EDUCATION AND CAMPS WINTER 2013
Helping out Schools work to make their communities better
• Seeing things Program helps students notice stuff others miss
• March is coming fast
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EDUCATION AND CAMPS WINTER 2013
WE GOT THE BEAT: A pair of Branksome Hall students drum along with visiting performers from Rhythmic by Nature.
Helping outwork Schools to make their communities better
• Seeing things Program helps students notice stuff others miss
• March is coming fast
It’s never too early to start thinking about Spring Break camps
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HELPING HANDS: Students
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Community partnerships
Reaching out Havergal College students bring their skills to those in need of help
I
By Ann Ruppenstein
n 2009, a group of Havergal College students wanted to engage in community partnership through sports. After teaming with several schools around the city, the sporty days were so successful the students came up with the idea for a two-week long community sports camp. “The coaches are national team and Olympic athletes so that’s really neat and that, in its first year, was really tiny and it’s now capping at 100 campers and it’s just got great traction,” says Havergal’s Ann Peel. The Jumpstart Athletes in Motion Sport for Community Camp, which takes place at the school every August, is attended by students from schools like Derrydown Public School, Birchmount Park Collegiate Institute and Lawrence Heights Middle School and features camp counselors from Havergal, as well as their friends, and former campers who came back to volunteer after graduating. “We’ve got kids from high schools all over the city really being [leaders in training] and camp counsellors as word spreads of this opportunity,” Peel says. “They’re volunteers, they just do it for fun but they get to play sports for two weeks with these kids and get to know them and then those kids can come back and be counsellors and [leaders in training] and it’s just a really virtuous circle of engagement and participation.” As director of the Institute at Havergal College, Peel says its role is to bring the school’s mission to prepare young women to make a difference in the world to life. As part of the process, they focus on community partnerships but they also run other initiatives for students including international excursions and service projects. “It’s essentially a vehicle for students to bring a change in the world in community partnerships,” Peel says. “We are mainly engaging in our own world in Toronto, they learn about different people and develop relationships with those people and become familiar with different ways of living.” Most of the local community partnerships stem from students’ ideas and in the current school year include a partnership with Grenoble Public School, where they do homework and explore what it means to be Canadian with a group of grade 5 students, and an online radio show for Accessible Media Inc. called Teen Talk. “Our students are working on a youth-oriented radio show for youth who are blind so the radio show is oriented towards entertainment
EDUCATION & CAMPS GUIDE Town Crier WINTER 2013
Photo Courtesy Havergal College
RUN AND READ: Among their partnerships within the community, students from Havergal College work with students from Pauline Johnson Junior Public School where they help exercise both the students’ bodies and minds.
and they essentially review what’s been in print on youth entertainment and turn it into a radio show,” she says. Havergal students also partner with students from Pauline Johnson Junior Public School to focus on running and reading in a program called Start2Finish. “We run with kids for an hour and then we read with them for an hour building literacy and physical activity as well,” Peel says, adding that the program takes place once a week outside of school hours. “Then we have a relationship with Best Buddies, which is on more of an occasional basis where our girls buddy with kids with disabilities and they do things together throughout the year on a more occasional basis.” Every year, the school also holds a Celebration Saturday, which includes a bake sale, auction, games and farmers market, in support of the school’s community partnerships. This year the event raised $54,755, which supports the projects. “At our partnership with Lawrence Heights
Middle School, they are going to be supporting a video game design program that’s been made part of the after school programming that we’re doing,” Peel says. “Essentially the students decide with the partners what the proposal is for the funding, so we try to have it be so that the partnership can do something they otherwise wouldn’t be able to do.” Through the experience, the biggest thing students takeaway is the relationships they build with other kids, she says. “You only learn so much sitting in a classroom,” Peel says. “You can learn the theory of the world sitting in a classroom. It’s very important to get out and experience the world both in our own city and internationally we think to bring that knowledge of the world to life.”
“You can only learn so much sitting in a classroom.”
Community partnerships
A day for charity
St. Clement’s students get a taste of what needs to be done
D
By Paula Sanderson
ecked out in red T-shirts, 470 girls from St. Clement’s School headed out into the community and volunteered at 28 different charities on Dec.17. From daycares to food banks, Clementines embraced the school’s second annual Community Service Day. “I think we’re so fortunate,” says grade 11 student Joanne Whyte. “I have an amazing family, I live in Toronto, and we’re so lucky to go to an amazing school. There are a lot of people who just aren’t as fortunate so to be able to give back and help them is very important to me.” For her part, Whyte volunteered at St. Michael’s Day Care. “I love working with kids, so clearly coming to a day care was a good option,” says Whyte. “It’s really neat how the whole school gets out and goes through out Toronto and makes a big difference.” Fellow student Mimi Dacon agrees. Dacon missed last year’s Community Service Day because she was volunteering in Kenya but was happy to be at St. Michael’s Day Care this year. “Volunteering is fun for me because I know I’m doing something good for the community and it’s a break from homework,” she says smiling. Dacon explained that all students in grades 9–12 were able to choose where they go. “You go into the lunch room and there are different sign up sheets and there was gift wrapping, can food drives, sorting gifts, sorting clothes for other Christmas-related activities and because I love working with kids I picked this one,” she explained. All Ontario high school students have to complete 40 hours of community service, but for Dacon volunteering is more than that. “It shouldn’t just be to fill those required hours you need to graduate,” says Dacon. “I know my community has done so much for me and contributed so much to me and my childhood. As a high school student you reciprocate all that love you were given as a child you give back to your community.” Guidance counsellor Vanessa Wade says that a volunteer event, like the school’s Community Service Day, is very important for students to undertake. “The opportunity to be outside of our direct community I think is a great learning opportunity for them,” she says. “It’s the spirit of giving.” Student Quinlan Hickey, who spent her day cooking food for the Out of the Cold program at Glenview Presbyterian Church, says she was very satisfied with the whole experience. “It was a lot of fun,” says Hickey. “This really felt like you were helping someone directly.”
