Community Engagement

Community Engagement

Our Community Makes Us Who We Are.

We are grateful to our community of students, families, alumni, staff and friends who give generously of their time, commitment and financial gifts to ensure the HTS educational ecosystem continues to be innovative and inspiring for all learners.

We model community building on and off campus and stress the importance of giving time. Because of this, our students and alumni are making a difference around the world.

HTS in the Community

Donate Today

Ways To Support

“If we invest in our children, then we’re investing not only in their future but also in ours. It’s a win-win situation.”
– Tina Skliros, HTS Parent

The Annual Fund

The Annual Fund is a visionary fund that helps the school achieve greatness in ways that are not covered by the cost of tuition. The funds are used to enhance facilities and implement new initiatives and programming which support intentional and meaningful experiences for all of our learners. The funds may also be directed to student financial aid.
Each year, HTS families, alumni and staff come together to further our mission by making financial contributions to the Annual Fund. These gifts are beyond the cost of tuition and provide additional resources that allow HTS to be extraordinary. While tuition funds our mission, annual giving inspires our vision for tomorrow – the school we aspire to be.
Your support for the Annual Fund can be directed to either of the following initiatives:

Funds support the strategic vision of HTS. Chosen by the Head of School, these funds go toward areas in the school that require enhancements to match our innovative programming. This could include outfitting our classrooms with new equipment, providing funds for a new initiative or directed to our new spaces. The Head’s Discretionary Fund provides the option to elevate learning experiences for our students throughout the year.

HTS provides an outstanding academic environment, establishes a foundation of values, a sense of community and instils purpose in our students. We believe that the purpose of education is to prepare students for life and that every child should be given a chance to experience HTS, irrespective of the household financial ability. For this reason, donors to the Annual Fund can designate their gift to Student Financial Aid.

Contact Us For More Information

Jennifer Wu
Director of Community Relations
905-737-1114 ext. 260
Alida Moreno
Development Coordinator
905-737-1114 ext. 275

Endowment

The HTS endowment provides student financial aid in the form of scholarships, bursaries and awards to deserving students. Endowment is truly the gift that keeps on giving, as your gift is protected and only the investment income is spent.

As a result of the investment income generated by our endowment, four worthy students receive a full scholarship to HTS every year. In addition, a number of smaller scholarships, bursaries and awards are given to HTS students on an annual basis.

Our endowment includes the following scholarships, bursaries and awards:

The George Rutherford Scholarship Fund was established in 2010 to honour the retirement of George Rutherford, Head of School from 1992-2010. The income from the fund provides a $5,000 scholarship to a Grade 11 student who demonstrates a commitment to academics, respects others and enthusiastically participates in the life of the school.

Every year since 1981, the Board of Governors has set aside funds with an aim of building an endowment to provide financial aid to students. The fund was established to accumulate capital until such time that it could support the funding of one or more scholarships.

This bursary was established by the Terbrugge family in 1990 to honour the memory of Edwin Alexander Terbrugge. Edwin died in a car accident when he was a Grade 5 student at HTS. The fund provides a scholarship to a Grade 7 student.

In 2006, the Governors’ Fund was established to generate sufficient income for financial aid. Since 2008, 65% of HTS’ annual operating surplus has been allocated to the Governors’ Fund. Any excess funds from annual bursary expenditures are also allocated here.

In 1996, the Merritt & Margaret Harding Endowment Fund was established to provide income to fund a bursary for a deserving Senior School student “whose character and achievements at the school exemplify Holy Trinity School’s mission statement.”

The Timothy Pryce & Friends Memorial Fund was established in the memory of Timothy Pryce and 12 friends who died in a tragic canoeing accident. Its objective was to pay for the tuition of students who would not otherwise be able to attend St. John’s School of Ontario. In 2000, when St. John’s School of Ontario ceased to exist, the Directors transferred approximately $200,000 to HTS. The income from the fund is used to award one or more scholarships to students in Middle School and/or Senior School.

