BEYOND: Your SJK Alumni Newsletter



Welcome to the Winter 2020 issue of BEYOND, the SJK Alumni newsletter. We invite your feedback and stories to be shared with us for the next issue. Please feel free to drop us a line at alumni@sjkschool.org and let us know what's going on in your world!

Mark Your Calendar

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  • Celebrating SJK’s Golden Jubilee

    Cheryl Boughton, Head of School
    It's hard to believe that SJK's 50th Anniversary—our Golden Jubilee—is on the horizon. St. John’s, a school for boys, was founded in Elora in 1972. Three years later, St. Margaret’s, a sister school for St. John’s, was established nearby. In 1985, the schools were amalgamated and in 1989, the school moved here to our present site. Since those early days, we have accomplished a lot, chief of which has been to have produced many outstanding graduates.

    As we have been preparing for these celebrations, I’ve had the opportunity to meet a number of our alumni to speak to them about helping us celebrate. I have been so amazed by the calibre of these people and the extent of their accomplishments. What I have enjoyed the most has been hearing about the impact SJK has had on their lives. As an educator, it is so fulfilling to hear about how this school has shaped them. I am excited to announce that Beverly-Ann Woods '90 has agreed to co-chair the planning committee.

    We have established an initial mission for the celebrations: To honour and celebrate the extraordinary past, present and future of St. John’s-Kilmarnock School.

    We have also established some proposed Anniversary Objectives. They are:
    • Strengthen the relationship of all constituencies to the School
    • Build pride in school history
    • Recognize faculty, staff and community member service
    • Fundraise for unique projects and broaden our donor base
    • Create even greater awareness of the School in the local community
    Our next step is to create a steering committee to guide our planning process. We are celebrating our milestone in 2022, so we need to start planning this spring!
    Read More

New Additions

List of 1 news stories.

  • Meet Amelia Canto, SJK's new Director of Advancement

    SJK is excited to welcome Ms. Amelia Canto to the community as she joined the School as the Director of Advancement on January 6, 2020. Ms. Canto brings varied funraising experience to this role, ranging from post-secondary institutions to healthcare sectors, to now focusing on the K-12 education landscape. 

    Born and raised in Cambridge (Galt), Ontario, Ms. Canto's career in advancement and alumni relations took her to Toronto and Edmonton, Alberta before returning to Ontario this winter.

    Ms. Canto’s goal is to ultimately enhance and grow the SJK community by building momentum toward the vision for the School. She enjoys collaborations and projects where she can connect with people in the community. 
    Read More

Life Events

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  • Winter 2020 | Life Events

    • Cayley Stanko (née Dupuis) '08: welcomed her second daughter, Veronica, on September 4, 2019
    • Madelaine Durl (née Griffin) '04: renewed vows on January 20, 2020
    • Arman Oroomchi '10: engaged on January 21, 2020
     
Newly married? Exciting new career? New baby? We want to hear about it! Email alumni@sjkschool.org so we can celebrate milestones with you!

Gatherings

List of 1 news stories.

  • Reverend Graham Singh '96

    An Inspiring Service: Founders' Day 2019

    The 47th annual Founders’ Day Service of St. John’s-Kilmarnock School took place on the afternoon of Friday, November 22, 2019 in the Chapel of St. Margaret and St. John. Attendees included retired faculty members, members of the Board of Governors and our current student body. In addition to lessons, readings and prayers from students, faculty and Canon Robert Hulse, we were fortunate to have Reverend Graham Singh ‘96 join us as our guest speaker for this special event. 
    Read More

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  • SJK Holiday Skate, Hockey Game and Pub Night

    In what has become an annual holiday tradition, SJK hosted alumni, faculty, friends and their families at our Holiday Skate, Alumni vs. Staff/Faculty Hockey game and Alumni Pub Night. It was a great day of reconnecting, spirited competition and toasting to the holiday season with friends and mentors. 

    This year's battle for the the 3rd annual SJK Alumni Challenge Cup took place on December 20, 2019 at the West End Recreation Centre in Guelph. This tradition has become a hallmark of the holiday season. With the alumni and faculty/staff both having previously hoisted the cup once, this year's version was an opportunity to take the series lead. In what was a spirited, hard-fought game, the team of alumni quickly jumped out to a 3-0 lead, shocking members of the faculty/staff team.
    Read More

List of 1 news stories.

