Day: 5 November 2025
A Season of Growth and Gratitude
Bayview Glen News, Newsletters and Publications, The Glen
Written by James Lee,
Head of School
It feels like just yesterday we were welcoming new and returning students and staff to Bayview Glen, and already the halls and fields are filled with the rhythm of another busy and exciting school year.
From spirited sports games and cross-country meets to play rehearsals, picture days, grade breakfasts, celebrations, and important days of recognition and reflection, there’s an unmistakable energy in the air. I want to thank all of you — our students, staff, faculty, and families — for the time, enthusiasm, and heart you bring to Bayview Glen every day. You are the fabric of this community, and I couldn’t be prouder of the way you lift one another up and make this such a special place to learn and grow.
Our enrolment is strong this year at 1,150 students, and with that growth comes exciting progress. Over the summer and into the fall, tremendous strides have been made on our New Build. The defining features of the gymnasium and indoor aquatics centre are now taking shape, with exterior work continuing through December. As we move into 2026, we’ll see the finishing touches — painting, flooring, and pool tiling — bringing this extraordinary project to life.
This project is about more than a new building. It represents expanded opportunities for our students in athletics, wellness, health, and community connection. It’s a tangible expression of our mission: Whole Child. Purposeful Life. Better World. and reflects our ongoing commitment to creating spaces where every student can thrive physically, emotionally, and intellectually.
Equally important to our growth as a school is our continued focus on wellbeing. In October, our staff and faculty participated in professional development centred on mental health first aid, aligning with our third strategic pillar: Nurturing Belonging and Wellbeing. This shared learning reminds us that our strength as a community lies not only in what we achieve but also in how we care for one another.
As we approach the mid-term break, I hope that everyone finds a chance to rest, recharge, and spend time with family and friends. Thank you once again for your partnership, your passion, and your belief in what we are building together.
Wishing you all a restorative and joy-filled break.
Respectfully,
James Lee
Head of School
A Space for Belonging and Wellbeing: Shaping our Inclusive Community
Bayview Glen News, Lower School, Newsletters and Publications, Prep School, The Glen, Upper School
Written by Ryan Rodrigues,
Executive Director, Advancement and External Relations
Bayview Glen recently hosted a consultative session to explore the creation of a dedicated space for belonging and wellbeing. This initiative reflects our commitment to nurturing inclusive environments where students feel seen, heard, and supported.
The session invited families, students, alumni, and staff to share ideas for a space that encourages quiet reflection, spiritual pluralism, and shared wellbeing. Together, we imagined a place where empathy, curiosity, and respectful dialogue are part of everyday life.
This work is part of a broader effort to strengthen our culture of belonging. If you’d like to support this initiative or offer further feedback, we welcome your voice – and your generosity.
To learn more or contribute, please contact the Advancement & External Relations team at advancement@bayviewglen.ca.
Student Leadership in Upper School: Building Confidence and Community
Bayview Glen News, Newsletters and Publications, The Glen, Upper School
Courage in Action – The Outdoor Leadership Journey at Bayview Glen
By Charlotte M., Grade 12 Co-Head of Student Executive Council
Leading with Heart – Student Leadership at the Upper School
By Greg Winson, Faculty Advisor to the Student Executive Council
Courage in Action – The Outdoor Leadership Journey at Bayview Glen
Written by Charlotte M.,
Grade 12 Co-Head of Student Executive Council
I have been fortunate to be a part of the Bayview Glen community, where I have had a number of valuable experiences and opportunities to grow and develop. Some of the most memorable experiences have been our Upper School outdoor education trips.
Reflecting on my time at camp, I was challenged beyond my comfort zone. Whether it was canoeing, rock climbing, or building fires in the middle of winter, it instilled a sense of confidence not just in me, but in everyone around me.
Each outdoor success, even the small ones, proved that we could handle more than we thought possible. Every activity strengthened our teamwork and collaboration while also developing the leader in each of us, as we all found opportunities to lead in our own way.
