One, Two, Buckle My Shoe
“One, two, buckle my shoe. Three, four, shut the door….” Teaching children the numbers one through ten using rote memorization makes sense. I doubt you’d find a math expert who would oppose young children memorizing the basics of numeracy. But what about 12 x 12? It makes sense to memorize that, doesn’t it? Not according […]
To the Class of 2017
I am so happy to be here to share in this special day with you, dear Class of 2017. Although this is my second year at Trafalgar, you are, in truth, my first graduating class. I returned this September to a new beginning, and so it feels appropriate that we share the stage today as […]
Culture Matters
I think it was the collection of “goat poetry” that first made me realize this was no ordinary learning showcase. There was also the science experiment testing the impact of alpha waves on focus and attention, the video infomercial on the School (presented en français), and the thoughtful discussion I had with a student […]
Honour Roll: Perennial Flower or Veritable Weed?
I once heard a teacher describe herself as a gardener and her students as beautiful flowers, each needing sunlight, water and thoughtful care. A lovely sentiment, I admit, but I see our students as the gardeners themselves, and the school as their garden. It’s theirs to design, theirs to plant, and theirs to care […]
Our Traditions Endure
On Saturday, we celebrated our school’s 110th May Court Festival with ceremony, music and dance. Since 1907, our school community has come together every May to welcome spring and reaffirm our shared commitment to the School’s motto of Veritas, Virtus, Venustas – Truth, Virtue, Loveliness. The first time I experienced May Court was as the […]
The Way to a Beautiful Heart
“Teaching music in not my main purpose. I want to make good citizens. If children hear fine music from the day of their birth and learn to play it, they develop sensitivity, discipline and endurance. They get a beautiful heart.” – Shinichi Suzuki I grew up in The Junction, a now trendy west-end neighborhood north […]
The Transformational Mother
This Sunday is Mother’s Day, a day to celebrate each mother or mothering figure who plays an important role in the life of a child. This is the day to recognize all that mothers do, and to simply say, thank you. I was doing a bit of reading about leadership this past week and came […]
No Regrets
“We spend so much time being afraid of failure, afraid of rejection. But regret is the thing we should fear most. Failure is an answer. Rejection is an answer. Regret is an eternal question you will never have the answer to.” – Trevor Noah, Born A Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood Comedians often […]
13 Reasons Why ‘NOT’
There’s a new Netflix series out there, and it’s causing a lot of noise on social media. 13 Reasons Why is the fictional story of Hannah Baker’s life and death. More specifically, it’s about the people and events that (according to Hannah) caused her to commit suicide. Based on the young adult novel by Jay […]
She is Lala
Lalbegim (or Lala, as she likes to be called) is coming to Trafalgar Castle this September, and we are definitely excited. As the first recipient of our World of Difference scholarship, Lala will spend two years at the Castle, completing Grade 11 and 12. The Spark of Hope Foundation will be right there on graduation […]