Earth Day is a global observance that takes place every year on April 22 to celebrate the environment and promote awareness of environmental issues. This day allows individuals and communities to reflect on the planet's state and consider ways to protect and preserve it for future generations.
The climate crisis incurs global costs that impact the environment, economy, food and water security and human health. In British Columbia, extreme weather conditions contribute to forest fires, floods, and droughts, resulting in high economic costs and a diminished quality of life. Climate change also leads to social and political unrest, exacerbating existing inequalities and causing increased migration. A report by the World Economic Forum highlights climate change as the top four global risks in ten years. Climate action is necessary; greater knowledge through education is imperative.
Children and youth learn and internalize positive behaviours, values, and attitudes from those they admire and look up to. Positive actions also go a long way toward alleviating the anxiety that accompanies dire climate change news. By including sustainability as a strategic priority, the School is making a promise to the community, and role modeling for students, that we will take action to do what we can to be effective environmental stewards. There are numerous areas where we can and will make a difference. Today, I want to highlight the commitment our Community Dining partner, SAGE Dining, is making toward more sustainable practices.
- SAGE has always sourced food from sustainable local suppliers, partnering with local farms and purveyors.
- SAGE staff assist younger students in making good food choices, including portion size, thereby reducing food waste before it touches a plate.
- When hot chocolate is served, students are encouraged to bring their mug to eliminate the need for single-use containers; however, when takeaway containers are needed (packed lunches for excursions or Grab and Go), only compostable containers are used.
- SAGE has launched a “Usage Program” designed to reduce food waste from procurement through preparation to dining. At the heart of the program is data. A key step was removing garbage bins from Manrell Hall, leaving only liquid and dry compost bins. Together with meal preparation waste, what is thrown out or composted daily is weighed and recorded daily. This data assists SAGE in understanding the food preferences of the students and staff so menus can be refined. The aim is to prevent and reduce food waste.
This week in the Senior School and next week in the Junior School is designated as Earth Week. During these weeks, the staff and students will engage in learning and activities designed to deepen and challenge our understanding of issues related to the sustainability of a healthy earth. Learning about the complex issues facing the earth is an essential step towards creating a sustainable future, providing an opportunity to educate students about environmental conservation, instilling a sense of responsibility, and encouraging them to take action towards sustainability.
A refrain frequently heard at this time of year: Earth Day should be every day. Following the example set by SAGE, I invite parents/guardians to consider possible actions at home that would lessen our impact on the earth and demonstrate to our children how seriously we see the issues facing our planet. What can you do?
To learn more about actions at the School, visit the Parent and Student Handbook, Environmental Awareness.
25th Annual CHS Golf Classic
Crofton House invites you to the 25th Annual Golf Classic on Friday, May 26, at the University Golf Club. Thank you to everyone who has already signed up for this year’s event.
Dinner-only registration is now sold out! If you are still interested in joining us for dinner, we encourage you to register for the waitlist, as spots may open up.
For the Golf Tournament, there is still room for two foursomes. Register here.
Silent Auction
The silent auction is still accepting restaurant gift certificates. Some examples are Cioppino’s, AnnaLena, Il Giardino, Hawksworth, Bluewater Cafe and Savio Volpe. If you are interested in donating to the silent auction, please reach out to lmcgilivray@croftonhouse.ca.
Good to know:
- Can we organize our own golf foursome?
Yes you may.
- What if I don’t have my foursome. Can I still register?
Yes, you can. We will do our best to pair you with other players with daughters in the same grade.
- Can we make special requests for seating or golf?
Certainly! You are welcome to let us know any golfing/seating preferences. We will do our best to accommodate them!
- Can we put together a table for dinner or is it assigned seating?
You may put together your own table, if you wish. Each table seats 10 people.
- What is the average handicap?
We encourage parents of any golf level to participate! This is a fun way to get together and support the School’s fundraising priorities.
- Can I bring my child to this event?
The CHS Golf Classic is an adults-only event.
Should you have any further questions, please contact Liam McGillivray, Advancement Coordinator, at lmcgilivray@croftonhouse.ca.
