Meaningful discussions, collaboration and fresh thinking
I hope all families were able to enjoy a restful and peaceful winter break. It is still just about early enough in the year to wish everyone all the best for 2018. It was great to welcome students back to School and I hope your children feel as excited about the term ahead as I am. I want them to embrace their aspirations and make the most of their talents and abilities.
Faculty launched the new term with a day of professional development at EdCamp 2018 where time and space were allocated for meaningful discussions, collaboration and fresh thinking. SJR’s success is rooted in its enthusiastic and expert faculty and staff, and this was an opportunity for teachers from all three divisions to share ideas and initiatives and to learn from the tremendous expertise that exists within the School.
Faculty launched the new term with a day of professional development at EdCamp 2018 where time and space were allocated for meaningful discussions, collaboration and fresh thinking. SJR’s success is rooted in its enthusiastic and expert faculty and staff, and this was an opportunity for teachers from all three divisions to share ideas and initiatives and to learn from the tremendous expertise that exists within the School.
We equip learners with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed and our public speaking program is crucially important to SJR’s mission to inspire academic excellence, creative expression and social responsibility. Our students are part of a school with a world-class debating program and an unmatched public speaking record.
One of the most important events in the debating calendar is the annual National Public Speaking Championships, which SJR will host for the 35th time in early February. It involves the top high school debaters and public speakers from across the country. The top speakers at the Nationals, along with the top Canadian speakers at the Internationals, will represent Canada at the World Individual Debating and Public Speaking Championships. The success of this event depends on us attracting a diverse range of volunteer judges from the SJR community, and we need your support. Please come and judge. Morning and afternoon slots are available on Saturday, February 10 or Sunday, February 11, I promise you will be inspired! You can register here.
Student guides of all ages will put their public speaking skills to excellent use at our upcoming Open House on Saturday, January 27. When addressing prospective SJR families at this annual event, I try to capture the essence of St. John’s-Ravenscourt School. I talk about what a busy and interesting place it is. Our student guides then share their unique perspectives on life here while taking our visitors on tours of the School. Through their honesty, eloquence and thoughtfulness, they reveal wonderful school spirit and for this, I am hugely grateful to them as well as to the teachers and staff who contribute to this event.
Jim Keefe
Head of School
View the Head of School's Blog
Jim Keefe
Head of School
View the Head of School's Blog
SJR is proud to be accredited and affiliated with several local, national and international educational organizations.
St. John’s-Ravenscourt School was founded in 1820 principally to serve the children of the Selkirk settlers. By 1834 there were forty students, evenly split between boys and girls. SJR has inevitably grown and changed over the years since, though its success throughout has been unimpeachable. Today the programs are as strong as our reputation. A strong academic program is paired with an equally strong attention to the values of stewardship, ethical leadership, and excellence in all areas of academic, social and athletic life.