Honouring Legacies and Community at Founder's Day 2024

On November 28, Selwyn House School celebrated its 116th anniversary with Founder’s Day. The day was marked by engaging student assemblies and an evening reception for the whole community to celebrate the school's 116th anniversary and this year's Speirs Medalist, Mrs. Kathy Funamoto.

 

Mrs. Funamoto dedicated 44 years of service to Selwyn House School, notably as Head of the Elementary School and as an Old Boy parent. The Elementary School assembly centered on the theme of "I am a Founder," at which Mr. Kennedy, Elementary School Performing Arts teacher, acted as the oldest Old Boy to remind students that they have the capacity to be founders too as Ms. Funamoto established the philosophy of "bucket filling" at Selwyn House School.

 

Inspired by Carol McCloud's book "Have You Filled a Bucket Today?," this philosophy uses the analogy that everyone carries with them an invisible bucket filled with their feelings and emotions. A full bucket represents contentment, reminding us of the importance of kindness and empathy in building a positive and supportive community. Ms. Funamoto engaged students with a reading of the book and stated that: "The message of this book is simple; we start with kind behaviours, and with daily practice we grow into kind people, not just in school. but in the greater world as well. And that is the Veritas Legacy. Be kind, Be true to yourself, to others, to the school and to the world!"

 

Grade 7 student Ryan Pitfield then took the stage to highlight his grandmother's legacy of volunteerism at Selwyn House. He spoke to the importance of individuals like his grandmother and how they infuse the school with an essential sense of community. Ryan's words led into the introduction of the 2024 Nancy Pitfield Volunteer Award recipient, Ms. Krystal DuBose. Ms. DuBose, who as a member of the Parent Volunteer Association (PVA) is responsible for Decorating and School Beautification. She was recognized for her passionate efforts in transforming the school into exceptional immersive spaces during recent Halloweens. Thank you to PVA Co-chairs Anne Garschagen and Laura Osborne for introducing Ms. Dubose at the evening event.

Link to Elementary School assembly photos.
Link to Elementary School assembly video. 

 

The joint Middle and Senior School assembly touched on many of the same messages as the Elementary assembly, but it included a video of various Middle School students describing how their buckets are filled and how they fill others' at Selwyn. Additionally, Marc-Antoine B., a Grade 12 student, also spoke from the heart when he introduced Ms. Funamoto by reminiscing on his memories of when she was his Head of Elementary, exclaiming: "Ms. Funamoto has been at the heart of my and hundreds of other kids' Elementary School lives. From the early days of assembly book reading to when it was time to leave, she was always a pillar to lean on and to aspire us. She has imparted invaluable lessons that will last a lifetime and was an irreplaceable member of the Selwyn community."

 

Ms. Funamoto ended the assembly by highlighting the legacy left by Mr. Lucas, ending with the words that echo true: "I toss the bucket-filling back to you, as the business of being kind is never-ending because the Selwyn legacy will outlast all of us, but it will continue because of us."

In the evening, more than 215 guests came together in Coristine Hall to honour this year's award recipients. Headmaster Michael Downey opened the celebration with a heartfelt speech, recognizing the other Speirs Medalists in attendance, setting a reverential the tone for the evening.

 

Brad White '94, Vice-President of the Old Boys' Association, took over as MC to recognize former staff members: Colin Boyle, Mary Ann Cloherty, and Irina Kondratieva, and he presented each with an Honorary Old Boy pin.

 

Additionally, portraits taken by Thomas Konigsthal '74 were unveiled of the three Selwyn staff members who were honoured for their 25+ years of service were unveilled: Debbie Dragone (34 years), Claudine Martel (34 years) and April Wong (27 years). These portraits will be displayed next to the other greats of Selwyn House on the 25 Years of Service wall near the Lucas building entrance.

 

After the images were unveiled, Mr. Downey handed over the stage to two familiar faces: Ms. Carol Manning, Former Head of Middle School, and Minna Shulman, Former Dean of Students, both past Speirs Medalists. They simultaneously introduced this year’s Speirs medalist by sharing their touching memories of their dear former colleague turned friend. Ms. Funamoto then spoke to the packed room about her "Five Bucket Lessons Learned." These lessons either humorously or more seriously expressed the strength of the Selwyn House community and moments of profound interpersonal connection.

 

The evening unfolded with a delightful cocktail dînatoire and vibrant conversations, as guests mingled and celebrated the outstanding achievements of these remarkable individuals. It was a memorable night that captured the spirit of our close-knit community rooted in the legacy of Veritas.

Link to Evening Reception photos. 
Link to Evening Reception video.