Disney’s Moana Jr. Middle School Musical May 3 & 4
On Wednesday, May 3 and Thursday, May 4, the Middle School brings Disney’s animated film to life! Moana Jr. tells the story of an epic journey of self-discovery and friendship. With empowering messages of bravery and selflessness, Moana JR is sure to bring out the hero within each of us. Get your tickets here.
Get Involved: Staff Appreciation Event Officially Returns!
After a 3-year break, the CHS Parents’ Auxiliary Staff Appreciation Event is back to its annual event where Crofton House families can show the enormous gratitude they have for teachers and staff. PA volunteers are busy behind the scenes, putting the pieces together for a gorgeous sit-down luncheon provided and served by CHS parents and guardians. The event takes place Thursday, May 18, and the PA is looking for volunteers to help. Whether you’d like to whip up a favourite family recipe, serve food and refreshments, or slip on some gloves for the big cleanup, there is a job for you!
Sign up to bring a dish.
COVID: A Continued Focus on Health and Safety
A recent article in the Vancouver Sun reports a “constant and relatively high level of COVID infections in B.C.”, according to Dr Fiona Brinkman, a research scientist with the Coronavirus Variants Rapid Response Network. This prompts a reminder to our community to review the School’s Communicable Disease Prevention Guidelines at a Glance. Of vital importance is staying home when ill. Healthy hygiene habits are important all year long. We need everyone’s cooperation in keeping the community
healthy and safe.
Change in Circumstances Impacting Enrolment and/or Tuition Payment
All families will have now received their April statement that includes tuition instalment fees for 2023-2024. If you have enrolled for next year and your circumstances have changed in any way, please contact the Head of School. Depending on the calendar date by which the School receives written notification of withdrawal, the Parent/Guardian will be responsible for payment in full of the annual non-refundable tuition deposit and a fixed amount of the tuition instalment paid to date, increasing as the year progresses. The 2023-2024 Financial Agreement outlines all terms and conditions related to tuition and billing. Visit the My CHS Community Portal and the Enrolment, Tuition and Billing page for full details.
Shared Busing Proposal - Gauging Interest
Crofton House School is currently reviewing a proposal from St. George’s School about the possibility of sharing buses on two specific routes that are currently managed by St. George’s. These routes would serve students who are enrolled in both schools, with one route originating from East Vancouver and Burnaby, and the other route starting in West Richmond. Before moving forward with the proposal, the School wants to guage community interest. Let us know if this would be of interest to your family by completing a survey. Deadline: Monday, May 1, 2023.
Eid, A Time of Joy, Gratitude and Togetherness
Eid is celebrated by Muslims around the world, a time of celebration and community. To those in our community celebrating the end of the month of Ramadan, a period of fasting and spiritual reflection, CHS wishes you Eid Mubarak (عيد مبارك).
Did You Know?
Did you know that Crofton House used to have two Bazaars? As a counterpart to the Winter Bazaar, the ‘second bazaar’ was called the ‘Garden Party’ held annually during springtime in the rose garden on school grounds.
First held in 1943, it was a chance for students and staff to put on their best high tea outfits while bringing some fun with a country fair-style atmosphere to raise funds for various charities or school development projects. While tea was hosted and served by the home economic students, there were puppet shows, pony rides, hot dog and ice cream stands, and carnival games with prizes organized by each grade then later by each House. The Junior School joined the fun by enjoying their own mini tea-room in another section of the garden.
One of the traditions that remains is the ‘cakewalk’ which started in 1960 and continues today at the Winter Bazaar. By the mid 60s the extravagant planning caught up with time constraints, ending the Garden Party and ushering in an annual fashion show to replace it. As a nod to the Garden Party, tea was served at the end of the fashion shows.
Share Your CHS Stories
As part of Crofton House School’s 125th anniversary celebration, we invite the Crofton House community to share their joyful and special memories of CHS. These stories will become part of our archival 125th anniversary records and may be shared as part of our celebrations. Share yours today!
Students in Junior Kindergarten have been tinkering with technology, using screwdrivers to take apart an old rotary phone.
