Reflecting on OE Week

1/17/2019

Sarah Bruce, Principal

“Every mile is two in winter”, a quote from George Herbert, might explain the way some of our Grade 11 students felt during their expedition that had them snowshoeing and dog sledding through some very cold temperatures, with only expedition tents to sleep in at night. Winter camping provides extraordinary experiences for our students and opportunities to challenge themselves in ways that many students around the world would never think possible. The ice climbing wall at Medeba was impressive, and Grade 10 students realized the skill and strength involved in this extreme winter sport. From back-country skiing to quinzee building and tubing, I’m thoroughly impressed by the opportunities Greenwood students were afforded during winter OE week.

As always, social and emotional issues, and the sadness that can come with being away from home, are not to be overlooked. I admire our students for embracing these challenges and know that they will be stronger and better for having embraced them. While most of our students were up north experiencing our Canadian winter, it was also exciting to hear that the Grade 12s who participated in Challenge Week here in Toronto or travelled to Costa Rica spoke positively of their unique experiences as well.

Since this is my first Life @ Greenwood in the New Year, I will take this opportunity to wish you and your family all the best in 2019! It is the middle of January already, so if you have stuck with a New Year’s resolution, congratulations and keep it up!

I’d also like to thank those of you who have made contributions to the school, including gifts supporting health and well-being. Next Monday, we will welcome back Dr. Greg Wells to speak with our students about mental health and mental performance; it is thanks to generous support from our community that we are able to offer this specialized and vital wellness programming.

Here’s to a great second term!

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Greenwood College School

443 Mount Pleasant Road
Toronto, ON M4S 2L8
Tel: 416 482 9811

We acknowledge with gratitude the Ancestral lands upon which our main campus is situated. These lands are the Ancestral territories of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, Anishinabek and the Wendake. The shared responsibility of this land is honoured in the Dish with One Spoon Treaty and as settlers, we strive to care for the land, the waters, and all creatures in the spirit of peace. We are responsible for respecting and supporting the enduring presence of all First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples. When away from this campus we vow to be respectful to the land by protecting and honouring it. We will create relationships with the people and the land we may visit by understanding the territories we enter and the nations who inhabit them.