Meet Thomas Dunbar ’18 – a Prefect who is carrying on his family’s legacy at Ridley. Read how this Ridleian made his Ridley experience his own and looks forward to the opportunities that await him as a Prefect.

Why did you choose Ridley? I am a 3rd generation Ridleian; my father and grandfather both attended the school, as well as some of my uncles and cousins, so I was eager to continue the family tradition.

Did you feel prepared coming to Ridley? Yes, I felt very prepared coming to Ridley. I had been to campus many times and had already met my advisor and Head of House, so I felt like a part of the community before I even arrived.

Who is your favourite faculty member and why? My favourite faculty member is Mr. Martinez. We shared some great bonding time on last year’s service trip to El Salvador. He has a great sense of humour and never fails to make me laugh.

What has been your greatest challenge thus far at Ridley? The biggest challenge I have experienced at Ridley is juggling the rigor of all my academic, athletic and co-curricular commitments.

What has been your greatest accomplishment thus far at Ridley? My greatest accomplishment thus far at Ridley was winning an MPHL Championship with the First Boys’ hockey team during the 2015-2016 season, capping off a historic season as the most successful Ridley hockey team to date.

What has been your favourite Ridley experience? My favourite Ridley experience is the annual trip to camp at the start of each school year. Camp provides a great opportunity to get to know the incoming students and your housemates, while developing a great sense of house pride.

What is your favourite part of Ridley life? My favourite part of life at Ridley is the boarding environment. Being able to live in a dorm with other kids my age is a very unique and fun experience, that few kids outside of boarding schools get the opportunity to experience.

What part of being a Prefect are you most excited for? I am most excited to participate in the annual Snake Dance and go “inside the ropes” as a Prefect. Snake Dance is a big part of Ridley’s history and spirit, so I am looking forward to continuing the tradition.

How has Ridley prepared you for the future? Ridley has taught me a lot about independence and has taught me how to become a self-sufficient individual. Through living away from home, my accountability has grown immensely and I feel much more confident heading into university.

What are your plans after graduation? After graduating, I will likely take a gap year before heading to university. I hope to continue pursuing my athletic goals at the collegiate level, either domestically or in the US.

What advice would you give prospective students about Ridley? I would advise incoming students to take some time to learn about Ridley’s history and traditions. The better you can understand and immerse yourself in the Ridley culture, the more you will appreciate the school and everything it has to offer.

Introducing Eva Sabine ’18 – a Prefect who was brought to Ridley by fate and never looked back. Read about this aspiring aerospace engineer’s achievements, challenges and goals. 

Why did you choose Ridley? Beginning my last summer as a student of my previous school, I had no idea that I would choose to pack up and leave Ottawa for Ridley. I had attended my old school since Junior Kindergarten and was soundly comfortable. However, after the culminating regatta of the school season, CSSRAs, I visited Ridley on a whim. Upon arrival, the energy of the student body was palpable. I was shown around on a tour, increasingly amazed at the school and its population. Most importantly, I noted the devotion of the teaching staff and the Guidance Department towards the success of their pupils. Finally, after countless hours of daydreaming with my friends during study hall about a boarding school, I was witnessing its impact firsthand. Driving off campus that afternoon, I knew I had to go to Ridley.

Did you feel prepared coming to Ridley?
 Yes, I felt prepared as I moved to Ridley. However, after a day or two I realized that nothing could prepare me for what I was about to experience; the bonds you make with your housemates, the various extravagant Ridley traditions, the successes, the failures. That experience is one that is utterly unique to the Ridley environment and one that cannot be understood well enough to prepare for until one has already experienced it.

Who is your favourite faculty member and why?
 My favourite faculty member is Mr. Maki, as he is one of the major reasons I moved to Ridley. While touring the school, I was introduced to him in the Guidance Department. The obvious attention he paid to each student was incredible. Where my previous counsellor cut me off and told me to aim lower, he saw potential and identified the path to achieve my goals. Throughout my transition to Ridley, he made sure to check in and see how I was doing.

What has been your greatest challenge thus far at Ridley?
 My greatest challenge was moving away from my peers and crewmates, some who I’ve known for up to 13 years. It was strange not seeing their faces passing in the halls, to not be able to debate with Linnea or row with Charlotte, but I quickly made new friends and long lasting memories.

What has been your greatest accomplishment thus far at Ridley?
 My greatest accomplishment this past year was earning a silver medal in the women’s quad event at the CSSRA championship. It was so rewarding to see the hard work and dedication each of my crewmates and I invested over the course of the year pay off.

What has been your favourite Ridley experience?
 My favourite experience was camp at the beginning of the school year. During the few days we were there, I met the girls that would soon become my best friends, took risks and participated in activities that I had not expected.

What is your favourite part of Ridley life?
 My favourite part of Ridley life is the incredible bonds you make with your classmates, housemates and teammates and the lasting memories you share with each of them – from dancing around at 10:00 sign-in to chatting in the dining hall.

