Momentum for Next Year

As we look to the year ahead, we do so with immense gratitude for your support. Thanks to the generosity of donors like you in 2024-25, we’ve laid strong foundations for another exciting year of progress. 

Mark your calendars: our 2025-26 Momentum campaign officially kicks off on October 6th and we’re thrilled to announce the return of Mulgrave’s Fundraising Gala on May 2nd - our first since 2023!

Next year’s Momentum campaign will focus on securing the required funds to complete our Junior School Playground redevelopment, while continuing to support our three major school funds: Financial Assistance, Teacher Development and Head’s Priority.

School leadership will continue working closely with teachers and divisional principals to identify Head’s Priority Fund projects that will directly benefit students in the classroom and beyond, with those decisions being made early in the fall term.

Increasing the annual participation in Momentum is critical for realising our long-term goals and vision as a school, which is why we are incredibly grateful for your involvement this past year. We hope you’ll renew your support in the coming year as we continue to spread and nurture the spirit and culture of philanthropy throughout our community.

In line with the feedback we received from our recent donor survey, we’ll continue to bring you funding and progress updates throughout the year, along with a second full donor newsletter in late January. And don’t miss our Annual Report in the fall, for additional fundraising impact stories and figures.

If you have questions about giving, want to learn more about specific funds, or would like to share your feedback on this newsletter or anything else, we’d love to hear from you in person or at advancement@mulgrave.com

Homa Tavangar, Co-Founder, Big Questions Institute

Friday, September 5, 9:00-10:30am

Professor Po-Shen Loh, Carnegie Mellon Math Professor and Innovator

Tuesday, November 4, 7:00-8:30pm

Save the Date

Widely acclaimed author of many books, including Growing Up Global: Raising Children to be at Home in the World, Homa will offer context for Mulgrave’s strategic direction. She will delve into topics such as effective education in a volatile and uncertain world, the significant economic impact of the climate crisis, connecting to greater purpose with inter-generational intent, and accelerating wisdom. Homa’s work and the Big Questions Institute were key in our process to define the school’s strategic direction, so this is a unique opportunity to meet with an influential thinker.

Professor Loh is on a mission to help humanity thrive in the age of AI. He crosses over between disciplines from math to technology to performing arts, using these experiences to innovate win-win (highly scalable) ecosystems to solve real world problems, ranging from reinventing learning to rethinking the paradigm for pandemic control. One of his highly innovative math programmes trains teenage students with professional actors, focussing on solving math that they've never seen before (thus solving for the AI problem) and teaching high flyers to connect and communicate in ways that go far beyond their comfort zones. 

Stocks and Shares

Donating stocks or securities is one of the most tax-smart ways to support Mulgrave. By giving appreciated shares directly, you can avoid capital gains tax and receive a tax receipt for the full market value - meaning more impact without extra cost. It’s also easier than you might think. We provide a simple form for you or your broker to complete, and we handle the rest. To learn more, just reach out to the Advancement Team at advancement@mulgrave.com

US Library and New Lounge

Thanks to the incredible generosity of our donor community, we are proud to officially launch the completed Senior School Learning Hub, opening for the 2025-26 school year. Purposefully designed as a welcoming, centrally-located academic resource for Grade 10 to 12 students, the Hub provides personalised support during some of the most important and demanding years of their educational journey, helping them confidently navigate the path to graduation. 

Launched as a successful pilot this past year, the Learning Hub reimagines how we support students in developing essential academic and life skills. From study and time management strategies to exam preparation and stress reduction, it offers flexible, responsive services to meet students where they are - whether they're looking to improve performance, overcome hurdles, or manage complex demands.

At the heart of the Hub is our commitment to personalised learning pathways. Every student learns differently, and here they can access one-to-one support from our Learning Strategies team, alongside drop-in sessions with Senior School faculty. Workshops, tutorials, and individual guidance help students take ownership of their learning and growth.

The Learning Hub also plays a vital role in removing stigma and normalising access to academic support by making it visible and available to all. Whether a student needs a quiet study space, tailored advice, or an alternative exam setting due to illness or clashing commitments, the Hub fosters a culture of confidence, equity, and belonging.