Those moments of challenge and teamwork encouraged me to take on new responsibilities back at school, ultimately giving me the confidence to run for the position of House Head in Grade 11 and then Co-Head of Council in Grade 12.
Most importantly, these experiences deepened my sense of belonging within the Bayview Glen community. Working together toward common goals and supporting one another through challenges, reminds me that true belonging comes from shared effort, trust, and knowing that every voice matters.
Coming back to school after outdoor education, we felt like we were part of something bigger than ourselves; our grade had grown closer together through special moments that went far beyond the regular classroom.
Those lessons continue to shape my views, valuing collaboration over competition, empathy over judgement, and striving to help others feel that same sense of community and belonging that the outdoor education trips have given me.
Leading with Heart – Student Leadership at the Upper School
Written by Greg Winson,
Faculty Advisor to the Student Executive Council
The Student Executive Council (SEC) is the driving force behind school spirit and community at our school. Made up of passionate student leaders, the SEC works to bring fresh ideas to life — whether it’s planning exciting events, promoting collaboration, or creating opportunities for everyone to get involved. Through our weekly meetings, student representatives brainstorm, organize, and lead initiatives that make our school a more vibrant and connected place.
With the guidance and support of our dedicated faculty advisors, the SEC has successfully hosted a wide range of activities including movie nights, school dances, spirit weeks, house leagues, and coffee houses. Each event is designed to celebrate our school community, encourage participation, and give students a chance to make lasting memories.
As we continue to grow, the SEC remains committed to listening to student voices and building on our tradition of fun, inclusive, and creative events — making every year better than the last.
Prep Players Present: The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
Bayview Glen News, Events, Newsletters and Publications, Prep School, The Glen
Written by Victoria Addorisio,
Prep School Associate Teacher, Prep Players Director
Get ready for chills, laughter, and a touch of mystery with our upcoming Prep Players Production, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. This one-act version, adapted by Peter and Hans Bloedel, brings Washington Irving’s classic ghost story to life with creative twists. This reimagined version captures all the drama, suspense, and humour of the original tale, complete with clever rhymes, an eerie atmosphere, and of course, the haunting presence of the Headless Horseman.
Adding to the magic, three talented ensemble groups work together to bring the world of Sleepy Hollow to life. They embody the headless horseman, the swirling fog, and even the ghostly energy that lingers in the air. Their movement and rhythm help weave together this imaginative retelling.
Full of heart, humour, and a healthy dose of creepy spirit, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow promises to be an unforgettable experience. Join us in the J.T.M. Guest Theatre at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, February 5, 2026 for a night of ghostly fun and discover what really happens when the Headless Horseman rides again!
The Path Here – The Path Ahead: Commitment to Truth and Reconciliation
Bayview Glen News, Lower School, Newsletters and Publications, Prep School, Preschool, The Glen, Upper School
Written by Erika Gillespie, Greg Ryerson, and L-J van ‘t Hof,
Directors of Teaching and Learning
On September 30, Bayview Glen came together to observe the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. It was a meaningful opportunity for our school community to reflect on the history of what we now call Canada, honour Indigenous voices, and renew our ongoing commitment to reconciliation. This year also marked ten years since the release of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action, which continue to inform and guide our work.
We embraced the theme “The Path Here – The Path Ahead,” and continued our tradition of gathering as a whole school. Older students were paired with younger ones to share poetry from Richard Wagamese’s “Embers – One Ojibway’s Meditation.” These poems encouraged us all to listen deeply and think about our role in building understanding and respect. After sharing the poems, the, students shouted their personal commitments to reconciliation out to the universe, then tied biodegradable ribbons onto the Lower School fence. These ribbons served as a visual reminder of their promises. As they begin to fade and degrade, we will use that as a sign to revisit and recommit to our ongoing work.
