Spirit and BH Clans

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At our school, spirit plays a vital role in shaping our community. These traditions and activities create an environment where students can truly feel at home.

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OUR BH CLANS

Our BH Clan system fosters friendly competition and collaboration, building strong connections across grade levels. In BH Clans, girls come together for friendly competition in groups spanning grades. Students might compete to support a charity or play games against another BH Clan. Spirit activities bring everyone together, creating a lively and inclusive atmosphere where school pride is celebrated

There are eight BH Clans in both the Junior School and Senior & Middle School, named for Branksome's Scottish roots.

BH CLANS FROM MACDONALD TO SCOTT

For generations, BH Clans have provided a forum for friendly sporting competition, community engagement, spirit-building and the transmission of traditions. Students enjoy belonging to their BH Clan, a small cross-grade group within the school community that promotes school spirit.

The BH Clans Prefect works with each BH Clan's Grade 12 BH Clan Leader, as well as elected students from Grades 8 and 10. In the Junior School, Grade 6 students are also BH Clan Leaders.

Our BH Clan System

Every student and every faculty and staff member belongs to a BH Clan.
BH Clan placement is also determined by a sibling’s clan or a related alum’s BH Clan.
Junior BH Clans are twinned with BH Clans in the Senior & Middle School.
Students moving from the Junior School to the Senior & Middle School will automatically be placed in their twinned Senior & Middle School BH Clan.
Each Senior & Middle School BH Clan has a Senior Leader, elected by its own members, and an elected representative from Grade 8.

Junior School BH Clans

MacDonald
Robertson
Gordon
Grant
Johnston
Duncan
Bruce
Fraser

Senior & Middle School BH Clans

Campbell
Douglas
MacGregor
MacLean
McAlpine
McLeod
Ross
Scott

ANNUAL SPIRIT EVENTS

Two girls dressed in yellow outfits, tutus, and pom-pom headbands smile and hug each other at a school event in a gym. Other students, many also wearing colorful clothes, are seated on the floor in the background.

So You Think You Clan Dance

Every fall, Senior & Middle School students work by BH Clan with local choreographers to perform dances for the Branksome community. Accompanied by music from exciting pop ballads to energetic hip-hop beats, students wow those at Assembly with their amazing dance moves and raise funds for a local community organization.

Highland Games

Dressed from head to toe in BH Clan colours, Junior School students and employees gather on the Lower Field at the end of May to enjoy a BBQ and summer treats, compete in BH Clan vs. BH Clan races and obstacle courses and so much more.

A large group of students sits on a gym floor facing a stage where people in yellow shirts are performing. Most students in the audience wear red or pink outfits and bandanas. School banners hang above on the wall.

Spirit Week

This grade-focused week in February adds some much-needed sunshine to the winter months. Students in Grades 7 to 12 take part in the Grade Cheer and Lip Sync Competition, as well as Pajama Day and poster making.

A large crowd of students, many wearing colorful shirts, gather outdoors at a campus event. Four people stand on a stage facing the crowd. Tents, balloons, and trees are visible in the background.

Welcome Back Party

Our annual Welcome Back Party celebrates the return to school in September with lively music, delicious food and fun activities for the entire family.

A young woman with face paint and a scarf cheers energetically at an event, holding a green banner that reads "BRANKSOME HALL." She appears excited and engaged in the lively atmosphere.

Hockey Day

The Branksome Highlanders face off against another school for this annual game at Mattamy Athletic Centre. This exciting event is a full community celebration in support of our Athletics Program.

ADVISOR

Our Advisor program provides personalized support and mentorship, helping students grow academically and socially while strengthening their sense of belonging.

Advisor groups are organized by grade and BH Clans, and Advisors usually remain with their assigned advisees until their graduation. The Advisor is another adult mentor who helps support students and assists in developing the skills needed to thrive at school. Meeting weekly in small groups, through dialogue and activities, they nurture a close-knit community and support academic and co-curricular balance.

Three young women sit around a small table, smiling and laughing together. They are seated on colorful stools in front of beige lockers, appearing to enjoy a lively conversation or study session.

The Advisor ensures that students are engaged in balanced co-curricular activities through their involvement in the Middle Years Programme and Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award.

Through their Advisors, Grades 11 and 12 students have additional assistance to support all aspects of the Ontario and IB Diplomas, and to prepare for their post-secondary decisions. This includes Advisors monitoring CAS during Grades 11 and 12 and assisting students to meet their overall goals in achieving success in the IB Diploma Programme.