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A Personal Message from Karen L. Jurjevich

It’s the season when our campus is abuzz with celebration and reconnection. That special spirit infuses the entire community, with alums back for Reunion Weekend, Junior School grandparents back for Generations Day (the first time since 2019), a Green Carpet Celebration and much more. 

I’d like to keep the year-end applause going for the latest member of our Campaign Cabinet, John Ruffolo, founder and managing partner of Maverix Private Equity and father of Grade 8 student Rome. We’re thrilled to have him aboard, sharing his expertise as we evolve programming for the Innovation Centre & Studio Theatre! 

I’d also like to celebrate our Class of 2023 (banner above), who’ve established a bursary fund to cement their legacy. And of course, I'd thank you all, our unbelievable donors, whose impact makes a difference for our students every day in every way. From the bottom of my heart, thank you—and have a great summer everyone! 

Karen Jurjevich, Principal

What features of the Innovation Centre & Studio Theatre are community members most excited about? We caught up with Campaign Cabinet member Clara Angotti and daughter Berlin Mathur, Grade 9, to share their thoughts.

Clara Angotti and daughter Berlin shared some quality time at a recent Branksome rowing event.  

Campaign Cabinet member and technology entrepreneur Clara Angotti loves New York, especially the way you can walk by a building on street level, peering into an open, informal pitch space and watch the next hot entrepreneurs in action. And that’s why you’ll likely find her dropping by iCAST’s pitch space once it's built. “I love the idea of an intimate and relaxed environment in which to present big ideas,” she says. 

Besides the amazing presentation skills our students will develop here, Clara is ready for iCAST to put Branksome on the map for innovation overall, just as the Athletics & Wellness Centre cemented the school's leadership in wellness and athletics. “This is a space in which to be creative and experiment with innovation in technology, arts and humanities, science and debate.”

Daughter Berlin, who’s in Grade 9, is looking forward to iCAST as a way to explore her interest in computer science and engineering, in a space that will take her passions to the next level.

“I love the robotics program but our space is cramped, so I’m looking forward to more advanced opportunities in a larger space—

and also explore my interest in computer design beyond robotics applications.”

Thanks to iCAST, our dynamic innovators might soon be stopping pedestrian traffic right here in Toronto!

Says Clara: "It’s critical that we offer girls every best advantage and every possible way to reach their potential."

Caroline and Chris Newalll, shown at the Noodle Expo on May 8, were inspired to donate to iCAST after seeing daughter Madee (back right) work through two Noodle cohorts.

When Caroline and Chris Newall attended the inaugural Noodle Expo last month they were impressed.

In fact, they were so inspired by the innovative start-ups on display, they made a generous gift to iCAST as a way to honour their daughter Madee’s passion for entrepreneurship and her work with Noodle, creating a women’s health app called ReachOut. 

“Our gift is a thank you to Branksome for helping Madee become remarkable,” say Caroline and Chris. “We’re so excited to help this transformational project that will level the playing field for boys' and girls’ education in STEAM and provide enriching learning environments for our girls with state-of-the-art facilities.”

Additionally, while iCAST aims to level the playing field for STEM-related careers, the Newalls are aware that philanthropic giving to boys’ versus girls’ schools likewise needs to be levelled. 

“We wanted to make sure that we donated the same amount, if not more, to Branksome Hall as we have to both Royal St. George‘s College and Upper Canada College, where our sons, James and Andrew, attended school,” say Caroline and Chris. 

With Madee joining Branksome as a student in Grade 1, the Newalls are past donors to both the Athletics & Wellness Centre and the rowing team, owing to her love of sport.

“The Noodle Expo and Madee and Selma’s ReachOut app business plan inspired us to finalize our iCAST gift.” 

Sasha VELIKOV Sandler’93 hosted a pre-Reunion reception on May 18.

As Junior School parents and alums celebrating their 30-year Reunion, Sasha VELIKOV Sandler’93 and Wendy FRANKS Stevenson’93 knew they wanted to come away from the celebration with more than memories. 

They know first-hand that the cost of a Branksome education only increases each year. And, so strongly did they believe in the value of Financial Assistance, they banded together to match all Class of ’93 gifts up to $7,500.

A festive pre-Reunion reception at Sasha’s house was attended by more than 20 classmates (plus guest appearances by beloved faculty members Karrie Weinstock, Diane Watson and Barbara Glennie!). 

“We were inspired to get our class together to make this Reunion especially memorable,” says Sasha. “There’s no more powerful message about the value of Financial Assistance than to hear firsthand from recent recipients [see video below] just how transformative the Branksome journey can be.”

Wendy agrees: “It’s one thing for us to get together 30 years later because the Branksome experience was such a formative and life-changing opportunity. But it’s so amazing to make Reunion count for more than reconnection. We’re creating a life-changing opportunity for talented students who couldn't otherwise attend, and there’s no words for the power of knowing our class has made that happen for someone.”

The Branksome Hall community gathered at the Winter Garden Theatre to celebrate the Class of 2023 at their Graduation on May 25.

“We are both incredibly proud of our grade’s support for this fund. It means a great deal to both of us as it is an opportunity for our grade to leave a lasting impact on both the lives of individual students as well as the overall Branksome community, long after we are gone. We hope that the Class of '23

Legacy Fund will continue to help students attend Branksome who wouldn't otherwise be able to, for a long time to come.”

–Lulu Dreger and Claire Parkhill: The Class of 2023 raised $60,010 to cement its legacy at the school.

The Class of '98 held a pre-Reunion reception at Mary-Helen Mahoney'98's (back; third from right) house, June 3.

“You don’t realize the incredible potential you’ve been given when you first set out after graduation. But the further you go on in life, you see how much Branksome Hall has grown, and created even more opportunity for its students, since we were there. Now, it’s really beyond any of our expectations of what a school could be. Our bursary supports students who can’t attend otherwise and we don’t want to forget about

its value as the years go on. We even hear from alums who are hopeful their daughters can benefit, so the support it provides can often come full circle.”

–Mary-Helen Mahoney’98, 25-year Reunion; The Class of ’98 Bursary Fund was initially established with a class gift of $43,712. It now sits at over $73,000 and has supported more than 20 students. 

PRINCIPAL'S FUND

Treading the Boards

The Principal’s Fund made it possible for students to perform dance, theatre and musical productions such as Seussical the Musical and Freddie and Alice on stage at the Meridian Arts Centre. Make your gift today.

PRINCIPAL'S FUND 

Biology Lab Upgrade

Let’s examine 21st century-learning under the microscope and provide our students with a more conducive learning environment to enhance our STEM programming.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

Gift of Opportunity

Talented, dynamic and looking for a new path forward? Right this way. Our Student Financial Assistance program unlocks opportunity. Make your gift today.