (now OCAD), University of Guelph. On the Air: Pamela created, produces, and presents a nature program for CJPE 99.3 County FM in Prince Edward County called The County, Naturally, one episode of which was picked up by CBC and broadcast on As It Happens. On St. Clement’s School: “I will always be grateful for the positive atmosphere of St. Clement’s.”
I painted during the day to take advantage of natural light, wrote advertising mostly at night and taught botanical painting on the weekends.
Red Blazer Spring 2019 | 35
Next Chapter Alumnae Connection
Alumnae Connection 2
1
3
We were excited to welcome back our newest alumnae at Homecoming in October.
4
5
36 | Red Blazer Spring 2019
7
6
8
Next Chapter Alumnae Connection
10 Principal Martha Perry enjoyed catching up with alumnae at the Halifax University Reunion in January.
9
11
12
Images from top left:
Homecoming 1) Grace Huntus, Charlotte Houston, Katie Wilkinson, Principal Martha Perry ’85, Sophie Zarb, Eliza Glady, Alexa Hawkes-Sackman, Michaela Hill, Maddy McCartney, Madeleine Dale, Anna Turner, Ana Featherston-Rajcic, Emma Koster, Molly Ketcheson, Marlowe Peets, Sara Naqvi, Alex Featherston-Rajcic, Caroline Tolton, Margaret Wilkins, Megan Sugiyama, Anjali Sachdeva, Talya Martin, Christine Wong (all ’18)
2) 3) 4)
Dena Abtani ’19, Lashae Watson ’18 Talya Martin, Alexa HawkesSackman (both ’18) Caroline Tolton, Megan Sugiyama, Christine Wong, Marlowe Peets, Margaret Wilkins (all ’18)
McMaster University Reunion 5) Christine Black ’13, Emily Martin ’15, Julia Wickens ’15, Joanne Thompson, Past Staff 6) Nicole Areias, Tiffany Tse, Justine Hancock (all ’16)
7) 8)
Gemma Barber ’18, Beth Will, Staff Katie Wilkinson, Sophie Zarb, Michaela Hill, Anjali Sachdeva (all ’18)
Halifax University Reunion 9) Julia Fast, Claire Chadwick (both ’16), Grace Huntus, Jess Doherty (both ’18) 10) Martha Perry ’85, Principal, Juliana Miller ’16
Alumnae Christmas Party 11) Joanne Thompson, Past Staff, Elena Holeton ’94, Staff 12) Sarah Bullock ’15, Caroline Marshall ’15, Amelia Boughn ’14, Louise Connell ’14, Annie Curtis-Dyck ’16
Red Blazer Spring 2019 | 37
Next Chapter Alumnae Connection
Alumnae Connection
13
14
15
16 As always, the Queens University Reunion was well attended. Thank you to Past Staff Joanne Thompson, Wendy Girvan, and Janet Mackinnon for joining us! 17
38 | Red Blazer Spring 2019
Next Chapter Alumnae Connection
19
Alumnae spanning six decades gathered for a reunion in Ottawa in September.
18
20
21
22
Images from top left:
Queen’s University Reunion 13) Claire van Nostrand ’17, Michelle Tompkins ’17, Lauren Chisholm ’18, Julia Lombard ’18, Emily Di Monte ’17, Caroline Richardson ’18, Maddy Radomsky ’17, Christine Carlsen ’17 14) Joanne Thompson, Past Staff, Mackenzie MacIntosh ’18 15) Isabelle Rovazzi ’16, Wendy Girvan, Past Staff, Felicia Aiello, Rachel Kim, Meghan Fast, Gabi Samek, Melissa
Wong, Emily Steele, Alessia Morin (all ’16) 16) Sarah Wong ’15, Sarah Ryan, Georgina Glebe (both ’12), Wendy Girvan, Past Staff Montreal University Reunion 17) Grace Sarabia ’17, Sara Naqvi, Aylin Amasya, Christina Joy (all ’18), Patricia Westerhof, Staff, Olivia Zankowicz ’18, Kaitlyn Law ’16
Western University Reunion 18) Kate Hardacre, Samantha Kong, Cristina Salvati, Sarah Lychy, Bianca Huang, Alessia Dzwigala, Elizabeth Davidson, Brenna Kelly (all ’15) 19) Martha Perry ’85, Principal, Maham Rehman, Maddi Farwell, Barry Kelterborn (all ’17) 20) Lily Prendergast ’17, My-Linh Yee, Nicole Ng, Michelle Cheng (all ’16), Beth Boyden, Staff
Ottawa Reunion 21) Nancy (Roberts) Allen ’66, Barbara (Gray) Coyle ’68, Martha Perry ’85, Principal, holding Rufus Storm Lui Tønnersen, Iris Lui ’99, Melanie Aubert ’01, Kate (Winter) Dickson ’66 22) Brittany Stief ’04, Danna Zabrovsky ’04, Daphne Stone ’17, Rachel Williams ’18
Red Blazer Spring 2019 | 39
40 | Red Blazer Spring 2019
We are living, working, teaching, and learning in a post-industrial age, yet many of the buildings in which we live, work, teach, and learn were designed in an industrial age. St. Clement’s School is no exception.