What part of being a Prefect are you most excited for?
 As a Prefect, I look forward to helping to improve the Ridley community with various initiatives, being a positive role model for the younger students, but above all, enhancing the school spirit. I look forward not only to hosting spirit events, such as Snake Dance, but also amplifying the everyday pulse of Ridley life.

How has Ridley prepared you for the future? 
Ridley, in being both an IB and a boarding school provides the opportunity for students to practice the independence and responsibility required to thrive in university and beyond.

What are your plans after graduation? After graduation, I plan to attend Stanford University while studying a degree in aerospace engineering. I hope to row for them on the lightweight women’s crew outside of San Francisco.

What advice would you give prospective students about Ridley?
 I would advise prospective students to actively accept all the opportunities before them. The numerous clubs, teams and academic challenges available at Ridley can help you find and develop your passion and prepare you for your future. Allow yourself to forget limitations and enjoy all the opportunities Ridley has to offer.

Introducing Owen Cole ’18 – a Prefect who came to Ridley for the hockey programme, but soon realized that the school had even more to offer him. Read how Ridley helped him practice his passion and develop new skills.

Why did you choose Ridley? Originally it was all about hockey, but I also realized the value of education here at Ridley and heard through a few past students how special the atmosphere is at Ridley.

Did you feel prepared coming to Ridley?  Not at all. I didn’t know where to stand, where to sit, when to do anything. I didn’t know what I had gotten myself into…

Who is your favourite faculty member and why? Mr. Doyle is my Functions teacher and he loves to joke around with us. You can tell he loves coming to work every day. Mr. Doyle worked with me throughout the entire year to improve my mark in his class and kept a good relationship with me always. Even with it being my worst class, I looked forward to it every day.

What has been your greatest challenge thus far at Ridley? The greatest challenge at Ridley has been balancing school, hockey and a social life, especially as a day student. However, you learn to adapt and get into a routine and you get comfortable here.

What has been your greatest accomplishment thus far at Ridley? Being named a Prefect. I didn’t really know what I was getting into with Prefectship at first, other than knowing it is a leadership position in the school. Upon realizing how great of an honour it is and how important of a role it is in the school, it has made me realize how great of an accomplishment it is.

What has been your favourite Ridley experience? The road trips that the hockey team goes on and the time spent bonding. The countless hours on the bus and bonding in hotel rooms are amazing, as it creates a family feeling. You and all your teammates are living together and having the time of your life.

What is your favourite part of Ridley life? My favourite part of Ridley life is going to classes every day with my teammates and then spending hours after school with them as well. The countless number of hours spent with teammates creates a special bond and you can learn so much about one another.

What part of being a Prefect are you most excited for? I’m excited to get to know as many people as I can, especially welcoming new students to the school. I’m also excited to grow as a person to be a better leader in the school and in the community throughout the year.

How has Ridley prepared you for the future? Ridley teaches students exceptional time management skills and I believe after Ridley, I will be very prepared for the workload in university and for my entire life.

What are your plans after graduation? After Ridley, I plan to take a gap year to go play junior hockey, possibly in Brooks, Alberta and hopefully get a scholarship to play NCAA Division I or III hockey, while gaining an education in a kinesiology or business.

 What advice would you give prospective students about Ridley? This place is amazing and it is the best decision I ever made to come here. The first few weeks will more than likely be very tough, as it was for me, but hang in there and work hard because you will get rewarded and learn a lot. The atmosphere here is amazing because there are many different nationalities and you develop so many friendships that you will carry on after your schooling is over.

Also, don’t ever be afraid to ask questions. Be interested in your learning and you will benefit from it… Being in houses and being on teams creates a feeling of a family away from home, so be as involved as you can be.

Meet Charlotte W. ’18 – a Prefect who has dedicated so much of her time at Ridley to serving others. Read about the challenges she overcame and the difference she has made in the community.

Why did you choose Ridley? My parents chose for me to attend Ridley because it was the best school in the region. My mom is from Niagara and growing up she had friends who went to Ridley.  I didn’t have much weight in the decision as an eight-year-old but I’ve stayed here for 10 years because I love all the friends I’ve made here.

Did you feel prepared coming to Ridley? I can still remember being in Grade 3 and having Mr. Bowie assist me with writing every spelling test. I went from full French immersion to learning everything in English. I could barely read and write, but by Grade 4 the teachers in Lower School had helped me catch up to everyone else in my class. By the time I got to Upper School I was incredibly prepared and ready to tackle anything!

Who is your favourite faculty member and why? It’s too hard to pick! I love all of my teachers. Above all though, I have to thank my IB1 teachers for helping prepare me for IB2 and my exams. Ms. Anderson, Mr. Dunkley, Dr. Foster, Mr. Reimer, Mr. Mugan, Ms. Han, Ms. Braun and my extended essay supervisor, Mrs. Darby have all helped me take on the challenge of IB. With how long I’ve been at the school I also know that there are so many teachers who have helped me engage in class and numerous coaches who have fostered my love for rugby and curling.

