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May 11

SCHOOL LIFE

It all starts camping weekend, the very first weekend of the school year. All students and staff head off to Muskoka Woods Sports’ Resort for two days of pure fun and camaraderie. New students begin to feel they are a part of something special. Older students meet new friends and get re-acquainted with old ones. Everyone participates and is ready to begin the school year with confidence and enthusiasm. Back at Trafalgar Castle, this confidence is nurtured daily. Being an all-girl environment allows students to just be themselves. But that’s just the beginning. At Trafalgar we do much more to support and encourage you. Students are divided into four houses, each one with a house leader. Our House System fosters the close-knit, family atmosphere that is part of the fabric of the School. There are many friendly competitions throughout the year between Houses where everyone works together and cheers each other on. In addition, each new student is paired with an older student. This mentoring system provides a supportive ‘Big Sister’ for each ‘Little Sister’ to count on right from day one. By promoting relationships between older students and younger students, day students and boarding students, friendships have no boundaries. Says one dad, “Within weeks of coming to Trafalgar Castle my daughter started taking risks and joining teams she had never tried before”.

“The small classes and supportive teachers give me the confidence to speak out and get involved.”

Trafalgar Castle School as a Character Community

Trafalgar Castle School was founded as Ontario Ladies’ College in 1874 by the Methodist Church of Canada and remained affiliated with the United Church until 1979. In 1959, due to the vision of the late Dr. Stanley Osborne, the Grace Chapel was built and used for regular United Church services. Although the school’s affiliation with the United Church ended in 1979, the Grace Chapel continues to be used for daily Chapel each morning.

Our Chapel programme is not tied to a particular faith as many faiths are represented in our school community. Our Chapel programme may be best described as supporting the concept of a “Character Community”. Character Communities have begun to appear in many places through North America both in schools and urban communities. Character Communities make conscious attempts to address values in a society that appears to have discarded values in a way that concerns many human beings.

Trafalgar Castle School’s Mission states, among other things:

As an integral component of Trafalgar Castle School's mission, we commit to the following shared values among all members of our school community:

  • respect for tradition, particularly Trafalgar Castle School's traditions, in the context of an evolving society;
  • the importance of a balanced lifestyle, including spiritual values and a sense of humour;
  • the importance of civility and tolerance for others and a commitment to human rights and values.

Further, our Strategic Plan indicates:

Our objective is to develop young women who are well-rounded individuals to attain high levels of achievement, and to create and foster a strong sense of the Trafalgar community based upon reflections of our past and a shared vision of our future.

Our Chapel programme is one vehicle for achieving our mission. The full school gathers in the Chapel daily at the beginning of each school day. Each week of the school year is dedicated to a particular theme, related to the concepts of a Character Community. Examples of themes from the first term in 2003-2004 include citizenship, respect, honesty, responsibility, community and honour. Various members of our community, including the Principal, Faculty and Students speak to the theme on specific days. On Fridays we sing from the United Church hymn book or a collection of “Trafalgar Favourites”. We do not have a Chaplain, but rather our entire community leads reflections through the school year.

During the 2003-2004 school year one of our school goals is to continue to develop a school culture that fosters a healthy balance in the individual and school. This will be accomplished by tying our Chapel themes into discussion during our daily Academic Advisor periods, reinforcing the themes through luncheon presentations and linking the themes to the curriculum where appropriate. In 2003-2004, Trafalgar Castle School will also join Health Canada’s “Voices and Choices” programme to further address the goal of achieving balance in our lives.

Service is a theme that is very much in evidence among our students. I cannot begin to catalogue all of the community service activities undertaken by our students, both in school sponsored events and individual work, as many of the girls work quietly yet steadily at their own chosen projects outside the school. They do this willingly and in combination with a full academic load and enthusiastic participation in sports and club activities at the school. It gives me great personal comfort to see this generation of students committing to fulfilling one aspect of our school’s mission and further developing our Character Community.

One important tenet of Trafalgar Castle School’s philosophy is the development of balance in the lives of our students. As a school, we naturally work on the development of the intellect and healthy physical lifestyles, but as a Character Community we also hold high in our consciousness the need to nurture the spirit in its broadest sense.

Trafalgar Castle School Values Statement

As an integral component of Trafalgar Castle School's mission, we commit to the following shared values among all members of our school community:

  • the importance of a well-rounded education stressing those cognitive and interpersonal skills which will equip students for a healthy lifetime of work, family life, community involvement and recreation;
  • the maintenance and communication of high standards for academic achievement;
  • the development of motivated, self-disciplined and self-directed learners leading to a lifetime love of learning;
  • the provision of a psychologically supportive and nurturing environment for day and residential students, which promotes self-esteem and confidence;
  • respect for tradition, particularly Trafalgar Castle School's traditions, in the context of an evolving society;
  • the importance of a balanced lifestyle, including spiritual values and a sense of humour;
  • the importance of civility and tolerance for others and a commitment to human rights and values;
  • the attempt by each student to succeed academically to the best of her ability, participate in extra-curricular programmes and activities and be amenable to school rules and regulations and reasonable discipline;
  • a dedicated, caring staff committed to the achievement and well-being of Trafalgar Castle School's students and to personal and professional development;
  • fiscal prudence in the operation of our school;
  • strong leadership and accountability by the Board of Governors and the Head;
  • consistent communication and consultation with all members of the school community;
  • a life-long association with Trafalgar Castle School.

Peer Mediation and Facilitator Program

Trafalgar Castle School launched an innovative new student leadership program in 2006-2007. This widely recognized method of improving student relations will continue to be implemented over the next two years.

Peer mediation is designed to improve problem-solving skills, increase self-esteem and develop compassion for peers dealing with a variety of social, emotional or behavioural challenges. The program will enhance peer-to-peer communication, decrease incidents of relational aggression and help to nurture a positive school culture. Students will develop a sense of tolerance and empathy, while learning to celebrate diversity in our school community.

Presently, our school counselor, Mrs. Joyce Thompson, and our VP School Life, Gillian Martin, are overseeing the program with assistance from staff across grade levels. Students from Grades 9-12 are welcome to attend and learn more about this exciting new initiative.

 
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