Awarded to the student in each grade, from Grades 7 to 11, with the highest academic standing based on their overall average.

The Trinitarian Award is designed to encourage students to soar to their fullest potential and engage in their own personal growth. The award has three levels: bronze, silver and gold. A student must complete all of the requirements of a particular level in order to proceed to the next level. At the core of this award are HTS’ founding values of respect, integrity and confidence. Students develop competencies in Experiential Learning which includes various experiences in physical recreation, arts, service, global education and leadership. Through this process, students not only become well-developed citizens, but they develop as reflective leaders that are guided by their values.

Graduation Endowment Fund

The Graduation Endowment Fund was established by the parents of the Class of 2006. Since then, the fund has grown steadily each year as parents of the graduating class contributed in honour of their children’s graduation. The Graduation Endowment Fund provides financial aid to deserving students who could not afford an education at HTS. This fund ensures that another student receives the same incredible educational experience that our graduates have.

Planned Giving

The HTS Planned Giving program offers an opportunity to leave a lasting legacy. When you remember Holy Trinity School with a bequest in your will, you are ensuring that many more generations of students are able to benefit from an HTS education.

Legal Name: Holy Trinity School Educational Network
Charitable Registration No.: 122397417RR0001

Mailing Address:
Holy Trinity School
11300 Bayview Avenue
Richmond Hill, ON L4S 1L4

Phone: 905-737-1114
Fax: 905-737-5187

For more information, please contact:

Maria Locacciato
Executive Director of Community Relations and Development
905-737-1114 ext. 271
mlocacciato@hts.on.ca

*Always speak with a Certified Financial Planner and/or lawyer before making a planned gift.

Specific Bequest (Discretionary)
“To give Holy Trinity School Educational Network the sum of $[_____] for such use and purpose as the Board of Governors may determine in their absolute discretion.”

Bequest of Residue (Discretionary)
“To give or transfer the residue of my estate to Holy Trinity School Educational Network for such use and purpose as the Board of Governors may determine in their absolute discretion.”

Ways To Support

“If we invest in our children, then we’re investing not only in their future but also in ours. It’s a win-win situation.”
– Tina Skliros, HTS Parent

The Annual Fund

The Annual Fund is a visionary fund that helps the school achieve greatness in ways that are not covered by the cost of tuition. The funds are used to enhance facilities and implement new initiatives and programming which support intentional and meaningful experiences for all of our learners. The funds may also be directed to student financial aid.
Each year, HTS families, alumni and staff come together to further our mission by making financial contributions to the Annual Fund. These gifts are beyond the cost of tuition and provide additional resources that allow HTS to be extraordinary. While tuition funds our mission, annual giving inspires our vision for tomorrow – the school we aspire to be.
Your support for the Annual Fund can be directed to either of the following initiatives:

Funds support the strategic vision of HTS. Chosen by the Head of School, these funds go toward areas in the school that require enhancements to match our innovative programming. This could include outfitting our classrooms with new equipment, providing funds for a new initiative or directed to our new spaces. The Head’s Discretionary Fund provides the option to elevate learning experiences for our students throughout the year.

HTS provides an outstanding academic environment, establishes a foundation of values, a sense of community and instils purpose in our students. We believe that the purpose of education is to prepare students for life and that every child should be given a chance to experience HTS, irrespective of the household financial ability. For this reason, donors to the Annual Fund can designate their gift to Student Financial Aid.

Endowment

The HTS endowment provides student financial aid in the form of scholarships, bursaries and awards to deserving students. Endowment is truly the gift that keeps on giving, as your gift is protected and only the investment income is spent.

As a result of the investment income generated by our endowment, four worthy students receive a full scholarship to HTS every year. In addition, a number of smaller scholarships, bursaries and awards are given to HTS students on an annual basis.