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BUNDLE UP: A pair of St. Clement’s School students prepare to take a group of preschoolers out to play during the school’s annual Community Service Day.
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Community partnerships
Learning to help Commitment to a cause key for TFS students
S tristan carter/town crier
HERE TO LISTEN: TFS student Alyssa Kastner, left, spent the morning of Dec. 6 talking to residents of Isabel and Arthur Meighen Manor, including Joan Mansfield, as part of her school’s community service day.
By Tristan Carter
tories and smiles filled the room as a group of grade 8 students from TFS visited a nearby nursing home before the holidays. There was a noticeable age gap between participants but few lulls in their conversations. The students seemed glad to be there, and the residents of the Salvation Army Isabel and Arthur Meighen Manor seemed to welcome the visit. “They don’t really get to see a lot of young people so I think it made them happy to be able to talk to us and get to know us,” said TFS student Alyssa Kastner of the residents. “One of them, she knew my school when it was just a little house and her dad used to horseback ride around the school so I thought that was really cool.” The inter-generational gathering was one of nine community events attended by TFS staff, students and parent volunteers on the morning of Dec. 6. Groups
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others
“We’re caring. We want to help other people.�
of students visited places such as the North York Women’s Shelter and Moorelands Community Centre. In all, 90 grade 8’s left their classrooms to lend a helping hand. According to the school’s dean of student affairs, Kim English, a special emphasis is placed on volunteerism at TFS. “I think that there’s a lot that students can learn through these experiences,� English said. “People talk about educating the whole child and empathy is a huge part.� For many of the students, it was their first taste of community service but they will have several more chances to help out in later grades. All Ontario high school students are to give 40 hours of volunteer work to the community. The International Baccalaureate program provided at TFS also requires community service, but the school has taken it a step further, asking students to make a long term commitment to a non-profit organization. “We’ve kind of taken that requirement and we’ve sort of put our TFS spin on it,� English said. “It’s more meaningful for organizations and for the students to volunteer in the same place for a longer period of time because the students really get to know that organization and the issues that surround it.� In grade 11, students are asked to find time to volunteer at least once a week for several months, depending on what kind of work they are doing. In the past, young volunteers have spent time with organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, Lawyers Feed the Hungry and Out of the Cold as part of their long term service projects. After her time at Meighen Manor, Kastner said she hopes to lend her time to help seniors. “I really like working with the elderly so I’ll probably do something like that for my service project,� she said. Next year, she and others in grades 9–11 will be eligible to take part in a community service trip outside of their own community — all the way in Ecuador. Last March Break, students helped build a clean water irrigation ditch for a small village. This coming year they may be tasked with helping to construct a new school. English, who has been on the trip herself, admitted it can be bittersweet for the students. “They loved it,� she said. “I think they especially loved being with the kids from the community. But there’s a lot of malnutrition. It was sad in many ways.� Students don’t have to leave school to give back. The school’s Outreach Club organizes events such as World Vision’s 30 Hour Famine as well as various food drives for North York Harvest Food Bank and toy drives for the six families the school sponsors through Moorelands. “We’re caring. We want to help other people,� said Gianni Prenol who spent the day packing gifts at Moorelands. “We’re all equally important here, some are just less fortunate than others.�
tristan carter/town crier
SANTA’S HELPERS: Gianni Prenol, left and Grace Donahue help load up a cart full of gifts destined for those in need at the Moorelands Community Centre.
Ages 1.5years - 12years.
English said she hopes the volunteer trips helped hammer home that message for all of the students. After returning to school, the separate groups spoke to the rest of their grade about what they had seen and done that day. “It’s really nice because even though these students were here they still get to benefit from hearing about all the other experiences too,� English said. “So as they get older they can then kind of decide what organizations they might be interested in. “We try to work with organizations that can use the help of our students,� she said. “If we can send students out once in a while to engage and be helpful then we need to do that. It’s our responsibility as citizens to participate in and support our communities.�
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WINTER 2013 Town Crier EDUCATION & CAMPS GUIDE
Technological solution
Bayview Glen on top
W
Robotics team on to provincials By Ann Ruppenstein
photo courtesy bayview glen
MINDSTORM: Katherine Tom, left, Imaan Hirji and Danielle Tse helped their team iGo to win the FIRST Lego League Robotics East Championship Qualifier.
hen Derek Gaudet joined Bayview Glen three years ago he joked that the newly formed robotics team were expected to win. Last year, the boys’ Ctrl-Z robotics team won big. “I was teasing them and they went off and they won, and they won at the regional level and then they won at the provincial level and then they came in third in the world,” says the assistant head of the prep school. “I again made another joke that got me in trouble when I said that if they had done well at the world level then I would think about hosting the tournament.”
