Reflections of Havergal: 1994-2019

Appendices

The Houses of Havergal BTI , September 2008 By Christine Moon

Have you ever wondered about the House System at Havergal? Are you a New Girl and still trying to figure out the mysteries of the Houses? Are you an Old(er) Girl and still not so sure about “those other” Houses? When, upon first hearing about Havergal’s House system, did you think about Harry Potter? Read on. There are ten Houses in Havergal College, which all staff and students are a part of: Frances Ridley, Ellen Knox, Marian Wood, Kate Leonard, Margaret Taylor, Edith Nainby, Agnes Hansen, Marcelle de Freitas, Mary Dennys, and, last but certainly not least, Catherine Steele. The Houses are named after women who have made significant contributions to the school, in the past and the present. Each House has its own history, colours, and mascots. Frances Ridley Havergal not only named Frances Ridley House, but our school as well. She was born in England, and could read at the age of three. Miss Havergal was an author, humanitarian, and composer; many of her hymns can be found in our very own hymnbook! The Frannies’ House colours are black and white, and their mascot is the penguin. Ellen Knox House, the home of the Froggies, was named after Ellen Mary Knox, the first “lady princpal” of Havergal. She was the first to ask the question, “What are you going to do?”, a base for the current school aim, “Preparing Young Women to Make a Difference in the World”. The Froggies’ House colours are green and yellow. The Woodites, also known as Marian Wood House, celebrate their house spirit in the colours of yellow and black. This House was named in loving acknowledgement of Marian Wood, the second principal of Havergal. She was shy and proper, impressing upon her students the importance of notetaking, grooming, physical fitness, posture, and conversation. Miss Wood introduced the House system in 1931; the original three Houses were Frances Ridley, Ellen Knox, a11d Marian Wood. She also introduced the first fundraising bazaar in 1930, which is the predecessor of today’s Celebration Saturday, as well as the Candlelight Ceremony in 1933. The Marian Wood House Mascot is the bumblebee. Kate Leonard was a special friend to the Havergal College Community in during the period of the Depression, and so the Katies are named in her honour. The Leonards generously contributed to the school, allowing Havergal to pay off debts and build an extension to the school. Kate Leonard House, whose special colours are baby blue and white, Twirl Their Trunkies with their mascot, the elephant.

Margaret Taylor House, the home of the butterflies, was named in memory of Margaret Taylor, the wife of Reverend D r. William Taylor, who was a missionary with the YMCA in China. Reverend Taylor was also on the Board of Havergal for twenty-five years. Margaret Taylor House was formed in1938, to accommodate the growing number of scholars in the school. The Margies’ House colours are orange and blue. The Edith Nainby House is represented by red and white. They were named in honor of Edith Nainby, a teacher who arrived to Havergal in 1896 and stayed for forty years. Miss Nainby taught art and health, and was known as a kind and motherly woman. The Edies’ mascot is the lion. The Aggies were named after Agnes Hansen, who was the school nurse from 1930 to 1970. Miss Hansen was very stern, though much loved, as the senior housemother in the boarding school. The Agnes Hansen House colours are white and pink, and their mascot is the panther. Marcelle De Freitas House was named in acknowledgement of Marcelle de Freitas, a teacher and Senior Mistress, who taught Spanish and sewing classes at Havergal for forty years from 1944. Miss de Freitas knitted the first “House hats” in 1960, and these since then have become a tradition at Havergal. The colours of MDF are royal blue and silver, and their mascot is the dolphin. Mary Dennys, the namesake of Mary Dennys House, was a student at Havergal for seven years, and House Captain of Marian Wood House in 1940. She returned after college as an English, French, and religious education teacher, as well as the first guidance counselor of Havergal. Miss Dennys loved animals, especially dogs and horses. She became the principal of Havergal College in 1975, and retired 10 years later, after adding a new wing to the Upper School, expanding the Junior School, and establishing Founders’ Day in 1976. The MD House colours are teal and gold, and their mascot is the dragon. The Steelers are named after Catherine “Stainless” Steele, the fourth principal of Havergal in 1952, and the first principal to be a Canadian, an Old Girl, and a previous staff member. Miss Steele enhanced school life by encouraging parents’ participation and by having the Houses meet every Wednesday. Miss Steele initiated an expansion of the school in 1959. She retired in 1972, and, in 1978, Catherine Steele House was formed. The mascot of this House is the unicorn, and their House colours are purple and white.

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