Our endowment includes the following scholarships, bursaries and awards:

The George Rutherford Scholarship Fund was established in 2010 to honour the retirement of George Rutherford, Head of School from 1992-2010. The income from the fund provides a $5,000 scholarship to a Grade 11 student who demonstrates a commitment to academics, respects others and enthusiastically participates in the life of the school.

Every year since 1981, the Board of Governors has set aside funds with an aim of building an endowment to provide financial aid to students. The fund was established to accumulate capital until such time that it could support the funding of one or more scholarships.

This bursary was established by the Terbrugge family in 1990 to honour the memory of Edwin Alexander Terbrugge. Edwin died in a car accident when he was a Grade 5 student at HTS. The fund provides a scholarship to a Grade 7 student.

In 2006, the Governors’ Fund was established to generate sufficient income for financial aid. Since 2008, 65% of HTS’ annual operating surplus has been allocated to the Governors’ Fund. Any excess funds from annual bursary expenditures are also allocated here.

In 1996, the Merritt & Margaret Harding Endowment Fund was established to provide income to fund a bursary for a deserving Senior School student “whose character and achievements at the school exemplify Holy Trinity School’s mission statement.”

The Timothy Pryce & Friends Memorial Fund was established in the memory of Timothy Pryce and 12 friends who died in a tragic canoeing accident. Its objective was to pay for the tuition of students who would not otherwise be able to attend St. John’s School of Ontario. In 2000, when St. John’s School of Ontario ceased to exist, the Directors transferred approximately $200,000 to HTS. The income from the fund is used to award one or more scholarships to students in Middle School and/or Senior School.

Awarded to the student in each grade, from Grades 7 to 11, with the highest academic standing based on their overall average.

The Trinitarian Award is designed to encourage students to soar to their fullest potential and engage in their own personal growth. The award has three levels: bronze, silver and gold. A student must complete all of the requirements of a particular level in order to proceed to the next level. At the core of this award are HTS’ founding values of respect, integrity and confidence. Students develop competencies in Experiential Learning which includes various experiences in physical recreation, arts, service, global education and leadership. Through this process, students not only become well-developed citizens, but they develop as reflective leaders that are guided by their values.

Graduation Endowment Fund

The Graduation Endowment Fund was established by the parents of the Class of 2006. Since then, the fund has grown steadily each year as parents of the graduating class contributed in honour of their children’s graduation. The Graduation Endowment Fund provides financial aid to deserving students who could not afford an education at HTS. This fund ensures that another student receives the same incredible educational experience that our graduates have.

Planned Giving

The HTS Planned Giving program offers an opportunity to leave a lasting legacy. When you remember Holy Trinity School with a bequest in your will, you are ensuring that many more generations of students are able to benefit from an HTS education.

Legal Name: Holy Trinity School Educational Network
Charitable Registration No.: 122397417RR0001

Mailing Address:
Holy Trinity School
11300 Bayview Avenue
Richmond Hill, ON L4S 1L4

Phone: 905-737-1114
Fax: 905-737-5187

For more information, please contact:

Maria Locacciato
Executive Director of Community Relations and Development
905-737-1114 ext. 271
mlocacciato@hts.on.ca

*Always speak with a Certified Financial Planner and/or lawyer before making a planned gift.

Specific Bequest (Discretionary)
“To give Holy Trinity School Educational Network the sum of $[_____] for such use and purpose as the Board of Governors may determine in their absolute discretion.”

Bequest of Residue (Discretionary)
“To give or transfer the residue of my estate to Holy Trinity School Educational Network for such use and purpose as the Board of Governors may determine in their absolute discretion.”