To expand its impact, we’ve transformed additional space behind the Senior School Principal’s suite into quiet, individualised testing and work areas, thus strengthening our ability to accommodate diverse learning needs and reinforcing our commitment to student wellbeing and academic success.

The strategic relocation of the Upper School Library next to the Hub further enhances its role and brings an additional member of student support staff into the space with the appointment of Amanda Brooks as Upper School Librarian. This thoughtful pairing brings together quiet study, research, and academic support in one cohesive environment at the heart of the Senior School. To accommodate this change, the Senior School Lounge has moved to the second floor by the theatre and the administration suite. This new resource is a direct result of the support we receive from donors like you to Momentum, our annual fund. You are helping create inclusive, dynamic learning environments that empower all students with the tools, strategies, and support they need to succeed

Teachers like Raquel Teibert, our Indigenous Education Coordinator, and Drew Vodrey, Upper School teacher, are using these opportunities to drive powerful change. In conjunction with their ongoing graduate studies related to Indigenous Education, the pair has led numerous staff journies to Winnipeg, where teachers engage directly with survivors, Knowledge Keepers, and the living history of residential schools. These experiences are shaping classrooms across Mulgrave, inviting students into richer, more courageous conversations rooted in truth and reconciliation.

Others, like Sarah Bernstein, our Director of Performing Arts, are pushing the boundaries of their practice. After completing a Master’s in Language and Literacy, Sarah is now halfway through her PhD in Arts Education at Simon Fraser University. Sarah’s educational journey helps to transform students' experience in our Performing Arts programme. Your generosity goes beyond funding education; it’s multiplying its impact. By investing in the Teacher Development Fund, you’re equipping educators to continually grow and evolve, and in doing so, helping build a learning community where innovation, curiosity, and compassion flourish. 

Teacher Development Fund Updates

At Mulgrave, we know that great teachers don’t just teach, they lead, adapt, inspire, and grow. That’s why the Teacher Development Fund exists: to nurture the professional journeys of our educators so they, in turn, can offer your children the very best of themselves. This fund goes beyond conferences or workshops. It fuels graduate studies, research, and hands-on learning experiences that directly impact how our students engage with the world.

Thanks to your support, we’re currently supporting 10 teachers pursuing Master’s degrees and 2 teachers undertaking PhDs. This is an incredible testament to the commitment and passion of our faculty.

Development Team Update

The Development team takes an integrated approach to curating the journey of a Mulgrave family. From the beginning, the Admissions team recruits and guides prospective families through a process that showcases our Mulgrave education and highlights the essential partnership between home and school. Upon admittance, the Advancement or Donor Engagement team supports the onboarding process, ensuring that all families develop key connections across campus that serve to meet their evolving needs. Both teams work in tandem to build a community that is values-aligned and aware of the opportunities that everyone has to contribute to maintaining high levels of achievement. 

These efforts are also supported by an incredible team of communicators and event planners. They share information through a variety of channels and create opportunities for students, families, faculty and staff, leaders, alumni, and alumni families to enjoy shared experiences and celebrate special milestones throughout the year. 

JS Playground

Tucked between cedar trees and rugged slopes, ask any of our young students and they will tell you - The Hill is Mulgrave’s most beloved outdoor play area. A semi-wild landscape where children climb, explore, imagine, and connect. Now, this cherished space is about to be transformed into an all-new, purpose-built natural playground for students from Kindergarten to Grade 5. Once complete, it will fuel creativity, nurture social-emotional growth, and provide a safe and shaded space for adventurous play. 

But this is more than a playground. It’s a $1m project to support early child development, grounded in restoration and long-term care of our campus.

While the new design will introduce features like suspended cargo nets, log slides, loose-parts zones, and quiet forest nooks, it also addresses a growing challenge: the land itself. Years of use and soil erosion have left the ground dry and nutrient-depleted, threatening the health of the trees and the longevity of this unique space.

The new design will work with the Hill’s natural topography and forested character while restoring its ecosystem. Soil remediation, mulch cycles, indigenous plantings, and new landscaping will ensure The Hill remains a living, thriving part of our campus for years to come.

