Message from the Head of Boarding

Laura Franks

Dear Parents,

It has been amazing to finally experience 蜜桃视频 in the spring for the first time ever for me. With the lockdowns of the past two years, our experience had been a quiet one; aside from a few security and facilities personnel, Boarders and Boarding staff were the only ones in the building.  

How times have changed! The school is humming with activity鈦犫�攆rom in-person classes, to full Upper School attendance in Prayers in the Brenda Robson Hall and extracurricular activities on the school grounds (Beatstock, the Junior School A-Mazing Race, golf lessons), there now is rarely a quiet moment on campus!

Boarders have been working hard, completing AP exams and getting ready for their end-of-year assessments and assignments. They have been able to appreciate some downtime, with many enjoying the trip to Canada’s Wonderland earlier this month, as well as doing volunteer work such as the Upper Canada College (UCC) Car Wash that raised money for the Red Cross held on a warm Saturday in May. They are looking forward to our final excursion of the year on June 3 to Medieval Times as well as our Farewell Dinner on June 13.

As we head into summer, I wish to thank all of our Boarders and Boarding staff, especially our Boarder Prefect, Jamie Wu, our Head Junior Don, Mathilda LaBrash White and all of the Junior Don team, for all of their commitment to making our Boarding program so successful this year. Despite starting the year off with many pandemic restrictions in place, we all worked together to navigate cohorts, masking, vaccinations and we are now happily back to the kind of Boarding experience we remembered from a few short years ago. 

Stay well and healthy and enjoy the summer holidays.

Laura Franks 
Head of Boarding

Message from the Boarder Prefect

Jamie W., Grade 12

As my experience at 蜜桃视频 comes to an end, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to the Boarding community at the school. This past year has been a ride鈦犫�攆rom lifting mask mandates to being back at school in-person, it has genuinely tested our abilities to adapt and persevere through hard times. Our Boarding community has demonstrated both and it was definitely a year to remember. With the help of our amazing Dons, Junior Dons and Ms. Franks, Boarders enjoyed a wide range of activities, both on and off campus. Bimonthly basketball games, baking sessions and game nights have been a blast. I鈥檓 proud to say that the feedback was nothing but positive. 

In the past few months, numerous workshops were organized for Boarders to expand their networks, both within and outside the school community. We were fortunate to have had members from the 蜜桃视频 Old Girls Association (HOGA) join us in our weekly on-campus workshops where we made delicious chocolate chip cookies along with non-alcoholic Pi帽a Coladas. Chatting with experienced 蜜桃视频 alums and listening to their life stories have filled our afternoons with endless laughter and fun.

Outside of the 蜜桃视频 bubble, we鈥檝e had the chance to connect with Boarders from other COSSOT schools such as UCC and Bishop Strachan School (BSS). In addition to the trip to Canada鈥檚 Wonderland in October, the annual UCC x HC Car Wash was held the other weekend with massive success. With volunteers from both schools putting in their sweat and tears, we raised a total of $1500 for the Canadian Red Cross. 

I still remember joking with my roommate at the start of the year about how we were going to be part of HOGA next year. Stepping into the last few weeks of Grade 12, I cannot believe the time has finally come. As much as I am excited about the new adventures in the coming years, it is definitely not going to be easy to say goodbye to the 蜜桃视频 Boarding community. I will miss the Netflix marathons that run 24/7 in the common room, not to mention the endless girls’ talks in the Boarding School Office. I鈥檒l also miss going on the Yukon Striker roller coaster once a year with my best friends and decorating gingerbread houses every Christmas. My Boarding journey at 蜜桃视频 might be coming to an end, but the friendships I鈥檝e established and the fond memories I鈥檝e created will forever live close to my heart.