Contact Us For More Information
Eliza Bianchi
Executive Director of Community Relations
and Development
905-737-1114 ext. 271
Jennifer Wu
Director of Community Relations
905-737-1114 ext. 260

 

The HTS Gala

“All of the students here today are the beneficiaries of donors who walked these hallways, who walked on this campus well before any of us.  We are the recipients of their generosity and their kindness. I ask all of our families to continue to contribute financially to HTS, and continue to build the legacy of this school so that it lasts well beyond any of us, so that more children continue to have this experience as part of their learning journey and growth, because it’s exceptional and they deserve it.” – Helen Pereira-Raso, Head of School

Since 1998, the HTS Community has come together every two years for an evening to celebrate the school and raise funds for strategic needs to further establish the school as a leader in education. While these needs vary year to year, the common thread is providing additional programs and transformative opportunities for students, and cutting edge equipment or resources to support student learning. Join us to help to build the legacy of HTS for future generations of students.

Past HTS Galas

2018 HTS Great Gatsby Gala

The 2018 HTS Great Gatsby Gala, held on April 27, 2018, was an incredible evening full of great food, entertainment and fellowship. Not only that, the committee surpassed their fundraising goal by raising $118,000! These funds were used to purchase state-of-the-art fitness equipment for our new Di Lucia Family Fitness Centre, directly benefiting our students’ health and wellness.

2016 HTS Disco Fever Gala

The 2016 Disco Fever Gala, held on April 22, 2016, was successful not only in reaching the fundraising goal of over $100,000 but also in having more than 400 guests – the largest gala in attendance in HTS history. The funds raised helped provide cutting-edge equipment for the HTS innovation labs. These funds were used to help purchase the tools and resources to spark the imagination of all our learners. In 2017, our students, staff, alumni and parents were able to start using these spaces and equipment.

Read more about the impact that these investments in our Innovation Labs made for HTS students:

“Personalized, Immersive and Engaging Experiences Thrive in Our Innovation Labs” – 2018 Corridors Magazine 

“Many Paths to Growth” – 2019 Corridors Magazine 

2014 HTS Tommy & Tammy’s Wedding Gala

Over $100,000 was raised on the night of April 25, 2014! The gala committee outdid themselves with a unique theme and secured some top-notch live auction items. Funds raised went towards updating both our Lower School and Middle and Senior School libraries into learning commons. During the gala, four incredible families came forward to launch our campaign each donating $25,000 to kick-start what was to be an incredible journey of generosity by our community. 

Read more about the impact that these investments in our Learning Commons made for HTS students:

Creating a Buzz About Books, pg 39, 2015 Corridors

Click for 2023 Gala Info

Great Gatsby Gala — April 27, 2018

Disco Fever Gala — April 22, 2016

Tommy and Tammy’s Wedding Gala — April 25, 2014

Inspiring Greatness: Designing the Future Campaign Video

The HTS Gala

“All of the students here today are the beneficiaries of donors who walked these hallways, who walked on this campus well before any of us.  We are the recipients of their generosity and their kindness. I ask all of our families to continue to contribute financially to HTS, and continue to build the legacy of this school so that it lasts well beyond any of us, so that more children continue to have this experience as part of their learning journey and growth, because it’s exceptional and they deserve it.” – Helen Pereira-Raso, Head of School

Since 1998, the HTS Community has come together every two years for an evening to celebrate the school and raise funds for strategic needs to further establish the school as a leader in education. While these needs vary year to year, the common thread is providing additional programs and transformative opportunities for students, and cutting edge equipment or resources to support student learning. Join us to help to build the legacy of HTS for future generations of students.

Click for 2023 Gala Info

Past HTS Galas

2018 HTS Great Gatsby Gala

The 2018 HTS Great Gatsby Gala, held on April 27, 2018, was an incredible evening full of great food, entertainment and fellowship. Not only that, the committee surpassed their fundraising goal by raising $118,000! These funds were used to purchase state-of-the-art fitness equipment for our new Di Lucia Family Fitness Centre, directly benefiting our students’ health and wellness.