TA B
SE
LE
B TA
LE
SEAT
T S EA
AT
Space for Learning Photography by Karri North Text by Heather Henricks Vice Principal, Learning, Research, and Innovation
B TA
SE
LE
AT
S EAT
Most of our classrooms were designed and furnished with rows of desks facing the teacher and the chalkboard at the front of the room. There are some spaces, including arts rooms, gymnasiums, and primary classrooms, that have always bucked this trend. Increasingly, we have tried to organize and furnish more and more learning spaces within our existing walls to meet our more modern needs. Does it really matter how learning spaces are designed, organized, and furnished? Yes, it does. Many experts — including the global educational initiative, New Pedagogies for Deep Learning — have identified pedagogy,
learning partnerships, leveraging digital technology, and the learning environment as the keys to deep learning in schools. This learning environment includes both the social-emotional and physical settings. These same experts have also identified six deep learning competencies that together help students to flourish in a modern world: collaboration, creativity, critical thinking, citizenship, character, and communication. These competencies match St. Clement’s School’s definition of academic rigour: Our academic program challenges every student to think critically and creatively and to problem-solve both independently and
collaboratively. Our students are immersed in deep, subject-specific content that they connect across disciplines and apply to authentic, complex issues. Our teachers employ diverse, student-centred, and innovative pedagogies. But how are learning spaces designed to facilitate this kind of deep, rigorous, modern learning? Dr. Robert Dillon, Director of Innovation Learning at University City, argues in his book Redesigning Learning Spaces that some learning spaces are more brain-friendly than others. He explains that students need space to collaborate, space to display both finished products and their thinking process, space to create, and space to work quietly. Red Blazer Spring 2019 | 41
SEAT
SE
AT
TABLE
T S EA
Different types of learners need different kinds of space. Some students work better standing up, and many need room to move. The key is flexibility, and it is important that the student voice is part of any redesign. Classroom walls may not be flexible, but how we organize the space and furniture within them can be. The traditional set‑up of desks in rows is not conducive to collaboration. Desks of different sizes and shapes that can be configured into a variety of groupings are more conducive to discussions and collaboration. The desks are more likely to be reconfigured to suit different kinds of learners and learning experiences if they have wheels and are therefore easy to move. Desks that adjust in height or stand-up desks are beneficial for students who need to move to learn. Individual desks in rows can facilitate quiet independent work; however, this can also be achieved by utilizing corners and creating quiet nooks both inside and outside the classroom. On any given day at St. Clement’s, you will find Junior School students curled up on cushions in the corners of classrooms quietly reading a book. You can peek into a pod, meeting room, or library seminar room and find Senior School students studying quietly. We need to create more of 42 | Red Blazer Spring 2019
these spaces within our existing walls, while at the same time imagining what new space might look like. We are used to seeing student work, their products, displayed in classrooms and hallways, but we don’t see examples of their thinking process as often. How can we design spaces that help students display thinking? In the past, students might come up to the chalkboard, one or two at a time, and write their answers while all eyes focused on them. Today, we have some classrooms with whiteboards on every wall. Students don’t get in trouble any more for writing on their desks, as long as that surface is made to be written on and erased. We can paint even entire rooms in dry erase paint to create whiteboard walls that can be used by many students simultaneously to help make thinking processes visible. Creativity takes many forms at St. Clement’s, including music, dramatic arts, visual arts, and creative writing. While creative writing happens all over the School — in classrooms and quiet nooks — the arts have their own designated spaces within our current space. Increasingly, we are expanding the scope of creativity in our curricular and co-curricular program to include things like entrepreneurial thinking and consumer and