Message from the Incoming Boarder Prefect

Lara U., Grade 11

Hello everybody! My name is Lara and it is my great pleasure and privilege to be your Boarding Prefect for the 2022-23 school year. I was born and raised in Istanbul, Turkey and decided to move to Toronto last year to attend high school, making this my first year both in Canada and 蜜桃视频. Next year, I will be working with our new Junior Don team consisting of Boarders from Grades 9 to 12 who will be taking on various roles such as arranging special dinners like Valentine’s Day and Christmas, as well as organizing the publication of this newsletter. I will also be working closely with Kerry, our Head Junior Don for the next school year, who will collaborate with me to organize any upcoming events and run the Junior Don meetings. During these meetings, the Junior Don team and I will be coming up with and brainstorming any new ideas and event organizations. 

When I first became a part of this community, the idea of even running for the position of the Boarder Prefect would not have crossed my mind. However, as I spent more time with my fellow Boarders as well as the Dons, I realized how much I appreciated the organization process and the leadership that goes on behind closed doors. Becoming more and more integrated within the 蜜桃视频 community as the months flew by, I came to the realization that it would be a great opportunity to take on a leadership role to pay this amazing program back.

Homesickness is very common, especially among international Boarders, and when I first came to 蜜桃视频, I missed home a lot. However, there was a community here waiting to show me their undying love and support. And therefore, with the help of my friends in Boarding as well as the Boarding staff, my transition was handled very well. After the leadership election results were announced, I walked into Boarding and was greeted by warm hugs and congratulations from fellow Boarders, further proving the supportive nature of this community. 

As the COVID-19 pandemic is鈦犫�攈opefully鈦犫�攃oming to an end, I look forward to helping the Boarding program get back to normal. These past two years have been really hard on the entire 蜜桃视频 community, but especially Boarding. That is why next year, the Junior Don Team and I are excited to plan an extensive roster of excursions. Having been a new girl myself this year, I also look forward to personally making sure that the new Boarders feel welcome and comfortable. We are building a true community in Boarding and a part of this culture is establishing a “home away from home.” I am excited to ensure that the incoming Boarders feel happy and well-integrated into our community as quickly as possible.

I want to thank everybody for believing in me and electing me as your Boarding Prefect for the next school year, and I cannot wait to see what the future holds for us as we strive toward reaching our fullest potential as a Boarding community!

Message from the Incoming Head Junior Don

Kerry L., Grade 11

I am Kerry, the current New Girls Junior Don in Boarding and your 2022-23 Head Junior Don (JD)! May 1 was the day that the election results were going to be announced. As Ms. Krotz had said that the results would be emailed to everyone at 5:30 pm, I began refreshing my email at 5:28 pm鈦犫�攋ust in case she sent it out early. After numerous scrollings of my inbox, I finally saw Ms. Krotz’s email come up. Excited, yet scared, I opened the email, glanced through the list of names, stopped and found 鈥淜erry鈥� on the list. What was parallel to my name was 鈥淗ead JD.鈥� I could not believe it.

Why is that? As a Boarding student who has been at 蜜桃视频 since Grade 9, I have learned that the role of Head JD holds a great level of influence. The Head JD serves an important role in bridging the needs of Boarders with the Boarding staff. Indeed, the Head JD and Boarder Prefect collaborate to make the Boarding community a home away from home. In addition, the Head JD helps to communicate with the teachers, thus giving the teachers a better understanding of Boarders鈥� needs. The Head JD and Boarder Prefect also encourage Boarders to share their input to make the Boarding community a better place. 

One of my goals for next year is to make everyone in the Boarding community feel included. In 2019, I was a crybaby due to homesickness. For instance, on my first day of school, as soon as I finished my classes, I sprinted up to the Boarding School, ran to my room, shut my door and cried on my bed. A few minutes later, both the Head JD and the Boarder Prefect knocked on my door, comforted me with snacks and talked about their experience with homesickness. Ever since then, I wanted to be part of the JD team, to become the one to comfort others when needed. I can’t wait to collaborate with Lara to create a vibrant Boarding community for the 2022-23 school year!

Memories of Boarding

From a Grade 12 Boarder

Canada’s Wonderland

On a PD Friday, Boarders went to Canada’s Wonderland! Heading to Canada鈥檚 largest theme park was a super fun and exciting experience. Boarders were able to hang out with their friends from different grades and go on thrilling rides.

