Boarding at Branksome Hall by Branksome Hall

Boarding at Branksome Hall

LiveLearnLaugh Together

Toronto, Canada

“I love living in residence. I’ve made a lot of friends from around the world, and I’ve learned to be more independent.” — Jodi, Residence Prefect

OUR MISSION Each day, we challenge and inspire girls to love learning and to shape a better world.

OUR VISION To be the pre-eminent educational community of globally minded learners and leaders.

Your journey starts here Whether you’re coming from just outside Toronto or halfway around the world, choosing Branksome Hall as your new school and home away from home is the start of an exciting journey. Along the way, you’ll meet teachers who care about their students and who are passionate about what they teach. Branksome Hall teachers will inspire you to develop a love of learning that will last a lifetime. In addition, you’ll explore who you are and how you fit into this world. At the same time, you will learn about how you can make the world a better place. At Branksome Hall, we offer a remarkable learning experience. What I love about my job is watching each student on her journey to find her own unique passions, interests, skills and dreams—because, as exciting as a new city and a new school are, self-discovery is the most remarkable learning of all! Sincerely, Karen L. Jurjevich Principal

We set you up for success Your family wants you to have an outstanding education. That’s why they’ll want to know that living in residence at Branksome Hall actually makes it easier for you to focus on your studies. You will be supported by staff and Dons, and our structured study time makes learning easier, because you are surrounded by girls your own age who have a similar workload and a desire to succeed. And, when studying is done, we make sure life in our residence is fi lled with a variety of evening and weekend activities that will stimulate your mind. That’s good news for your parents and for you. From the moment you arrive at Branksome Hall, residence staff will get you involved in a whirlwind of activities that help us all get to know each other. This may include dinner at Toronto’s revolving CN Tower restaurant, where you have a great view of your new city—an exciting city that you can discover at your own pace throughout your stay with us. The fun continues throughout the year, with holiday dinners, cooking classes, Oscar night movies, and visits to museums, theatre, concerts and other special events. To help you make friends outside of residence, we have dinners, sleepovers and other activities with the day students. So, tell your parents you think Branksome Hall would be a great place to live, learn and laugh. We’re looking forward to meeting you!

Are you ready for a remarkable new experience? Are you in search of an outstanding international educational experience—one in which you will be supported by caring staff? Then look no further than Branksome Hall, in Toronto, one of the world’s most exciting multicultural cities.

Toronto

An Outstanding School

Our Community

If you’re from outside Canada, then you’re sure to hear the sounds of home on our streets, because many of Toronto’s three million citizens are from different parts of the world and, in total, they speak more than 100 languages and dialects.

Branksome Hall, one of Canada’s top independent, non-denominational schools for girls: • offers an International Baccalaureate Program that is excellent preparation for university • helps students develop good study and social skills • balances classroom life with a variety of athletic, service, artistic and leadership activities • offers accommodation in heritage buildings located on a scenic, 13-acre campus in the safe and beautiful residential neighbourhood of Rosedale, close to downtown Toronto • provides easy access to theatre, libraries, safe public transportation and many other beneﬁts of living in an exciting, multicultural city.

If you decide to live and study at Branksome Hall, you’ll become part of a vibrant on-campus community that provides the following: • residence facilities for girls in Grades 7 through 12 • a warm, welcoming atmosphere in two heritage homes • supportive and caring residence staff to listen to you and guide you when you need help • a diverse group of fellow residents from more than 15 countries • state-of-the-art academic, athletic and dining facilities to nurture your mind and body • a wide array of social and cultural activities that will help you connect with other students and your new city.

Branksome Hall’s International Baccalaureate (IB) Program will stretch your mind and equip you for the challenges of university and beyond. We will teach you the tools to become a critical thinker and an effective communicator. Along the way, you’ll discover the importance of caring for others and the environment, as well as ways to achieve balance in your life. You will continue to grow as a well-rounded, competent and conﬁdent person who will be able to make a difference in the world.

Residence is a remarkable place to grow! Branksome Hall will become your home away from home. In residence, you’ll be living with 58 students from more than 15 countries, including Canada. Your home will be in one of our two historic buildings: Ainslie House or Sherborne House.

Each of these historic houses is equipped with the following: • single, double and triple bedrooms, with roommates assigned based on age, grade and interests • a communal lounge area with comfortable couches, cable television, DVD players and digital games • Internet access in every bedroom and full access to email and a variety of software programs • a music area with a piano • a kitchen for preparing snacks • laundry facilities.

A BALANCED AND SUPPORTIVE SCHEDULE

Comfort food for thought

6:00 p.m.–7:00 p.m. Enjoy family-style dinner with fellow residents and staff; share news and ideas.

Our meals are nutritious, varied and international in scope, appealing to global tastes. Most important, there is a student committee that offers input into meal choices. Rest assured, your voice—and preferences—will be heard. Residence students come together for nutritious and delicious breakfasts and dinners in our bright, spacious dining room. For lunch, residence students join the day students on campus in one of two cafeterias. Students are required to attend dinner and are joined by staff for a family-style meal.

