Ridley College
2 Ridley Road L2R 7C3 Saint Catharines, ON, Canada

On a snowy afternoon last week, our Burgoyne Bears got creative with aluminum foil relief art! We love to see the way each House embraces this 'new normal,' ensuring that our boarders are engaged and flourishing on campus.

Student-learning is on fire! Our International Baccalaureate Grade 10 science students were all hands on deck for this exciting experiment, demonstrating reaction types with a focus on combustion.

For this week's wellbeing tip, we're bringing you an easy DIY activity to do with your family. Gather your bubble together, grab some empty bottles or jars and create a calming jar! Not only will the activity itself bring you joy, but using your calming jar during times of high stress or emotion can have lasting effects. Show us your jar in the comments below!

A sneak peek from Tiger Magazine's forthcoming spring issue you won't want to miss! As Ridley moves toward a new uniform design, Archives Intern and Queen's University Concurrent Education student, Ella Foss '16 takes a look back on the traditions, functionality and design trends that have inspired more than a century of our school's dress. Take a look: http://ow.ly/suYb50DDTE4.

Tying perfectly into this month's Advisory thememeaning and purposewe're thrilled to bring Emily Esfahani Smith and her words of wisdom to our community of learners! In what promises to be an inspiring talk, Emily will share the four pillars of a meaningful life and encourage participants to set goals that will reward them for the long term. Parents are invited to join us for this virtual presentation on Wednesday, February 24th, 2021 at 7:30p.m. EST. Check your inboxes for information on how to tune in!

Our Admissions team is hosting a Virtual Early Years Play Date on November 28th at 9:00a.m. Register now: http://ow.ly/ly9T50CnlNe. Ridley’s Kindergarten and Grade 1 teachers will lead parents and Pre-K, JK, SK and Grade 1 aged children in an engaging activity and answer questions regarding our approach to learning, the International Baccalaureate Programme and the importance of fostering resilience at all ages. Did you know our Admissions team is frequently hosting virtual ...events for prospective families? Check out all the amazing upcoming events: https://www.ridleycollege.com/virtual-events. Please SPREAD THE WORD and share!

Here is your preview of daily life in our Lower School. Ridley offers JK to Grade 8 students a welcoming environment within which to learn, grow, excel and achieve. From our IB programme, to small collaborative classes, co-curriculars and specialist teachers, we know Ridley will exceed your expectations. Enjoy this guided tour. Discover what sets Ridley apart: http://ow.ly/8mmp50CbF1B

Each year, a group of Ridleians travels halfway around the world to visit the Jacaranda Foundation and School in Malawi. Due to the pandemic, the 2020 trip was cancelled, but our students found a way to show their support from afar, participating in the #JerusalemaChallenge and dancing their hearts out. This was stitched together with dancers from around the globe and shown at the Jacaranda Foundation Virtual Gala on November 15th. Check it out: https://youtu.be/t8Qctp4Ours.

Our Grade 2 students were bursting with joy as their received their very first violins! Ridley's arts programme allows students to unleash their creativity and express themselves through music, art, design, and theatre with confidence. Up first: our Tigers learned about playing with correct posture, mental focus and the proper violin hold. We have some world class musicians in the making!

Weekly Wellbeing is back with another great tip to invigorate you and help you navigate your journey of self care! This week, take time to savour your experiences and be present. By checking in on your breathing, recognizing the sights and sounds around you, and slowing down the pace of your day, you'll give your mind the rest it needsand grow your appreciation for even the simplest of moments.

Friday was #WorldKindnessDay, but by making kindness a part of every day life, we can make the world a better place. For this week's wellbeing tip, here are seven ways you can incorporate random acts of kindness into your daily routine.

Our Green Tigers have been hard at work educating their peers on some small actions they can take to help save the environment. Their latest initiative focused on reducing the amount of garbage and encouraging students to recycle or compost when possible. Prior to this initiative, Chartwells would dispose of roughly 12 bags of garbage from the Ross E. Morrow Theatre, each day. Thanks to the work of our Green Tigers, there was a 95% decrease in garbage: now reduced to a half bag of waste, seven bags of compostable material and one-and-a-half bags of recycling. Way to go, Tigers!

At Ridley, we're spreading kindness, not germs. Recently, Family Guild member, Lara Cousins created personalized hand sanitizer bottles for our LS learners and educators. What a fun way to promote health and wellness during this global pandemic!

"I could not imagine a better school for our children or for us as a family." Five years ago, Jo Hanna, her husband and their four children travelled over 13,000km from South Africa, relocating to St. Catharines so their children could attend Ridley College. During a recent virtual Admissions event, the 2020-21 Ridley College Family Guild President shared how her family has benefited from the Ridley educational experience.