Throughout the year, we continue to explore Indigenous history and perspectives in our classrooms. We want all of our students to feel empowered to ask questions, learn, and take action. As we reflect on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, we honour the path we’ve travelled and look ahead to the journey still to come – together, as a community committed to truth, respect, and reconciliation.
House Spirit in Action: Lower School Turkey Trot
Bayview Glen News, Lower School, Newsletters and Publications, The Glen
Written by Dennis G. and Kyriakos K.,
Grade 4 Students
Each year, the day before Thanksgiving long weekend, Bayview Glen hosts our traditional Turkey Trot. On October 9th, Lower School students anticipated the arrival of the Bayview Glen turkey and cheered loud and proud for their house teams. Students from JK to Grade 5 ran the Turkey Trot, of course, with different distances and routes. This year, there was a lot of excitement as parents of the Lower School participated in the parent race! The competition was fierce! We run the Turkey Trot every year for Terry Fox because he is a Canadian Hero. Terry Fox ran to spread awareness for cancer research, and to remember him. We had lots of fun cheering for our friends and our parents!
A Morning to Remember: Lower School Grade Breakfast Highlights
Bayview Glen News, Lower School, Newsletters and Publications, The Glen
Written by Simon M.,
Grade 5 Student
Every year, JK to Grade 5 students have a Grade Breakfast. The Grade Breakfast is one of my favourite events of the year. Starting in the fall, each grade will have a day when everybody in the grade goes over to the Daunt Dining Hall and has breakfast together. It is always very special to get to have a breakfast with your friends and family. A cool thing about the breakfast is that near the end, all the teachers introduce themselves and say a little something about themselves, and Mr. Lee, the Head of School, talks about some of the school’s updates. We also do our house cheers! The four houses at Bayview Glen are the Blue Lynx, the Green Falcons, the Red Bears, and the Purple Wolves. And, if you have a sibling, they can go too! The Grade Breakfast is always one of the highlights of the year and is a great chance to meet teachers and families.
Lower School Signature Programmes: Learning Beyond the Classroom
Bayview Glen News, Lower School, Newsletters and Publications, The Glen
Adventure and Teamwork: Grade 3’s First Day with Outward Bound
By Amelia H., Grade 3 Student
Junior Kindergarten’s Week Without Walls: Learning Beyond the Classroom
By Melissa Tosevski, JK2 Teacher
Adventure and Teamwork: Grade 3’s First Day with Outward Bound
Written by Amilia H.,
Grade 3 Student
Our Outward Bound day was very fun, and we learned and did a lot of things. We played some games, such as the Blanket Toss. During the Blanket Toss, we rolled, caught, and tossed a tennis ball using a blanket with everyone holding an edge. We also learned some skills that perhaps we might need later on in life, such as making bread called Bannock, which came from the Scottish settlers. Most of the activities we did that day focused mainly on collaboration. Many of the activities we did also focused on learning about the First Nations and the Scottish settlers.
I am sure that everyone had a wonderful time and is looking forward to our next Outward Bound adventure with anticipation. Our leaders, Jianna and Ryan, were fantastic! Thank you Outward Bound!
Junior Kindergarten’s Week Without Walls: Learning Beyond the Classroom
Written by Melissa Tosevski,
JK2 Teacher
Our Junior Kindergarten Signature Programme, A Week Without Walls, was a beautiful reminder of how powerful learning becomes when children step outside the classroom and into the natural world. With the weather on our side, each morning offered new opportunities for our young learners to explore, create, and collaborate in meaningful ways.
Throughout the week, students were immersed in experiences that encouraged curiosity, teamwork, creativity, and perseverance. Whether mixing and moulding imaginative creations in the sandpit, working together during parachute games, or building cozy chipmunk homes during our trip to Evergreen Brickworks, the children demonstrated joyful engagement and a growing sense of independence. They problem-solved, shared ideas, and supported one another, skills that extend far beyond the walls of the classroom.
