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Branksome Hall News
Exciting New Teams Take to the Field
With the fall Athletics season underway, Branksome has introduced two exciting sports for students: Grade 4 Soccer and Senior & Middle School Disc Golf. Both offer engaging and fun ways to learn and play together, and students are loving these additions.
Grade 4 Soccer Kicks Off in the Junior School
The newly formed Grade 4 Soccer team is off to a great start with a win and draw in their first two matches, though coach Kristin Buchanan is most pleased with how excited the students are to play. “One player even made a jersey design and presented it to The Shop,” she says.
With a roster of 18 players, this new addition to the 2024–25 Athletics season is seeing huge popularity among the U10s and their families. “Families and students have long wanted more sporting opportunities in the Junior School,” shares Buchanan. Noting that students have rearranged after-school schedules to be part of this team, she added that, “It’s been really lovely to see the support from families.”
Women’s soccer has become one of the more popular sports in Canada, after the Canadian women won a gold medal in Tokyo 2020, and with the anticipation of the Northern Super League—a Canadian professional women’s soccer league—beginning in 2025. Coach Buchanan is seeing that enthusiasm among the younger students. “Over the years, I’ve noticed more and more students playing soccer, especially in community teams at younger ages. It’s a really great sport to learn team play, so I think more families are seeking out opportunities for their kids to try it.”
In their first two games of the fall season, the U10 team beat Country Day School 4–0, and tied Bishop Strachan School 3–3. They’ll hit the pitch again this week when they face Havergal.
Disc Golf Soaring in the Senior & Middle School
On the Senior & Middle School side, coach Marc Walker has introduced the inaugural Disc Golf team.
Disc golf is similar to traditional golf, but instead of using clubs and balls, players use a disc. Players attempt to take the fewest turns to the end target, which is typically a basket with chains. The sport usually takes place in a city park, as opposed to a golf course. “Disc golf is a wonderful way to enjoy the outdoors with others and enjoy developing a skill. Anyone can play,” says Walker.
What started as a niche sport in the 70s has more recently grown to be popular with millions. Disc golf courses and leagues are appearing all over the world, and while disc golf has been traditionally underrepresented with women, that appears to be changing with more female leagues encouraging women to try it.
The Branksome team, which currently includes four students, will play three games this season with the CISAA finals taking place next week, October 21 at E.T. Seton Park, which Walker says is one of Toronto’s best courses.
“Students started to really appreciate the game when we went down to Ashbridges Bay in the Beaches for our first game. There were two other girls' schools and 25 or so players in our league,” recalls Walker. He adds that competing against other schools has been exciting and fun: “Everyone is learning and getting better. Players generally feel they are competing with themselves rather than worrying about who is best overall.”
Good luck to everyone trying a new sport this year!
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The newly formed Grade 4 Soccer team is off to a great start with a win and draw in their first two matches, though coach Kristin Buchanan is most pleased with how excited the students are to play. “One player even made a jersey design and presented it to The Shop,” she says.
With a roster of 18 players, this new addition to the 2024–25 Athletics season is seeing huge popularity among the U10s and their families. “Families and students have long wanted more sporting opportunities in the Junior School,” shares Buchanan. Noting that students have rearranged after-school schedules to be part of this team, she added that, “It’s been really lovely to see the support from families.”
Women’s soccer has become one of the more popular sports in Canada, after the Canadian women won a gold medal in Tokyo 2020, and with the anticipation of the Northern Super League—a Canadian professional women’s soccer league—beginning in 2025. Coach Buchanan is seeing that enthusiasm among the younger students. “Over the years, I’ve noticed more and more students playing soccer, especially in community teams at younger ages. It’s a really great sport to learn team play, so I think more families are seeking out opportunities for their kids to try it.”
In their first two games of the fall season, the U10 team beat Country Day School 4–0, and tied Bishop Strachan School 3–3. They’ll hit the pitch again this week when they face Havergal.
Disc Golf Soaring in the Senior & Middle School
On the Senior & Middle School side, coach Marc Walker has introduced the inaugural Disc Golf team.
Disc golf is similar to traditional golf, but instead of using clubs and balls, players use a disc. Players attempt to take the fewest turns to the end target, which is typically a basket with chains. The sport usually takes place in a city park, as opposed to a golf course. “Disc golf is a wonderful way to enjoy the outdoors with others and enjoy developing a skill. Anyone can play,” says Walker.
What started as a niche sport in the 70s has more recently grown to be popular with millions. Disc golf courses and leagues are appearing all over the world, and while disc golf has been traditionally underrepresented with women, that appears to be changing with more female leagues encouraging women to try it.
The Branksome team, which currently includes four students, will play three games this season with the CISAA finals taking place next week, October 21 at E.T. Seton Park, which Walker says is one of Toronto’s best courses.
“Students started to really appreciate the game when we went down to Ashbridges Bay in the Beaches for our first game. There were two other girls' schools and 25 or so players in our league,” recalls Walker. He adds that competing against other schools has been exciting and fun: “Everyone is learning and getting better. Players generally feel they are competing with themselves rather than worrying about who is best overall.”
Good luck to everyone trying a new sport this year!
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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.
Setting the new standard for girls' education everywhere takes collective action. From all of us.
