MAPPING MEMORIES: CELEBRATING THE STORIES THAT
Shape Our Community
WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE PLACE ON THE CROFTON HOUSE CAMPUS? WHAT MEMORY LIVES THERE?
These two questions sparked the Mapping Memories Project— a community initiative inviting students, parents, staff, and alumnae to share stories that have nurtured their connections to Crofton House School.
When we began this project in 2025, we were guided by a simple idea: stories build connection— to place, to one another, and to community. When I( Ms McDonald) first joined the community, I invited students, staff, parents, and alumnae to take me on tours of the campus and share their favourite places and memories. Stories emerged of students building bug hotels in the Big Woods, teachers seeking ivy leaves with their students for the School Birthday assembly, and alumnae making jam in the Rix Foods Lab for the Crofton House Winter Bazaar. For me( Ms Haligowski), alumnae have expressed their desire to preserve special memories and reconnect with a campus that has changed over time. For us both, these experiences inspired this project— to find a way to collect and share stories that creates lasting connections and a sense of belonging to Crofton House.
So we launched this community project! We collaborated with Chloe, Grade 12 and Ms Poole, Teacher, Arts and Applied Design Skills & Technology, Senior School, to create a whimsical, hand-drawn map featuring beloved campus landmarks. Chloe’ s illustrated map of campus provided an inspiring springboard as we travelled across classrooms, grades, the Alum Mum & Daughter Tea, the School Birthday, and the inaugural Community Weekend, inviting the community to share stories.
This has been a community effort, supported by the enthusiasm and participation of students, teachers, leaders, parents, and alumnae. A special thank you to Ms Macken, Ms McLaren, Ms Seto, Ms Steiger and Ms Matthews, who made the Grade 3 and alumnae connection at the School Birthday so special. So far, more than 400 Croftonians have marked their spot on the map and shared a memory. These will become part of a book for the Junior and Senior School libraries, an interactive digital map, and the CHS archives. Every memory adds another layer to the story of our School.
Sincerely,
Kara McDonald Deputy Head, Community Engagement and Partnerships
Manda Haligowski Archivist
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