A Remarkable Future: Strategy for 2014 & Beyond

A Re mark able Future

S T R AT EGY F O R 2 01 4 A N D B E YO N D

Vision

To be the pre -e minent educ ational c ommunity of globally minded learne rs and leade rs.

ission

E ac h day, we c hallenge and inspire girls to love learning and to shape a be t t e r world.

If you know Branksome Hall well, you’ll know that we’ve been on an exciting journey over the past decade. With confidence and enthusiasm, our students and our employees have made our school mission come to life: Each day, we challenge and inspire girls to love learning and to shape a better world.

Today, Branksome Hall’s reputation is unparalleled. Our students are recognized as globally minded learners and leaders; our faculty represent the finest educators in Canada; and our award-winning facilities, in Canada and in Asia, have positioned us on the world stage as a leader in education.

Now, the time has come to look to the future—one where we will build on our stellar reputation and continue to embrace our mission.

I am confident that we are prepared for this future. And, I am excited to share it with you.

Our history and our past successes are the solid foundation on which we will build a strong future—a future where wellness, internationally recognized academic programs, global engagement opportunities, and transformational leadership feature prominently. In this document, A Remarkable Future: Strategy for 2014 and Beyond, our future comes to life.

Our strategic aspirations transport us toward new horizons, open the door to new opportunities, and ensure that Branksome continues to lead the way for girls’ education in Canada and globally.

On behalf of the Branksome Hall Board of Governors, it is my great pleasure to share our plan, A Remarkable Future: Strategy for 2014 and Beyond, with you—a plan that will ensure that our school continues to thrive for years to come. This is a strategy that capitalizes on our strengths and prepares us for a remarkable future.

Karen L. Jurjevich Principal and Strategy Committee Co-Chair

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“A great strat e gy is about

making clear c hoic e s of whe re

you will play and how you will win.

The Branksome Hall strat e gy is an e xciting e xample of what is possible when an organization

c hoose s to do some thing distinc tive with their strat e gy.”

R oge r Martin , Premier’s Research Chair in Productivity and Competitiveness, and

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Academic Director, Martin Prosperity Institute, Rotman School of Management

A Re markable Future Branksome Hall has a proud past and an ambitious future. We aspire to be the number one choice for girls and their families who seek a unique education with our distinct blend of wellness, outstanding academics and global engagement. We will continue to develop transformational leaders who give back to their local and global communities. This strategy will outline our commitment to offering a truly remarkable education by focusing on the following:

We llne ss

Out standing Ac a de mics

Transformational L ea de rs

Global E ngage me nt Opportunitie s

Our Unique Blend As students merge diverse facets of their lives, we help them develop as leaders.

Our learning intentionally integrates wellness, academics and global engagement— through an approach that requires innovation, collaboration and creativity. Families who value a stimulating and well-rounded girls’ education select Branksome Hall.

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We llne ss: Being Your Be st Se lf We know that physical and emotional

Weekly Girls’ Circles and Advisor

well-being is invaluable to our girls. As

Groups provide the opportunity for

we challenge and inspire girls to love

our students to discuss issues that are

learning, we’re dedicated to helping

important to them.

them bring their best selves to school each day.

Already an integral part of Branksome life, wellness will now have an

Our supportive environment includes

increased daily focus. We offer our

skilled faculty, dedicated Learning

students a wide range of physical

Strategies teachers, a Social Worker,

fitness activities at all skill levels, and

several Guidance Counsellors, and a

we’re creating and expanding wellness

School Nurse.

programs to engage and benefit the entire Branksome community.

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This commitment to wellness is

providing high-quality, nutritious meals.

reflected in our new state-of-the-art

This world-class facility will support

Athletics and Wellness Centre. One

us as we make wellness one of the key

of the finest athletic facilities for girls

pillars of a Branksome education.

in Canada, it will become the hub of campus life and the heart of our wellness initiatives.

We llne ss Means:

It features two saltwater swimming

pools, a gymnasium, dance and yoga

studios, an erg room for rowers, and a high-performance fitness room. It also has a sophisticated dining venue,

aking healthy choices, M which include daily exercise and nutritional food Managing stress Ensuring good sleep

Developing resilience and organizational skills Achieving one’s own blend of

academic, athletic, co-curricular, family and leisure activities

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“I love the opportunitie s that are

available to me at Branksome Hall, and I know that my IB educ ation

has he lped me to be a we ll-rounded pe rson who unde rstands the world around me. C ontributing to this

ne w strat e gy is one way in whic h

I’m able to give back to my sc hool.�

Je ssic a R a u , Grade 12 student and Strategy Committee member

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Outstanding Ac ade mics Our community of learners and leaders values outstanding academics. That’s why we offer the International Baccalaureate Program at all three levels, from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12. Our IB advantage is well known, as top universities in North America and around the world consistently welcome our open-minded, engaged learners—most with scholarship offers.

Branksome offers a liberal arts education that creates independent thinkers, strong writers and skilled communicators. We nurture creative and critical thinking, and cultivate a global mindset. Our girls graduate equipped with the knowledge and confidence needed to make a difference in the world.