There were many moments of wonder and delight. As one student, Nila, shared, “My favourite was balancing on the log because gymnastics is my favourite!” Liam was all smiles as he said, “My favourite was parachute because I like to go under.” For Amelia, the highlight was discovering and creating in nature: “I love finding the eggs and building the house for the chipmunk.” And Teodor’s enthusiasm shone through when he explained, “I like to build shakers because I want to shake and build.” Their words capture the heart of what this week represents — authentic learning inspired by curiosity and connection.
This experience beautifully reflects Bayview Glen’s mission of nurturing the Whole Child, inspiring a Purposeful Life, and contributing to a Better World. Each day, our students were given space to take risks, explore their surroundings, and learn through hands-on experiences that foster both confidence and compassion.
A Week Without Walls was a true community effort, made possible through the collaboration of our incredible team of educators, administrators, maintenance staff, kitchen staff, and dedicated parent volunteers. Together, we created an environment where our youngest learners could thrive, explore, and celebrate the joy of discovery.
As the week came to a close, we were reminded that learning is not confined by walls, it grows in every shared laugh, every muddy handprint, and every moment of wonder found in the great outdoors.
The Cost of Overprogramming: Why Sleep Matters
Bayview Glen News, Lower School, Newsletters and Publications, Prep School, The Glen, Upper School
Written by Antoinette Morgan, MA, MSW, BSW, RSW,
Director of Student Wellbeing
Between school, sports, lessons, and social activities, many students today move from one commitment to the next with barely a moment to pause. While these experiences can be enriching and help them build skills and confidence, busy schedules often come at the cost of one essential need — sleep. Over time, that lack of rest can lead to burnout, stress, and a decline in both mental and physical health.
Research shows that many children and teens aren’t getting the sleep their developing bodies and brains need. Experts recommend 8–10 hours per night, yet most teens average less than seven. In a recent random sampling of Grades 6–12 students that I conducted as Director of Student Wellbeing, many reported getting fewer than six hours of sleep on a regular basis. Older teens tended to sleep even less during exams or project weeks, and surprisingly, many tweens also reported poor sleep habits.
The effects of chronic sleep loss reach far beyond tired mornings. Insufficient rest impacts memory, focus, and mood, and over time can create barriers to learning and social connection — both in and out of school.
Many students feel pressure to keep their grades high while also excelling in multiple extracurricular activities. Early morning practices, late-night games, and specialized training sessions fill their calendars. While these opportunities can be valuable, this constant pace is taking a toll. Overprogramming has become a widespread issue, often driven by academic and social pressures that don’t always align with what children and adolescents developmentally need.
Overscheduling disrupts the body’s natural sleep-wake rhythm, known as the circadian cycle. When students don’t get enough restorative sleep, their physical and mental health suffer. Research links sleep deprivation to increased anxiety and depression. Long, stressful days raise cortisol (the stress hormone), making it harder to relax and fall asleep. When that happens, many turn to their phones to unwind — but screen time before bed makes things worse. The blue light from devices suppresses melatonin, the hormone that helps the body prepare for sleep, creating a frustrating cycle of wakefulness and fatigue.
Tips for Healthy Sleep
According to the City of Toronto’s Healthy Start to School:
- Children ages 5–13 need about 9–11 hours of sleep each night.
- Keep bedtime roughly the same during the week and on weekends.
- Limit screen time before bed and keep devices out of the bedroom.
- Encourage daily physical activity.
- Avoid caffeinated drinks (cola, chocolate, tea, coffee) in the evening.
If You Need Support
- Kids Help Phone 1-800-668-6868 – Mental Health Support for young people
- Lumenus Community Services – Mental health and developmental support
- Psychologytoday.ca – To find a therapist
To continue this important conversation and explore practical ways to bring more balance into students’ lives, please join the next Parent Book Club on November 27, 2025, from 5:00–6:00 p.m. We’ll be discussing Never Enough by Jennifer Breheny Wallace, award-winning journalist and New York Times bestselling author.