Jan 29 Feb 20 Apr 17 May 13
EDUCATION & CAMPS GUIDE Town Crier WINTER 2013
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This September, he was approached by Dave Ellis, the head of Ontario’s Robotics League about holding the FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Lego League Robotics East Championship Qualifier on Dec. 1. He agreed to host the day which saw students apply their math and science knowledge to research, design, build and program autonomous robots using Lego Mindstorms software. The focus of the regional competition was on ways to improve the quality of life for seniors. Over 100 students from ages 9 to 14 participated from nearly a dozen schools in Ontario. Management from Thales Canada, the engineering firm who sponsored the competition, physicians and professors from the University of Toronto were on hand to judge the event. “We had a wide variety of professionals that took on the roll of judges and when I was watching them do their deliberation and make their final decisions I was just amazed at how dedicated they were to the process,” Gaudet says. “When I talked to them afterwards, they said that they had seen how much hard work and dedication the students had put into it that they felt that they owed it to the kids to put in as much as they did.” For their “senior solution,” Bayview Glen’s girls’ iGo robotics team, which consisted of Danielle Tse, Imaan Hirji, Megan Lai, Katherine Tom and Sophie Warlow, came up with an idea to help seniors go up and down flights of stairs. “Basically it is a front cross bar that a senior can hold onto while going up and down the stairs with a metal track installed on the side on the walls with screws that will lock when you put any pressure on it,” Lai says. The competition was divided into different parts, including robot design, core values and the overall project, how well a team demonstrated its solution for a real-world problem, and the research behind its solution. After dueling it out all day, Bayview Glen’s iGo robotics team came out on top at and advanced to the provincials in January. “On that day of the robotics competition we were all pretty jumpy and jittery,” Warlow says. “We were excited but nervous, confident and excited at the same time. We didn’t know what to think but in the end it turned out really well and we all worked really well as a team and it came together very well.” Aside from Lai, this is the first time the girls on the team participated in robotics and they signed up for the extra-curricular activity after hearing about how much fun she had, they say. “The great thing about robotics is that it’s a real world experience, it’s not something out of the textbook, it encompasses many things,” Gaudet says. “It’s problem solving, it’s team building, it’s creative thinking, it’s programming a computer, it’s building a robot, and it just encompasses so many different facets that I think the students walk away having challenged themselves to something they’d never get in the classroom.”
Eye-opening curriculum
It’s all how you see it Teaching students a whole new way to think
F
By Lori Connor
or Branksome Hall and Upper Canada College, solving the world’s problems begins with a few magic tricks. Illusionist Ray Chance treated a gym full of grade 8 students to exercises in misdirection: guessing cards, emptying cups of water and cutting open a grapefruit to reveal a $10 bill. For most schools, it would be an entertaining diversion. But this show had education in mind. “They had a good way to keep our attention,” says Branksome Hall student Annalisa Lowenstein. “They’re teaching us a bunch of stuff in ways that we wouldn’t usually see.” The magic served as a introduction to the Rotman School of Management’s annual iThink initiative at Branksome Hall, a day-long class in what it calls integrative thinking. The purpose of the program is to make students notice things they wouldn’t have noticed before, says Nogah Kornberg, who has spent three years developing integrative thinking at Rotman. “There is too much information in the world for our brains to take it all in,” Kornberg says. “Our brains have developed in a way that we remember what we think is most important. Once we realize we miss information, we can be better at seeking it out and we can be better at trying to find cool things in the world that we may have missed otherwise.” And by understanding that one’s viewpoint is limited and that other people perceive the world differently, students can come up with new, comprehensive solutions to some of the world’s problems. “A magician is such a perfect way to start the day,” Kornberg says. “Magic works because there’s stuff we’re paying attention to, but the stuff we don’t pay attention to is what makes magic so magical.” After the show, students broke off into groups to explore displays designed to make them second-guess what they perceive. In one room, they viewed unlabelled photographs of people and tried to guess why the subjects are famous. One yearbook photo of a pudgy, bespectacled boy garnered guesses like “CEO” or “computer programmer” — when it was really television personality Ryan Seacrest.
photo courtesy Juila Drake
IT’S A MARSHMALLOW LESSON: Students from Branksome Hall and Upper Canada College work together to build a structure with spaghetti noodles, tape, string, and a marshmallow to teach them different ways of thinking.
Students walked a gallery of optical illusions, watched a video on stereotypes, participated in debates, and built structures from spaghetti noodles by borrowing each other’s ideas. “I think they’ve taken a much different approach than a lot of the teachers I’ve had in the past,” says Kimathi Muiruri, one of the boys visiting from Upper Canada College. “It’s extremely different, but different in a good way, as in it includes us. It’s not just a teacher telling us about learning. It’s a teacher helping us learn how we learn. I like that approach because it gives us a chance to discover us, opposed to a test or a survey telling us who we are.” Lowenstein also finds it effective. “I find it really useful to do hands-on work because it’s a lot more interactive than sitting at a desk or on your computer,” she says. The iThink program began at Branksome Hall four years ago, was originally designed for Masters of Business Administration and company executives, Kornberg says. Rotman first brought it to Branksome as a 10-week after-school class for grade 10 girls. “They demonstrated the capacity of young people to think if given the tools and the support to do so,” Kornberg says. She says Rotman plans to further modify
the program for children as young as kindergarten, encouraging their inherent curiosity and fostering it as they grow. “The full-day program, like the one here, is unique to UCC and Branksome Hall,” Kornberg says. Rotman is looking into expanding the curriculum into grades 8 through 10 at the school. “I have students who are in grade 11, and they remember this program,” says Branksome Hall teacher Giles Pinto. “They get challenged. “The research shows us: if the kids don’t feel comfortable, secure, connected to other people, particularly girls, we will have problems with learning. We have to go back to that step and make them feel like they have the tools.” Muiruri says that being equipped with these tools helps integrative thinkers to become better people. “You become an individual,” he says. “You become your own. I believe that if everybody was the same, it would be an extremely boring world, so I think learning how you perceive is good.”
“It’s a teacher helping us learn how we learn.”