WEEKDAYS 7:30 a.m.–8:15 a.m. Breakfast in the dining room. 8:25 a.m.–3:35 p.m. Attend classes. Eat lunch with the day students. 3:35 p.m.–6:00 p.m. Participate in co-curricular activities. Study in the school Resource Centre or at the residence. Relax before dinner.

7:00 p.m.–9:00 p.m. Supervised study. 9:00 p.m.–11:00 p.m. Free time. UNIQUE TO BRANKSOME HALL Students have a late-start day every Wednesday when classes do not begin until 9:20 a.m. Fridays are devoted to wellness, and a wide range of physical activities is offered. Students, faculty and staff are all encouraged to make wellness part of their day, and to wear appropriate athletic clothing.

You will feel at home from the moment you arrive. At Branksome Hall, you will find staff and faculty who will support you with a program designed to make you feel welcome throughout your stay with us.

Your first week at Branksome Hall

Ensuring your wellness

In late August, before school begins, you’ll participate in a week-long orientation program that eases you comfortably into residence life with: • exciting activities and outings to help you get to know your fellow residence students and your new city • strategies for academic success at Branksome Hall, including assessment of your speaking, listening and writing skills.

You’ll live and study in a safe, supportive and nurturing environment, supervised by caring residence staff who: • are on duty each day from the time you arrive home from school until the time you leave for class the next morning • are university graduates and certiﬁed teachers, who can help you with your studies after school • supervise homework, curfews, bedtimes and social outings • are experts in the educational and social needs of girls your age • help you learn to manage your academic, co-curricular and social commitments • encourage your ﬁtness and well-being • foster an atmosphere where all cultural backgrounds are respected and appreciated • keep in touch with your subject teachers, as well as with guidance counsellors and international language teachers • communicate regularly with your parents to ease their concerns.

WEEKENDS Relax, study and participate in service learning and a variety of recreational, leisure and cultural activities in Toronto and beyond.

Staffed by a registered nurse, with a school doctor available as needed, the Health Centre is open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. weekdays. At all other times, a nurse is on call and ready to help you. We also have a school Social Worker, who specializes in girls’ social and emotional needs.

Fun at Branksome Hall Branksome Hall’s location puts you at the centre of everything Toronto has to offer. From any of our two residences, you are just steps away from all the on-campus fun, and many Toronto attractions are within walking distance or a short subway ride away.

FUN ON CAMPUS

LAWRENCE AVENUE M

EGLINTON AVENUE M

DUFFERIN ST

YONGE STREET

AVENUE ROAD

ST.CLAIR AVE

ELM AVE

BATHURST ST

KING ST

7 8

FRONT ST

10 QUEEN’S QUAY 11

GARDINER EXPRESSWAY

PARLIAMENT ST

DUNDAS ST M

SHERBOURNE ST

QUEEN ST

BAY ST

UNIVERSITY AVE

SPADINA AVE

OSSINGTON AVE

CARLETON ST

3 COLLEGE ST

DON VALLEY PARKWAY

JARVIS ST

Weekend get-togethers with other independent schools

CHURCH ST

A wide variety of service learning activities

Branksome Hall

4 BLOOR ST M

Special themed holiday dinners

MT PLEASANT RD

TORONTO ATTRACTIONS

Sleepovers with day students

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Clubs and clans to suit every interest

Varsity Cinema Royal Ontario Museum University of Toronto Toronto Reference Library Eaton Centre Shopping Mall Art Gallery of Ontario Royal Alexandra Theatre and the Princess of Wales Theatre 8 Roy Thomson Hall 9 Air Canada Centre 10 Rogers Centre 11 Harbourfront Centre 12 Ontario Science Centre M

Subway station

OUR WEEKEND PROGRAM will keep you busy with outings to the city’s rich social and cultural scene, including museums, libraries, galleries, shops and theatrical productions such as Cirque du Soleil. You’ll also get to visit famous landmarks outside Toronto, such as Niagara Falls, the largest waterfall in North America. There are also opportunities for volunteering to enrich your educational experience.

Opportunities to lead teams, clubs, residence council and student government A state-of-the-art Athletics and Wellness Centre Evening dinner presentations and guest speakers Sports teams, an indoor pool, a rock-climbing wall, tennis courts and large playing fields Evening fitness and aquatics programs A fitness centre with weights, balance balls, yoga mats, training bikes and treadmills Places to stroll and explore nature on our forested 13-acre campus

Discover our IB advantage. Inquiry-based learning and skill development in the IB Program prepare students for success in post-secondary studies. All of our graduates go on to attend a university of their choice in Canada, the United States, Europe or other parts of the world.

Curriculum

International Languages Program

Prepared for Life

All students work towards the same goalâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;graduating with their Ontario Secondary School Diploma and the International Baccalaureate Diploma.

English is the main language of instruction for students at Branksome Hall, and a basic understanding of English is required for admission to the school. If you are still developing your English skills, be assured that our English as a Second Language (ESL) Department can help you develop your English language skills. This will help set you up for success in secondary school and university. You will receive individualized support to help you achieve your language goals.

The IB Diploma Program is an enriched liberal arts program that is viewed as the gold standard by universities worldwide.

