“This has been a year like no other” is probably the most overused phrase of this year. And yet, it is nothing but accurate: we have indeed just lived through a historic event, the impact of which is yet to fully unravel. I was reminded of this fact of a few months ago when the school archivist started collecting items that would reflect what school life was like at CHS during the COVID-19 pandemic: masks, care kits, disinfectant wipes, traffic flow signs will remain the unmistakable hallmarks of the year 2020-2021 for the posterity.

And yet, what stands out for me when I think of this year is how we were able to live our school mission and values through these often difficult months, continuing to offer an educational program with many opportunities for students to discover and pursue their interests in both curricular and co-curricular experiences. Our values of courage, creativity and citizenship were on display on a daily basis by students, teachers, staff and our community. It was these values that allowed us to make this year a greater success than anyone could have anticipated back in September, me included.

We were able to welcome the students on campus, and every single day of the year, fulfill the collective aim to keep our full educational program in place. Teachers adopted strategies to teach all subjects in a student-centred manner encouraging collaboration and choice. Co-curricular learning continued. Outdoor education excursions, drama performances, House events, music concerts, assemblies, and graduation were reimagined so that they could take place in a safe manner. Most importantly, our students had the chance to connect with one another on campus every day, and I am confident the on-going face-to-face connection with their peers and teachers has been vital to their wellbeing over the year. Finally, we heard from parents in the last survey how grateful you were to the CHS Parents’ Auxiliary for finding ways to bring parents together.

The School could not have done this without everyone’s efforts and considerable personal sacrifices. Our community understood that on-campus, face-to-face learning depended on each one of us taking personal responsibility for the health and safety of the entire community. I am, as ever, incredibly grateful to all of you. As I said back in September at the start of the school year assembly, I believe that guided by our mission and values, we will emerge from this pandemic not only a stronger community, but crucially, a kinder, more compassionate one.

Change is always a challenge, and especially when it is forced upon us. I know only too well how taxing this year has been for everyone: we all carry with us right now a unique kind of tiredness. This is, as Dr. Bonnie Henry put it this week, a summer of hope and healing. I hope you can all have a safe and restful break, and I look forward to welcoming students back on campus in September.

Sincerely,

Ena Harrop
Head of School

Congratulations to the Grade 12 students who graduated this week: the Class of “21 Blackjack”. View the highlights gallery from the Grad 2021 ceremony and celebration. A more extensive gallery, including photos taken at portrait sessions, will be shared with Grade 12 families by email later this month.

We asked the Class of 2021 to share their plans for next year and some reflections on their time at Crofton House. View grad profiles.

Grade 7 students celebrated their last year in the Junior School at the Grade 7 Final Assembly. A gallery of the event will be shared with Grade 7 families by email next week.

Outlook to Health & Safety Measures in 2021-2022

“Students, families, teachers and staff should plan for a near-normal return to school in September”. This encouraging phrase led a news release on June 17, 2021, from the Ministry of Education. Information from the Ministry of Education and BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) that accompanied the press release will assist the school in planning for September when we anticipate welcoming all students back to campus once again. Final guidance will not be available until August in time for back to school information; however, we will continue to update the community as part of our summer communication plans. For full details of what was released on June 17, see the links below:

Ministry of Education News Release, June 17, 2021
Ministry of Education: K-12 Education Recovery Plan
Public Health Guidance for K-12 Schools: Outlook for the 2021-22 School Year

Volunteer Opportunity: Sewing Help Needed for Winter Bazaar

The Croftie Creations booth will be back for the 2021 Winter Bazaar in a virtual format. We need volunteers with advanced sewing skills to help make handmade items for the booth. This includes sewing doll-sized uniform sets (tunics, skirts, blouses, bloomers, blazers, and PE strip) and Gordon tartan stuffed animals. Sewing will be done over the summer and in the early autumn. Ideally, you have your own sewing machine and possibly a serger. We may organize some sewing workshops but the bulk of the work will be done individually. Also, if you are an expert maker and would consider donating a showcase item such as a large quilt or shawl to the Bazaar please contact us! To volunteer, please contact the Bazaar Chairs at bazaarchairs@croftonhouse.ca.

KidSafe 2021 Community Bike Drive

KidSafe is looking for used bikes to support their Summer Break Bike Club:

Having the opportunity to learn to ride a bike is a rite of passage that sadly so many kids miss out on. KidSafe is excited to partner with Our Community Bikes (Pedal Society) who will be refurbishing all donated bikes ready for KidSafe Summer Bike Club!

Please get in touch with amy@kidsafe.ca if you have a bike (all sizes accepted) that you would like to donate to enable a child to learn to ride a bike this summer.

Uniform Shop Orders Over Summer

The Uniform Shop remains closed to in-person visits over the summer. Parents can make purchases through the online order form for pick-up in late August. You will be notified by email when your order is ready for pick-up. If you have any questions, please contact uniforms@croftonhouse.ca.

Year-End Thank You Video - BC Government

Premier John Horgan, Education Minister Jennifer Whiteside and Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry have prepared a short video to thank B.C. teachers and education staff, families and students, including graduates, for their hard work, determination and resilience during this most challenging of school years.

Happy Pride Month! Students worked alongside muralist Jessa Gilbert to design and paint a crosswalk in the Blenheim Street roundabout inspired by the progress pride flag. The flag celebrates the 2SLGBTQIA+ community and specifically acknowledges transgender people and 2SLGBTQIA+ people of colour. We are so excited to have this beautiful symbol painted on campus that reminds us every day of our values of courage, creativity, and citizenship.

Everyone’s favourite way to close the year, Sports Day and Summer Games in the Junior and Senior School were full of energy and, for the most part, sunshine! Check out the highlights gallery.

In anticipation of the Games of the XXXII Olympiad from July 23, 2021 to August 8, 2021, Crofton House School celebrates recent alumnae who have competed in past Olympic Games, and one who will be competing in “Tokyo 2020” this summer.

Stephanie Grauer ’15 will be competing this summer in Tokyo. As a member of the women’s four rowing team, she will be competing in an event that is being staged for the first time since 1992 in Barcelona. Let’s cheer on our CHS alumna this summer. Go Stephanie! Go Canada!

Lauren Wilkinson ’07 represented Canada as a member of Canada’s women’s eight rowing team winning an Olympic silver medal on August 2, 2012 at the London 2012 summer games. Lauren was the recipient of the Alumnae Association’s 2013 Achievement Award.

Samantha Lam ’96 competed as a member of the Hong Kong equestrian team at the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing, China. Following these games, Samantha was named Athlete Role Model for Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games.