Led by Grade 11 Co-Captains Sophia and Sami, the Senior School’s Math Unbounded club has adopted a dynamic new structure to ignite every member’s passion for math. By blending student leadership, mastery through engaging contests, and a strong sense of community, Math Unbounded is an example of deeper learning in action and is a vibrant hub where students collaborate, learn, and explore mathematics together.  

Each week, the club meetings look different depending on what members are working towards. Members dive into contest preparation, tackle challenging homework problems together, and enjoy interactive sessions that make math fun and accessible. For example, in the lead up to contests, the Club Captains often provide members with papers to review or host a pre-session with tips on how to work through certain problems or how to work together as a team. Around the holidays, there are often more fun sessions, like club Jeopardy games! This year, the club even had guest speakers: inspirational math professors from various post-secondary institutions. 

“I would say it was one of the most successful years of the club, particularly due to the huge participation even in the younger grades!” Sophia said. “I really believe that math is something girls can excel in. By growing the club the way that we did, we have been able to get more people to discover it and enjoy it!”

Throughout, homework support is always available for students.

“We would go around to every workshop, every single meeting, and make sure that everyone is getting the support that they need, not solely the people who are doing homework,” Sami explained. 

“It’s about a nice, free space where students can explore and have fun—and where teachers can explore too!” Ms Abdulla, Teacher, Mathematics, Senior School and Club Teacher Sponsor, said.

Leading in Learning  

As Club Captains this year, Sophia and Sami have seen their personal growth in guiding students across all levels and teaching a variety of concepts. “When I'm working with people in the Homework Help group, I'm going back sometimes to those fundamentals I haven't considered in one or two years,” Sophia explained. “And then when I'm working with the Math Contest group, I help them learn the tools and strategies that I have acquired through my own experience in competitions.” 

Celebrating Achievements

This year, club members have participated in several math contests and earned numerous awards, including:

USA Math Olympiad

Club Captain Sophia is the first student in Crofton House history to qualify for the USA Math Olympiad, one of the most selective and prestigious high school mathematics competitions. In total, six club members had earlier qualified for the American Invitational Mathematics Examination, the qualifying round for the Olympiad.

AMC Young Women in Mathematics Certificate

The AMC Young Women in Mathematics Certificate celebrates young women who excel in the MAA American Mathematics Competitions (AMC) and inspire other young women to engage with mathematics. This year, Raeka, Grade 11, earned one of the top AMC 12 scores in the region!

Canadian Mathematical Society Competitions

Canada Jay Mathematical Competition (Grade 8 and younger)	Canada Lynx Mathematical Competition (Grades 7-12)	Canadian Open Mathematics Challenge
Eunice and Eden, Grade 8: Honourable Mention - Canada, Honourable Mention - BC - Championship, Honourable Mention - BC, Honourable Mention - BC Zone 1 - Championship and the Silver Award - BC Zone 1 Aileen, Grade 8: Honourable Mention - BC Zone 1 - Championship and Honourable Mention - BC Zone 1 Arianna and Jennifer, Grade 8: Honourable Mention - BC Zone 1	Maggie, Grade 8: Honourable Mention - Canada - Grade 8, Honourable Mention - BC - Championship, Silver Award - BC - Grade 8, Bronze Award - BC Zone 1 - Championship, Silver Award - BC Zone 1 - Grade 8 Colette, Grade 10: Honourable Mention - BC Zone 1 - Grade 10 Stephanie, Grade 10: Honourable Mention - BC Zone 1 - Grade 10 Sophia, Grade 11: Honourable Mention - BC, Honourable Mention - BC Zone 1 - Championship, Silver Award - BC Zone 1 Chloe, Grade 11: Honourable Mention - BC Zone 1 Jesie, Grade 11: Honourable Mention - BC Zone 1	Performance with Distinction (Top 25%): Sophia, Grade 11; Karen, Grade 10; Maggie, Grade 8; and Yoyo, Grade 10 Performance with Honours (Top 50%): Gillian, Grade 11; Eunice, Grade 8; and Cynthia, Grade 10

American Mathematics Challenge (AMC) 10 & 12

AMC 10	AMC 12
Cynthia, Grade 10: First Place, Certificate of Distinction (Top 5%), AIME Qualifier Iris, Grade 9: Second Place, Certificate of Distinction (Top 5%), AIME Qualifier Cici, Grade 10: Third Place, AIME Qualifier	Raeka, Grade 11: First Place, Honor Roll of Distinction (Top 1%), AIME Qualifier Sophia, Grade 11: Second Place, Certificate of Distinction (Top 5%), AIME Qualifier Eunice, Grade 8: Third Place, Certificate of Distinction (Top 5%) AIME Qualifier, Certificate of Achievement for Score Achieved as Younger Participant