Great Gatsby Gala — April 27, 2018

2016 HTS Disco Fever Gala

The 2016 Disco Fever Gala, held on April 22, 2016, was successful not only in reaching the fundraising goal of over $100,000 but also in having more than 400 guests – the largest gala in attendance in HTS history. The funds raised helped provide cutting-edge equipment for the HTS innovation labs. These funds were used to help purchase the tools and resources to spark the imagination of all our learners. In 2017, our students, staff, alumni and parents were able to start using these spaces and equipment.

Read more about the impact that these investments in our Innovation Labs made for HTS students:

“Personalized, Immersive and Engaging Experiences Thrive in Our Innovation Labs” – 2018 Corridors Magazine 

“Many Paths to Growth” – 2019 Corridors Magazine 

Disco Fever Gala — April 22, 2016

2014 HTS Tommy & Tammy’s Wedding Gala

Over $100,000 was raised on the night of April 25, 2014! The gala committee outdid themselves with a unique theme and secured some top-notch live auction items. Funds raised went towards updating both our Lower School and Middle and Senior School libraries into learning commons. During the gala, four incredible families came forward to launch our campaign each donating $25,000 to kick-start what was to be an incredible journey of generosity by our community. 

Read more about the impact that these investments in our Learning Commons made for HTS students:

Creating a Buzz About Books, pg 39, 2015 Corridors

Tommy and Tammy’s Wedding Gala — April 25, 2014

Inspiring Greatness: Designing the Future Campaign Video

“Because it’s an independent school, everything that they need to build or to improve depends on donors… It’s important that we look after not just our children but the community.”
– Shawn Seit, HTS Parent

HTS is a not-for-profit independent school and is a registered Canadian charity that complies with the regulations set forth by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). This means that we devote all of our resources (funds, staff and our campus) to our primary purpose – delivering an outstanding educational program for our learners. Because we’re a not-for-profit organization, your investment in our school has a tremendous impact. Every cent of your contribution is invested in our incredible programs, people and spaces. This is the independent school difference.

The support we have received from generous parents, staff and alumni has enabled HTS to grow into the school it is today. Donations are a critical source of funding which allows us to provide an exceptional education and a state-of-the-art learning environment for all of our learners.

Our volunteers are key to the sense of community at HTS.  Our parent volunteers model community building inside and out of our walls. The amount of time that our parents commit to support and grow our community is humbling. What we know for certain is that every gift of time and resource ensures that our learning community is innovative and inspiring for all learners.

“Because it’s an independent school, everything that they need to build or to improve depends on donors… It’s important that we look after not just our children but the community.”
– Shawn Seit, HTS Parent

HTS is a not-for-profit independent school and is a registered Canadian charity that complies with the regulations set forth by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). This means that we devote all of our resources (funds, staff and our campus) to our primary purpose – delivering an outstanding educational program for our learners. Because we’re a not-for-profit organization, your investment in our school has a tremendous impact. Every cent of your contribution is invested in our incredible programs, people and spaces. This is the independent school difference.

The support we have received from generous parents, staff and alumni has enabled HTS to grow into the school it is today. Donations are a critical source of funding which allows us to provide an exceptional education and a state-of-the-art learning environment for all of our learners.

Our volunteers are key to the sense of community at HTS.  Our parent volunteers model community building inside and out of our walls. The amount of time that our parents commit to support and grow our community is humbling. What we know for certain is that every gift of time and resource ensures that our learning community is innovative and inspiring for all learners.

Volunteering

The cornerstone of our community is our families, and when we come together, we build upon the foundation of all those who are connected to this vibrant, social, inclusive, joyful school — our students, parents, alumni, staff and friends.
One of the best ways to get involved and support HTS is to volunteer. When you become an HTS volunteer you connect with other parents, gain a better understanding of the school and create lifelong friendships.
“It’s a great community in terms of volunteering. If you only have an hour, there’s always something you can do, and if you have more time, there are many opportunities. You can volunteer for one event; you could be on the Parents Association” – Tina Skliros, HTS Parent
Contact the Community Relations and Development department to get involved today.

