The Heart Behind Havergal - A Spotlight on the Staff We Don't See Enough

Writer: Melody Kang
Editor: Holly Lai

The Heart Behind Havergal

A Spotlight on the Staff We Don’t See Enough

At Havergal, some of the most impactful people in our community are the ones students rarely get to hear from. Behind every seamless morning, organized event, and well-run classroom is a team of staff who quietly keep the school moving. 

From Facilities and Operations to Food Services, Administrative teams, IT support, and Student Wellness, every department plays a role in keeping our community safe, supported, and ready to learn. Despite this, most of us rarely get the chance to understand what their day actually looks like.

To spotlight the individuals who keep Havergal running, I reached out to staff members across various departments and asked them about their routines, motivations, challenges, and advice for students. Their responses offer a glance into the care, dedication, and expertise that shape our school every day.

This feature doesn’t capture everyone, but it highlights a few voices that represent many. Through them, we can better appreciate the staff who make Havergal feel regulated, welcoming, and truly alive.

Facilities: The People Who Keep the Campus Safe, Clean, and Stunning.

Grounds and Building Operations

If you’ve ever walked onto campus and thought, Wow, the quad looks great today, thank Antonio Melo, Building Technician, and Sandra Velasquez, Groundskeeper.

Mr. Melo’s days start early: checking pathways, clearing hazards, and maintaining a safe environment before most students arrive. Whether it’s mowing, trimming, or preparing spaces for events, every day is different, but the goal is always the same: to keep the campus looking its absolute best.

He’s passionate about the sense of community and the pride that everyone takes in maintaining the school. Seeing students enjoy the environment he helps create is his biggest motivator.

Ms. Velasquez, who has been at Havergal for 23 years, agrees. Her work involves maintaining garden beds, prepping and polishing the fields, and designing seasonal arrangements for the holidays. She revels in working with plants, being outdoors, and seeing the results of her work reflected in the campus every day. Her proudest moments stem from the quiet yet meaningful feedback from the community, which provides proof that her work makes a tangible difference.

Food Services: The Crew Behind Every Meal

Administration and Events

As the Administrative Assistant for Food Services, Amber Pacheco works both behind the scenes and in the midst of action. Her days are filled with office work, managing catering logistics, and at times, stepping onto the front lines at the cafeteria. 

Ms.Pacheco appreciates the friendly atmosphere of Havergal and the joy of seeing events come together, especially when students and staff indulge in the delicious food prepared by the culinary team. 

Her motivation comes from her belief that “food and community are intertwined.” To her, meals are more than nutrition; they’re connection, culture, and shared moments.

“Passionate people are capable of amazing things,” she says.

Nutrition and Student Experience

For Oscar Arias, Nutrition Manager, each day starts promptly and moves fast: preparing drinks, organizing fruit bowls, repairing equipment, and tackling the constant deadlines that come with running a busy cafeteria. 

In spite of the stress, what keeps Mr.Arias going is the students.

“Seeing students enjoy what I prepare keeps me finding new, creative ideas,” he says.

His philosophy reflects the creativity he embodies: don’t stress too much, be friendly, explore new ideas, and approach assignments as opportunities to contribute to something meaningful.

Security: Fostering a Safe and Protected Educational Environment

Student Safety and Security

Meanwhile, inside and around the school, Rob Stepien, part of Havergal’s Fire and Security team, ensures safety 24/7. With 20 years at the school, Mr. Stepien has seen Havergal evolve from just 2 security guards and 20 cameras to a state-of-the-art system with over 100 cameras and a team of 12.

Stepien’s favourite part of the job is being “an ambassador for the school” and a trusted adult that students can rely on. His days vary from monitoring cameras, patrolling, managing access, and handling emergencies, big or small. 

The one piece of advice that he’d give the community is to internalize the fact that behind your core group of supporters (teachers, friends, family), there are people who keep the building functioning safely, who all share the same intention of facilitating education and supporting students.

Boarding: Caring for Students Beyond the School Day

Life and Community in Boarding

In the evenings, when the majority of Havergal goes quiet, Julan McDonald begins her shift supporting the Boarding community. Ms. McDonald’s role bridges the gap between daytime and evening academic support as well as care: supervising floors, helping with routines, and being a reliable source of support for boarders. 

Despite having been at the school for only 3 months, she has already felt the warmth of the Havergal community, a place where she truly feels welcomed and valued.

“ It’s rare to find a place where everyone works together so naturally, but Havergal embodies that spirit,” she says.

McDonald’s philosophy is to stay true to your values, take healthy risks, and give yourself room to grow.

IT: Powering Havergal’s Behind-the-Scenes Innovation

As Havergal’s Manager of Digital Services and Training, Paul Shuebrook starts each day by checking in with his IT team and opening his South House office before making his way across campus. His mornings often include dropping off his wife’s baked goods to brighten someone’s day, followed by digital coaching in the Junior School for teachers and students who want to strengthen their tech skills.

His afternoons are a blend of collaboration and problem-solving: meeting with faculty and senior leaders about digital systems, exploring how technology can better support innovative teaching, and developing training on everything from AI tools to advanced LMS features. What most people don’t see, however, is the emotional dimension of Mr.Shuebrook’s work: the way his colleagues confide in him, seek moral support, or share their frustrations. Being a steady, trusted listener, he says, is a “sacred trust woven into daily life.”

After 22 years at Havergal, the digital landscape has transformed exponentially, but his motivation has not. The relationships that he’s built at this school, along with the impact he’s made on students and staff, have provided a sense of purpose that continuously drives him to do what he loves.

Shuebrook’s advice to the students of Havergal is as thoughtful as his work: invest more in exploring life, rather than chasing achievements; meaning comes from authentic relationships and putting your passions into action. 

Guidance: Helping Students Feel Seen

Learning and Wellbeing Support

Jordy Winograd, Guidance Counsellor and Learning Support Specialist for Grades 7-9, describes her days as anything but predictable. Her mornings begin with emails, planning, and reviewing which students she’ll see; from there, the day becomes a mix of check-ins, coaching, problem-solving, and quiet moments of breathing space for students who need it.

Much of her work, Ms.Winograd explains, “lives at the intersection of academics, wellbeing, and logistics.” For every meeting you see, there are several that take place unseen, whether it be conversations with families, planning accommodations, tracking attendance, or coordinating with teachers.

Regardless of all the responsibilities Winograd tackles, the heart of her role stays the same: helping students feel supported. Her favourite part? “The students. Hands down.” 6 years after joining Havergal, watching students grow in confidence and find their voice continues to inspire her.

Winograd’s advice to students is simple but powerful: lean into discomfort.

“Uncomfortable is not the same as unmanageable,” she says. “The more you practice doing hard things that feel uncomfortable but manageable, the bigger your confidence becomes.”

The Impact of Recognition

Havergal is composed of the work of hundreds who make this place feel safe, supported, and warm. These staff members remind us that a school isn’t just a series of classrooms, but a community built by the very people who bring it to life every day.