Thursday, April 17, 2025

On By Havergal Upper School

A Message from the Heads: Cissy Goodridge & Deirdre Timusk

Dear Parents and Students,

This week has been rich with moments that speak to the strength of our student body and the values we hold dear at Havergal.

We began the week with speeches from our five exceptional School Captain candidates, each one offering thoughtful reflections on leadership, community, and what it means to serve others. They were joined by many other students vying for leadership roles across the school. The sheer number of students who put themselves forward is a testament to their deep engagement in school life and their desire to give back. Their words were personal, inspiring, and marked by a genuine commitment to making Havergal an even better place for their peers.

On Wednesday, we celebrated the achievements of over 50 Grade 12 students at our Arts Awards Assembly. These young people have shaped our community through music, drama, dance, and visual art—and their contributions over the years have brought both beauty and meaning to our shared life at the school. The ceremony featured several moving performances that captured the spirit of the occasion and reminded us of the powerful role the arts play in building community.

Finally, our Easter Prayers asked a simple but profound question: “What does Easter mean to you?” We heard from a student, a teacher, and our Chaplain, each of whom spoke with honesty and grace about how their faith shapes their lives. It was a reflective and heartfelt service that invited us all—regardless of belief or background—to consider the role of hope, renewal, and compassion in our own lives.

Wishing you a peaceful weekend,

Cissy Goodridge, Head of Middle School

Deirdre Timusk, Head of Senior School

Today’s edition of The Weekly contains information on the following: 

UPPER SCHOOL (Gr. 7 – 12)

MIDDLE SCHOOL (Gr. 7 – 8)

SENIOR SCHOOL (Gr. 9 – 12)

HCPA

REMINDERS

NEXT WEEK IN THE UPPER SCHOOL

UPPER SCHOOL

Relay for Life Is Back! Thursday May 1

We are excited to announce that Havergal, UCC and Crescent are working together to lead the COSSOT Relay for Life on May 1 from 4:30 – 9:00 p.m. at the Upper Canada College Oval. This event, which last year raised over $300,000 to fight cancer, gathers more than 1000 students, staff and parent reps from COSSOT schools to share their commitment to support cancer research and those living with the disease that affects so many of us. Our goal is to end cancer in our students’ lifetime. 

Your child may be asking for your support to sign up for Relay, which requires a credit card to pay the $20 registration fee (all of which goes to our fundraising total) and to support their fundraising efforts. 

Here is the link to our Relay Page if you want to support a team or help your child register. 

Here’s what you or your daughter can expect at the event: 

  1. You have one member of your team running or walking at all times for the Relay time (4 hours)
  2. An opportunity to make a dedication to someone you are relaying for – someone who has been affected by cancer. 
  3. A lot of games and food – volleyball, mechanical bull, live music, spikeball, basketball, facepaint, an ice cream truck, and much more. 

We are so excited for this important event!

Thank you!

The Relay Leadership Team

Grade 12 Art + Design Exhibition at Northern Contemporary Gallery, Thursday, April 24, 6-8 pm

Please join us for the exciting opening of this year’s Grade 12 Art + Design exhibition at Northern Contemporary Gallery, Thursday April 24th from 6 to 8pm.  Northern Contemporary is at 420 Roncesvalles Avenue, just south of Bloor St.  The exhibition runs from April 22 to April 27.  Hours are Tuesday to Sunday noon to 6pm.  We would love to see you at the opening to enjoy the work of our remarkable grade 12’s.

Earth Week is here!

Havergal’s Forum for Change Council (F4C) has put together an exciting week of activities to celebrate our planet and raise awareness about sustainability! Each event connects to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and students will have the chance to learn, participate, and make a difference—all while having fun. Students can participate in Earth Week Bingo for a chance to win House Points! 

Parent Challenge: Join your child in completing the Earth Week Bingo tasks at home! It’s a fun way to model sustainable living and support your child’s efforts! Here’s what’s happening: Earth Week April 22 – 25, 2025

Tuesday will be #1 Dress!