technological design. We want our students to be creative problem solvers who iterate and tinker. While the thinking processes can happen anywhere in the School, the making and tinkering may require more space. For weeks at a time, one of our meeting rooms is transformed into a robotics field. We use our space incredibly efficiently at SCS, and, while it was designed in an industrial age, we have made some tweaks along the way to make it more conducive to modern learning. A few classrooms have flexible furniture, while whiteboards cover the walls of some others. Large pillows fill the corners of some rooms, and our library seminar rooms are always full — but we can do more. While it might be tempting to implement a transformation in one fell swoop, the best plan is to try things out a few classrooms at a time and get feedback from students. Not all classrooms need to be the same: students learn differently at different stages. At all stages, the student voice needs to play a role in decisions about learning spaces. It has long been the goal of St. Clement’s School to develop creativity and problemsolving skills in our students, it is these abilities that we need to leverage as we transform spaces within our walls into more modern learning environments for our girls.
Bulletin Board Spring 2019
Bulletin Board
St. Clement’s School community is close-knit, supportive, and welcoming. Clementines, their families, and staff always have a place here.
Class Notes See what your classmates are up to. pg. 44
Staff News The team dedicated to developing outstanding women. pg. 47
Tempus Fugit Setting the foundations for the future of St. Clement’s. pg. 48
Upcoming Events Don’t miss these 2019 spring/summer events. pg. 49
Red Blazer Spring 2019 | 43
Bulletin Board Class Notes
Class Notes
most exciting project and one of their proudest achievements in this role.
1960s
2010s
Congratulations to Mary (Welsman) Hughes ’61 on the publication of her third book, and first historical novel, Imagining Violet. The book is based on Mary’s grandmother, Violet, and her dream of becoming a concert violinist. In the process of writing the book, Mary began violin lessons at the age of 70, and soon after, she acquired her grandmother’s violin. Mary now plays Violet’s violin in a small string ensemble on Salt Spring Island.
In August we welcomed sisters Rubie (Bethel) Nottage ’62 and Pamela (Bethel) Etuk ’63 back to SCS when they visited Toronto from The Bahamas. 44 | Red Blazer Spring 2019
Congratulations to Barbara (Brunton) Bowlby ’65 who in December was appointed to the Order of Canada as a Member for her contributions to Canada’s film and TV industry. Barbara recently stepped down from her position of COO and President of Insight Productions after more than thirty years where she, together with her brother John, created highly-rated productions such as Canadian Idol, Amazing Race Canada, Big Brother Canada, and 25 years of The Juno Awards.
Love
Principal Martha Perry ’85 was delighted to meet up with Kate ’10 and Madeleine ’13 Fox when she travelled to London, U.K., in November.
2000s
In January, our Writer’s Craft and Director’s Craft classes travelled to the Factory Theatre to see A Bear Awake in Winter, the directorial debut of Bryn Kennedy ’13. Brenna Pladsen ’09 is the Creative Design Specialist at the National Music Centre (NMC) in Calgary. Brenna designed NMC’s recent exhibition Trailblazers: Alberta, showcasing artists who are successful on a local, national, and international level. It is their
Emily Cooper ’16 spoke to Upper School students on October 31 about the opportunity to attend the University of Waterloo Accounting Conference (UWAC). Emily is studying Accounting and Financial Management at the University of Waterloo and is the Co-Chair of UWAC. A true Clementine, she arrived in costume!
Christina Agostino ’04 married Charles Armour on September 22, 2018, their 11-year anniversary, at Twist Gallery in Toronto.
Kate (Ben-Aron) Hardy ’05 married Shahan Khatchadourian
Bulletin Board Class Notes
on August 11, 2018, in Toronto. The ceremony and reception were held at the Windsor Arms Hotel. A number of SCS alumnae attended, including bridesmaid Hillary Armstrong, Nicole (Hanbidge) Case, Kate Cowan, Beth Daniher, Lizzy Deshman, Anna Holmes, Emma Jeavons, and Laura Webb (all ’05), and Karen (Row) Armstrong ’75.