Happy long weekend Tigers! Remember to do your part to keep yourself, others and our community safe, so we can continue our learning journeys uninterrupted.

Need some warm and fuzzies to start your day? This year's Prefect team recently ventured around campus to ask fellow students what they are most grateful for. See what they had to say: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8uqsuKeQjQ

"The Ridley vision is to inspire flourishing lives that will transform the globe and that's basically what I want to do. Whatever occupation I go into, I want to be able to transform the globe and lead in a global society." Kishi Femi-Johnson '22 On September 18th, we hosted key stakeholders for our virtual Founders' Day. To conclude the afternoon's events, seven Ridleians gathered for a student panel, sharing details about their unique Ridley experiences. Check out their authentic responses: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DGq7VNqFPU

This week's wellbeing tip is all about keeping your brain healthy! Challenge yourself and strengthen your body's control centre with a visual brain teaser: http://ow.ly/Pv2S50BuKgd.

Meaningful discussions incite positive change. With the intent to celebrate our past and look towards the future, we brought together Governors, Trustees, Advisors, and Champions for our second annual Founders' Dayheld virtually this year.

Happy birthday to our beloved school, celebrating 131 years! Although we can't blow out the birthday candles or sing our hearts out, we hope all Tigers will take a moment to bust a move in honour of this special day.

With some Ridleians unable to arrive to Canada due to travel restrictions, we have been offering distance learning to bridge the gap until they can join us. Here, Ella is assisting her classmate Cora stream into homeroom from the other side of the globe.

Did you know that social emotional wellbeing is fundamental to childrens' ability to learn and achieve? Each week, We'll be posting simple tips that you and your family can use to flex your positivity and promote a growth mindset.

All across campus today, Tigers were on the prowl for the next great R.O.A.R activity. Opportunities to create, connect and compete were popping up on every inch of our grounds and students were eager to participate!

Its good to be back! The energy was palpable on campus today, as students in JK to Grade 12 participated in the first day of R.O.A.R camp! Tigers have enjoyed a full day of outdoor fun, geared towards forging new friendships, nurturing wellbeing and bonding with classmates before classes begin next week.

It's 'back to reality' today at Ridley, as students are arriving to campus for 2020-21 Opening Days! Okay...our faculty and staff may be a little more excited than anticipated, but we dare you not to dance along with them to this 80's classic. https://youtu.be/Lyzwme0bDHc

Introducing Daniel Jude-Monye '21. This Ridleian is hoping to use his time as a Prefect to make a positive impact on his community be it through new initiatives or connecting and collaborating with his peers.

When we return next week, students (Grade 4 to 12) and employees will be required to wear masks indoors. In this brief tutorial video, Nurse Manager, Teresa Stevens provides instructions for how to wear and care for your mask. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUJAQ_-LEP8

We have a shared responsibility to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19. At Ridley, we plan to uphold our layers of mitigation together and we'll show our Tiger P-R-I-D-E in the process.

Space is booking up, so dont delay! Thank you to our boarding families for completing your self-isolation and for supporting our new House move-in process. This year, boarders must via TigerNET in order to secure a 30-minute move-in time. Parents and students should check their inboxes for instructions.

New technology is popping up on campus, like these Boardingware chips, which will enable Upper School students to check in at various locations using their phones. This app will also capture daily health surveys ahead of each school day. Parents, students and employees will need to register as soon as possible via the official invite. Check your inboxes!

You have an opportunity to impact people who are going to change the world, and we owe it to them to prepare them with an open mindset. Thank you Dr. Eddie Moore, Jr., for this morning's employee session on "Diversity, Bias, Privilege, and Leadership." As a community, we vow to deepen our knowledge and enact change.

Introducing Abigail Sullivan '21! This Prefect can often be found in the spotlight on stage, but she shines in the classroom, in the House and on the field, as well. We look forward to seeing her bring her charisma and kindness to campus come September.

While we all anticipate the start of the school year, we encourage our Ridley families to familiarize themselves with our Return to Campus procedures. Check out these videos, which are step-by-step guides for what to expect this fall. https://www.youtube.com/playlist

Meet Sophie Sharpe '21. This Prefect, wears her orange and black with pride as a member of the Ridley Rowing team. With all that school spirit, Sophie is most looking forward to planning fun and engaging events for the student body, during her final year of Ridley.

