Upper School
Student Life
As a Hudson student, you’ll be encouraged to participate in all kinds of clubs, sports, trips and leadership opportunities each year. These activities foster school pride and help everyone to build a strong, positive sense of self beyond the classroom.
Rockies, Prairies, Great Lakes, and Maritimes—it’s not all geography, they’re Hudson Houses! Everyone in the Upper School is sorted into a House, electing four House Council leaders each year to pave the way to victory and the Discovery House Cup. Students show responsibility and spirit while collecting points through food drives, fundraisers, intramural sports and special events.
Great Lakes surge into the gym with a wave of blue and is considered by many to be the most competitive House. Responsible for initiatives during Mindfulness month, they know how to go with the flow and always follow their motto: “Just keep swimming!"
We don’t know why their mascot is a shark, but after recently losing the Cup following a two-year winning streak, they’re determined to be this year’s CHOMP-ions.
Impetu Maris Maritima – “The Fury of the Maritime Sea”
The Vikings were among the first peoples to briefly setltle in the North Atlantic, and House Maritimes embodies the same boisterous spirit. They storm into the pep rally like thunder, beating on their giant drum sporting their crimson colour!
The Maritimes are responsible for starting the annual House Olympic Games and the Snow Bowl competitions, and are the current Cup Champions.
"Rockies, Rockies, we aim high; Rockies soar where eagles fly! The air we breathe is rare and thin; people say we’re born to win!”
The original Rockies chant remains true today. They’re a force to be reckoned with, always on the hunt for the Cup! The Rockies are responsible for starting the annual Cultural Festival. Energetic and full of ideas, they may indeed be the most creative House.
Branded in green! Distinguished in character! Corn as a mascot?!
Passionate and positive, Prairies is the most celebratory of Houses. Responsible for June Day celebrations, they’re also the original winners of the Discovery Award Cup and set the spirit bar high for all to follow. Whether engaged in athletics or activities with their mascot, Cornelius, Prairies is as “strong as the view of the endless plains.”
Leadership takes many forms—here are some of the ways our students build relationships, empower others, and contribute to our community.
Hudson graduates always share the same advice for new students: join as many clubs as you can! With over 25 clubs and activities throughout the year, it’s the best way to have try something new, develop skills around your interests, and form friendships across grades. Write for the Husky Herald, find peace with the Mindfulness Club, build strength in CrossFit, practice sutures in Science Club, seek homework help at Math Cafe, extend your skills in Math Power, get creative with Fibre Arts and Robotics—or just have fun playing chess, cooking, dancing or learning improv. You can also start your own club with teacher guidance; Dungeons & Dragons and eSports are two recent student-led additions.
.jpg)
School life wouldn’t be complete without Homecoming, pep rallies, the Terry Fox Run, Spirit Week, Halloween costume contests and pumpkin carving, Frost Week, Valentine’s Dances, House Olympic Games, Artists in Residence, Prom, June Day, and much more! Students come together throughout the year to raise funds and awareness for important events including Pride and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, as well as initiatives like anti-bullying for Pink Shirt Day.
With a competitive league and intramural programs featuring 13 different sports, students of all skill and experience levels can enjoy athletics at Hudson. We’re a proud member of the Small Schools Athletic Federation (SSAF), a league of 65+ independent schools across the GTA. Hudson Huskies have celebrated championship wins in volleyball, basketball, track and cross country, and we’re always working toward the next banner!
We welcome fall each year with a week of outdoor education in the Muskoka region. Grade 9 students all attend Camp Wenonah, while Grade 10–12 can sign up for Camp Couchiching. Activities include canoeing, team-building games, archery, fishing, fire-building and polar bear swims. Discover new talents, build friendships, and develop new skills and confidence!
Co-curricular field trips occur throughout the year for different courses and clubs, with visits to festivals, historical sites, nature conservatories, art galleries and museums. Students can also join annual visits to Blue Mountain and Wonderland.
Starting in Grade 10, students can join an eye-opening international trip over March break. Previous destinations include Iceland, Greece, South Korea, Japan, Portugal, Spain and France—for 2025, students will enjoy a four-country tour of five beautiful Eastern European cities: Kraków, Vienna, Ljubljana, Zagreb and Dubrovnik.