Pascal, Cayley and Fermat Contests

Pascal (Grade 9)	Cayley (Grade 10)	Fermat (Grade 11)
Best in School, Honour Roll and Certificate of Distinction: Rachel Honour Role and Certificate of Distinction: Maggie, Selena and Victoria Certificate of Distinction: Serena, Cinyee, Iris, Jennifer, Kaitlyn, Fiona and Jessica	Best in School, Honour Roll and Certificate of Distinction: Cici Honour Role and Certificate of Distinction: Karen and Iris'Certificate of Distinction: Meilin, Yiwen and Yoyo	Best in School, Honour Roll and Certificate of Distinction: Sophia Certificate of Distinction: Cynthia, Chloe and Sami

Fryer, Galois & Hypatia Contests

Fryer (Grade 9)	Galois (Grade 10)	Hypatia (Grade 11)
Best in School, Honour Roll and Certificate of Distinction: Maggie Honour Role and Certificate of Distinction: Ava	Best in School, Honour Roll and Certificate of Distinction: Yiming	Best in School, Honour Roll and Certificate of Distinction: Iris

Further Contests

Euclid Contest	Gauss	Math Challengers
Best in School, Student Honour Roll and the Certificate of Distinction: Sophia, Grade 11	Top Score: Maggie and Jennifer, Grade 8 2nd-Best Score: Eden and Cinyee, Grade 8 3rd-Best Score: Serena and Emma, Grade 8	Both the Grade 8 and 10 teams placed third regionally!  Grade 8 Finalist Medals: Maggie, Jennifer and Cathy Grade 10 Finalist Medals: Cynthia and Yoyo.  At provincials, Maggie also placed fourth!

 

What if we could turn today’s extra Crofton House lunch food into tomorrow’s inspiration? 

Walk into the Rix Foods Lab earlier this spring, and you’d have found students from both Foods and Spanish classes working side by side in a whirlwind of various vegetables, looking at ways to reduce food waste on campus, one dish at a time.

With the support of the SAGE Dining team, students repurposed Meatless Monday leftovers into new dishes; to comply with food safety guidelines, all items used had not left the kitchen prior to their classwork! Teams developed recipes using items including cheese tortellini, steamed spinach, mixed vegetables, and the post-lunch treat of dried cranberries.

The final creations included a salad with the dried cranberries, a green goddess dressing using the leftover spinach, and roasted chickpeas—all sourced from the Allergen station. Another group used the cheese from inside the tortellini and the spinach to make a vegetable-filled grilled cheese, and repurposed tomatoes and the mixed vegetables into a tomato soup. 

Dishes were judged by the SAGE team in the following class. They selected a winning dish based on taste, presentation, use of leftovers and creativity. 

“It was a creative way to tackle this problem,” Reese, Grade 11, said. “A lot of the time with leftovers, people don't want to keep them because they've had them the day before, so it’s reimagining them to make them fun, something new that you look forward to!”

To amplify their impact, students even designed a colourful bilingual poster campaign, sharing facts about food waste and practical tips for reducing it at school and home.

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Practical Tips for Reducing Food Waste at School and Home

Students invite readers to take action by: 

• Buying imperfect produce (Ugly Potato Market)
• Repurposing leftovers (Love Food Hate Waste)
• Rescue unsold food  (Too Good to Go)

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The project highlighted an important opportunity for schools with dining services to lead the way in sustainability. With hundreds of meals served daily, food waste can quickly become a challenge. “It really impacts the schools that have dining services— food waste on a wider scale is more prominent in those schools,” Emily, Grade 12, explained. 

By showcasing their inventive recipes and the story behind them, the students encouraged peers and staff to see leftovers not as waste, but as opportunities for innovation and positive change!  “If we set an example of, ‘hey, we care about food waste,’ that could inspire other schools, especially other independent schools, to do the same,” Reese said.

Earlier this month, students and staff came together on campus to celebrate Pride Week—embracing the spirit of inclusivity and respect, reflecting on the importance of diversity, and honouring the courage and resilience of 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals through thoughtful events, engaging conversations, and opportunities for creative expression!

“Pride Week at CHS is not just a celebration. It is a chance to reclaim space, foster understanding, and build solidarity across the school. For 2SLGBTQIA+ students, it is an opportunity to see themselves reflected in the fabric of the school environment. For allies, it is an invitation to learn, listen, and support,” Alina and Dan, Grade 11 students and the Senior School’s Gender and Sexuality Awareness (GSA) Club Captains, said of the week. 

Inclusion & Fun in the Junior School

In the Junior School, Pride Week events were organized in collaboration between the GSA Ambassadors, Jasmine Hare, Teacher, Ivy Compass Program, Junior School, and Ms Taylor, Teacher, Design & Drama, Junior School.

“Our main goals are creating a fun and inclusive environment celebrating the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, and helping students know that this is something for everyone to learn about—whether it's learning about other people's experiences, or just thinking about your own experiences with your own gender identity or your sexual orientation,” Ms Hare explained. “For younger students, that looks different than it does for older students, but it is really focused on reminding our community how we support and care for one another.”

