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Branksome Hall News
A Vibrant Welcome Back Carnival and Start to the Year
The Branksome Hall campus was alive with colour, music and excitement as students, parents, employees and alums gathered for a spectacular Brazilian Carnival-themed Welcome Back event on September 13, 2024. The festivities not only marked the beginning of the 2024–25 school year, but also gave everyone a chance to warmly welcome Principal Grace McCallum and her family to the Branksome community.
The event was a feast for the senses, with a spread of scrumptious treats, engaging games and lively entertainment that kept the crowd smiling all afternoon. Complete with bouncy castles, face painting, claw machines and a photo booth, the Welcome Back Carnival was truly an event to remember, filled with joy, connection and a shared sense of anticipation for the year ahead.
After a colourful and lively Clan pep rally, Mrs. McCallum delivered a heart-warming speech introducing herself and her family to the entire community for the first time. Grace detailed her journey to Branksome and her hopes for the upcoming school year, sharing that she is eager to learn and participate in Branksome’s many traditions and events and excited to create connections with everyone in the community.
But the excitement didn’t stop there. Another highlight of the afternoon was the much-anticipated update on the Make Way campaign. When Campaign Co-Chair Claire MacNamara took the stage, the crowd eagerly awaited the big news. Applause erupted as she revealed that the campaign had reached an incredible milestone: $32,728,325 raised so far! This includes the record-breaking $5-million gift from last June. Even with this extraordinary achievement, the message was clear: the journey isn’t over yet. With the support of 1,800 generous community members already on board, the campaign is aiming to raise an additional $5 million this year. Opportunities to get involved include securing a Stepping Stone on the donor wall of the Karen L. Jurjevich Innovation Centre and Studio Theatre (iCAST).
A heartfelt thank you goes out to the dedicated students, parents, employees and alums who volunteered their time to make this event such a success, and to the Campaign Cabinet for their inspiring leadership. Another huge thank you goes out to our generous sponsors who made the day exceptional:
- BHPA
- Bay Bloor Radio
- Forest Hill Orthodontics
- Paris Dentistry
- Prodigy
- Pizza Pizza
- Yorkshire Pudding Catering
It was a day of celebration, community spirit and optimism for the future—the perfect start to what promises to be an exciting year at Branksome Hall!
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LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT
We wish to acknowledge this land on which Branksome operates. For thousands of years, it has been the traditional land of the Wendat, the Seneca, and most recently, the Mississaugas of the Credit River. Today, this meeting place is still the home to many Indigenous peoples from across Turtle Island and we are grateful to have the opportunity to work and go to school on this land.*
*The Land Acknowledgement may evolve as we honour our commitment to Truth and Reconciliation in partnership with Indigenous communities.
*The Land Acknowledgement may evolve as we honour our commitment to Truth and Reconciliation in partnership with Indigenous communities.
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