It’s been a rollercoaster of emotion and a marathon of preparation since we said farewell to our students in March and welcomed them back this month.  The Lower School students joined us on campus on September 9th, and any sense of tentative caution on their part quickly gave way to happy skipping through the halls […]

In the midst of the pandemic madness that encircles our lives, I find myself asking the question: “What would Winston do?” I’m referring, of course, to Winston Churchill. There are countless world leaders, past and present, who I could call upon as my muse, but there’s something about Churchill’s British sensibility of “stay calm and […]

In this time of COVID-19, many celebrated Mother’s Day across North America with feelings of love, gratitude and deep reflection. Some felt the warm embrace of a mother at home. For many, the poor substitute of a virtual hug fed hopes of a promised embrace in the weeks ahead. For others, the memory of a […]

As dog owners, our daily routine is pretty set, even more so in this period of COVID-19 induced isolation. Every morning, I let Haddie and Hugo out for a run in the field. They wait impatiently as I open the door and vibrate in anticipation as I walk to the back gate. The minute the […]

I miss my mom. Like many families in Ontario with loved ones in long-term care homes, we’ve been unable to visit her for many weeks. As if that weren’t challenging enough, her telephone stopped working and it will require a visit from a repair person. (That’s not happening.) A cell phone isn’t a viable option […]

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference. The Serenity Prayer. I’ve been leaning on it a lot these days as I try my best to support our community in the here and now while preparing for the […]

My daughter, having spread her wings and moved out on her own, is back home again, electing to self-isolate with more space, a fully stocked fridge, and the benefit of our school’s beautiful and open campus. (I guess living in a castle beats the 8-by-10-foot bedroom in her Toronto apartment.) My husband and I are […]

As news of COVID-19 began to unfold earlier this month, I thought to myself, “Well, this is a first.” Nowhere in any Head of School handbook that I’ve read was there a chapter entitled “Managing A Global Pandemic.”  So I’m sure you’ll understand when I say that I’m writing this chapter as I go. Last […]

“When your headlights aren’t on, the best rear-view mirror available isn’t likely to improve your driving.” I love this quote by Martha Rogers, Professor of Business at Duke University. To me, it speaks to the challenge of shaping education in the 21st century. It was a quote I thought a lot about when we were […]

This month at the Castle we’re celebrating 25 years of black history in Canada. Actually, we’re celebrating more than 150 years of black history but it was 25 years ago when Jean Augustine, or to be precise The Honourable Jean Augustine Queen’s Privy Council, Companion of the Order of Canada, introduced a motion in Parliament […]