What has been your greatest challenge thus far at Ridley? My greatest challenge was when I took 10 courses in Grade 10. On top of the regular eight courses you can fit into the academic day, I took World Religions and Classical Civilizations as online courses. Trying to find the time to study for and write assignments in all these different courses was extremely difficult and by second term I had to have a meeting with the counsellors in Guidance about how to solve my problems. I learned a lot about time management and my own limitations from this experience. These lessons have proved extremely valuable now that I am in IB with all the extra assignments involved in the full diploma.

What has been your greatest accomplishment thus far at Ridley? My greatest accomplishment was becoming a Prefect. I’ve done a lot of other things I’m really proud of during my time at Ridley that have lead up to this. I learned how to read in English. I became one of the youngest captains of Ridley’s Cadet Colour Party. I worked with my friend Cassidy Yu ’18 to raise awareness for Dog Guides Canada. During my time at Ridley, I’ve spent my summers on 42 and 50-day canoe trips and this March break I got to visit France and see Vimy Ridge with my history teacher, Mr. Dunkley. Being a part of Ridley’s Positive Space Group, Ridley’s T.R.U.E. group for Aboriginal rights and getting to help train Billy, Ridley’s guide dog in training, have all been a part of becoming a Prefect. Trying to narrow down nine years of fantastic experiences and community supported success is impossible for me because if I’m not putting my all into every experience and making it the biggest success I can than I’m not living right. Becoming a Prefect was the culmination of everything I’ve done so far and I really look forward to getting even more involved at school next year and helping everyone have the same fantastic experiences I have.

What has been your favourite Ridley experience? My favourite Ridley experience was going to France for the 100^th Anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge. I love history and as a passionate Canadian, it was awe inspiring to see the memorials and the way the ground has been reshaped by war. At Vimy there are still the shell holes in the ground from artillery. Seeing it for myself it wasn’t hard to imagine soldiers drowning in the massive holes if they were filled with mud and water. On a happier note, while in France we also visited Paris where I got to see Napoleon’s tomb and explore The Louvre. Seeing an old city, although partially rebuilt, was awe inspiring and reminded me just how young a country Canada is. I got to interact with passionate history students from other schools and learn a lot about the actual appearance of the battlefields fought on during the world wars and the rich history of France.

What is your favourite part of Ridley life? My favourite part of Ridley life is community service. Every Ridley student has to complete at least 10 hours of service every year and it’s amazing to get out and involved in the community. In Grade 9 Civics, we could help raise awareness for a charity, so I worked with my group partners to make a video for Start Me Up Niagara. In Grade 10 we got to write letters to Canadian veterans for Remembrance Day and as a member of Drill Team, I could go to the service at the war memorial in St. Catharines. Last year, in Grade 11 as an IB student, I got to plan a CAS project (which involved showing Creativity, Action and Service) and raise both money and awareness for a cause I’m passionate about. Throughout my years at Ridley I’ve learned the meaning of community service. It’s amazing to see the difference everyone can make if they get involved and put forth their best effort every day.

What part of being a Prefect are you most excited for? I am really excited to help make this school even better. I want to reinvigorate school spirit, help make the course selection process easier and make sure that everyone gets the most they can out of their Ridley experience. As a Prefect, I think the most important thing you do is helping support your fellow students. I’ve had many friends from past years who set a great example for me to follow and I look forward to following their footsteps.

How has Ridley prepared you for the future? Ridley is still very much in the process of preparing me, but so far, I’ve learned a lot about how to be a leader and a better citizen. I’ve made friends from across the globe and this has helped give me a global mindset that will help me in my future studies and career. More than that, Ridley really helped me learn what it means to be an active citizen and take an interest in what goes on around you. 

What are your plans after graduation? I plan to study computer science. I’m really passionate about computers, biology and history and I hope that in learning about computers I can work in a variety of fields that let me explore my other passions.

What advice would you give prospective students about Ridley? Get involved! The fastest way to make friends and the best way to make the most of your time at Ridley is by doing things around campus. Join as many clubs as you can and then quit a few because they weren’t as interesting as you thought. Try out for every sports team you can to find what you love. Mix it up with your course selections to see what really interests you. Sit with people you don’t know at lunch and try to make conversation so you meet people. If you ever feel alone or uncertain about anything, find one of the Prefects or a House Captain. We’re always around and willing to help. Coming to a new school or moving up to high school can be terrifying but rest assured that there are friends out there for you to make if you get involved! There’s a proverb I like to live by that I heard while up in Brent, Ontario on a canoe trip:

“You’ve got to make like a bear with a blueberry bush. There’s a whole lot of fruit for the picking but you never know if there’s a bee hiding in the fruit until you take the first bite.”