Exploring Sustainability at Lakefield College School

Lakefield College School’s (LCS) outdoor-oriented curriculums encourage students to take environmental responsibility and respect the Earth through learning and growing outside the classroom.

photo courtesy of Lakefield college school.

“Our main campus is over 150 acres and our Northcote Campus is just over 160 acres,” said Outdoors Every Day manager Garret Hart. “We have a philosophy in the school that is ‘Outdoors Every Day’ which is why we have our students out in the woods and on the lakes canoeing, swimming, hiking and exploring year-round.”

Hart says one of the College’s main goals is to teach students how to enrich their relationship with the Earth.

“Sustainability for us is really about the connection for students to the broader, natural world, and some more concrete things like food systems. There’s a disconnect, people think that meat comes on styrofoam trays and apples come in a plastic bag,” continued Hart. “Giving kids the opportunity to plant a potato and come back to harvest it in the fall and see this bounty that they’ve created, it’s a pretty important step.”

Through sustainability classes in every grade, LCS looks at themes such as Leave No Trace camping, regenerative agriculture and carbon emission reduction.

“There’s so much that we can use just outside of our door to help students understand the impact that they have on the environment, and the impact the environment can have on them,” said Assistant Head of Sustainability Janice Greenshields. “We really hope that students leave here understanding how to be more responsible for the environment as well as how they can use the environment for healthier lifestyles for the rest of their lives.”

Lakefield College School senior Esme Campbell is in charge of sustainability on campus, working with the environmental club the Lakefield Environmental Action Force (LEAF.)

She says part of her role involves working with her teachers to make LCS more sustainable.

“(This role) was a really good way for me to get more involved with the school community. We ran a thrift store to promote shopping sustainability, a clean plate challenge to focus on food waste, and we also did a holiday market where we worked with local vendors from Peterborough and Lakefield to promote shopping locally,” said Campbell.

The school’s current initiatives for sustainability encompass themes of land, water, waste and climate anxiety; they'll focus on these initiatives more intensely throughout Earth month this April.

“I think it’s really beneficial to have the opportunity to work outside. We went to Northcote and fermented carrots, where we learned about how the fermentation process works which was really interesting. With the hands-on approach we were really able to (stay) engaged which made it a lot more interesting than working and learning from the textbook,” continued Campbell.

Students and parents interested in learning more about sustainability and exploring enrolment at Lakefield College School can visit the website and the Summer Academy Seed to Table programs. There are three to choose from.

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Lakefield College School Presents 'Something Rotten' Musical

Lakefield College School is bringing Shakespeare and rock-and-roll to the stage with the musical production of ‘Something Rotten’ starting Feb. 28.

Renaissance dancers (Norah Appleby and Maia Brocklehurst) with William Shakespeare (Alex Bemrose)

Photo courtesy of Geoff Bemrose.

Portia (Isabelle Kim)

Photo courtesy of Geoff Bemrose.

Nick Bottom (Ben Freeman)

Photo courtesy of Geoff Bemrose.

Photo courtesy of Geoff Bemrose.

A cast and crew of over 50 staff and students from Lakefield College School (LCS) have been working since October to bring this production of the annual musical to the Bryan Jones Theatre.

Now that pandemic regulations have eased and LCS is able to invite a wider audience to the show, Something Rotten director and producer Geoff Bemrose says that he is excited to see the show come together.

“It’s kind of a show within a show. It’s a good send up of Shakespeare, tons of musical theatre and jokes as well,” he says.

The show is based off of the novel by Karen Kirkpatrick and John O’Farrell. Something Rotten takes place in 1595 London, England. The Bottom brothers, Nick and Nigel are trying to find success by writing plays, but are outshined by the rock-star playwright of the Renaissance, William Shakespeare. Nick gets help from a soothsayer for the next big hit, who foretells that the future of theatre involves singing, dancing and acting at the same time. Nick and Nigel then set out to write the world’s first musical’ Omelette: The Musical.’ But amidst the excitement of opening night, the Bottom Brothers realize that reaching the top means being ‘true to thine own self.’

Ben Freeman, who plays Nicholas Bottom, has been apart of LCS musicals since Grade 9, and is now in Grade 12.

“They’re probably the most fun part of the year, although a little stressful. Because on top of classes and preparing for tests, I also have to memorize all my lines,” says Freeman. “At the end of the day it’s really satisfying and everyone really loves it. Not only the cast, but the people at the school because they get to see their friends on stage.”

“I’m also excited for my friends to see it. I’m not really like my character at all, he’s very egotistical. He’s almost polar opposite of me. So I’m excited to see how I can be like that,” says Alex Bemrose.

Alex, who plays William Shakespeare in his second musical production with the school, says that with many rehearsals under their belt the Something Rotten cast is enjoying the “fun part.”

“As (the show) goes on, you just get more comfortable, and it gets more fun,” he says. “And now we’re at the fun part. You know your lines, you get to play more, and you get to really get into your character.”

Along with the other seasoned musical theatre students, Isabelle Kim, who plays Portica, says that the seniors of the school help to foster a comfortable environment for newer performers.

“It’s been a really supportive, really fun team, and everyone’s just had this shared passion and I think that’s what makes it so fun. People feel free to express themselves, try new things and not be afraid to explore their characters,” she says. “That’s something really cool about Something Rotten, everyone has the ability to develop their own character and how they want that to translate on stage.”

Kim says that the students in the audience can look forward to some familiar jokes and characters in the performance.

“It aligns with what the different English classes are working on right now, they’re all studying Shakespeare, so I think it’ll be really cool for them to kind of connect those dots and see how many jokes they catch on to,” she says.

