Torch - Spring 2014

Heads’ Message

What Kind of World Do You Want?

By Mrs. Leslie Anne Dexter, Head of Junior School & Dr. Michael Simmonds, Head of Upper School

B uilding a culture of capability is at the core of Havergal’s whole girl approach to education, JK through Grade 12. This goal takes us beyond developing self-confidence in girls to empowering them to believe that anything is possible, within reason. And what is possible looks different at every grade because girls are at different stages in their cognitive, social and emotional development in the Junior (JK–6), Middle (7–8) and Senior (9–12) grades. However, what our students have in common is the opportunity to engage within—and beyond— the Havergal community in different ways. What does student engagement look like and what purpose does it serve? Student engagement is rooted in our shared humanity with others. It is focused on people—on understanding and working

with the perspectives of those people, and on working in respectful, learning relationships that may be more aptly called partnerships. The work of the Student Engagement Team (SET) is guided by these principles. It is comprised of Junior and Upper School leaders who work directly with students at every grade. Ann Peel, Director of the Institute at Havergal, is the Chair of SET. In determining what matters—what purpose student engagement serves—SET seeks to identify the lacuna inherent in each opportunity. Lacuna means “missing part, gap or deficit.” In other words, SET aims to identify opportunities and initiatives for students that might fill in a piece that’s missing. In so doing, the team asks itself: does this initiative add value? And, if so, what is the unmet learning that will happen as a result of the initiative? What gap does this opportunity fill?

From left to right: Michael Simmonds, Danielle Stavropoulos, Kylie Black, Rachelle Li, Kendra Wong and Leslie Anne Dexter

6 Havergal College