THE NEXT CHAPTER
The Whole Girl , Whole World speaker series , hosted in partnership with the CHS Parents ’ Auxiliary , is a cherished tradition that provides Crofton House School parents , students , teachers and alumnae with an exciting opportunity to hear from renowned experts about issues and opportunities facing girls in a complex and dynamic world .
Speakers are carefully selected , in keeping with the School ’ s philosophy of preparing girls to navigate life with confidence and with consideration of the importance of healthy development and wellness of our students and community .
“ At Crofton House , we value highly every opportunity we can give students to discover and pursue their personal excellence so that when they go out into the world , the possibilities for their futures are limitless ,” said Ena Harrop , Head of School . “ Speakers are chosen for their well-researched and insightful contributions , and in keeping with the School ’ s philosophy of educating the whole girl academically , socially and emotionally .”
In the fall of 2021 , the series returned in a virtual format with an event for the CHS community featuring Carl Honoré . Carl is an award-winning writer , broadcaster and TED speaker .
He is the author of In Praise of Slow , which is one of several books that explore what he calls “ the Slow philosophy ”— the idea of doing everything as well as possible instead of as fast as possible .
In the spring of 2022 , we welcomed Family Nurse Practitioner Amra Dizdarevic to campus , where she presented “ Promoting Mental Health and Resilience in Children and Youth ” to a theatre full of parents , students and staff in the Beedie Fine Arts Centre and many more from our community through the livestream .
Amra ’ s presentation explored current issues in mental health in a postpandemic world , including signals which a parent should be attentive to , and coping strategies and practical tools to support K – 12 students .
A key lesson from her presentation , particularly on supporting students and their mental health , was to “ be present , be open , listen and hear them out .” Be sure to acknowledge your child ’ s feelings (“ I can see that …”), recognize those feelings as part of your experience (“ I would also feel like this if …”), and talk about how to work through a situation together .
“ Whole Girl , Whole World is an occasion to connect and engage in conversations about the actions and attitudes we will adopt collectively to ensure each girl will become a courageous , creative citizen who will navigate life beyond Crofton House with confidence and perspective ,” said Katherine Grant , Parents ’ Auxiliary Coordinator , Speaker Series .
This tradition has enriched our community for many years and covered many important topics . The books discussed would also make a tremendous reading list for anyone involved in inspiring girls to discover and pursue their personal excellence .
PAST SPEAKERS
• Amra Dizdarevic - Promoting Mental Health and Resilience in Children and Youth
• Carl Honoré - In Praise of Slow
• Dr Tina Payne Bryson - Parenting in a Pandemic
• Dr Theresa Newlove - Trauma Informed Practice
• Dr Lisa Damour - Under Pressure : Confronting the Epidemic of Stress and Anxiety in Girls
• Jessica Lahey - The Gift of Failure
• Amanda Lang - The Beauty of Discomfort
• Rachel Simmons - The Curse of the Good Girl
• Dr JoAnn Deak - How Girls Thrive
• Barbara Coloroso - The Bully , the Bullied , and the Bystander
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