To start the week, Ms Macken, Director, Junior School, read Dazzling Travis: A Story About Being Confident & Original by Hannah Carmona at assembly. The story is a reminder that there is no defined box of what gender has to be, and that we can all foster an inviting and welcoming space for everyone. 

Later in the week, Grade 5-7 students got their creativity flowing with Pride Crafts, making colourful decorations! Meanwhile, Grades 1-4 students had a blast at the Pride Dance Party. To wrap up celebrations, the Junior School enjoyed Pride Week Photo Booth, capturing smiles and memories together.

“It’s such a fun week in the school! Pride is so inherently colourful, big, exciting and inviting,” Ms Hare said.

Celebrating Queer Artists in the Senior School

In the Senior School, activities were organized under the theme of ‘queer music artists’. Students enjoyed nail painting and pin making at lunchtime, and had the opportunity to hear from guest speaker Vic Cluett, an inclusive health nurse who works on the Downtown Eastside, during lunch on Thursday, to connect and learn in a welcoming environment. Friday, the Stage Band brought everyone together in Manrell Hall for a show featuring music by 2SLGBTQIA+ artists. 

“We chose activities that allowed students to engage with the theme in personal and communal ways,” Alina and Dan said.

The GSA also hosted a donation drive in support of Rainbow Refugee, collecting unused hygiene products (shampoo, conditioner, body wash, toothpaste, toothbrush, menstrual products, etc.). “The donation drive added a layer of community responsibility by supporting an organization that directly impacts 2SLGBTQIA+ lives,” Alina and Dan explained.

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Our main goal for this year’s Pride Week was to create a celebration that felt both affirming and inclusive. We wanted it to reflect the diversity of 2SLGBTQIA+ identities while sparking meaningful conversations within the CHS community. We aimed to move beyond visibility and focus on empowerment, education, and joy. Whether through creative expression, community engagement, or direct access to resources, each event was designed to offer a different avenue for connection and learning.  

— Alina and Dan, Grade 11 students and GSA Club Captains

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Over Spring Break, the Senior School Chamber Choir travelled to Hawaii to perform at the Aloha State Choral Festival. In this blog post, hear directly from one of Crofton House’s performers, May, Grade 12, about the trip—and how it ended up being about so much more than music:

In six unforgettable days, we performed at Pearl Harbour, sang with hundreds of voices at the festival, took part in masterclasses with amazing choral professors, swam at a secret beach, explored markets, and grew closer than ever. We laughed, learned, and even cried together—especially when our music helped us connect deeply with the history around us. It was meaningful, emotional, and honestly, one of the best experiences I’ve ever had. 

What was the most meaningful moment from the trip?

There were so many! But performing “Forgotten Warriors”, a piece by Canadian composer, producer and traditional singer Russell Wallace from the Stʼatʼimc and Lil'wat Nation, and “In Remembrance” by Canadian composer Eleanor Daley at Pearl Harbour really stayed with me. Singing in a place with that much history made the music feel heavier, but also more honest. A lot of us were holding back tears—or just letting them fall. We had learned about Pearl Harbour before, but being there, and offering our voices in that space, brought it to life in a way I can’t describe. I think we all felt it.

Describe any cultural events or activities you participated in. What did you learn from these experiences?

One of the most meaningful cultural experiences was learning and performing Hawaiian songs with an Indigenous Hawaiian Elder and hundreds of singers from across North America. Singing in Hawaiian helped us feel more connected to the land and the people in a way that words alone couldn’t. A moment that really stayed with me was when we sang one of those songs on the bus for our driver, Lani. She’s one of only five women working in her company, and hearing us sing in her native language brought her to tears. It wasn’t planned or polished—it just came from the heart. That moment reminded me that music can be a form of respect and connection. It’s not just about performing; it’s about listening, honouring, and showing care through something as simple (and powerful) as a song.

How was the Aloha State Choral Festival?

So, so special! We performed a 20-minute set and later sang the Neapolitan piece “Canzone rò curtiell” or “Cuts like a knife” by Emmanuelle Ader—a female response to street harassers. It was so powerful we could literally feel the energy rushing through our bodies as we sang. (We were so determined to scare the audience away…in a good way). One gentleman, who’s been coming to the festival for over 30 years, turned to our teachers after and said our performance was the best choir performance he’s ever heard. At that moment, we all knew that everything— the rehearsals, late-night practices, the hard work—was all worth it.

What did you take away from this trip?

Gratitude. This is my last year at Crofton House, and I got to experience something so unique with people I really care about. We were there for each other every day—in the laughter, in the nerves, and even in the tears. I feel like I came home with a better understanding of who I am, and how much music really means to me. And I turned 18 on this trip. I don’t know—it just feels like something shifted, in the best way.