WINTER 2013 Town Crier EDUCATION & CAMPS GUIDE
People to be proud of
A visible gift
O
By Ann Ruppenstein
n Oct. 9, St. Clement’s Alexis Gallagher looked into a mirror to see herself without hair for the first time. As a teacher at the top fundraising school for the CIBC Run for the Cure for the last eight years, Gallagher decided to donate her hair if the school met their goal of raising $40,000. After the team, which included 183 students, staff, parents and alumnae, beat their goal by raising $44,766, helping St. Clement’s School to maintain their fundraising title, the time came for Gallagher to part ways with her bust-length locks. To capture a video she could later show during a school assembly, she invited her videographer and photographer best friend Tori Zimmerman over to her apartment to film the shaving process and to help with the haircut. “I thought I’d be more nervous but I was actually really excited and I didn’t know the camera was on for the first part and I was just sort of getting prepared for it and that’s when I started getting a little bit nervous,” Gallagher says. “Then it wasn’t until she actually held up part of the [cut off] hair that it started becoming a bit more real to me.” As shown in the video, which has over 10,000 views to date on YouTube, the process was actually done in stages: first her hair was cut
photos courtesy Tori Zimmerman and Alexis Gallagher
ALL IN: After her school raised $44,766 for the CIBC Run for the Cure, the most of any school in Canada, St. Clement’s teacher Alexis Gallagher shaved her head and donated her hair.
off in three ponytails, then it was shaved with an electric razor and finally with a hand razor by her husband. As a result, she was able to donate 28 centimetres of hair for Wigs for Kids. “My favourite part was probably when my husband just shaved it all the way down and just feeling it after and then looking at the mirror at the end,” she says. “I think a lot of people that see the video don’t realize that I haven’t been seeing myself for the whole time it’s not until the end that I actually look in the mirror and then I think the biggest thing that shocked me was how white my head was.” In addition to supporting breast cancer research Gallagher, as a health and phys-ed teacher, was also trying to be a role model for students through the experience, she says. “In terms of societal pressure on physical appearance and confidence and self esteem with body image and that sort of thing I talk a lot
about in my classes and that was sort of a secondary kind of lesson I wanted to show, that no matter how you look from the outside you can just be confident in your appearance as well,” she says. Gallagher, who admits she’d probably shave her head again for a good cause — although not likely in the near future — says the best part of the experience was the reactions it elicited. “The support that I got from the students and the staff and just the families of the school and alumni who graduated and were sending me messages of support I didn’t really think it would be this big of a deal and get this much attention,” she says. “I think that was probably the greatest thing and just the awareness that I think it helps create.” Gallagher’s hair had grown back to over half an inch at press time.
Other sports
B By Lori Connor
photo courtesy Hockey Canada Images
GOLDEN ALUMNA: Olympic gold medal-winning hockey player Gillian Apps chose to attend Havergal College for high school.
10 EDUCATION & CAMPS GUIDE Town Crier WINTER 2013
efore she was winning Olympic hockey gold with Team Canada in Turin and Vancouver, Gillian Apps was learning the game at Havergal College. Her brother, Syl, attended Upper Canada College and his example fuelled her decision as to what school to attend. “When it was time for me to decide where I went to high school, I decided to choose the private school route, based on the great experience that he had,” Apps says. “When looking at all of the girls’ schools in the city, I think that Havergal just felt like the best fit for me.” She soon began to make her mark on the athletics program, juggling soccer, basketball, and hockey along with her classes. “I feel like challenging myself in other areas of athletics made me a better allaround athlete, which in turn made me a better hockey player,” Apps says. “If I had strictly devoted myself just to hockey, I probably would be burned out by now.” An aptitude for the game runs in her family. Her grandfather, Syl Apps, won three Stanley Cups and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Her father, Syl Jr., retired in 1980 as the Pittsburgh Penguins’ career leader in assists. Apps seems destined to continue that legacy. By grade 10, she was a member of
Thanks coach
S
By Perry King
itting in on a girls’ volleyball game between the St. Clement’s Penguins and Appleby College Blue Dogs, you can see and hear how Wendy Girvan coaches. “Good decisions, girls!” shouts Girvan, as she encourages her squad in the best-of-five contest. The match is a marathon, but Girvan isn’t confrontational, she is even seen smiling throughout the game. “When I was a player, I related very well to my coaches,” said Girvan, who, after 31 years as a teacher and coach at St. Clement’s decided to retire at the end of this school year. “As a coach, I went back to what I valued the most in my coaches, and that was positive reinforcement all the time.” Constructive feedback and supportive advice is Girvan’s mantra. When an Appleby player gets injured during the game, Girvan is consoling her, giving her advice on treatment. During timeouts, Girvan brings a quiet confidence to her feedback, and never raises her voice. “I don’t take kids out when they make mistakes,” said Girvan, who coaches basketball and volleyball at the school. “I’ve talked to the kids ahead of time philosophically, so they
know, going into the game, how I coach.” The all-girls school currently fields seven volleyball teams starting in grade 5. It’s this approach, to players, and even to the culture of sports at St. Clement’s, which she has refined over her years as a teacher, and then as director of athletics. “What sticks out to me is that the school, in 30 years, has maintained the philosophy that it had when I got here, that every kid plays,” says Girvan. Girvan’s impact has been profound for generations of girls. Before becoming the principal of St. Clement’sMartha Perry was coached by Girvan when she attended as a student. “She’ll be a big loss for our school,” Perry said. “She really believes strongly in our philosophy, having everybody at the table, and building skills as opposed to winning at all costs.” While St. Clement’s is known for its academics, Perry says the school has a weak reputation for its athletics. “People sometimes misunderstand that our athletics and arts programs may not be as strong,” she says. “I
perry king/town crier
PEP TALK: After 31 years as a teacher and coach at St. Clement’s School, Wendy Girvan is hanging up her whistle.