Robotics in Action: Celebrating Innovation and Competition
Bayview Glen News, Lower School, Newsletters and Publications, Prep School, The Glen, Upper School
Inaugural Innovation & Robotics Celebration Inspires and Honors Excellence
By Taylor Jennings, Senior Advancement Officer
Robots, Resilience, and a Fire Alarm: ALT-F4’s Wild Ride to Victory
By Alina D., Grade 10 Student
Sparking Innovation: Bayview Glen’s 2025–2026 FIRST LEGO League Season Kicks Off
By Benjamin McCord, FLL Supervisor
Inaugural Innovation & Robotics Celebration Inspires and Honors Excellence
Written by Taylor Jennings,
Senior Advancement Officer
On October 8, Bayview Glen held our first-ever Innovation & Robotics Celebration, an evening that brought together alumni, students, mentors and families, and showcased the creativity and accomplishments of our FIRST LEGO League and FIRST Robotics Competition teams. A special thank-you to student MCs Stefano E. (Grade 11), Grace K. (Grade 6), and Salima H. (Grade 6), whose enthusiasm and poise reflected the confidence and leadership that define robotics at Bayview Glen. The evening featured remarks from coaches Ben McCord, Eric Borromeo, Nosh Pestonji, and Noeen Kashif, as well as alumni speaker Savannah Dunbury ’20, who reflected on how robotics shaped her confidence and problem-solving skills beyond the lab.
A highlight of the evening was the presentation of the inaugural Gryphon Robotics Award to Volunteer Coach Eric Borromeo, recognizing his extraordinary mentorship and 17 years of service to FIRST LEGO League. A pivotal coach of the renowned Ctrl-Z team, Eric’s leadership has inspired hundreds of students to pursue innovation with humility, perseverance, and heart.
Robots, Resilience, and a Fire Alarm: ALT-F4’s Wild Ride to Victory
Written by Alina D.,
Grade 10 Student
For a two-day off-season competition in the middle of September, Robots@Mary Ward, was quite the tsunami of events. Before students at school wrote their first tests of the year, we were already testing our robot – and our wits.
We started off strong on the first day, winning our first four matches. However, things quickly took a turn when we faced Team DAVE, one of the highest-ranked teams in the world, securing two ranking-points.
Our next match was indescribable. We were on the same “alliance” as Team DAVE as well as Inverse Paradox, whom we nearly won Provincials with. However, during that match our arm broke. Our alliance still won, but looks like the pits were about to get interesting. Suddenly we heard the fire alarm blaring! At least now the pit crew and technicians had a chance to troubleshoot.
Thankfully, it was a false alarm, and we returned within ten minutes. We discovered a stripped gearbox which we tried to mend but ran out of time. We were forced to play our next match with the arm zip-tied and taped up. Though we successfully fixed our robot afterwards, we lost our number one ranking but finished as finalists. The second day looked promising! Our robot was mechanically sound, and our auto was up and running. The day went by smoothly, with us as the first alliance captain and picking Inverse Paradox again.
After a hard-fought battle with the second alliance, we finally emerged victorious, being crowned the champions of Robots@Mary Ward Day 2!
Though we encountered our fair share of challenges, it was fun to be back competing after our summer break. Now we are excited for the 2026 season to begin!
Sparking Innovation: Bayview Glen’s 2025–2026 FIRST LEGO League Season Kicks Off
Written by Benjamin McCord,
FLL Supervisor
Our 2025–2026 FIRST LEGO League teams are off to an exciting start! In September, Bayview Glen once again hosted the Ontario FLL Challenge Kickoff Celebration and Conference, welcoming more than 300 team members from across the province.
Our competitive FLL teams are now hard at work developing their Innovation Projects and finetuning their Robot Games in preparation for regional tournaments. We’re also thrilled to welcome Eryka Vella and Jonathan Baum as the new coaches of Operation CREAT3.
A big thank-you to all of our team members, coaches, and volunteers who continue to make robotics at Bayview Glen such an inspiring part of school life!
