May in Review

Our May in Review highlights a month that ran at full speed. A founding class crossed the stage for the first time. Students were recognised for the kind of leadership and character that defines this community. And in between, Kindergartners and Grade 1 students knocked on strangers’ doors to raise funds for a good cause.

Jet Set 2026: Glee Takes Flight

The set list took audiences from the streets of Paris to New York, with stops for ABBA jams, Moulin Rouge glamour, and a little Catch Me If You Can along the way. The costumes and lighting brought the Jet Set world to life, and our performers delivered with heart, poise, and genuine professionalism.

New G Major members stepped up. Seniors led the way. Every single one of them left it all on the stage.

Glee is a massive undertaking, and none of it happens without the people behind it. Thank you to Glee Creator, Director and Producer Candace Grynol for the vision that holds it all together, and to Assistant Director and Co-Producer Aaron Stamboulieh ’98 for helping bring this year’s show to life.

Making History: Grade 12 Pre-University Graduation

This spring, for the first time in the school’s history, a Grade 12 Pre-University class crossed the stage. The founding cohort gathered in the Bahadur C. Bhatla Theatre with their families, faculty, staff, and members of the St. George’s Board of Directors. The ceremony was intimate by design. This first graduating class built something from the ground up, and the evening honoured that. The messages woven through the evening were worth holding onto. That success is rarely a straight line. That character, relationships, and values are what hold when everything else shifts.

After the ceremony, graduates and their families gathered on campus for a cocktail reception, a quieter moment to mark the end of one chapter and the beginning of the next.

Congratulations to St. George’s inaugural Grade 12 Pre-University graduating cohort. 

Grade 11 “Lifers” Return to Kindergarten

St. George’s hosted its first-ever “Lifers” event this spring, welcoming Grade 11 students who began their journey here in Kindergarten. Organised by Kindergarten Teachers Talya Barnes and Cassandra Wong, the afternoon was built around memories and connection.

The Grade 11s reminisced about moments that stayed with them. Old photos were shared. Games were played. Then the Kindergarteners took over, leading them around and enthusiastically asking questions.

When they left, the Grade 11s wandered the Elementary School, stopping in to see former teachers, taking it all in one more time. Some chapters close. Others stay with you forever.

Honouring Liam

Every May, St. George’s pauses to remember Liam Armstrong, a beloved student who passed away in 2014. For twelve years, students have honoured him the way he would have wanted: by dancing and eating cupcakes.

This year, Oliver S., a Kindergarten student, wanted to do more. He and his family organised a chocolate bar drive, inviting Kindergarten and Grade 1 families to sell door-to-door, with all proceeds going to the Liam Armstrong Tribute Fund at the Montreal Children’s Hospital. Seventeen of our youngest learners raised 60% of the total funds. Together with the Elementary School students and our High School students’ bake sale, we raised a record-breaking $3,514.

Thank you to parent volunteers Alex Oppen and Fallon Tajfel, who worked hard to make this drive a success. Oliver S. had the idea. Our community made it real.

Rising Voices: A Call to Climate Action

A wave of students from St. George’s, Selwyn House, The Study, Roslyn, and Villa Maria took to the streets for our fourth annual Rising Voices: A Call to Climate Action march. They moved along The Boulevard and down to Murray Hill Park, joined by Mayor of Westmount Michael Stern and city councillors Jonathan Chomski and Shawn Moss. At the front of the procession, students carried the Water Beast, a large-scale collaborative art piece created in partnership with the One Drop Foundation, symbolising the urgency of protecting our shared water.

Elementary School Principal Aidan De Jean and Coordinator of Teaching and Learning Laura Officer addressed the crowd at the park. Lauren Alcorn of the One Drop Foundation congratulated students on their commitment and spoke about the importance of clean drinking water for everyone.

Four years. Over 1,000 students. One clear message.

