The School also offers shorter-term global experiences, including group trips and conferences organized by Round Square, an international network of schools. Grade 11 student Sarah Keddie attended a conference in Kenya. The trip was an opportunity to learn more about the world and herself. “I’ve never really thought about myself as a very outgoing person, but I found that I was able to make friends and have fun.”

Through the Forum For Change—affectionately dubbed the global heartbeat of the school—Havergal aims to help students develop a deeper understanding of diverse cultures and perspectives. During their preparation leading up to and following their global experiences, the goal is for students to be open, observant, and curious, as opposed to going on these trips as tourists. Next year, 11 global and experiential learning trips will be offered, including a return to Bhutan, plus San Francisco, Colombia, Thailand, and China.

The Global Learning and Leading diploma takes these experiences a step further, offering a unique educational journey for students who are passionate about social justice. A key component is mentorship. Each student is assigned a teacher-mentor who works closely with them, providing feedback and support throughout the program. Students also participate in a number of learning modules throughout their time in the program, covering topics such as design thinking, inclusivity and belonging, and perspective taking. Experiential learning is central, and may include exchanges, trips, and community partnerships.

Finally, each student completes a major research project which they defend before a panel of educators and experts. One student’s project was a reflection on how her understanding of beauty had changed as she learned about perspective taking, popular culture, and systems that reinforce stereotypical ideas of female beauty. Another looked at how the city of Singapore deals with its waste compared with Toronto’s practices. A third studied the impact of COVID on eating disorders.

When the program is complete, students have something that helps distinguish them in the college application process and on resumes. But the real benefit runs much deeper. “Experiencing diverse cultures and traditions is incredibly enriching,” says Cohen. “As future leaders, we want to be able to foster positive change, so we have to understand global challenges and work together to collectively address them.”