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Branksome Hall News
Featured News
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Rugby Returns to Branksome Hall
Read MoreAfter more than a decade off the pitch, Branksome Hall is bringing back rugby—and this time, it’s the fast-paced, electrifying version of the sport: rugby sevens. -
Celebrating Traditions and Diversity at Branksome’s Inaugural Culture Day
Read MoreOn April 4, 2025, the Senior & Middle School community came together for Branksome Hall’s first-ever Culture Day—a vibrant, around-the-world celebration of culture, food, tradition and storytelling. Students and employees set up booths representing various countries and cultures, offering the community a chance to explore and learn in a dynamic and engaging way. -
Back-to-Back Greatness: Branksome’s Helen Ziomecki Crowned World Champion at 38th Worlds
On Saturday, April 5, 2025, Branksome Hall’s very own Grade 12 student Helen Ziomecki was crowned overall winner of the 2025 World Individual Debating and Public Speaking Championships (WIDPSC), held this year in Kuala Lumpur. It was a moment of déjà vu in the best way as Helen’s win comes only one year after Branksome’s Anna GAGE’24 brought home the trophy at the 2024 WIDPSC competition in Australia. This back-to-back win is not only a testament to the dedication and calibre of Branksome’s debate students and coaches, but it is also an historic achievement for the school. Only three other schools in the history of the competition have had consecutive Worlds champions—and all of them have been Canadian—which is truly a testament to the deep commitment to and belief in the value of debate and public speaking in this country’s schools.Read More -
PrincipalED Podcast Episode 3: Owen Williams on Life, Learning and the Power of Story
Read MoreEpisode three of Branksome’s podcast series with Principal Grace McCallum, PrincipalED, landed today! In this latest episode, Principal McCallum is joined by Branksome’s very own Owen Williams, English Instructional Leader and teacher and debate coach, for a moving conversation on storytelling, identity and connection. -
Supporting Branksome Athletes in the Elite Athletes Program
Read MoreBranksome is full of talented individuals, many of whom are athletes. Branksome’s courts, pools and field are open to all students wishing to represent the Highlanders in their favourite sports. Among these students are those who are highly skilled at their sport—who train tirelessly to perfect their craft. These are Branksome’s elite athletes, who are poised to become Athletics legends, both on and off campus! -
Karrie Weinstock Honoured with Giraffe Award at the Get Ahead Project School
Read MoreFor more than two decades, Branksome Hall has had a longstanding relationship with the Get Ahead Project (GAP) School in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. This partnership was initiated by philanthropist Peter Oliver and through his vision, together with Karrie Weinstock’s educational expertise, Branksome Hall's strong connection with the GAP School evolved to include annual Branksome Hall school visits to GAP, faculty mentorship and educational projects. On March 12, Karrie Weinstock, Branksome’s Head, Centre for Strategic Leadership, attended a special Assembly at the GAP School in South Africa where she was honoured with the Giraffe Award, recognition for an individual whose kindness, generosity and support has made a meaningful impact on the GAP community. -
WAC 2025: Empowering Youth for a Brighter Future
Read MoreOn March 5, 2025, students, teachers and staff from secondary schools across the Greater Toronto Area gathered for the 42nd annual World Affairs Conference (WAC), organized by Branksome Hall and Upper Canada College. This year’s theme, WAC to the Future, encouraged participants to think critically about the path ahead and sparked conversations about how to work together to shape a better future. -
PrincipalED Podcast Drops Second Episode: Hockey Day with the Branksome Highlanders
The PrincipalED podcast has officially dropped its second episode, “Hockey Day with the Branksome Highlanders,” featuring a candid conversation with Branksome Hall’s very own hockey stars.Read More -
Branksome Hall Hosts Inaugural Leadership Launchpad Conference
Read MoreOn February 21, 2025, 200 energetic and eager Grade 5 students from around the city gathered at Branksome Hall’s Athletics and Wellness Centre for the inaugural Leadership Launchpad Conference. The conference brought the students together for a day of inspirational guest panels, whole- and small-group workshops and engaging activities focused on building leadership and problem-solving skills to prepare them to be role models in Grade 6. -
Perennial Blooms: Celebrating 30 Years of Literature and Arts at Branksome Hall
Behind the glossy and now digital pages of Branksome Hall’s literary and arts magazine, Perennial, lies a dedicated team of student leaders, each playing a vital role in showcasing the school's creative talent. This year, Senior Communications Editor Emma, Senior Arts Editor Sylvia and Senior Writing Editor Naomi, along with their three junior editors, are offering a glimpse into the inner workings of this beloved publication, which is celebrating its 30th year!Read More -
Branksome Launches New PrincipalED Podcast
A new Branksome Hall podcast, PrincipalED: Conversations with Grace McCallum, launched today—an exciting first for the school and its host, Branksome’s Principal Grace McCallum. Released just seven months into McCallum’s first year, the podcast spotlights the future of girls’ education and the people who are invested in advancing it, taking listeners inside the halls of the school for candid conversations with educators, students, friends of Branksome and experts in their fields.Read More -