Thanks to the generosity of early donors and support from the Head’s Priority Fund, we’ve made a strong start - but there’s still important work ahead to hit our funding goal. The Hill will be a key focus of our 2025/26 Momentum campaign, and we’re excited to invite our community to partner with us in bringing this extraordinary vision to life.

You’re helping preserve and revitalize a beloved green space where generations of children will continue to explore, play, and connect with nature. Look out for concept designs and updates in the near future!

Endowment Update

The Mulgrave School Foundation was established in September 2007 as a vehicle for the Mulgrave Independent School Society to raise and receive funds and administer them as part of an endowment fund for the benefit of our community. Five of our founding parents signed the Certificate of Incorporation: Tony Allard, Brenda Blue, Alan Hetherington, Donald Kirkwood, and Bjorn Moller. Since then, all received funds have been conscientiously administered.

An endowment is a fund that is restricted. Only the interest from the fund can be spent, not the principal that anchors the endowment. The principal value of the endowment fund is kept intact, while the investment earnings can be distributable dollars used for financial assistance in the case of Mulgrave’s Foundation. Our endowment fund is meant to be held permanently, allowing donors to support our financial assistance programme in perpetuity.

Over the years, Mulgrave has invested the majority of our fundraising dollars on significant capital improvements, building the campus that we get to enjoy today. But in the background, we have been slowly but surely growing our endowment with the goal of funding our financial assistance primarily through the interest drawn from the principal. 

Our goal is to grow our endowment to $13m in order to have a stable and impactful revenue stream that will support our strategic goal to remain an inclusive community for people of all backgrounds and financial abilities. Donating to our endowment creates a meaningful legacy and we are so grateful for all of the families that have contributed through both direct donations and contributions to Momentum.

$4.9m

June 30, 2025

Momentum amounts committed to the endowment

$200,000

Reinvestment from the Foundation

$250,000

Mulgrave family direct donation

$450,000

From the Momentum Financial Assistance Fund

$95,000

Redirected budgetary funds

Total endowment contribution for the 2024-2025 academic year:

$995,000

New Balance

$5,934,224

June 30, 2024

Total endowment

Momentum Update

As the 2024-2025 academic year concludes, we are thrilled to share an update on our Momentum Fund, highlighting our community's incredible generosity.

This includes $1,717,966 already received, making an immediate difference for our students and programmes. An additional $298,400 pledged for support over the next four years.

Likewise, the 2024-2025 Grade Challenge truly showcased the incredible spirit of our community. We're thrilled to announce that Pre-Kindergarten 3 of 2024-2025 emerged as the winner with an outstanding 61% participation rate! 

What’s exciting to share is our Kindergarten and Grade 6 of 2024-2025 have also won a special prize as their grades increased their participation rates by a whopping 10%. Stay tuned for the big prize reveals.

Imagine the collective impact we could achieve if every family joined in. We encourage all members of our community to participate in future initiatives and help us continue to build on our Momentum.

Our Sincere Appreciation

A message from Craig Davis, Head of School, to all of our supporters. 

We hope you enjoy this issue of Advancing Education!

We are excited to share key updates and sneak peeks of projects, all thanks to your incredible generosity. Enjoy these glimpses and, as always, let us know if you have any questions or want to know more. 

Donor Profile: Kling Family 

The Kling Family has always believed in giving back to the communities they are part of and their time at Mulgrave has been no different. Parents here since 2018, Russell and Jelena have been engaged in myriad ways, especially as frequent attendees for gatherings and meetings where they connect with other families and stay informed about the school's strategic direction and ways to support their young children. The MVP cross-divisional meetings, where Jelena has learned more about what to expect as her children move into older divisions, have been very helpful in providing reassurance that they are on the right path. 

As well, the Klings have been dedicated donors and one of our most consistent participants in the Momentum Annual Fund. Since we launched the fund in 2019, Russell and Jelena have not failed to make an annual contribution. Their generosity and reliability are remarkable, and we invited them to answer a few questions about their motivation to give.

Photo of Gabi when he was 5 and raised >$5k for the cancer program at BC Children’s for the first time.