Volunteering

The cornerstone of our community is our families, and when we come together, we build upon the foundation of all those who are connected to this vibrant, social, inclusive, joyful school — our students, parents, alumni, staff and friends.
One of the best ways to get involved and support HTS is to volunteer. When you become an HTS volunteer you connect with other parents, gain a better understanding of the school and create lifelong friendships.
“It’s a great community in terms of volunteering. If you only have an hour, there’s always something you can do, and if you have more time, there are many opportunities. You can volunteer for one event; you could be on the Parents’ Association” – Tina Skliros, HTS Parent
Contact the Community Relations and Development department to get involved today.

HTS Parent Association

At HTS, a well-rounded education goes beyond the school, and starts from the home.

We welcome parent participation and there are many opportunities for parental involvement throughout the school. The following opportunities are some of the ways parents can get involved in school life:

Volunteering For Fundraising Initiatives Throughout The School

The school holds several fundraising events throughout the year including the Gala and other special events. Specific committees led by Chairs are established for large-scale events and there are many specialized roles within each committee for parents to fill.

Special Events

Information about special events is typically communicated through SpotligHTS: The HTS News and through the Community Relations and Development department. For more information on how you can contribute to a fundraising initiative or special event, please contact the Community Relations and Development department.

Joining The HTS Parent Association

The HTS Parent Association is a volunteer organization and a valued part of the HTS community. The focus of the Association ranges from fundraising to friendships and “fun-raising” through involvement in events such as the Father Bob Parent Run, PA Champion program, and many other community building events throughout the year. Parents can also volunteer to be a Grade Parent, and be connected to our community through Grade Chats. For more volunteer opportunities, please visit our Parent Association website under the HTS OneLogin.

HTS Parent Association

At HTS, a well-rounded education goes beyond the school, and starts from the home.

We welcome parent participation and there are many opportunities for parental involvement throughout the school. The following opportunities are some of the ways parents can get involved in school life:

Volunteering For Fundraising Initiatives Throughout The School

The school holds several fundraising events throughout the year including the Gala and other special events. Specific committees led by Chairs are established for large-scale events and there are many specialized roles within each committee for parents to fill.

Special Events

Information about special events is typically communicated through SpotligHTS: The HTS News and through the Community Relations and Development department. For more information on how you can contribute to a fundraising initiative or special event, please contact the Community Relations and Development department.

Joining The HTS Parent Association

The HTS Parent Association is a volunteer organization and a valued part of the HTS community. The focus of the Association ranges from fundraising to friendships and “fun-raising” through involvement in events such as the Father Bob Parent Run, Grade Gatherings and many other community building events throughout the year. Parents can also volunteer to be a Grade Parent, and be connected to our community through Grade Chats. For more volunteer opportunities, please visit our Parent Association website under the HTS OneLogin.

Board of Governors

Our talented and hardworking Governors set the strategic direction for HTS, enabling the school to focus on core initiatives, while ensuring its long-term sustainability.

In partnership with Head of School, Helen Pereira-Raso, the Board determines the school’s policies and priorities and oversees all financial and administrative functions. With their collective vision and guidance, HTS is able to fulfil its promise, holding firm to a higher standard of learning.

The HTS Board is a governing Board. Its role is one of oversight, with the overriding objective being that HTS remains viable to serve the children of today’s students. To achieve this, the Board’s responsibilities can be divided into three main areas:
  • The hiring, training, support, evaluation, remuneration and, if necessary, dismissal of the Head of School
  • Providing oversight and guidance to the Head to ensure that the school is following policies, compliant with relevant law and regulations, managing risk, adhering to budgets and managing resources appropriately
  • Long term strategic planning to make sure that our school meets the needs of current students and that it evolves to meet the needs of future generations of HTS students

The Board is not involved with the day-to-day operations of the school such as bussing, curriculum, discipline, faculty, food, co-curriculars, or building maintenance. All of these areas, as well as anything else related to daily school life, are the responsibility of the Head of School.

