Student Life
At Pickering College we believe that the key to building a strong community is by creating opportunities to bring students, staff, and families together to get to know one another. By doing so, each member becomes more committed to the community. From this grows acceptance, respect, and trust. Student life events enable our students to gain the social, emotional, collaborative, leadership, and communication skills necessary to have productive and healthy relationships.
Student Committee
Student Life activities at Pickering College flow from coordinated efforts led by the Student Committee. Our students have raised awareness and funds to support charitable organizations such as the Newmarket Food Pantry and local family shelters. They have also volunteered at community events such as the Youth Haven, the Special Olympics, CNIB Blue Door Shelter, Simcoe Manor, and Red Pine Camp. Each year, the social chairs organize a dance, semi-formal, and prom.
House System
Pickering College prides itself on our full-school House system that builds a sense of community, responsibility, belonging and spirit in our school with all our students and staff. House competitions include an extravagant Halloween costume contest, Spirit Days, and numerous other spirited events throughout the year. Our traditional Sports Day celebration ends our yearly House competition.
Arts and Clubs
Students looking to express their artistic talents share them during Arts Week events, by performing in and attending school plays and musicals, and by creating musical performances for our Coffee House Talent Show or other concert events.
Our students have access to an assortment of clubs that enable them to pursue their passions and develop skills. The Youth Action Organization (YAO), Green Team and the Justice, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion (JEDI) club are examples of student-led clubs that contribute to the school’s culture by allowing our students to take the lead on educating about environmental and social justice issues. The clubs often integrate into our Morning Meetings, providing members opportunities to enhance their public speaking and presentation skills.
Boarding students have proctors that organize events, specifically designed to enhance the experience of our boarding students. Our boarding students highlight their cultures by celebrating United Nations Day, Lunar New Year, and sharing dishes at our multicultural dinner. A favourite springtime event is our Boarders’ Cup, an annual soccer tournament.
Co-curricular Athletics
Pickering College students have a wide variety of co-curricular activities to join, from traditional sports teams like basketball, volleyball, soccer, ultimate frisbee, and softball, to cooking clubs and a competitive debate team.
Student Leadership
Developing student leadership skills is a priority. With this in mind, some formal opportunities to attend leadership conferences occur each year. Our students have attended fun and exciting leadership conferences that include superb keynote speakers and student-led activities. They take place at host schools across Canada and the United States. Some of the keynote speakers have been Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield, non-profit entrepreneur Mike Smith, Canadian General Romeo Dallaire, and War Child Canada Executive Dr. Samantha Nutt. Each year, our students have attended the Canadian Student Leadership Conference, the Quaker Youth Leadership Conference, the CAIS Student Leadership Conference and more. Attendees remember these conferences forever and take the lessons and inspiration from the conferences to inspire and lead in their community at Pickering College and beyond.
Cultural Immersions and Excursions
There are a wide variety of domestic and international trips and exchanges available to students. March Break European excursions have visited destinations such as Iceland, France, Italy, and Greece. Students have canoed through the whitewater in Nahanni National Park in the Northwest Territories, hiked in Peru where they summited the mountain to visit Machu Picchu, and visited remote communities in the Arctic. Our student-exchange program has enabled students to host a partner and experience another country in places like Spain, Australia, and the United Kingdom.