Empowered Women, Empower Women
As a school, Holy Name of Mary College School believes in empowering young women to be leaders that are prepared to face future challenges. At the heart of student leadership, is the want to create positive change, to compassionately give to those we encounter. Student leaders can be powerful advocates for diversity, inclusion, mental health awareness, sustainability, and other pressing issues.
Since 2008, when we were re-established as an independent school, HNMCS has been working with young women to confidently build their own capacity to lead in a variety of settings. Whether it is through our co-curricular programme, as a leader on an outdoor education excursion, as a member of our formal Student Government or out in the community through service leadership, Holy Name of Mary College School is known for empowering young women and helping them understand and utilize their influence for the betterment of their local and global communities.
One of leading advocates of empowering women at HNMCS is Kathryn Anderson who, in her role as Director of Student Life, has worked with our students over the years to motivate them to be more engaged members of our community, and has gone above and beyond to support them in reaching their full potential. She has also, for over 10 years now, been working with the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, a programme that believes that the experiences and influences that a young person has directly impacts their long-term future, aspirations and hopes. As an adult mentor of the programme, she was recently nominated for, and selected to receive, the King Charles III’s Coronation Medal.
In an April 11 ceremony, she was presented the medal by the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, The Honourable Edith Dumont. This prestigious award recognizes individuals who have made a significant contribution to a particular community in Canada; in Ms. Anderson’s instance, her commitment to service and support of young people, and developing leadership through the Duke of Edinburgh programme.
To date HNMCS has had dozens of gold award recipients pass through its doors and this year alone has had 31 students in our Senior School receive either their bronze, silver or gold award. In 2013, Ms. Anderson developed the Junior Leadership Programme for Grade 7 and 8 students at HNMCS, which works to develop the whole girl. This programme, which calls on students to complete artistic, athletic and service projects within the HNMCS school community, mirrors the Duke of Edinburgh's Award programme and helps students build capacity so that they are ready to lead both inside and outside the school when they are in Senior School.
In a recent International Coalition of Girls Schools (ICGS) podcast, Jennifer Wallace talks more about the ways to keep young girls engaged and feeling valued. The concept of knowing that you matter, and that achievements that are outside of the academic realm, like the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, can help students see, what Wallace calls “their own magic”. To hear more on this, be sure to listen to this podcast, there are great tips for parents and guardians to help support girls!