As an IB World School, Branksome Hall also offers a structured program for studying mother-tongue international languages.

Our graduates tell us that they were prepared for the challenges of university, and the foundation they received at Branksome Hall also prepared them for continued success in life.

Our program will help you develop your skills in research, inquiry, critical thinking and integrative thinking. All students in Grades 7 to 12 have opportunities for experiential learning or gaining knowledge through amazing activities outside the classroom. These activities can include everything from creative projects in the arts, adventurous outings, ďŹ tness and sports to volunteer work.

More than 2,300 universities across the globe recognize the IB as a valued secondary school credential. Increasingly, the best higher education institutions seek out and reward IB graduates. In the U.S. and Canada, IB Diploma holders are often awarded universitylevel credits, in some cases equivalent to one full year.

IB LEARNER PROFILE A globally minded person is knowledgeable, principled, open-minded, balanced, caring and reflective. Globally minded people are also inquirers, risk-takers, communicators and thinkers. 9

So many ways to soar at Branksome We offer a wide variety of co-curricular opportunities in the arts, athletics, clubs and service learning to help you discover and explore your passion:

THE ARTS 7/8 Singers BH Dance Crew Chamber Choir Jazz Choir Senior Choir Chamber Strings Concert Band Symphony Orchestra Stage Band Creative Outlet Middle School Drama Grade 9 Drama Senior Drama The Kilt Press Writer’s Guild/Perennial CLUBS & SOCIETIES Animal Rights Astronomy Branksome Business Classics Culinary Debating Society Fashion Arts Film

Games Info Tech Innovation and Robotics Knitting Middle School Creative Writing Photography Rock Climbing Yearbook (SLOGAN) Social Justice Sustainability Women’s Rights World Affairs Conference Yoga ATHLETICS Fall Basketball Cross Country Field Hockey Learn-to-Row Soccer Swimming Winter Alpine Skiing Badminton Ice Hockey

Rowing Swimming Volleyball Spring Rowing Softball Track and Field Tennis LEADERSHIP Alumnae/Parents’ Association Representative Assembly Committee (Gr. 8) Clan Chieftains (Gr. 10 and 12) Clan Representatives (Gr. 8) Community Service Council Heads of Clubs and Societies Middle Years CAS Representatives Our House Committee (Gr. 7 to 8) Residence Heads of House Residence Junior Dons Rowing Captains School Prefects (Gr. 12) Student Life Committee (Gr. 7 to 12) Sustainability Council SERVICE LEARNING Local Best Buddies Homework Club with Rose Avenue Public School

Horizons Tutoring Program at Church Street and Sprucecourt Public Schools JUMP Math Tutoring with Rose Avenue Public School Peer Support International Costa Rica Service Trip Queenstown Get Ahead Project (QGAP) School “Triangle of Hope” Partnership, South Africa

EXCHANGES Grade 9 students have the opportunity to visit Branksome Hall Asia, on Jeju Island, South Korea. This may include activities such as horseback riding, golf, sea kayaking and scuba diving.

D I T H C RESCENT

SHE

RBO

20 19

URN

CAMPUS MAP

15 1

2 13 ELM

AV E N

4 5

22 7

10 6

12 9

RO SE DA LE VA LLE Y RO AD

Our promise to you… When you decide to come to Branksome Hall, our priority is to help you become the best that you can be. That’s why we provide a place where you can discover your interests, learn to understand the world around you and make friends for life. Our teachers are committed to helping you learn and succeed, academically and socially. We want to ensure you and every other Branksome Hall girl who graduates is confident and ready to take on the world! 11

13 Read Walk Overpass 14 10 Elm Avenue: Senior School 15 Sime Wing and School Office 16 Buccleuch House 17 16 Elm Avenue 18 Senior Gym 19 Middle School 20 C. Robyn Younger Science Wing 21 Music Wing 22 Waldie Gates

REE E ST

1 Athletics and Wellness Centre 2 Coach House 3 4 Elm Avenue 4 Read Acres 5 Sue Bett House: Junior School 6 Outdoor Classroom 7 Ribbit’s Path 8 Lower Field 9 Tennis Courts 10 Ainslie House 11 Sherborne House 12 Potting Shed

APPLY TO BRANKSOME HALL IN SIX EASY STEPS: 1 Apply online: www.branksome.on.ca/admissions. 2 Submit your most recent report card plus the final report cards from the two previous years. 3 Submit completed Teacher Recommendation forms from your Math and English teachers. 4 Submit any other important educational information that will help us understand your needs (e.g., an educational assessment). 5 We will arrange an interview for you in Toronto, in your community or via Skype. 6 Complete the Secondary School Admissions Test (SSAT). Students unable to write the SSAT will write Branksome Hallâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s own entrance tests.

10 Elm Avenue Toronto, ON Canada M4W 1N4 416.920.9741 ext. 268 www.branksome.on.ca

QUESTIONS? For more information on our Residence Program, please check out www.branksome.on.ca/residence or feel free to contact us by: Phone: 416.920.9741, ext. 268 email: admissions@branksome.on.ca Our Admissions staff have a wealth of Branksome experience. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t hesitate to contact us with your questions.