Annual UCC x HC Car Wash

On a fine and warm Saturday, May 14, Boarders participated in the annual UCC Car Wash, which successfully raised $1,500 for the Canadian Red Cross. This was a great opportunity for 蜜桃视频 Boarders to connect with other COSSOT school students, such as BSS, Branksome Hall and UCC Boarders. Volunteering to wash the cars also helped Boarders to be physically and mentally healthy!

Boarding Merch

A Boarding hoodie is available for the 2021-22 school year! This hoodie idea was developed by the Junior Don team and our fellow Boarders contributed to the design. Boarders loved it so much that everyone from Grades 9 to 11 started wearing their hoodies immediately on the day they were delivered to our rooms! The Boarding hoodies can now be seen everywhere in the school.

Baking with the 蜜桃视频 Old Girls Association

Boarder families made mug cake with members of the 蜜桃视频 Old Girls Association! Andrea Thompson and Andrea Bejar were on Zoom supporting Boarders as they baked. Boarders were happy to be with their Yellow, Red, Blue and Purple families, getting spirited and making yummy mug cakes. The results turned out to be very delicious and the Boarders enjoyed the process with their friends.

June 3: Medieval Times Dinner Excursion

June 10: Swan Lake Ballet Excursion (Grade 12 Boarders only)

June 13: Boarder Farewell Dinner (Boarders & staff)

June 15: 聽Grad Boarder/Parent Tea (4 to 6 pm, Grade 12 Boarders & parents)

June 15:  Grade 9 & 10 Boarders Move Out Day (by 4 pm)

June 16: Candlelight (6 to 8 pm, Grade 11 & 12 Boarders only)

June 16: Grade 11 Boarder Move Out Day (by 6 pm)

June 17: Graduation (1 to 5 pm)

June 17: Grade 12 Boarders Move Out Day (by 6 pm)

Message from the Head of Boarding

Laura Franks

Dear Parents,

Two years ago at this time, the world was thrust into a global pandemic. The days and months since have been both challenging and inspiring. Our Boarding community and school adjusted in incredible ways to this situation, as required by our public health agencies, the Ministry of Education and Congregate Care Living Guidelines. As we are coming out of the latest Omicron wave, there are signs that we are heading back to the way things were before. Most Public Health measures in Ontario are now being lifted and we expect the government to continue in this vein in the weeks to come.

Our Boarders have learned much about themselves, their communities and their own strength and resilience. While at times we lived in isolation from many others, Boarders learned to rely on themselves and each other for support. In addition, our Health Centre, Guidance Department and Boarding staff provided multi-faceted services to Boarding students to help them along this journey. For example, in our Boarding Program this year, we have been learning about hope and optimism and how we can develop these skills that are so essential to wellbeing. These skills augment our resilience and enable us to enhance our psychological fitness.  

We are looking forward to the spring term and all that entails, from greater opportunities to enjoy the outdoors as well as more weekend workshops, off-campus excursions and, of course, lots of time for our Boarders to be involved in extracurricular activities to explore the city of Toronto and to socialize and hang out with each other on the weekends. Boarder elections will happen in April and we will all be preparing for the first full in-person end of the school year since June 2019, including our Grad Boarder/Parent Tea, Candlelight Ceremony and Graduation.

All the best,

Laura Franks 
Head of Boarding

Message from the Boarder Prefect

Jamie W., Grade 12

Dear Parents,

As we step into the second semester of the school year, I am glad to see that many of my Boarding friends have adjusted well to our community. Despite the ever-changing COVID-19 restrictions, Boarders were able to enjoy themselves through various Boarding activities. Speaking on behalf of the Junior Don team, it is truly rewarding to witness new friendships form while old ones continue to strengthen.

In-house activities have definitely been the highlight of the past few months. Having the privilege to live on campus, Boarders have made good use of Day School spaces as activity venues. To name a few of the numerous memorable events, Boarders have enjoyed participating in basketball games, painting sessions and friendship bracelet making workshops.

