Q & A with Class of 2022 Head Girl, Sophie

Q: You started at YHS in Junior Kindergarten. What do you recall about your first day in the Little School?
A: In all honesty… not a lot! I remember little snippets of singing songs in French Class and going out for recess, but overall I remember having so much fun despite being a little overwhelmed. 

A: Describe your experience this year as Head Girl?
A: This year has been incredible. I have been able to connect with the school community in new ways and bring out initiatives best suited to their needs. I have had the opportunity to interact with more of the community than I have in the past and have so enjoyed learning more about our school. 

Q: How do you think that living through a global pandemic has influenced who you are? Has it changed how you think about the world or what you want to do in the world?
A: As it has been for everyone, the pandemic has been challenging but has also taught me how to connect with people in alternate ways. I have always been interested in neuroscience and mental health awareness, and the pandemic has shown us just how big of a role our communities play in our mental wellness. Following the pandemic, I am even more interested in these fields and hope to pursue them in the future.  

Q: What has been your most memorable experience at York House?
A: I have been a member of the Track & Field and Cross-Country teams ever since Grade 3, and each year, the progress I make, and the connections I build remind me why I love these sports and their communities so much. This year, I have also been coaching the junior team, which has given me the opportunity to get to know some of the younger grades at YHS and connect with the athletics community in a new way. 

Q: What are you most passionate about?
A: This is a hard question!!! I would say being curious… curiosity allows us to learn about ourselves and the world around us and how we can best help others, all of which are so important to me. 

Q: What are your plans after graduation in June?
A: I’m heading to UBC to study in their Science One program, which is an enriched and competitive science stream focused on seminar-based learning. 

Q: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
A: Hopefully, in a career I love and find fulfilling, and maybe attending graduate school!

Grad Transitions Day

On Thursday, June 2, the Class of 2022 participated in our 2nd annual Grad Transitions Day, a new tradition at York House School. 

In January, the Grad Transitions Team sent out a survey to the Grade 12s to gather and capture any thoughts, questions, or wonderings they had about transitioning into life after high school beyond York House. In response to this survey, the Grad Transitions Team designed an entire day of workshops and fun activities to help the Grade 12s on their journey as they embark on a new chapter in their lives, and of course, to help prepare them for what comes next. And did we ever have an amazing event!

Our day began with early morning yoga, a grab ‘n go breakfast, and our own onsite barista (thank you to parent Peter Lee of Caffe Umbria) making gourmet coffees for the grads as they headed into their first workshop session, Navigating your 1st Year at University: A Professor’s Guide with guest speaker, Dr. Bruno Guindon. The day continued with a variety of workshops including: meal-planning and meal preparation for university, a YHS Alumnae panel of recent grads who shared their experiences at post-secondary, an introduction to YHS Connect – our new alumnae and networking platform – and our YHS Mentorship program, a joint project between the Career-Life Connections Program and the Alumnae Office. Students also participated in an ‘Adulting Obstacle’ course where they engaged in a variety of tasks while learning essential life skills in the form of a friendly, team-based competition. 

We enjoyed a delicious lunch together catered by Tractor Foods, had furry visitors on site from Pet & Friends, and we gave out loads of goodies and swag throughout the day as a part of their post-secondary transitions toolkit for their respective journeys. We concluded the day with a social event, the traditional signing of the YHS golf shirts, and an ice cream cart graciously contributed by the Class Parents. The day was a huge success and we hope that our Yorkies are feeling even more prepared and confident as they head out into the world, and that we provided them with a celebratory gathering that they will remember for years to come!

Jaclyn Murray
Career-Life Connections & Capstone Coordinator

Grad Transitions Team:
Jaclyn Murray, Kim Tulloch, Maebh Carragher, Darcy Hausselman, Ita Kane-Wilson, Daphne Ho