Karen Javorski ’05 married Jose Manuel Jauregui on November 17, 2018 at The Drake Hotel in Toronto. The couple have since relocated from Mexico City. A number of SCS alumnae attended, including Jaye Landow, Kathleen Lank, Sarah Walkington, Stephanie Clark, Stephanie Pinnington, and Vanessa Lilleyman (all ’05).
Laura Webb ’05 married Sam Kulendran on October 26, 2018, at City Hall in Toronto, followed by dinner with their immediate families. The next day they had close friends to their house to celebrate, including SCS alumnae Hillary Armstrong, Tory Dickinson, Anna Holmes, Vicki Wang, and Lauren WinghamSmith (all ’05), Anne Gleeson ’06, Taylor Dickinson and Meagan Webb (both ’08), and Sarah Gleeson, former Head of the Junior School.
Emily Hendren ’06 married Jordan Demeo on June 2, 2018, at Toronto’s Second Floor Events. Emily’s sisters Laura ’09 and Julia served as maids of honour. The ceremony and reception were attended by 140 guests, including the groom’s family and friends from Thunder Bay, Ontario, SCS alumna Emma MacKinnon ’06, and former Head of the Junior School, Sarah Gleeson. The bride and groom travelled on their honeymoon to Portugal, Spain, and Morocco and are living happily in Toronto’s Junction neighbourhood.
Megan Shaw ’06 married James Morrison on July 7, 2018 at her family farm in Collingwood, ON. It was a beautiful sunny day filled with lots of love and laughter. SCS alumnae in attendance were bridesmaids Cristina Costa and Carolyn Poirier (both ’06) and guest Andrea Greaney ’86.
Amanda Michalik ’07 married Carl Ignatius in Pickering, ON on October 3, 2018 at City Hall in a civil ceremony followed by an intimate reception attended by family at Chuuk. The date was extremely special to the bride and groom as it was also Carl’s parents’ 40th wedding anniversary.
Vanessa Lang ’08 married DJ Levy at his parents’ beautiful home in Parksville, BC, on August 18, 2018. They were surrounded by their families and closest friends — friends from growing up in Toronto and Winnipeg, and new friends from living on Vancouver Island for the past few years. SCS alumnae Lauren Chan, Lauren Hauswirth, Sara Windrim, and Sophie Halbert (all ’08) made the trip west to celebrate. “SCS friends really are the best. They have stuck with me through thick and thin and it was amazing to spend such an important milestone together.”
Meagan Hackney ’09 married Reid Buchanan (Crescent School ’08) on Red Blazer Spring 2019 | 45
Bulletin Board Class Notes
August 11, 2018, at her family cottage on Lake Simcoe. It was a beautiful celebration on the lake, followed by an evening of dancing under the stars. Meagan’s bridesmaids included SCS alumnae Daphne Papadatos, Heather Gouinlock, and Brittany Clarke (all ’09), and Sarah Buchanan ’13. Caitlin Stewart ’09, Mary Wong ’09, and Quinn Brown ’13 were also in attendance.
Naomi Jonker ’15 married Harrison Smith on November 3, 2018, at Little Trinity Church in Toronto surrounded by friends and family, followed by a reception at Rosedale Golf Club. Standing with her were her sister and Maid of Honour Avril Jonker ’17, Meghan Stephenson-Smith ’15, and Joanna Lioutas ’15. Many other close friends were in attendance, including Zoe Astritis, Kaitlin Boyd, Brenna Kelly, Eva Lioutas, and Cristina Salvati (all ’15).
46 | Red Blazer Spring 2019
Joy
PEACE
Catherine (Beatty) Percival ’37 January 2, 2019 Mary McLean ’42 November 16, 2018
Terri Wills ’94 and her husband Chris Brown welcomed their first child Ethan in London, U.K., in December. Mum and Dad are over the moon, especially as he was a very welcome distraction from Brexit mania! Terri will miss the 25th reunion this year but looks forward to the big 30.
Cristina Costa ’06 and her husband Jason Medeiros welcomed their first child, David Antonio Costa Medeiros, to the world on October 2, 2018.