  • SJK visits Western University

    While most Upper School students took January 24 as an opportunity to recover from their examination week, seven Grades 11 and 12 students travelled to London, ON with Head of Guidance Mr. Carswell and recently appointed Director of Advancement Ms. Amelia Canto for a Western University campus tour, meet and greet with administration officials and reunion lunch with a group of recent SJK alumni currently attending Western University.
     
    All seven students were unanimous in suggesting that their experience on campus provided them with an even more positive impression of Western.
     
    Our alumni were excited to reunite and share their positive Western experience with our students, Mr. Carswell and Ms. Canto. By all accounts, SJK prepared these undergraduates well for the rigour of university life. We plan to make this an annual excursion with alternating destinations. Next January's visit is being planned for the University of Toronto and Ryerson University.

Alumni Spotlights

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  • What SJK means to me

    Aimée Puthon '09
    To me, SJK has been a place of great learning, community and support.

    My name is Aimée Puthon ‘09. I was fortunate enough (thank you Mom and Dad!) to attend SJK from Grades 1 to 12, which means I’m considered a “Lifer”. I had the pleasure of meeting, working with and being supported by many engaged and caring people within the SJK community. 

    As an active member of the SJK Foundation, when I drive through the blue gates of SJK, I can’t help but notice how well-maintained and cared for the property is. Each time I drive towards the main doors, I see how the campus continues to evolve with the addition of the Boathouse and Newton House (including Founders’ Hall, a community dining hall, and the Learning Commons, a modern and bright library and collaborative space). However, the real experience is not the infrastructure, it is the people. 
    Read More

List of 1 news stories.

  • Full Circle: Dave Shellnutt '01

    Last year, we shared a story in this newsletter about the recovery journey of Dave Shellnutt '01. It has been just over a year since Dave was discharged from the hospital following his assault on New Year's Eve 2018 in Toronto. We took a few moments to catch up with Dave to learn about how he is today. 

    When asked how he's been this past year, Dave simply stated, "This has been the best year of my life," citing the perspective that he gained after recovering from his attack as a critical part of making the past year so positive. He wound down 2019 by opening his own legal practice, The Biking Lawyer, which is based in the Parkdale neighbourhood of Toronto, where Dave resides. "I was trained by the Parkdale Community Legal Clinic and I strongly believe in practicing in and supporting the community you live in. It's important to me that legal services are accessible to all."

    Dave's practice is specialized with a focus on human rights, disability, anti-racist, personal injury and employment law. He emphasizes that while his practice is specialized, he is always happy to connect people in search of legal advice with other parties that may be more in line with their needs. "It's about offering legal services that are accepting and supportive so people can get the guidance that they need." 

    When asked about a key message that he'd like to share with the SJK alumni community, given his social justice ethos, he was quick to reply: "We have been given the privilege of attending a school like SJK. As we stand at a point in history where society feels divisive, I encourage everyone to use their privilege and life training for good."

Stay In Touch

Be sure to keep up to date with the SJK Alumni Association and complete the Reconnect with SJK form!

A Note from SJK Enrolment

Word-of-mouth is the most powerful marketing tool at our disposal – consumers today have a wealth of options when seeking a trustworthy review. When investing in something as important as your child’s education, a thumbs up from a trusted friend or family member goes a long way.

Alumni, along with current families, are SJK's most influential ambassadors. As a former SJK student, you can offer a family ‘the inside scoop’ - something that they can't get from an Admissions staff member, a magazine ad or a Facebook post. Today's savvy consumers understand that a personal testimonial is the very best source of information.

SJK alumni have a powerful influence over who is sitting in the SJK classrooms in September. By connecting SJK to your friends, neighbors and family members, you are connecting us with mission-appropriate students who are going to make a positive contribution to the SJK community, and who will benefit greatly from the rich academic and co-curricular program.

Whether you are introducing a new family to SJK or answering questions from a family that is researching their options, we appreciate all that you do to support our recruitment efforts. As always, alumni are key members of the SJK student recruitment team!

Britt Leeking, Director of Enrolment
 


Past Issues

Did you miss a story in the last newsletter? Want to re-read a story? Click through the BEYOND Archives below.

Summer 2019 Beyond Archive

Spring 2019 Beyond Archive

St. John's-Kilmarnock School

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