Much of the work is done by Committees or Task Forces of the Board, each of which is chaired by a Governor. The Committees are comprised of Governors, staff members and non-Board members, as appropriate. The Head of School and the Board Chair are members of all the Committees and Task Forces. The Committees and Task Forces report their activity to the Board and make recommendations to the Board for approval. The Board meets six times a year between September and June.

A Committee has an on-going mandate with no fixed end to its term. Currently, the HTS Board has six standing Committees:

  1. Finance & Operational Risk (with Investment and Audit sub-Committees)
  2. Advancement
  3. Construction & Site
  4. Executive (Head’s Support Committee)
  5. Governance & Nominations
  6. Strategy

A Task Force has a mandate for a specific project and a projected end to its term.

Recent Task Forces include the IT Task Force that prepared the way for the introduction of the Apple 1:1 program.

Each year, the Governance & Nominations Committee determines the skill sets that will be required for the Board to achieve the goals that it has set for itself in the upcoming 3-5 year period. The Committee then identifies the gaps in knowledge or experience that will face the Board going forward and looks to fill those gaps. The Governance & Nominations Committee gathers suggestions, makes deliberations and then recommends nominees to the various Committees of the Board. The Governance & Nominations Committee is also responsible for suggesting selected Committee members to be invited to the Board. The number of new Governors added each year depends on the number retiring from the Board.

At HTS we welcome parent participation and there are many opportunities for parental involvement throughout the school, including:
Joining the HTS Parents Association
The HTS Parent Association is a volunteer organization and a valued part of the HTS community. The focus of the Association ranges from fundraising to friendships and “fun-raising” through involvement in events such as the Father Bob Parent Run, Grade Gatherings and many other community building events throughout the year. Parents can also volunteer to be a Grade Parent, and be connected to our community through Grade Chats. For more volunteer opportunities, please visit our Parent Association website under the HTS OneLogin.
Volunteering for fundraising initiatives throughout the school
The school holds several fundraising events throughout the year including the Gala and other special events. Specific committees led by Chairs are established for large-scale events and there are many specialized roles within each committee for parents to fill.
Information about special events are typically communicated through SpotligHTS: the HTS Friday News and through the Community Relations and Development department. For more information on how you can contribute to a fundraising initiative or special event, please contact the Community Relations and Development department.

Joining a Learning Team
A Learning Team is a vehicle through which faculty, staff, students and parents engage in learning about new innovations to support the implementation of the strategic plan.  The Learning Teams meet regularly to study the current research around their topic, examine best practice globally around their topic and connect with key experts and resource people. Throughout the process of learning, they post their findings, questions and ideas for others to access. The ultimate product of the Learning Team is a presentation of their recommendations for change to the Extended Leadership Team. At the end of the year, the Learning Team share their ideas in a Learning Fair for the school community.

Board of Governors

Our talented and hardworking Governors set the strategic direction for HTS, enabling the school to focus on core initiatives, while ensuring its long-term sustainability.

In partnership with Head of School, Helen Pereira-Raso, the Board determines the school’s policies and priorities and oversees all financial and administrative functions. With their collective vision and guidance, HTS is able to fulfil its promise, holding firm to a higher standard of learning.

The HTS Board is a governing Board. Its role is one of oversight, with the overriding objective being that HTS remains viable to serve the children of today’s students. To achieve this, the Board’s responsibilities can be divided into three main areas:
  • The hiring, training, support, evaluation, remuneration and, if necessary, dismissal of the Head of School
  • Providing oversight and guidance to the Head to ensure that the school is following policies, compliant with relevant law and regulations, managing risk, adhering to budgets and managing resources appropriately
  • Long term strategic planning to make sure that our school meets the needs of current students and that it evolves to meet the needs of future generations of HTS students

The Board is not involved with the day-to-day operations of the school such as bussing, curriculum, discipline, faculty, food, co-curriculars, or building maintenance. All of these areas, as well as anything else related to daily school life, are the responsibility of the Head of School.