As we gather and conduct world-leading research in girls’ learning and well-being, we will enhance our academic programs and share our learning with others.

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“Through our ne w strat e gy,

Branksome Hall will c ontinue to

be an int e rnational leade r in girls’ educ ation-an outstanding sc hool that of fe rs a blend of top-tie r ac ade mics, global engage ment

and, increasingly, opportunitie s to ac hie ve and maintain pe rsonal we llne ss.�

R aj C handaria , Chair, Branksome Hall Board of Governors

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Global E ngage ment Opportunitie s Our commitment to community goes far beyond the walls of our school and the

Some of our key relationships include the following:

borders of our city and country. As an IB World School, located in the heart of

Branksome Hall Asia in South Korea Queenstown Get Ahead Project (QGAP) School in South Africa

Toronto, we foster a global mindset for all of our students, as well as our faculty and

Service learning partners in Costa Rica

staff. When our graduates proceed to careers in globally minded work environments,

Exchange partners in Australia, Bermuda, England, New Zealand, Scotland, South Korea, Spain, and Montreal, Quebec

their Branksome education proves invaluable.

Service learning opportunities within the City of Toronto, one of the world’s most multicultural cities

We see Branksome Hall as a global hub, based in Toronto, with an interconnected,

We’re committed to increasing our global partners in the years to come.

integrated network of partners. We will increase our immersive global engagement

opportunities in the years ahead.

NETHERLANDS DENMARK CANADA

Branksome Hall TORONTO

NORWAY

BERMUDA

CAYMAN ISLANDS MEXICO

JAMAICA

GUATEMALA COSTA RICA

VENEZUELA

COLOMBIA ECUADOR PERU

GUYANA

ST. KITTS & NEVIS MONTSERRAT TURKS & CAICOS BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS DOMINICA ST. LUCIA ST. VINCENT BARBADOS NETHERLANDS ANTILLES TRINIDAD & TOBAGO

CZECH REPUBLIC AUSTRIA

FRANCE SPAIN

UNITED STATES

RUSSIA

POLAND GERMANY

SWITZERLAND

BAHAMAS

FINLAND SWEDEN

UNITED KINGDOM

ITALY MALTA

KAZAKHSTAN

MACEDONIA GREECE

JAPAN

Branksome Hall Asia

CHINA

TUNISIA EGYPT

BAHRAIN UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

JEJU ISLAND, SOUTH KOREA

BANGLADESH TAIWAN

INDIA THAILAND

HONG KONG MACAU GUAM

NIGERIA UGANDA KENYA

MALAYSIA

SINGAPORE

BRAZIL

AUSTRALIA SOUTH AFRICA CHILE

ARGENTINA NEW ZEALAND

Branksome’s Global Ne twork *

We offer two- to eight-week international student exchanges for Grade 8–10 students. Grade 9 students have the opportunity to participate in our exchange program with Branksome Hall Asia, on Jeju Island, South Korea.

Branksome Hall was founded in 1903 in Toronto,

Canada. Our sister school, Branksome Hall Asia, opened on Jeju Island, South Korea, in 2012.

Globally Minded Branksome Hall

As an IB World School, we nurture a global mindset.

We welcome community members with diverse backgrounds and value our relationships with alumnae around the world. In addition, we strive to provide students with immersive global experiences.

Our alumnae are globally minded and living in more than 60 countries.

Service learning opportunities are offered at the Queenstown Get Ahead Project (QGAP) School in South Africa, in Costa Rica and in Toronto, Canada.

Our Residence students come from almost 20 countries.

* As of Fall 2014

“We c hoose to lead in we llne ss,

ac ade mics and global engage ment

today, so that our girls c an be t t e r lead their familie s, c ommunitie s and organizations tomorrow.�

Heat he r Simmons , Strategy Committee Co-Chair and Branksome parent

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L eading the Way To cultivate leaders, our educators continually expand their knowledge and then use their expertise in girls’ learning. Already recognized as a leading IB World School, we’re committed to continuing our leadership in program and school design for girls.

Research is key to Branksome providing the best-possible education for our girls.

Many of our faculty are already involved in innovative action-research projects.

In the coming years, we plan to gather and conduct world-leading research in girls’ learning and well-being. We will ensure that this research is integrated meaningfully, into both our classrooms and our communities—a testimony to our remarkable education.

L earne rs and L eade rs We will continue to nurture transformational leaders who will make a difference in their local and global communities. We will continue to develop students’ leadership skills in areas such as communications, self-efficacy, decision-making, and collaboration. We ensure that our girls are equipped to lead and give back to their communities.

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“Branksome Hall has a clear

vision for its future, based on

what girls will ne ed to be healthy, happy and suc c e ssful.�

K are n L. Jurje vic h , Principal and Strategy Committee Co-Chair

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What ’s Ne x t?

To accomplish our strategy, our faculty and staff are developing new programs and approaches to bring these exciting ideas to life.

We will continue to update you as we move forward. We hope you share our excitement for the future. Please join our ongoing conversation at www.branksome.on.ca/strategy

d i sc over our I B advantage

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