The Boulden Blog

Friday, March 03, 2023

This week, the Junior School students and staff enjoyed a Spirit Week. It has been an opportunity for all of us to put our beloved uniforms (and teacher clothing!) to the side while we collectively dress to support either a cause or theme. While a week of dress down days can help to bolster energy, awareness and community spirit, the overarching effects of having opportunities to engage in school spirit have many lasting, positive effects.

School spirit comes in many forms. It can be a school colour, cheer, motto or mascot. Whatever the medium, school spirit demonstrates pride in one’s learning community and enthusiasm for a shared goal or outcome. Not only is engaging in school spirit initiatives fun, evidence shows that participation leads to increased engagement, stronger academic results and better mental health.

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Friday, February 03, 2023

“Skin colours are many; skin colours are beautiful; skin colours are kin colours!”

This was just one of many messages Aubrey Noronha shared with our students this week during his presentations in the Junior School. Aubrey Noronha is the face behind the organization Hello Hope, which (as the name suggests) shares messages of hope for safer communities through presentations, workshops and roundtable discussions on mental health and anti-racism. Aubrey is no stranger to TCS; he has presented before to our Junior School students virtually during the pandemic, and has been on campus this year in person speaking to faculty, Senior School students and Junior School students again. This week, our Grade 5 and 6 students took part in the presentations “Stick with the Truth: Parts 1 and 2”; our Grade 7 and 8 students took part in “Colour Blind? Parts 1 and 2.”

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Friday, January 06, 2023

Happy New Year! I hope everyone enjoyed a wonderful holiday season with family and friends. I know for myself, the chance to sleep in and then indulge in a second cup of coffee while easing into the day ahead was a welcome change of pace!

For many, the new calendar year brings an opportunity for change and reflection. It offers the potential for a fresh start and a renewed sense of optimism toward the future. In fact, many people resolve to make changes in their daily lives to better themselves, their attitudes or their prospects ahead. However, according to estimates, less than 8% of people end up sticking to their resolutions despite millions of people setting these yearly goals.

Admittedly, I am one of those millions who set New Year's resolutions only to then fall into the 92% category of not achieving them. This year, though, I resolve to not be a statistic!

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Friday, December 02, 2022

With so many seasonal events in motion and around the corner, it’s hard not to get caught up in the festive spirit. While we are busily preparing for our Winter Bazaar, Holiday Concert and Carol Services, we are also paying thoughtful attention to the diversity of our students and being inclusive of the celebrations outside of Christmas to ensure we are respectful of everyone’s beliefs.

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Friday, November 04, 2022

Competitive sports are alive and well in the Junior School after a two-year hiatus. Now that our fall season is at an end, it is clear that our philosophy of hard work, skill development and fair play has paid off and I am thrilled to report that two of our teams – Under-12 and Under-14 soccer – were deemed champions within the Conference of Independent School Athletic Associations (CISAA); Under-14 basketball has their finals tomorrow!

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Friday, October 07, 2022

Thanksgiving is upon us, and in many households that comes with time-honoured traditions of turkey dinners, family gatherings and time spent outside in the crisp autumn air. From a mindfulness perspective, Thanksgiving also presents an opportunity to give thanks for all that we have in our lives, no matter the circumstances.

There are many benefits to being thankful that extend beyond the common courtesies of expressing gratitude and being kind. Being thankful is actually good for the soul. There are many studies that show that being thankful leads to greater happiness, improved health, stronger resiliency and more caring relationships. These are some incredibly powerful outcomes for a relatively simple gesture.

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Friday, September 09, 2022

The energy in Boulden House has been palpable this week as we welcomed back our new and returning students, faculty and staff. Boulden is really not the same without our students in it, and this year in particular feels like a fresh start. While we know that our students are sitting with many emotions this week – excitement, nervousness, fear, joy – we hope that the connections being made in the classroom and on the playground with teachers and classmates are helping students feel more settled and part of a caring community.

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Friday, June 10, 2022

Written by Jennifer Reid, head of Junior School & student and academic support

It was a pleasure last week sharing the stage with Ms. Krista Koekkoek, director of guidance & wellbeing, as we presented at the 120th Annual General Meeting of the TCS Parents’ Guild. Our presentation focused on supporting student wellbeing coming out of the pandemic, with information covering what we’re seeing in our offices, what we’re suggesting for the summer, and what we are looking forward to in the fall.

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Friday, April 29, 2022

Written by Jennifer Reid, head of Junior School & student and academic support

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Friday, April 01, 2022

Written by Jennifer Reid, head of Junior School & student and academic support

What a lovely week it has been, welcoming our students back after a much-deserved March Break. I hope you all enjoyed the change of pace that came with the two-week hiatus and all the opportunities it had to offer.

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