Marion (Mulloy) Cassels ’47 October 31, 2017 Sister of Lois (Mulloy) Fricker ’51 Beryl (Turner) Bleakley ’48 November 13, 2018 Shirley McIntyre ’48 December 18, 2018 Andrea Mazzoleni ’59 December 12, 2018 Predeceased by sister Clare (Mazzoleni) Piller ’64
Reema Shah ’04 and her husband Amol Verma welcomed a baby girl, Nyra Verma, on August 7, 2018. Proud aunt is Neepa Shah ’05. Above is a photograph of Reema, Nyra and Nyra’s SCS aunties: Christina Barry, Sharon Chiu, Jeana Poon, and Catherine O’Halloran (all ’04).
Deidre (Downer) McEnaney ’65 November 21, 2018 Heather Dodge Livingstone ’11 and her husband Dustin Livingstone welcomed their sweet baby Agnes Kaye Livingstone on August 10, 2018.
Christine (Clark) Featherstone ’67 October 15, 2018
Bulletin Board Alumnae Association & Staff News
Alumnae Association
A huge thank you — but not a goodbye! — to outgoing President Emma Sanders Finlayson ’99 who, luckily for us, will continue to play an active role with the Association.
We were excited to welcome Sarah Campbell ’04 as the incoming President of the Alumnae Association at the AGM in October.
Staff News Welcome New Staff
Farewells
Alexis Gallagher returned from sabbatical.
Dr. Louie Fan, Science Teacher, has left St. Clement’s upon the completion of a maternity leave contract.
Janice Meighan, Senior Development Officer, has left to spend more time with her family and to take on a larger role in the family business. Joy
Meredith Henry, Admissions Administrative Assistant. Welcome Back
Erin Lamont returned from maternity leave. Lauren del Rio, LINCWell Program Coordinator, has departed after the completion of a maternity leave contract.
Erin Lamont and her husband Marc Cameron became the proud parents of daughter Ayla on December 9, 2018. Peace
Laura Sardone returned from maternity leave.
Jane Huston December 12, 2018 Red Blazer Spring 2019 | 47
Bulletin Board Tempus Fugit
On an early-spring evening precisely 44 years ago, nearly 800 members of the St. Clement’s community gathered to witness the burning of the School’s mortgage.
48 | Red Blazer Spring 2019
For Principal Hazel Perkin and the alumnae, students, parents, and friends present, the event was more than just a mere celebration: it marked the School’s freedom from debt and the consolidation of its physical foundation. From the School’s origins in the nearby Parish Hall of St. Clement’s Church, SCS now had a solid and reliable base upon which to adapt, develop, and grow. Attaining that security had been a challenge that had taken resolve, ingenuity, and sacrifice, but it was not the only foundation established at that point in the School’s history. A few years later, the School’s magazine, Red Blazer, was created as a way to share news
with the entire St. Clement’s community. Today, the magazine remains a foundation of the School’s communications portfolio which also includes a recently re-developed website and a robust social media presence. In the late 1980s, Principal Perkin selected AP as the enriched education option for SCS, amongst the first schools in Canada to take the AP route. Miss Perkin had opted for it over the International Baccalaureate program with an initial introduction of just a few courses to the School’s curriculum. Today, AP remains one of SCS’s academic foundations.
2019 SPRING/SUMMER EVENTS
April
Sights and Sounds of Spring
New Parent’s Information Evening Thursday, May 9, 2019
Wednesday, April 24, 2019
May Day Festivities
Admissions Open House
Friday, May 17, 2019
Tuesday, April 30, 2019
June May
Alumnae Reunion Weekend
Grade 6 Graduation Assembly Tuesday, June 11, 2019
Friday, May 3 – Sunday, May 5, 2019
LINCWell Speaker Series: Dr. Nilanjana Dasgupta
Closing Ceremonies: Roy Thomson Hall Thursday, June 13, 2019
Tuesday, May 7, 2019 *Dates may be subject to change. Visit scs.on.ca for more details.
St. Clement’s School Open House Friday, October 25, 2019 8:45 – 11:00 a.m. Friday, November 15, 2019 8:45 – 11:00 a.m. Pre-register for our Open House at scs.on.ca/open-house