Celebrating the Year of the Wood Snake
Branksome’s halls were filled with good luck and fortune on January 29, 2025 when the school hosted its Lunar New Year celebrations in the Athletics and Wellness Centre. It was a day to remember, with crafts and activities for families, mesmerizing performances by students and a delicious dinner of traditional foods to ring in the year of the Wood Snake.Read More -
Vital Conversations on Teen Well-Being with Dr. Lisa Damour
Read MoreOn Wednesday, January 22, Branksome Hall hosted renowned psychologist and author Dr. Lisa Damour for a day full of insightful conversations on the complexities of adolescent mental health and well-being. Dr. Damour, known for her work in guiding parents and teens through the challenges of growing up, spent the day at Branksome, speaking with Grades 6 to 12 students, with faculty and staff in the afternoon, and concluding her visit with a talk and Q&A for parents. -
Dwayne Matthews Inspires Branksome Employees with Keynote on the Future of Tech-Augmented Education
Read MoreOn Monday, January 6, 2025, renowned education strategist and innovation evangelist Dwayne Matthews joined Branksome Hall to give the keynote address at the school’s first all-employee meeting of the new year. The personal, historical and industry-specific storytelling employed in his remarks painted a picture of the opportunity afforded to girls and to Branksome within today’s technological revolution: namely, that education can be human-led, purpose-driven and tech-augmented. -
Flavour and Friendship: Branksome Hall Boarding Dinners
Read MoreBranksome Hall’s campus is diverse, with employees and students from all backgrounds working and going to school. This spirit of diversity shines especially brightly in Branksome’s Boarding program, where students from across the globe come together to live, learn and grow. In celebration of this, the Boarding community hosts special cultural dinners throughout the year, inviting students, parents and employees to mark significant occasions. But these gatherings aren’t just about food—they’re about building connections, sharing traditions and creating memories. -
Introducing Roots x Branksome Hall
Branksome Hall has partnered with Roots Canada to offer an exclusive collection of co-branded apparel, now available at The Shop. The collection merges Branksome Hall’s spirit and tradition with Roots’ iconic Canadian style, allowing the Branksome community to showcase their school pride with a uniquely Canadian touch.Read More -
Branksome Goes to Bay Street: Spotlighting Innovation and Education
Branksome Hall’s third annual Branksome on Bay event, held on November 19, 2024, welcomed a record crowd, bringing together professionals, alums and students to explore emerging trends in technology, entrepreneurship and the future of education.Read More -
Branksome Lifesaving Club Hosts Seasonal TeleGames
Branksome Hall Lifesaving Club (BHLC) held its in-house TeleGames on Sunday, November 17, offering a fun, low-pressure swim meet for participants to showcase their lifesaving skills and introduce them to friendly competition.Read More -
Making Their Mark. Maximizing Their Impact.
“We have such a long history with Branksome Hall. My [Ian’s] mother, Jane MORGAN Brooker’37, went to Branksome and so did Gail’s sister, Sue WILLIAMS Beverley’61. So when our daughter, Kimberly [Branksome’s Executive Director of Enrolment Management], told us about the Stepping Stones as a way to commemorate our legacy with the school, we knew it was a perfect way to honour all the generations who benefited from this exceptional institution while supporting the future of girls’ education.Read More -
Families Dive into Discovery at Junior School Math Night
Branksome Hall’s Junior School families came together for a joyous and engaging evening at Family Math Night, held on November 6, 2024. The event featured eight interactive rooms, each dedicated to different mathematical strands, skills and concepts. Parents and students participated in a range of fun, challenging and hands-on activities designed to highlight the importance of mathematics in everyday life.Read More
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2025
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Catching up with the Ettehadieh Sisters
Read MoreThis year is the Class of 2020's first Reunion, so we're catching up with what they've been up to leading up to the event in May. Next up are twin sisters Arianne ETTEHADIEH'20 and Sara ETTEHADIEH'20. -
Meet Our Class of 2020 Reunion Representatives
Read More2025 marks the Class of 2020’s first Reunion, and we wanted to catch up with where they’ve been and what they’re looking forward to about returning to campus this spring.To start us off, we’d like to introduce you to our amazing Reunion Representatives for this graduation year who are helping to gather their classmates: Elaine LEE'20, Laeticia NIU'20 and Siena IANNI-PALARCHIO'20. -
Three Roads, One Branksome Bond
Read MoreMeet the AvRuskin Sisters — Hayley (Class of '87), Vanessa (Class of '90) and Gillian (Class of '92). This amazing family of alums shared some incredible experiences at the school before heading off on their own unique and winding paths. We recently connected with them to hear more about their journeys! -
Shaking the Stigma of Epilepsy
Read MoreThanks to brain surgery, Cassandra POTICHNYJ’07 is two years free of epileptic seizures. But she recalls every detail. How they start: the sudden aura, the pleasant tingling, the exhilaration. Then how, as she describes in her new children’s book, My Shaky World:“Like an electrical zap, my brain lights up so bright,I shake and fall and my muscles get very tight.”
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2025
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.