would argue that they’re as strong, and the belief is that girls are doing this because of the love of participation. Coupled with that, they’re growing and learning as athletes or artists. “[The students] have a fierce pride, and they’re intensely competitive.” Girvan, who became director of student life several years ago, has been broadening her imprint on the school beyond athletics, sharing her vast knowledge and encouraging the student body in a broader environment. It’s a role Girvan treasures. And with her retirement to come this June, the school will feel the loss, but the St. Clement’s community will be able to adjust, continuing
her legacy. “A lot of us have worked with her for so long,” says current director of athletics Beth Will who came under Girvan’s tutelage during teacher’s college. “She really has shared so much with us that ... she’s leaving, but she’s still here in a way because all of her ideas are with us. Girvan has been a sports guru for St. Clement’s, documenting everything about how to play the game well. It is that legacy that gives Will and the faculty much comfort. “We’ll miss her, but I think she knows that, having trained us in what we do, we’ll continue on and do quite well,” Will says.
kept hockey hero sharp the Beatrice Aeros in the Canadian Women’s Hockey League. The next year, she was playing with Canada’s national team. An invitation to the 2002 Olympic squad meant that she had to fast-track her final year of high school. “It was a last-minute decision,” she says. “The way that my classes were set up, I was lucky enough to be able to graduate a year early. Havergal was extremely helpful.” Although she didn’t make the team, Apps says she was happy with her decision. “The only way it affected my experience was essentially that I missed a year there,” she says. She had been elected head girl for her final year, but had to forego the position to graduate early. “I think at that time in my life I couldn’t turn down the opportunity that hockey was presenting me with,” Apps says. “The Havergal community was very supportive in allowing me to follow my athletic goals.” Apps moved on to play at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire, where she
was eventually named the team’s captain. Along with her gold medals in Turin in 2006 and Vancouver in 2010, Apps has won gold in two International Ice Hockey Federation World Women’s Championships. She has also played in the annual Four Nations Cup since 2002, winning seven of them. She now has her sights set on the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, Russia. “We are training right now, in hopes of defending our gold medal at the World Women’s Championships, which will happen in April 2013, and then at the Olympics in 2014,” Apps says. “We need to continue to work as a team to get better every single day.” Since leaving Havergal, she’s returned to talk to students about her experiences. “I am extremely grateful for my time at Havergal,” Apps says. “I feel like the staff and community there did a great job at preparing myself and my classmates to head into the next phase of our lives with balance and confidence. “I think the school does a great job at providing their students the platform and foundation to grow into confident and intelligent women.” WINTER 2013 Town Crier EDUCATION & CAMPS GUIDE 11
School happenings
photo courtesy bayview glen
WELCOME BACK: Bayview Glen families, staff, faculty and friends joined the Fall Fest 2012 organized by the school’s Parent Guild.
A year in pictures
photo courtesy metro prep
FLEET OF FOOT: Metro Prep’s cross country had much to celebrate with 12-year-old Daniel Thompson earning his way to the podium finished second out of 140 runners in the under-14 age category.
photo courtesy branksome hall
IF I ONLY HAD THE HEART: Branksome Hall staged the Wizard of Oz with a twist, replacing Dorothy with flyer Amelia Earhart, played by Alex McVittie, left. Joining her are Liza Hersh and Katie Mergelas.
12 EDUCATION & CAMPS GUIDE Town Crier WINTER 2013
photo courtesy TMS
UN-TRASHING THE NEIGHBOURHOOD: Members of TMS’s Green Club took to the streets in October to help clean-up the area.
Getting the timing right
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Just when is the best time for your kids to start at a private or independent school? By Eric Emin Wood
ith Ontario’s high school teachers cancelling extracurricular activities, and elementary school teachers across the province participating in rotating strikes, parents might be wondering if it’s a good time to look into enrolling their children in private or independent school. But will grade 1 students succeed if they attended kindergarten in public school? Is grade 4 too late? What about grade 10? Just when is the best time to enrol kids in private education? Many private and independent school’s say that timing should be a personal decision due to many factors, including finances, proximity to the school and whether the child has siblings. However, Montcrest School’s director of admissions Michael Dilworth says students should get started as soon as they can in order to be successful. “In the elementary years you’re building that foundation for learning,� he says. “The only disadvantage, quite frankly, is the cost.� Royal St. George’s College’s Tom Stevens says the best time to begin schooling outside the public system, if not from the beginning, is grade 7, calling grades 7, 8 and 9 incredibly formative years for boys. “Boys tend to learn by doing, not necessarily by hearing or by reading,� he says. “For example, today I was teaching grade 10 math. In the last 10 minutes of class we took a walk outside. We looked at car headlights and talked about how they’re parabolic mirrors described by a quadratic equation, and the actual light doesn’t face out towards the road — it faces towards the mirror.� Wayne McKelvey, principal of Metropolitan Preparatory Academy, recommends enrolling kids in grade 9 at the latest. “We get inundated for grades 10,
Is grade 4 too late? What about grade 10?
11 and 12,� he says. “If parents are going into the private sector, the earlier the better.� Havergal College perfers students to enroll at established entry
points of either junior kindergarten, grade 1, grade 4, grade 7 or grade 9. “As part of our planning for those entry points, we have a very
solid transition program in place — not just for our girls, but for their parents as well,� says the school’s director of admissions Maggie Houston-White.