Senior Kindergarten students put their recent classes about numbers and business to practical use, making a pop-up flower market and selling their home grown tulips to an eager queue of parents and family members.
Grade 3 and Grade 7 buddies were busy teaching each other a variety of games recently, including card games, board games and even chess.
Budding journalists in the Junior School were seen queuing up to confirm which articles and features they would like to write for the next issue of the Junior School Crofton Chronicle.
Grade 6 students didn’t let wet weather get in the way of an amazing Outdoor Education trip to Camp Jubilee in Indian Arm, North Vancouver. There were so many activities, from paddlesports to archery, high ropes to shelter building, that we can barely squeeze enough photos into this newsletter. Check out the rest of the highlights on Vidigami.
Why just read Julius Caesar when you can grab some spare bed sheets and bulldog clips and bring the play to life in your classroom. Well, that‘s exactly what these Grade 9 students did in English class last week.
The theme for the recent Grade 11 Ivy Compass Day was “sustainability”, which saw students engaged in a variety of activities around campus, including a neighbourhood cleanup and making their own sustainable household items like detergent and beeswax wraps.
Grade 10 student, Jenna, attended the World Individual Debating and Public Speaking Championship in Durban, South Africa. Capping an amazing trip, she made finals in Persuasive Speaking and attained a final ranking of 9th overall from 100 speakers around the world.
Senior School students Vanessa (Grade 9), Maggie (9), Kaiya (8), Olivia (8), Bella (8), and Eva (9) participated in the Junior Speech Provincials at Pythagoras Academy in Richmond. Not only did they all achieve strong results, but Olivia, Vanessa, Eva and Kaiya will all be advancing to Junior Speech Nationals at Mulgrave School from May 5-6.
Senior School Pride Week brought some amazing moments to campus this year. Our GSA captains wrapped it all up with a powerful presentation on pre-colonial indigenous communities that acknowledge a third gender, highlighting how much more we can learn about gender and identity from different communities.
Students from the Sew What's Cooking club challenged staff to a pancake designing competition last week. Seeking to impress the judges, competitors crafted some truly impressive and tasty creations.
Coffee House is a unique opportunity for Senior School students to display their talents in music and creative arts. This year, performances from singers, musicians, and dancers were complimented by improv comedy, spoken word recitals and displays of art and textile design. It had a cheerful, uplifting atmosphere and a wonderful display of the diverse talents of students.
It was a pleasure to welcome back CHS alumnae Grace Zhang ('21) and Katie Applegarth ('22) on either side of spring break to receive the Governor General's Academic Medal, a tradition put on hold during the pandemic. Congratulations to both!
Junior School Athletics
Anticipation has been building this week, as 97 Junior School athletes signed out their singlets and spikes in preparation for the first Junior School Track Meet of the season. The Vancouver Olympic Club will be hosting the meet at Mercer Stadium in New Westminster on Friday, April 21 and Saturday, April 22. There is a quick turnaround, with the second meet happening on Wednesday, April 26 at UBC.
Crofton Falcons have been encouraged to try a variety of events to build their overall athleticism while pushing themselves to work hard and work cooperatively with their teammates. The team has shown a wonderful commitment to improving so far this season in such adverse weather conditions! Stay tuned for results from our first meets!
Senior School Athletics
Our Crofton Falcons have had a busy week!
Senior and Junior Badminton competed at St. John's School and came home with another victory, taking some of their Junior team members along for some exhibition games in the process.
They followed this up with team gold at the ISAA Championships in Victoria yesterday! 
The CHS tennis team hosted the ISAAs at the UBC Tennis Centre and had some impressive performances in both singles and doubles matches, ultimately bringing home the silver medal as a team.
Track and field team braved the cold and wet conditions at UBC this week, coming out with top finishes both on the track and at the field events. 
The Rowing Team continues to train diligently out on the water three times a week. They’re working towards their first regatta next month and we want to recognise their dedication and hard work.
The Varsity and Junior Soccer teams are on Vancouver Island competing in the Soccer ISAAs on April 21-22. Best of luck to everyone taking part.
Go Falcons Go! |
