Hope House 2016

22 August 2016Ms Karen Hedquist, Houseparent; Photo by Joe Krysl, Whittall '16

Our gorgeous new home opened for Orientation in September to welcome all 18 of our returning students. With 46 new girls forming the majority of our population, it was utterly wonderful to see Hope’s ethos continue. The girls worked as a team under steady student leadership and with a passionately dedicated group of women in our advisor, residential and cleaning staff to (re)establish our Hope community. We have taught each other so much. The Notorious Mexican Hope Squad taught us about spicy popcorn. Hope’s inaugural Grade 9 girls taught us that Grade 9s are nowhere as annoying as other houses told us they would be; instead, their energy has made us richer. Lauren learned to talk, and developed a love for hockey under the tutelage of our first-ever RFA, Miss Suderman. Tea time with Hallsy taught girls that a nice cup of tea is the solution to many problems. The kitchen taught us that dishwashers do not like dishsoap, and that a mess does not clean itself. The impact Mrs Beatty made in the past two years has been invaluable. She has been a steady, insightful mentor to the girls and a rock solid partner for me. We will all miss her and her family. We also bid farewell to Miss Suderman, to our one-year girls, and to the Grads, all of whom have done so much to help transform a building into a home. I may not yet have figured out how the dorm numbering works in this mansion, but I have figured out that the girls of Hope this year were loving, funny, intelligent, goofy, and genuine. People tour this new boarding house, and see a gorgeous building. I live in this house, and see its greatest asset: the girls of Hope. The kitchen is the heart of our home, from HHH pig-outs to dance parties, video games, and naps. We like to eat in Hope House, and so our House Captain’s quotation to sum up the year is apt: “Like spanakopita, our year was stuffed full with pleasant surprises and left us all satisfied, yet wanting more.” Feeling blessed, Ms Karen Hedquist, Houseparent

Where Students Choose To Be