In addition, we have also had the opportunity to participate in off-campus activities. Last month, some of our Boarders paid a visit to Upper Canada College to watch a hockey game. Our trip to the arcade was also unforgettable as we engaged in laser tag and bowling. 

The Boarding School continues to offer an enriching program, which includes a monthly Boarding trip alongside a weekly on-campus activity. Over the past semester, I am pleased to have received positive feedback from my fellow Boarding School friends. However, the Boarding team realizes that there is always room for improvement and hence is devoted to continue making changes. Looking ahead to the spring term, we are excited to be going on a trip to Canada鈥檚 Wonderland on top of our in-house events. 

Regards,

Jamie Wu
Boarding Prefect

Message from the Head Junior Don

Mathilda L.W., Grade 12

Dear Parents,

In my first year at 蜜桃视频 (Grade 10), the world seemed to come to a halt. As the restrictions of a pandemic-induced lockdown began, it felt as if the only thing to do was wait out the storm until regular life could resume. Long story short, we are still in the midst of the same pandemic鈥攁nd I have no idea what phase of lockdown we are in. However, as for most of us, this lockdown became a period of reflection for me and I am grateful that it was facilitated by Boarding.

As an only child, my Orillia home was very isolating with much of my family in other cities and my mom constantly away working at the local hospital. When coming back to school after an extended Christmas break in Grade 11, I was grateful to be around people again. Living in a congregate space is both a luxury and a burden. The regulations put in place often felt suffocating; however, this experience has taught me that I have a responsibility both as a member of a community and as an individual.

As well, being part of the Junior Don team for two out of my three years at 蜜桃视频 has given me confidence and taught me how to better communicate my ideas. It has helped me expand my understanding of what a leader is and better understand the type of leader I am. I could not be more thankful to be a part of a team that is so accepting of others’ ideas. The problem solving skills that were developed through the many COVID-19 constraints when planning activities are also something that will serve me well as I enter an engineering program in the fall. From what I have seen in the wider Boarding community, the leadership at 蜜桃视频 Boarding is in good hands for next year.

As I embark on my last four months at 蜜桃视频, I reflect on the lessons Boarding has taught me. I have learned how to do practical things such as washing my clothes, throwing together a quick meal when I am late for class and creating a strong work ethic (thanks to mandatory study time). I have also grown as a person, learned how to handle conflict, to take time for myself and to become more independent. Boarding not only gave me a sanctuary to grow and still feel supported, but it also gave me memories and friendships that I will look back on fondly. Graduation will definitely bring many tears as I will miss the people that have made 蜜桃视频 my second home.

I could not be more thankful for the experiences I have had living alone in a sheltered environment and I feel excited and well-prepared to tackle university.

Sincerely,

Mathilda LaBrash-White
Head Junior Don 

Boarding Program Activities

Keeping up with the vibrant Boarding community we have built since the first semester, we have continued to host various on and off-campus events. Although we are still keeping Boarders in cohorts鈥擥rade 9s and 10s, Grade 11s and Grade 12s鈥攖he cross-cohort relationships have become much stronger and closer through the inter-cohort activities and the sharing of treats. Hopefully the pandemic situation will be better soon and our Boarding family can reunite with their masks on!

Sports Day

During Sports Day, Boarders actively participated in an intense basketball game. The rigorous activity not only provided a chance for Boarders to exercise and release their stress, but it also built their sense of unity within cohorts. After the long week of hard work, Boarders felt renewed and ready to start fresh!

Friday & Sunday Treat

Boarding staff have been offering all Boarders an Uber Eats treat every Friday and Sunday. After finishing a long, busy week from school, Boarders cannot wait to click on the link sent by Dons to order their favorable snack from the restaurant picked by the Junior Dons. The weekly treats are undoubtedly consoling for many of us during the pandemic.