‘Something Rotten’ will run from Feb. 28 to Mar. 3 starting at 7:30 p.m. (doors open at 7 p.m.). The opening night show is already sold-out.

Those interested in seeing the production can purchase tickets online for $10 (plus applicable fees) here.

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4th Line Theatre Collaborates With Lakefield College School's Ondaatje House On The Purse Project

4th Line Theatre, in association with the students from Lakefield College School’s Ondaatje House, will be collecting purses and personal care items to fill purses in December 2020 and January 2021, to distribute to women in need in Peterborough and the Kawarthas. 

In this area, there are hundreds of women who receive support from social service agencies and regional community groups. Some are seeking shelter, safety and refuge, and others are seeking support in rebuilding their lives following tragic circumstances.   

“We at 4th Line acknowledge our privilege and constantly strive for ways in which we can give back to our community and to support people in need,” says Managing Artistic Director Kim Blackwell.

Photo graphic courtesy 4th Line Theatre

Individuals can donate a new or gently used purse containing personal care items, donate a new or used purse (clean and empty), donate personal care items to fill the purses, or donate money earmarked for the purse project, and 4th Line Theatre will purchase a purse and the items to go in it: 

Personal care items sought for donation include:

·         *Feminine hygiene products (pads, liners and tampons)

·         *Deodorant

·         *Soap bar or body wash

·         *Toothpaste, tooth brush

·         *Hair comb or small brush

·         *Cloth face mask

·         Washcloths and small towels

·         Body lotion

·         Hand sanitizer or wipes

·         Q-tips, cotton balls

·         Lip balm and moisturizers

·         Socks and slippers

·         Gloves, mittens, ear muffs, hats and scarves 

·         Nail clippers & files

·         Shampoo & conditioner

·         Hair clips & elastics

·         Tissue Packets 

·         Gift cards to grocery stores, coffee shops

·         No used items or food of any kind

Items marked with [ * ] above are placed in every purse, and other items are added based on available donation

The purses, personal care items, and donations can be dropped off at 4th Line Theatre’s Administrative Office located at 4 Tupper Street, Millbrook, Ontario L0A 1G0. The office will be open between 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Mondays through Thursdays between Monday, November 30th, 2020 through Wednesday, December 23th, 2020.  Collections will continue after Christmas from Monday, January 4th, 2021 to Thursday, January 28th, 2021.

Any inquiries for The Purse Project can be directed to 4th Line Theatre’s Artistic Administrator Jess McDougall at jess@4thlinetheatre.on.ca or by phone at 705-932-4448.

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His Royal Highness The Duke of York Visited Lakefield College School For Its Annual Regatta Day

Lakefield College School was delighted to welcome His Royal Highness The Duke of York on Saturday, May 25th for the school’s annual Regatta Day celebrations. 

With one of the largest waterfront properties among Canadian boarding schools, the waterfront plays a significant role in the education of its students. For over 140 years, the school has been providing meaningful experiences through boating, canoeing, kayaking, sailing and other activities connecting students to the water and their environment, and Regatta Days are a longstanding tradition.

His Royal Highness The Duke of York speaking at Regatta Day (photo courtesy Lakefield College School)

More than 700 students, staff, parents, alumni and friends joined in on the Regatta Day activities, which included an address from His Royal Highness The Duke of York. During his address, His Royal Highness The Duke of York spoke of his passion for Lakefield College School, referring to the time he spent as a student at LCS in 1977 and his belief in the school’s strength as an education leader.

“I recognized, whilst I was here, what this school meant to me. And I suspect those of us who have actually been here, understand what I am talking about. It is about the friendships that you make. It is about the environment in which you live, it is about the relationship that you have with your teacher, and the inspiration that they can give.  And if you combine that, and many other things, into consideration, it has made the most significant impact on each and every one of us who have been here.  I have always maintained very close relationships with what goes on here, because I believe that this is the school that leads when it comes to innovation in education, innovation when it comes to the way that we respect, and the way that we work with our environment.” 

Watch the highlights from Regatta Day here…

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Hepburn Family Makes Whopping $15 Million Donation To Lakefield College School

On Tuesday (May 7th), two Lakefield College School families expressed their support of the school through commitments of very generous gifts totalling $18 million.

Alumnus John ’68 and Jane Hepburn have made a $15 million commitment toward the school’s new dining hall and other strategic priorities. The Hepburn's gift represents one of the largest single donations ever made to an independent school in Canada. 

Left to right: LCS Board Chair Nicole Bendaly '93; John Hepburn '68; Head of School and Foundation Anne-Marie Kee; Jane Hepburn; and LCS Foundation Board Chair Jock Fleming

The new dining hall has been identified as one of the major priorities under “Community First” in the school’s latest strategic plan and will be situated in the heart of the beautiful campus, which is located on Katchewanooka Lake.

A gathering place for the entire community, the dining hall will be designed to strengthen and enhance the student experience and will be named in honour of the John and Jane Hepburn Family. 

"With this new dining hall will come an array of opportunities for us to connect and learn from each other, as one community in one inspirational space,” says Anne-Marie Kee, Head of School and Foundation.

Lakefield College School campus

In addition, the Parent Family confirmed their intention to make a very generous gift to the school of $3 million towards a new student residence. Parent House will complete the proposed double residence, which includes Ross House (announced last spring) and will be designed to strengthen their new “Community First” house model.

This gift is made by Marc Parent in honour of his children Alexandre '15, Sabrina '18 and Stephanie '20 in gratitude for the indelible mark the school has left on their lives.

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