A quick and cheerful reminder as we look ahead to next week: on Tuesday, our students will be attending the Founders’ Day Service at St. Paul’s. While we’ve sent out several reminders and posted notices around the school, it’s easy to slip into routine—so we’d be grateful if you could help us with one more nudge at home. Please remind your daughters to wear their #1 Dress uniform on Tuesday. We want every student to feel proud and polished as we come together for this special Havergal tradition.

MIDDLE SCHOOL

In Form Next Week

Next week during Form, students will take part in an interactive stress management session led by our guidance team. During the session, students will explore the importance of sleep, healthy eating, and practical strategies for managing stress. With end-of-year assessments approaching, this session will be especially helpful.

SENIOR SCHOOL

US and UK University Application Workshops for Grade 11 Students

On Thursday, April 24th and Friday, April 25th the Guidance Counsellors will be hosting a US and UK Application Workshop for grade 11 students. This is a great opportunity for students applying to American and UK Universities. 

  • Friday, April 25th:  US Application Workshop in Room B16 from 8:20-9:20 am
  • Thursday, April 24th: UK Application Workshop in Room B16 from 3:30-4:45 pm

St. Andrews University Application Workshop for Grade 10 and 11 students, Friday, April 25, 8:30 am

St. Andrews University will be visiting Havergal to host a workshop for Grade 10 and 11 students that will include; studying in Scotland, discussing the School of Medicine, UK applications and personal statements. 

  • Friday, April 25th from 8:30am – 9:20 am in Room B17

In Morning Programming Next Week

Next week is a short week and House programming will focus on two important activities: voting in the student elections and updating Name Coach. Name Coach allows students to record the correct pronunciation of their names, which then appears alongside their name in gmail and other school platforms. This small step plays a big role in fostering belonging and respect—it ensures that every student is addressed accurately and confidently by teachers, staff, and peers. Middle School students will be doing this in the upcoming weeks.

HCPA

Moms’ Night Out, Thursday, May 22

  • Get your tickets for the HCPA’s Moms’ Night Out (MNO) at Taylors Landing on Thursday, May 22. Click here to purchase tickets.

Pre-Loved Uniform Sale, Monday, April 28

  • Pre-loved uniform sales: Monday, April 28 from 2:30 to 5 pm outside the Junior School Learning Hub.

HC Frames on Sale until May 1

  • Havergal frames are on sale until Wednesday, May 1. Click here to order.

Volunteers Needed for Staff Appreciation Day, Friday, April 25

The Staff Appreciation team is excited to celebrate our amazing staff and faculty with full-day events in the US on Friday, April 25, from 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM. We are looking for parent volunteers. Please click here to sign up if you can help with setup or during the events.  For more details, please click here.

Gator Gala Thank You & Survey

  • Thanks to everyone who organized and attended the Gator Gala! To view the formal photos of the evening, please click here and enter code: Gator.  
  • The candid shots are also available for viewing here.
  • And a huge thank you to Vivian Silverson for posting and sharing her photos taken throughout the evening on Instagram.  Please follow the account @gatorgala2025 on Instagram.

Survey

  • We’d love to hear your thoughts on this year’s Gator Gala! Please take a moment to complete this short survey — your feedback helps us make future events even better!

REMINDERS

 June Exam Schedule

Exams will take place at Havergal June 2 – 11 for Senior School students and June 9 – 11 for Middle School students.

Should you have questions about Havergal’s final exam planning or process, please don’t hesitate to contact the Director of Academic Operations, Jennifer Goldberg.

NEXT WEEK IN THE UPPER SCHOOL

Monday, April 21

  • Boarding School opens, 4 pm

Tuesday, April 22

  • Founders’ Day at St. Paul’s 

Thursday, April 24

  • Grade 12 Art & Design Exhibition, 6-8pm, 420 Roncesvalles 

Friday, April 25

  • Upper School Staff Appreciation Day 
  • MS COSSOT Dance at Crescent, 7-9pm

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