Much of the work is done by Committees or Task Forces of the Board, each of which is chaired by a Governor. The Committees are comprised of Governors, staff members and non-Board members, as appropriate. The Head of School and the Board Chair are members of all the Committees and Task Forces. The Committees and Task Forces report their activity to the Board and make recommendations to the Board for approval. The Board meets six times a year between September and June.

A Committee has an on-going mandate with no fixed end to its term. Currently, the HTS Board has six standing Committees:

  1. Finance & Operational Risk (with Investment and Audit sub-Committees)
  2. Advancement
  3. Construction & Site
  4. Executive (Head’s Support Committee)
  5. Governance & Nominations
  6. Strategy

A Task Force has a mandate for a specific project and a projected end to its term.

Recent Task Forces include the IT Task Force that prepared the way for the introduction of the Apple 1:1 program.

Each year, the Governance & Nominations Committee determines the skill sets that will be required for the Board to achieve the goals that it has set for itself in the upcoming 3-5 year period. The Committee then identifies the gaps in knowledge or experience that will face the Board going forward and looks to fill those gaps. The Governance & Nominations Committee gathers suggestions, makes deliberations and then recommends nominees to the various Committees of the Board. The Governance & Nominations Committee is also responsible for suggesting selected Committee members to be invited to the Board. The number of new Governors added each year depends on the number retiring from the Board.

At HTS we welcome parent participation and there are many opportunities for parental involvement throughout the school, including:
Joining the HTS Parents Association
The HTS Parent Association is a volunteer organization and a valued part of the HTS community. The focus of the Association ranges from fundraising to friendships and “fun-raising” through involvement in events such as the Father Bob Parent Run, Grade Gatherings and many other community building events throughout the year. Parents can also volunteer to be a Grade Parent, and be connected to our community through Grade Chats. For more volunteer opportunities, please visit our Parent Association website under the HTS OneLogin.
Volunteering for fundraising initiatives throughout the school
The school holds several fundraising events throughout the year including the Gala and other special events. Specific committees led by Chairs are established for large-scale events and there are many specialized roles within each committee for parents to fill.
Information about special events are typically communicated through SpotligHTS: the HTS Friday News and through the Community Relations and Development department. For more information on how you can contribute to a fundraising initiative or special event, please contact the Community Relations and Development department.

Joining a Learning Team
A Learning Team is a vehicle through which faculty, staff, students and parents engage in learning about new innovations to support the implementation of the strategic plan.  The Learning Teams meet regularly to study the current research around their topic, examine best practice globally around their topic and connect with key experts and resource people. Throughout the process of learning, they post their findings, questions and ideas for others to access. The ultimate product of the Learning Team is a presentation of their recommendations for change to the Extended Leadership Team. At the end of the year, the Learning Team share their ideas in a Learning Fair for the school community.

Our Board of Governors

JOSEPH ADAMO (BOARD CHAIR)

BRENDA ALBUQUERQUE-BOUTILIER
DUANE AUBIE

RON CARUSO

RAJ DEWAN (VICE-CHAIR)

AMANDA GOSSAI ’03

ALBERT LEUNG

ADDISON LO
NANCY NAZER
MONICA NIJHAWAN

TIM ZHANG

Our Board of Governors

JOSEPH ADAMO, BOARD CHAIR

BRENDA ALBUQUERQUE-BOUTILIER

DUANE AUBIE

RON CARUSO

RAJ DEWAN (VICE-CHAIR)

AMANDA GOSSAI ’03

ALBERT LEUNG

ADDISON LO

NANCY NAZER

MONICA NIJHAWAN

TIM ZHANG