This year, the class of 1957 is celebrating their 50th reunion with the presentation of a bursary to the BSS endowment. “BSS taught us to try things and to take risks,” says Alice WEST Bastedo ’57. “Creating a class bursary was one way we could celebrate how far we have come, our friendships, and our 50th anniversary — and we can do all of this together. It is our way of contributing and giving back to the School that taught us ‘we could do it if we wanted to!’”

There is a large, international community of Old Girls who are the mentors and role models for the girls at BSS today. For many Old Girls, making a reunion gift is a perfect way to give back to the School that set them on their paths, and to help the girls of today realize their dreams. It offers the opportunity to give individually, as a class, or both. Whether starting something new, donating to an existing gift or participating in class giving, the options are there to make a real difference in the lives of the students following in their footsteps, and to keep BSS strong and thriving.

In honour of their 50th reunion, the Class of 1955 rallied around the creation of a class bursary and a new altar frontal for the Chapel. “At first we were doubtful that we could raise enough money to create a class bursary, but we were challenged and greatly encouraged by the Office of Advancement and Old Girl Relations to go for it,” says Sally ELLSWORTH Cameron ’55. “And once we started we were surprised and delighted by what happened. Most everybody in the Class of 1955 contributed! You just never know until you ask.”

“We did it for our daughters, granddaughters and great granddaughters,” says Alice WEST Bastedo ’57. “Reunion giving was a way to honour our class and to celebrate our lives!”

Old Girls have taken the time to seriously contemplate projects that would have a lasting impact on the school and the recently opened Student Centre offered the perfect opportunity. “The Class of 1956 welcomed the opportunity to mark their 50th anniversary with a contribution to the new Student Centre, a most appealing facility that we would have loved to have had in our day,” says Helen PEPALL Bradfield ’56.

Last year, the Class of 1996 wanted to leave its mark in honour of their 10-year reunion. “I was looking for a way for our class to give back to the school while also creating excitement around our 10-year reunion,” says Nancy CREAN Hotson ’96. “We chose to support the building of the Student Centre because it was a project that everyone could relate to. I was surprised by the generosity of my classmates and happy to say that we were very successful!”

Successful indeed. If not for the hard work, generosity and spirit of giving that defi nes the Old Girl community, the new Student Centre would not have been possible.

“We are proud that BSS ranks right up there with the best of the best. And to think we were once there...”
—Helen PEPALL Bradfield ’56

Every girl who has attended BSS has benefited from the generosity of our donor community and the belief in giving back that is so highly valued here. Throughout its history, BSS has grown because of that generosity, whether it was to build our beautiful Chapel or our state-of-the-art Junior School, projects big and small have been made possible because of our donors.

One of the most important and meaningful areas of giving is financial aid. These bursaries can benefit the daughters, granddaughters, and great granddaughters of Old Girls, along with all the other talented, deserving girls who are able to come to BSS when they might not otherwise have the means. “It is my dream for BSS that all exceptionally bright and talented girls are able to join this community and benefit from a BSS education, regardless of financial circumstances,” says Kim Gordon, Head of School. “Reunion giving is so important for us to achieve that goal.

 

The Class of 1996 at their Reunion.

Posted January 24, 2008 at 01:32pm

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