Ms. Kate Lane
The whole of the holidays were eventful as we enjoyed hosting 12 of our Gillinites over the break, splitting our time between residence and the beautiful Fairmont Montebello. A true Canadian experience, our group of 23 students enjoyed skating, curling, tobogganing, a bonfire, as well as swimming, tennis and evening card games. Spending the Christmas and New Year’s with this fabulous group of students will truly be a special event etched firmly in my memory. And after only two weeks back to classes in session, these days seem like a distant memory to many of us. As we transition back to online learning, and greater restrictions on travel, the importance of getting outside and being active is further enhanced.
Luckily, we live in one of the best cities in Canada for just that. Nature trails for a physically-distanced dog walk with our community furry-friends, groomed cross-country ski paths, and even outdoor skating rinks are right at our fingertips. To make skating even more accessible this year, our Athletics Department, along with eager volunteers, have installed two ice surfaces right on campus. While the weather has only allowed for one evening of skating, next week will be prime conditions for hard, smooth ice. For those few days when heading outdoors is less attractive, a session of “Just Dance” in the common room or streamed yoga class (thank you, Ms. Kerr!) can fulfill that need for active breaks. Please ask and encourage your daughter to participate in the many opportunities and activities available.
While our campus is closed, our boarding community still reaps the benefit of regular social interactions amongst friends and faculty in the residences, along with the beautiful campus and neighbourhood parks. A few girls have joined me on dog walks over the past few weeks and were impressed with how safe, quiet, and generally stunning our local Rockcliffe community is. These short walks and change of scenery can be just enough to recharge and refresh for an evening study session.
Finally, we have welcomed six, soon to be seven, new boarding students into our residence over the past couple weeks. While still in quarantine, they have had the chance to meet and introduce themselves to the rest of our on-campus Gillinites through MS Teams and are quickly adjusting to their new schedules and time-zone. We look forward to next week when many will be moved into their new rooms and able to join said activities along with the day-to-day interactions for which we are all so grateful during these challenging times.
