Celebrating the End of the Year

6/19/2019

Thank you to those members of the Greenwood community who attended last week’s Celebration Day. As I said that morning, the Raptors certainly set the tone by winning the NBA Championship and we were all in the mood to celebrate. As I also said in my remarks last week, there has been much to recognize this year, and I hope that students will reflect on what they have learned from this year’s failures and mistakes and use that knowledge to drive future successes. The Leaving Class Ceremony was also a wonderful testament to all that has been achieved by the Class of 2019 during their time at Greenwood.

Two long-standing members of our teaching staff are leaving Greenwood this year for other opportunities. After contributing significantly to our school over the past 16 years -- as a teacher and coach and through multiple director roles -- Carla DiFilippo has accepted the position of Director, Athletics at Havergal College. Matthew Donkers, who joined the school in 2009 and is a valued member of our staff as a teacher, coach and Latimer House competitor, is moving to Holy Trinity School to be much closer to home, which is critical to him as he is about to become a father.

Jennifer Coffin, Lauren Del Bel, April Van Dodewaard and Connor Woodside are also moving on to new opportunities both near and far, and we wish them well. Away on leave for part or all of next school year are Stella Au, Wendy Herod, Amanda Lester, Stephanie Martino, Catherine Menard, Emma Seaborn and Laura Webster.

We look forward to the return of several experienced teachers who have been on leave this past year. You’ll see Megan Clark, Kathryn Connelly, Anthony Costa and Erin Klassen in September after their maternity and 4-over-5 leaves. We are also excited to welcome back apprentice teachers Callie Bowman (Class of ‘09), Christine Foster and Allison Gottlieb.

Our new hires bring a range of educational backgrounds and experiences to Greenwood. Physics teacher Iain Bryant spent this past year with the TDSB. Vincent Marcil, a French and learning strategies teacher, just finished a year of teaching French at Bishop Strachan School. Teresa Melville, who will teach geography next year, has been teaching for six years at Humberside Montessori School. We will also welcome three new apprentice teachers for the 2019-2020 school year.

It is time for Greenwood students to have a change of pace. I hope that you all have ample time to enjoy our Canadian summer, a moment of joy (or at least a break), and maybe a chance for your family to venture further. On a personal note, as I write my last message of the 2018-2019 school year I wish to express my sincere gratitude to many groups of people: to the Board of Directors, for appointing me to this exciting role and entrusting me to care for Greenwood; to staff members and parents, for making it such a pleasure to work with you throughout the year; and to our students, for going on this journey with me and allowing me to support you however I can. It’s a privilege to be your Principal.

Have an AWESOME summer!

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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.