Around the globe, the Class of 2020 is busy preparing for their first year of post-graduate studies, but here on campus, we're celebrating their success from last school year. Forty-five members of this cohort embraced the International Baccalaureate programme and we are so excited to share that each and every one of those students received their hard-earned diploma. Congratulations Class of 2020!

We're excited to introduce our community to Albert Liu '21. This incoming Prefect is sure to inspire his fellow Tigers, as he takes risks, challenges himself and reaches for new heights during his final year at Ridley.

The desks have been spaced, the stickers are being stuck, ventilation has been enhanced, and the plexiglass has been installed...We're grateful for our Facilities team, who has been busy preparing campus so that we all feel safe and ready for the school year ahead.

As September nears, many parents are seeking ways to help their children mentally prepare for the transition back to school especially to adjusted learning environments and new routines. For many, readying young children to wear a mask is a top priority. In our latest blog, Director of Wellbeing and Learning, Sue Easton uses the PERMA-V framework to address common social-emotional concerns related to mask-culture, and shares tips to help families overcome anxieties. Read more: http://blogs.ridleycollege.com//a-positive-approach-to-ma/

There's a Tiger in our midst, who exudes creativity and is always looking for new ways to express herselfbe it on the stage or with a whisk in hand...Meet Sakura Telfer '21!

Interested in Media Arts? Check out Mr. Wiens' Youtube channel for a sneak peek at what students enrolled in our Media Arts course can expect from his class: https://www.youtube.com/cha/UCrWskHaGuhUZJvX_pK_SsEw/videos. These amazing video creations were all produced in the spring, during Ridley Remote Learning.

Blast off! During R2L-Summer, students, aged 7 to 17, explored space in the course entitled, You are the Starship Generation. To culminate their course learnings, each students was tasked with creating their own rocket ship and launching it sky high!

Seven years into her Ridley journey, Olivia Grubic '21 is excited to lead as a school Prefect. Above all else, she is enthusiastic about enriching the community she loves. Learn more about Olivia's favorite traditions and aspects of student-life.

As Opening Days approach, now is the perfect time to foster healthy habits and set new goals for the upcoming year. Check out the latest Weekly Wellbeing tips to help you get a jump start on your success! . . . .... . . . . Wellness Wednesday http://ow.ly/MFgL50AWuLr Thoughtful Thursday http://ow.ly/i5lN50AWuLs Funtastic Friday Elementary: http://ow.ly/aRy450AWuLu Secondary: http://ow.ly/xh9D50AWuLt

In less than a month, campus will be alive again, with Tigers ready to learn, grow and excel. To best prepare for the start of the school year, we encourage new and returning students to check our School Startup website: http://ow.ly/yGqr50AXuig

When he isnt nurturing his brain in the classroom or his health through sport, Noah can be found nurturing his spirit in the Chapel. What is he most excited for this upcoming year? His Prefect Homily!

Excitement is building as September approaches and the faculty and staff of Ridley College have been busy preparing for your arrival. Even Hank got in on the action, starring in the soon-to-be-released Return to Campus videos.

Getting into new hobbies is a great adventure. This summer, a group of students explored the world of script writing as part of our virtual R2L-Summer offerings. Upon completion of the course, our Tigers reflected on what they learned throughout their collaborative playwriting experience.

Meet Carmen Elliott '21. Most days, you'll find Carmen skating up and down the ice, so it's no surprise that this Tiger throws her heart and soul into sport. But that isn't all she's passionate about...

The latest Weekly Wellbeing calendar encourages you to spot strengths in others and practice carrying out our school's motto by giving back. Try one or all five of these fun and rewarding activities! . . . .... . . . . Wellness Wednesday http://ow.ly/qHCH50ASFgW Thoughtful Thursday http://ow.ly/QdMo50ASFgS Funtastic Friday http://ow.ly/i4yd50ASFgU

Entering her ninth year at Ridley, Mia Kidd '21 has capitalized on every opportunity to flourish: trading her figure skates for hockey skates, flying around the world to embark on eye-opening service trips and discovering new passions through co-curriculars.

During R2L-Summer, Primary and Junior students engaged in the Science Experiment of the Week, making 'Magic Mud' and learning about non-Newtonian fluid during the process!

Camping & canoeing are featured in the latest episodes of Mr. Smith's Lost Lore of a Kid's Life, in which this science teacher introduces fun & exciting outdoor activities for children of all ages. These adventurous episodes air each week as part of our R2L-Summer offerings.

Meet Claire Sun '21. From rowing to writing, this Ridleian has fully immersed herself in the many opportunities offered at Ridley, and as a result, has grown in so many facets of her life. Check out what areas of Ridley life have shaped who she's become.