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A question of credibility
Choose wisely
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By Christelle Agboka
very year, well-intentioned parents seek out private school education for their children. For these families, benefits such as academic enrichment, increased parental involvement and a safe, caring community of students and teachers outweigh the costs, financial or otherwise. Because there are innumerable approaches to education, finding a school that matches one’s own perspective can create a positive, productive academic experience for your child. Whether you prefer the student-directed learning method of Montessori, or the arts-based curriculum of a Waldorf school, choosing the right school will not only allow students to thrive in a supportive environment and build independence, but also gain unique skills that fit their learning style. With options ranging from boarding schools to modern alternative curricula, there is almost certainly a school to suit each and every child. But parents must take the time to find the best fit for their child and avoid schools of questionable reputation. Many private and independent schools belong to provincial, national or international associations that either govern their curriculum or operations, or provide professional development and support for teachers. This accreditation can be an important factor, as it provides a third party reference and credibility for the school.
14 EDUCATION & CAMPS GUIDE Town Crier WINTER 2013
However, media reports on credit mills — schools boosting student marks and reducing course requirements for a cost — loose regulations around starting up a private school and private school teacher qualifications may give parents pause. To help ensure the credibility of your private school options consider taking the following steps: Seek out private schools within larger associations such as the Ontario Federation of Independent Schools, Canadian Accredited Independent Schools and the Conference of Independent Schools of Ontario. According to Conference of Independent Schools Ontario director Jan Campbell, groups such as hers have “rigorous membership criteria ensure that member schools are reputable, financially stable institutions with strong academic programming.” Once you’ve selected a few target schools, start your research beginning online. A strong website will provide links to information including academic and extra-curricular programming, accreditation, history/longevity and financial backing. Campbell also suggests looking for schools with strong financial backing that funds scholarships and bursaries. Visit the school to further investigate its personnel, standards and general environ-
1
2
3
photo courtesy our kids media
ment. While there, ask questions about critical points including teacher and staff qualifications, school governance and leadership structure (e.g., a strong board of governors working hand-in-hand with school administration), curriculum and academic standards, opportunities for student learning outside of class, and graduate outcomes. While there, you may also request the names of parents of current students to speak with at a later date. Leave no stone unturned in your investigation. External sites such as the Ontario Ministry of Education will also prove helpful. Some of the resources available include consumer tips and a list of schools where credit-granting authority has been revoked. Remember, private school education is an investment. Take the time to make sure your investment is sound.
4
Give your kids the best school experience this year. Find top schools across the country at www.ourkids. net/school.
Your perfect school Bayview Glen Whole Child. Whole Life. Whole World. Founded in 1962, Bayview Glen is a co-educational, multicultural, university preparatory day school. Our programmes are enhanced to offer our students from age two to university entrance a highly challenging academic, athletic and character-building educational experience. Bayview Glen is committed to fostering a sense of community that includes students, parents, faculty and staff. The goal
of the programme is to develop the whole child by nurturing self-esteem, leadership, academic excellence and independence within a secure and supportive learning environment. Each day at Bayview Glen is filled with new experiences, and opportunities are provided for both challenge and success. Our academic and Advanced Placement programmes are balanced by a strong music and arts programme, languages,
physical education, Duke of Edinburgh Awards, outdoor adventuring, Round Square, community involvement, and cocurricular activities. Please visit www.bayviewglen.ca for details. Our Public Open House dates for 20122013 are as follows: Sat., Oct. 27, 2012 @ 1:00-3:00PM Wed., Nov. 21, 2012 @ 6:30-8:00PM Sat., Feb. 2, 2013 @ 1:00-3:00PM
Bialik Hebrew Day School Inspiring Magic Moments, Nurturing Critical Thinkers Bialik Hebrew Day School is proud to offer a unique program rooted in our four Pillars: Academic Excellence, Jewish Values and Menschlechkeit, Ahavat Israel, and Accessibility. The school offers a challenging, multi-language curriculum whose breadth and depth are unparalleled. Students learn Hebrew,
English, Yiddish, and French within our Jewish and general studies programs. Our scholastic standards are high and ours is a tradition with a 50+ year history of academic excellence, as demonstrated by our ongoing success in the provincial EQAO assessments. Bialik develops a living connection to, and a love of, Israel and Jewish culture.
We welcome children in JK through grade 8 from a broad spectrum of Jewish affiliation and observance. We offer a Before and After School Care Program as well as financial assistance from JK to grade 8. Visit our state-of-theart campus, centrally located in Toronto, and beginning in September 2013 on the Lebovic campus in Vaughan.
Central Montessori Schools Central Montessori Schools: Help children reach their full potential Central Montessori Schools (CMS) is a nondenominational, co-educational private school that offers a Montessori learning environment that enhances each child's unique learning style. The school operates in five convenient locations in Thornhill and Toronto. Montessori education is internationally established as one of the most effective methods to help children "learn how to learn", thus gaining independence and self-confidence. During various stages of our Casa program, emphasis gradually shifts from basic motor skills and languages to development
of concentration, coordination, independence and sense of order. This leads the child to grasp writing, reading and mathematical concepts much more quickly. In our Elementary classrooms, we introduce hands-on material to assist in understanding concepts before they are committed to memory. Physical education, arts, French and various extra curricular activities help our students to achieve a holistic higher standard of education. The schools follow a high quality, accredited Montessori curriculum, which helps each child to reach their full potential. The daily
activities promote the development of social skills, cognitive ability, self-esteem, emotional and spiritual growth, and a love for learning. Central Montessori Schools is pleased to add a new Casa French Program at our Willowdale Campus. This program, for children 3-6 years of age is offered fully in French, taught by a certified Montessori teacher and follows the Montessori philosophy. The CMS Casa French class offers five half days (a.m./ p.m.) of five full days. For information please visit our website at www.cmschool.net.