Valentine’s Day Dinner

With a main course of scallops or ribs, Boarders had a spectacular Valentine’s dinner together, prepared and served by our Food Services team. Boarders in the same cohort were able to sit around a big round table to chat and appreciate the amazing food the wonderful kitchen staff had prepared. There were six courses during the 90-minute fine dinner: lobster soup and grilled cheese as appetizers, fresh veggies salad, grapefruit sorbet, scallops and ribs as the main course, brownie with heart-shaped chocolates decorated on top and, finally, the popular chocolate-dipped strawberries!

Hockey Game at Upper Canada College

On a rainy Friday, the planned cross-country skiing activity was changed into watching a hockey game at Upper Canada College (UCC)! Boarders were able to visit the UCC campus and chat with fellow students at the school. This activity not only offered Boarders a chance to visit a new campus, but it was also a great opportunity to socialize with new people. The hockey game was super intriguing. By the end, 蜜桃视频 Boarders were very spirited and cheering together for the UCC team.

March 10-27: March Break (Boarding Closed)

March 28: Boarding Election Applications Due

April 4: Junior Don Elections Town Hall Meeting & Voting 

April 9: Putting Edge Off-Campus Excursion

April 14-18: Easter Break (Boarding Closed)

May 6: Wonderland Off-Campus Excursion

June 3: Medieval Times Dinner Off-Campus Excursion

June 13: Boarder Farewell Dinner

June 15: Grad Boarder/Parent Tea (4-6 pm)

June 16: Candlelight Ceremony (Gr. 11 & 12, 6-8 pm)

June 17: Graduation (1-5 pm)

Message from the Head of Boarding

Laura Franks

Dear Parents,

It has been a busy few months since the start of the school year. Our Boarders arrived on Labour Day weekend and we were able to hold an outdoor Welcome Reception for their parents and families. Although we still have some pandemic measures in place (masking, cohorting, rapid testing) our students have been able to return to a more normal life experience. Both day and overnight leaves are allowed and we have had a number of off-campus excursions, including escape rooms, the Van Gogh Immersive Exhibit, Halloween Haunt at Canada’s Wonderland and the Winter Village in the Distillery District. Classes, extracurricular activities and weekend shopping, dining and outings are all back in person and in full swing. Our Boarders have picked up where they left off in March 2020 and are looking forward to what we hope will be a continued positive way forward through this pandemic.

Our Dons and Junior Don team continue to offer great weekend workshops on Sundays from 3:30 to 5 pm. From crafts, to baking and wellbeing, Boarders have experienced an array of interesting activities as they take a break from their studies to rejuvenate themselves, continue to build close friendships and have a moment to join the community for fun, learning and relaxation. 

The focus of our Boarding Curriculum this year has been a course on Hope and Optimism. Boarders are learning how to develop hope and optimism in order to increase their wellbeing. We began by exploring resilience: the amazing human capacity to bounce back from adversity. Resilience is essentially our 鈥榮elf-righting鈥� tendency and also represents our most potent problem-solving ability. As we continue on in this program, our aim is to examine the potential for building the skills essential for hope, optimism and resilience in ourselves and others.

All the best,

Laura Franks 
Head of Boarding

Message from the Boarder Prefect

Jamie W., Grade 12

Hello everyone! I am Jamie and I am so honoured to be your Boarder Prefect for the 2021-22 school year. I come from Hong Kong and this is my third and final year at 蜜桃视频. As the Boarder Prefect, I represent my Boarding School friends in the wider school community. I lead an amazing Junior Don team that is composed of Boarders from Grades 9 to 12. Within the team, some Junior Dons are in charge of organizing cultural dinners, while others are responsible for publishing Boarding Newsletters every few months. During our weekly meetings, we come up with fun and engaging events and constantly try to make the Boarding community a comfortable second home for everyone. To further foster a positive and supportive environment, I strive to promote diversity and inclusion within both the Day and Boarding Schools.

