Reflections of Havergal: 1994-2019

At the bottom of the banner, a crest can be seen, containing the torch that Ms. Robson carried so brilliantly. In addition to this, there are two field hockey sticks, which remind us of her active and athletic nature, and a Canadian and a British flag, which pay tribute to her heritage. The school motto reads ‘Vitai Lampada Tradens.’ Ms. Robson, you are now passing the torch. In this banner, we honour your spirit, your gentle leadership and your wisdom as an educator. Most of all, we cherish your love for and loyalty to the Havergal community. Thank you for your stewardship during our years at Havergal and your inspiration as we approach the future. As Rosemary Corbett noted in her tribute at the retirement party, summing up a stellar teaching career is a challenge: How does one describe the subtle tapestry of wisdom, influence and relationship that Brenda Robson has woven at Havergal College? The old-fashioned words come to mind: humble, patient, compassionate, generous, kind, selfless, spiritual, profound. Even this long list does not do justice to her essential goodness. Come to Havergal today and you will not see Miss Robson walking the length of the Havergal gym on her hands. You will, however, see the woman who has become the quiet heart of Havergal. The women who have led Havergal have, from the start, been remarkable individuals who brought a unique vision to the school. They challenged the community to fulfill the school’s promise, and they worked tirelessly and faithfully to ensure the school flourished. John F. Kennedy once observed that “[l]eadership and learning are indispensable to each other.” He may not have known Havergal’s guiding lights, but he clearly appreciated how important it is for a leader to have an open and inquiring mind, especially when those leaders are responsible for preparing girls and young women to make a difference. Havergal’s guiding lights have been passionate educators who themselves are engaged as students of the world, and the school is deeply beholden to them for their exemplary service.

Kristen Ip, Andrea Lam, Veronica Pinchin, Danielle Redelmeier and Brianna Sims, provided insight into their vision and their process. … Role models are not always people with a high public profile. We have someone among us who, in the profession and work that she has chosen to do, is a wonderful role model. With such a significant individual who walks the Havergal hallways with us, who better to choose than our very own Ms. Brenda Robson? This is our tribute to her: for forty-two years of valued work at Havergal as a teacher, a coach and Dean of Students but, most importantly, as a role model. … [T]he most challenging aspect was narrowing down and symbolizing what we wanted to say about Ms. Robson … Within her character, there were greater pools of compassion, energy, spirit, and kindness than we could ever hope to capture with a simple picture. After hours and days of brainstorming and planning, a design was created that attempted to weave together some of the varied and numerous threads that created the tapestry of Ms. Robson. …First, the Havergal doors can be seen in the background, as well as the ivy-coloured walls. For years, Ms. Robson has been an inextricable part of the Havergal community, and she embodies everything that Havergal girls are encouraged to become. She has the imagination, diversity, excellence, altruism, leadership and spirituality of the IDEALS that the girls strive for. Next, you can see the three figures that form a triangle, the triangle of hope. The lower left figure represents the Get Ahead Project in South Africa, of which Ms. Robson has been a driving force. The figure on the right represents the Havergal student. Ms. Robson’s position in the composition leads the attention away from herself, as she so commonly does. It is her style to inspire and enable the Havergal girls to help others. She loves teaching, and she has done her job well.

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