Earth Day Adventures

At the Elementary School this month, Choose Your Own Adventure Earth Day brought the school grounds to life. Coordinated by Talya Barnes, Sustainability Instructional Lead and Kindergarten Teacher, and Marina Gillis, Elementary School Science Teacher, the afternoon brought together students in Kindergarten through Grade 6 in small groups, each choosing a nature-based workshop led by teachers who gave their creativity and care to make it all happen. Students planted and mulched school gardens, built insect hotels, and participated in a wide variety of indoor and outdoor activities that encouraged a genuine sense of care and stewardship

Annual Academic Awards Ceremony

For the High School Class of 2026, this was the last time they would sit together as St. George’s students. The Annual Academic Awards Ceremony marked that moment with the recognition of students who made our community better by being part of it. To all of this year’s recipients, these honours reflect real effort and real dedication. Well deserved.

High School Athletics: A Year to Remember

The High School Athletics Awards Ceremony closed a year defined by growth and dedication. Emilie R. was named Senior Student-Athlete of the Year. Miya H. and Lilly M. shared the Junior Student-Athlete of the Year honour. Antonios P. earned Dragon of the Year. Rosetta Cammalleri was recognised as Coach of the Year. The Bantam Boys Futsal team took Team of the Year, and the Juvenile Girls Futsal, in a well-deserved surprise, were named Surprise Team of the Year.

The numbers tell their own story. This year, 163 athletes wore a St. George’s jersey, up from 148 last year, meaning 58% of our student body chose to participate. Thirty-seven teams across 13 sports, supported by 18 coaches, 2 student coaches, 9 staff members, 5 alumni, and an alumni parent who keeps showing up year after year.

Going the Distance

St. George’s came to run, and run they did. In fact, every Grade 3 and 4 student crossed the 1 km finish line.Every Grade 3 and 4 student crossed the 1 km finish line. Twenty runners from Grades 5 and 6 took on the 2 km, and 12 students from Grades 7 to 11 competed at the secondary level.

Among the top finishers: Aya C., Hisao C., and Clare G. in Grade 3, Liam H. in Grade 4, and Mikki M. and Tomas B. in Grade 5. At the secondary level, Olympia D. placed in Bantam Girls, Emilie R. won Juvenile Girls, Elliot P. finished 4th in Bantam Boys, and Manu M. placed 5th in Juvenile Boys.

The racing didn’t stop there. Weeks later, Emilie R. (1:54), Manu M. (1:37), and Milo K. (1:37) ran the Ottawa Half-Marathon, while Jaden M. completed the 10K in 1:00. That kind of commitment doesn’t come from nowhere. Thank you to Elementary School Physical Education teachers Emily Flaherty and Mark Schulz, and High School running coach Luke Welton, for what they nurture in these students every day.

Grade 7 and 8 Junior Spring Concert

Grade 7 and 8 music students and the Junior Jazz Band filled the High School Gymnasium for the Junior Spring Concert. Grade 7 classes each performed their own piece before coming together for a full ensemble, while Grade 8 and the Junior Jazz Band rounded out an evening that showed range and confidence. Thank you to Performing Arts Teacher Eric Elliot Lee for guiding our students to this moment.

Grade 5 Robotics Expo

This year’s Grade 5 Robotics Expo challenged students to design, build, and program a robot with one goal: to help reduce human impact on the planet. Part of science teacher Marina Gillis’s robotics module, the project had teams working with Lego Spike Prime, found materials, and 3D-printed components, incorporating motors, simple machines, and environmental sensors.

Head of School for a Day

The Head of School for a Day experience was auctioned off at The Big Dill, St. George’s annual fundraiser supporting scholarships and bursaries. The Ohanian family won the prize, and Oliver O. did not hold back. He ran the morning announcements, delivered snacks to every class, read to Kindergarten, signed documents, addressed the Leadership Team, and closed the day at the Robotics Competition. His application for a permanent position is currently under review.

Steeped in Love

Our Kindergarten students hosted a very special Mother’s Day Tea. It was all about appreciation, songs, handmade gifts, treats, and a room full of warmth.

To every mother, grandmother, and mother figure in our community: we celebrate you. To the mothers on our staff, thank you for the care you bring to your classrooms and your homes. To our students’ mothers, thank you for trusting us with your children.