Throughout these past three years, I鈥檝e gotten to know the most supportive and loving people in 蜜桃视频 and formed lifelong friendships with people I can now call my sisters. Thinking back, coming to the Boarding School at 蜜桃视频 was an easy decision for me to make. I still remember my first visit during the summer of Grade 8. I was instantly drawn to the welcoming environment and knew that this was the place I wanted to grow up in. Coming to the school as a student in Grade 10 was definitely memorable. I wouldn鈥檛 say that it was completely easy to integrate myself into a place full of new faces, because like with any new environment, it is difficult to meet new people. Thankfully, the Dons and Junior Dons were really helpful and worked together to make my transition a lot easier. With weekly workshops and various cross-school events, I soon adapted and made new friends within the Boarding School.

My favourite thing about 蜜桃视频 is definitely the support I receive in the community. Aside from Guidance Counsellors and Social Workers in the Day School, the Dons and Junior Dons work closely to provide the best support to Boarders. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, Boarders are separated into four grade cohorts to prevent the spread of infection. Not only does this ensure our physical wellbeing, but it also allows Boarders to form strong bonds within their own grades. Boarders from each grade come together at least once a week for cohort meetings. The Junior Don team also arranges events to encourage interaction between different grades. In addition to the weekly activities that take place on campus, off-campus school excursions are held once every month. Numerous Boarders, especially the new students, find these events helpful in building friendships outside their grades. These events also allow Boarders to experience the upbeat and bustling city culture of Toronto.

To learn and mature in such a loving environment is a privilege and Boarding at 蜜桃视频 has taught me essential skills I would never have learned in class. I have learned to live with a roommate, prioritize my tasks and even how to use a washing machine. I am eternally grateful for my experience here and I would never trade it for anything.

Interview with a New Boarder

Chloe Y., Grade 10

Kelly: Thank you, Chloe, for coming to today鈥檚 interview. It鈥檚 our pleasure to feature you in the December newsletter and let others know more about new Boarders鈥� experiences this year. 

Chloe: Thank you for inviting me too!

Kelly: Let鈥檚 start by talking about your first year as a Boarder at 蜜桃视频. In what way is Boarding different from what you expected?

Chloe: I thought that it would be hard for me to adjust to a new environment, but surprisingly, my transition was so smooth! All the Boarding staff, faculty and my fellow Boarders were so welcoming and I wasn’t homesick at all. I really enjoy my time at Boarding because I get to be with my friends all the time. I am the only child in my family, so it is interesting to have a roommate who shares a room with me and helps me when I鈥檓 in need.

Kelly: That sounds very true. Last year was also my first year at Boarding and I was uncertain about whether I would get used to living without my parents. But the fun activities helped a lot with getting rid of the worries! I had more opportunities to hang out with my friends, so my favourite aspect of Boarding is the activities! What鈥檚 your Boarding favourite activity so far? 

Chloe: After two months into the year, my favorite activity so far is the Canada’s Wonderland trip with Upper Canada College (UCC). After a year of COVID-19 restrictions and remote learning, I have made friends with people on social media but haven鈥檛 had the chance to meet them in-person. I believe this is the situation of many other students as well.

Kelly: I agree! Why did you enjoy that activity the most? 

Chloe: Wonderland was so much fun and I got to go on roller coasters with my fellow Boarders and new people from UCC. The Wonderland trip with UCC not only provided us the opportunity to meet friends from another school, but also allowed us to go to Wonderland for free!

Kelly: Absolutely, going to Wonderland for free does sound very attractive. So other than Boarding excursions, did you have the chance to hang out with friends on weekdays or weekends?

Chloe: Definitely; we can go and grab a drink from Starbucks after school which is super nice. We also go out on weekends to explore different restaurants nearby. For example, we went to Chat Bar and Meet Fresh on Yonge Street. The food there was incredible and I had lovely memories with my friends.

Kelly: That sounds great. What Boarding activities are you looking forward to in the future? 

Chloe: I would prefer more off-campus activities such as the Wonderland trip and the escape rooms. They were both very thrilling and I think it鈥檚 fun for international Boarders to learn more about special activities in Toronto. 

Kelly: I do think these activities are great choices for de-stressing after a long week of school. I am really glad to know that you are enjoying your life in Boarding so far. Thank you for this interview, Chloe!

Chloe: Thank you so much for having me!