Crescent School Crescent School: A Unique Educational Experience for Boys A school for boys since 1913, Crescent is committed to implementing the most current research into how boys learn. With this goal at the forefront of its educational vision, Crescent has just completed a state-of-the-art Middle School facility to accommodate the needs of adolescent boys. Crescent’s greatest strength is its faculty,
and in this new space, they will continue their exceptional work in open, light-filled collaborative learning spaces overlooking a magnificent ravine setting. Crescent faculty consider teaching boys their profession, and educating boys their responsibility—combining a challenging academic programme with a superior array of
co-curricular opportunities allowing each boy to find and develop his unique abilities. The School’s core values of respect, responsibility, honesty and compassion guide the actions of all, enabling each student to progress from a boy of promise to an emerging man of character. For more information, visit www.crescentschool.org
Crestwood School 30 Years of Challenging Young Minds Crestwood School practises the traditional art of teaching by challenging young minds to learn and by structuring experiences that make learning possible. The school’s philosophy is based on tried-and-true methods of teaching the basics, thus providing students with a solid foundation in the three Rs. Homework and development of stu-
dents’ organizational skills and good work/study habits are an integral part of the program. At the same time, Crestwood School is concerned with the “whole child” — striving to maintain the balance of a child’s physical, social and emotional development. Each teacher is the key. With a well-planned program, a positive
rapport with each and every student, and a sense of commitment and dedication, Crestwood School’s goals are met! Crestwood is located in the beautiful wooded valley at Bayview Avenue and Lawrence Avenue. For more information please call us at 416-444-5858 or visit www.crestwood.on.ca WINTER 2013 Town Crier EDUCATION & CAMPS GUIDE 15
Your perfect school Discovery Day Camp Discovery Day Camp has been creating over 40 years of wonderful camp memories! Discovery Day Camp offers your child a hero’s journey – a quest for self-discovery, with endless opportunities for exploration, in a world of creativity, culture and socialization. Creating a sense of wonder and joy through activities that have meaning and purpose
and that will contribute to the development of child’s character, who will make a positive contribution to our global community. Digital Photography, Robotics, Science Exploration, Dance and Beach Volleyball! A few of the many programs!
Summer and March day camp program hours are from 9:00 am- 4:00 pm, with extended care hours available for an additional fee from 7:30 am until 8:30 am and from 4:30 pm until 6:00 pm. www.discoveryday.ca
Metropolitan Preparatory Academy Metro Prep Academy: A strong foundation for the future Metropolitan Preparatory Academy offers semestered, co-ed Middle School (grades 7-8) and High School (grades 9-12) programs in the DVP and Eglinton area. Walking through the hallways of Metro Prep, you’ll quickly notice that it’s not an “oldfashioned” private institution. The academics are structured and challenging, yet the environment is supportive and
nurturing. Faculty and administration doors are open, encouraging strong relationships with students and their families. And, no uniforms are in sight, allowing young men and women to express their individuality. In this comfortable setting, Metro Prep’s students are taught to trust their instincts, to think both critically and creatively, ask ques-
tions, and seek the help they need to succeed. Extensive athletic and extracurricular opportunities foster the physical and social potential of each child. For over 29 years, Metro Prep’s has been preparing children for the academics of university and the skills needed for life-long success. Preparation begins NOW! Please visit www.metroprep.com.
Our Kids Camp Expo Find the right camp for your child at Canada’s largest Camp Expo! Don’t miss your chance to meet with top March Break, Summer, and Holiday camps, as well as year-round programs, for kids and teens at Roy Thomson Hall on Sunday, February 24th, 2013 from 12:00PM to 4:00PM! In support of the Kids In Camp charity (www.kidsincamp.com), the Our Kids Camp
Expo brings together families and camps for a one-of-a-kind occasion. This is a fun and informative event for anyone looking to save time and energy when searching for the best camps for their children. Take advantage of one-on-one conversations with camp and program administrators, families and alumni to discover
programs and activities not found anywhere else. Families also have a chance to win $500 toward a session with an exhibiting camp! Pre-register online for free admission valid for a family of four here: www.ourkids.net/campexpo/ (Regular walk-in admission is $20, which goes directly to supporting Kids in Camp).
Power Soccer Power Soccer School – advanced technique training Power Soccer provides a comprehensive range of training programs from the beginner to the elite player. We emphasize fair play, skill development and the maximization of each child’s potential. Our programs are presented through a creative age appropriate soccer training model. We focus on giving players the opportunity to express their individuality while
providing clear feedback on how improvements in their game can be made. Clinics and camps focus on ball control, movement with and without the ball, dribbling, shooting, defending and accurate passing. Players experience soccer sessions which are rewarding and enjoyable. Power Soccer coaches conduct challenging sessions which provide an opportunity for
full participation for each player. We build player confidence through a program includes lots of game play. Improved ability level and a marked increase in game enjoyment are the results of participation in Power Soccer programs. Please visit our web site at www.powersoccer.ca or call us at 416.425.6062 (local call) to learn more about the Power Soccer School.
