Torch - Spring 2015

House Shout A high-energy day at Havergal that demonstrates outward school spirit is House Shout. The idea for House Shout was initiated in the 1960s when students wanted to create a common project that they could work on as a House that would cause excitement and connection. In October 1966, under the leadership of Havergal’s Fourth Principal, Catherine Steele, House Shout was added to the annual Sports Day. Back then, the only House Shout rule was that each House could cheer for no longer than two minutes. The event was a hit with students and it soon took over Sports Day entirely. As House Shout became an event on its own, it became increasingly important and students became much more imaginative in the props they used during their cheers, including a school bus one year and a horse on another occasion. The unfair advantage of these items led to the development of the second rule of House Shout: no props could be used. Today, House Shout is traditionally held on the second Monday of May. Students wear the most brightly House-coloured and imaginative costumes for this annual event and come together to perform outstanding cheers and songs. Judged by a different group of Havergal faculty and staff each year, the winning House earns the House Cup, which is a great honour for that House and the House Captains. The House Cup is presented at the end of the school year.

House Shout 1975, from the Dr. Catherine Steele 1928 Archives

Spirit Week and Hockey Day Havergal hosts Spirit Week in order to brighten up the cold and snowy February that is typical in Toronto. This weeklong celebration of school pride includes Grade Cheer-Offs, Spirit Assemblies and Green & Gold Day, which is held on Hockey Day—an annual exhibition game that sees students from Grades 5 to 12 cheer on the Havergal Gators as they play against Bishop Strachan School (BSS) for the Hewitt Cup. Hockey Day is the highlight of Spirit Week, and the most spirited athletic contest of the school year. The Havergal/BSS event developed from Upper Canada College’s (UCC) Hockey Night at Maple Leaf Gardens more than 50 years ago. The feature game of that evening was UCC’s student hockey team playing against UCC Old Boys. During this event, Havergal’s Old Girls would take to the ice in a mini-game (wearing their tunics, white figure skates and without helmets or other protective gear) and compete against the Old Girls from BSS. Each member of the winning ladies’ team was presented with a red rose. Today, the format of Havergal’s Hockey Day has changed significantly: it is now a separate event from UCC’s. The three- period match is now played at North Toronto Memorial Arena. The winning team takes home the Elizabeth Hewitt Cup, which was donated by Bill Hewitt and named in honour of his mother, wife of Foster Hewitt, of Hockey Night in Canada fame.

Hockey Day 2015 was especially high-spirited as Havergal won the Hewitt Cup in an overtime shootout, returning the cup to Havergal after a long six years away at BSS.

Hockey Day 2015

TABLE OF CONTENTS | SPRING 2015 • TORCH 23