Interview with a Returning Boarder

Kerry L., Grade 11

Daphne: Hi Kerry, thank you for coming to today鈥檚 interview. We are honoured to feature you as a returning Boarder in the December newsletter. 

Kerry: I am happy to speak with you. 

Daphne: I know that we are both food lovers, so what do you think of the food in Boarding?

Kerry: My favourite food from Boarding is the beef meatballs. They taste super good and I often ask for more after the chef gives me the standard amount she gives to others. I also like the variety of granola bars in Boarding. They are my favourite snacks. 

Daphne: Same! The meatballs are new this year and they鈥檝e also become my favourite food from Boarding. What鈥檚 also different this year is having a roommate. How do you feel about having a roommate this year?

Kerry: I love it, because I can have a buddy to talk to and vent about homework. We also have a lot in common which makes having a roommate more fun! We go to Starbucks during lunch and after school, go shopping and study together. She always says that I motivate her to study, while I often ask her homework questions while studying. My roommate and I complement each other and I enjoy it very much!

Daphne: I agree. My roommate and I have a lot of fun too. We often hang out outside campus and do Boarding activities together as well. Being in Boarding for the third year, what has been your favourite activity?

Kerry: My favourite Boarding activity has been building gingerbread houses with my cohort. It gives me a Christmas vibe, which makes me look forward to the Christmas break, where I can reunite with my family and take a break from the exhausting schoolwork. Doing the activities as a cohort is also nice, as I get to spend time with my friends on weekends.

Daphne: I am also looking forward to Christmas and watching the beautiful snowy scenery on the holiday. Overall, what do you like most about Boarding this year?

Kerry: The different off-campus activities that Boarding hosts, such as going to Wonderland and the Christmas Market. Because of COVID-19 restrictions last year, we were not allowed to go off-campus, but we had great activities on-campus. This year, it feels special to have the opportunity to go off-campus again and it is always nice to have a variety of activities in the city. 

Daphne: That is also my favorite part. Thank you for your time, Kerry. I really appreciate your willingness to share your experience and perspective with us.

Kerry: Thank you for having me.

Boarding Program Activities

This year, Boarding is hosting a variety of activities both on and off campus. Throughout these activities, we have received positive feedback from our fellow Boarders. Because of COVID-19 restrictions, we have three cohorts: Grade 9s and 10s, Grade 11s and Grade 12s. Despite being in cohorts, we have still been able to establish a close rapport across grades and cultivate a more caring, united Boarding family.

Immersive Van Gogh Exhibit

Boarders went to the Immersive Van Gogh Exhibit. We wandered through 600,000 cubic feet of stunning giant projections that highlighted the artist’s mesmerizing brushstrokes, details and colours, animating the master’s oeuvre and illuminating the mind of the genius: Van Gogh. 

Escape Rooms

Doing escape rooms was also an impressive experience for Boarders. We split up into groups and entered the chosen escape rooms, employing courage, logical thinking or imagination in a limited but highlighted moment.

Thanksgiving Dinner

The Thanksgiving Dinner consisted of juicy roast turkey, stuffing, smooth mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans, corn and pumpkin pie. The Thanksgiving feast by our wonderful kitchen staff was super festive and reminded Boarders to be grateful for everything. 

Halloween Haunt

Halloween Haunt at Canada’s Wonderland turned the theme park into a scream park filled with Halloween attractions that offered unforgettable thrills and unspeakable horror for Boarders. We immersed ourselves in the nightmare of Halloween Haunt, an event where the streets were filled with terror, including hundreds of monsters, terrifying scare zones, ghoulish street performers, live music, thrilling night rides and electrifying live shows. 

2021

December 12: Sports Day Workshop

December 14: International Christmas Dinner

December 15: Last day of Classes & Carol Service 

December 16: Boarding Closes at 12 pm

2022

January 3: Boarding Opens at 4 pm

January 21: Off-Campus Excursion: Skating at Nathan Phillips Square

January 26: Last day of Semester 1

January 27-31: Semester Flip (No Classes), Boarding Open

February 1: First day of Semester 2