Dear Reader,
Physical activity is known to be a mood booster, proven to reduce anxiety and depression. But did you know that exercise can also help support academic performance? According to a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, jogging for 30 minutes a day can help a student solve problems at school up to 10 per cent more efficiently. Being a member of an athletic team has other benefits as well, such as developing confidence, learning new skills and making friends from outside of one’s social circle.
Time and again, Havergal graduates leave with fond memories of their experiences bonding with teammates and express gratitude for how many low-risk opportunities were available to them to try out sports and other activities they were less experienced with. It gave them the courage to try new things, embrace failure and meet new people with a shared interest. It also helped them expand outside of their comfort zones and develop new passions. Principal Dr. Katrina Samson elaborates on these ideas and highlights how Havergal promotes “the pursuit of a well-rounded experience” in her message “The Power of Play.”
We were fortunate to have Old Girls/Alums Charlotte Anderson (Class of 2005) and Dr. Sheena Desson (Class of 1994) highlighted in our Feature Story: “Brains in Training” as they discuss some of their experiences as students at Havergal, as Old Girls/Alums, as healthcare professionals and, for Dr. Desson, as a parent. From a student-perspective, we also hear from School Captain Fiona Shen about her Havergal journey in “From Sports to Advocacy.”
Thanks to the dedication of our Athletic Directors at the Junior and Upper Schools (under the direction of Vice Principal of Wellbeing and Student Life, Krista Koekkoek), Carla Di Filippo (Upper School) and Anna Bartlett (Junior School) have been mindful to develop more opportunities for students to get involved physically, whether that’s playing on a team competitively, participating in House or grade intramurals where everyone is welcome or learning new skills in Junior School Squads and Squad Teams or the Upper School learn to programs (rowing, golf, rugby and curling are just a few that Havergal offers). Learn about these strategies to get as many HC students as possible moving in our “Fostering Confidence through Sports” article.
We are also excited to share a story about the hockey journey of Emma Buckles (Class of 2017). She currently plays for Ottawa’s Professional Women’s Hockey League and you can learn more about her HC experiences in our “Blazing the Trail for Women’s Pro Hockey” article.
In this year’s “Students Speak” section, we asked students from the Junior and Upper Schools what their favourite sport is and why. Enjoy reading their quotes! We’re also proud to feature our “Student Life at Havergal” page, which includes photos, videos and student artwork. Another beloved feature is our “Celebrating Student Success” page, starring student award and prize winners for their accomplishments in the 2022–23 school year.
We had two members of the Havergal community retire last June. We say “farewell” to Senior School Drama teacher Risa Morris and Boarding Weekend Don Claire Davis in our “Saying Goodbye to Our Retirees” page.
It’s a great year for athletics at Havergal and we’re so excited to share these stories with you. We hope you enjoy reading this year’s digital Torch magazine! As always, please send your feedback to communications@havergal.on.ca.
Happy reading!
Published April 2023
2023–24 Issue