RoyalCrest Academy Educating Children For A Lifetime Of Success…. RoyalCrest Academy students learn to “Think, Love, and Create” in a school that offers a solid academic foundation coupled with extensive programs in French, the Arts, Music, Competitive Sports, and Interactive Computer Technology. RoyalCrest Academy 16 EDUCATION & CAMPS GUIDE Town Crier WINTER 2013
practices an interdisciplinary approach to learning in an enriched environment that exceeds the Ministry of Education expectations. The curriculum is designed to create an atmosphere to help children become compassionate people, responsible
citizens, and individuals with integrity for a lifetime of success. Open House Dates: Saturday, January 26th, 2013 10:00AM-12:00PM Saturday, February 23th, 2013 10:00AM-12:00PM
Your perfect school St. Clement’s School Excellent academics balanced with school spirit St. Clement’s students learn in a welcoming, community-focused environment for girls from grades 1–12. We encourage and support each student to achieve her highest potential — academically and personally — and to develop confidence, compassion, and leadership skills. Our students experience a values-based education where academics are well-balanced
with school spirit and a healthy sense of fun. Known for our strong academic program, we offer Ontario’s most extensive Advanced Placement program. Comprehensive academics, combined with the School’s rich athletic and co-curricular program, ensure that our students are prepared for the challenges of the world’s leading universities. Our LINCWell Centre provides a compre-
hensive program of student enrichment, balance, and support for all students. LINCWell’s school-wide, integrated approach to education helps students to balance high academic standards, creativity, health and wellness. Come and visit St. Clement’s School to experience, for yourself, our warm and inclusive learning community. Find out more at www.scs.on.ca.
The Country Day School Education With Balance The Country Day School (JK-12) is a co-ed, non-denominational, university-preparatory school. It is situated on a beautiful 100-acre campus in the heart of King Township, just north of Toronto. If you were to visit, you would find that the CDS community is dynamic, friendly, down-to-earth, and involved. Our mandate is to equip students with
what they need to make their way in the world with success. We offer a superior, balanced education that challenges the student, develops the mind, and strengthens the character. The campus has outstanding athletic facilities, a modern performing arts centre, and leading-edge technology – all of which enhance our ability to educate in innovative ways.
Our passion is to ensure that every graduate leaves our school well prepared for university, confident, independent, intellectually curious, morally responsible, appreciative of the arts, physically fit and globally aware. Find out more about CDS and our open house schedule at our website www.cds.on.ca or by calling 905.833.1220.
TMS School A Flagship Montessori Program and a Welcoming IB School TMS prepares our students to define and achieve success on their terms in a complex, competitive and ever changing world. They are ready to realize their full potential as happy and fulfilled individuals in university, career and life. Our unique
educational experience integrates challenge and inspiration in all areas: academics, arts, athletics and citizenship. It seamlessly combines two internationally acclaimed approaches; a flagship Montessori program (18 months to grade 6) and a welcoming International Baccalau-
reate program (grade 7 to 12). To learn more visit us at www.tmsschool.ca or call 905.889.6882 Ext. 230 to arrange for a tour. The Bayview Campus and Elgin Mills Campus are located in Richmond Hill, ON. TMS School is a member of CIS and accredited by IB, CAIS and CCMA.
Open House Schedule for Private & Independent Schools
SCHOOL
DATE
TIME
Bayview Glen www.bayviewglen.ca
Sat., Feb.2, 2013
1:00pm - 3:00pm
CONTACT INFO SCHOOL
Bialik Hebrew Day School www.bialik.ca
Information Sessions 416-783-3346 Royal Crest Academy TanenbaumCHAT Kimel Family Education Centre ext. 285 Tues., Feb.26, 2013 7:00pm St. Clement’s School Bialik Viewmount www.scs.on.ca Tues., Mar. 5, 2013 7:00pm
416-443-1030 Our Kids
www.ourkids.net
416-250-1022
Crescent School www.crescentschool.org
Please call for information
416-449-2556 TMS School
Crestwood School www.crestwood.on.ca
Tues., Jan. 29, 2013 Wed., Feb. 20, 2013 Wed., Apr. 17, 2013 Mon., May. 13, 2013
Metropolitan Preparatory Academy Thurs., Apr. 25, 2013 www.metroprep.com Thurs., May 30, 2013
3:00pm - 8:00pm 6:00pm - 8:00pm
TIME
Register online at www.campexpo.ca 12:00noon - 4:00pm
Sat., Jan. 26, 2013 Sat., Feb. 23, 2013
10:00am - 12:00noon 10:00am - 12:00noon
www.tmsschool.ca 416-444-5858
CONTACT INFO
Please call for information
The Country Day School Sat., Feb. 2, 2013 www.cds.on.ca Thurs., Feb. 21, 2013
Central Montessori Schools Thurs. at all 5 locations 9:00am - 11:30am www.cmsschool.net 1:00pm - 3:30pm
9:30am - 11:30am 9:30am - 11:30am 9:30am - 11:30am 9:30am - 11:30am
DATE Camp Expo Toronto Sun., Feb. 24, 2013
10:00am - 1:00pm 9:00am - 12:00noon 7:00pm - 9:00pm
416-483-4835 905-833-1220
Bayview Campus 905-889-6882ext. 254 (18 Months to Grade 6) Open House: Sat., Jan., 19, 2013 10:00am -12:00noon Information Sessions: Thurs., Feb., 21, 2013 6:30pm
Elgin Mills Campus (Grade 7 to 12)
416-285-0870 International Baccalaureate Information Sessions
Wed., Jan., 16, 2013 Wed., Jan., 30, 2013 Wed., Feb., 20, 2013
9:30am -11:00 am 7:00 pm 7:00 pm
WINTER 2013 Town Crier EDUCATION & CAMPS GUIDE 17
Twenty things to do
March madness
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It’s never too early to look for spring break activities By Paula Sanderson
ith the holidays over and done with, the countdown to March Break has begun. To keep the kids busy, happy and out of the house it’s time to find the best spring break camp for your kids. There are countless options so here are a few ideas for many different types of kids. For the Kid who does it all
Zodiac’s March Break camp is a classic try everything camp. From science to sports and everything in between, this camp has it all. Located at the Toronto French School, this camp offers two weeks of camp for both the public and private school student. Located at Mooredale House in the heart of Rosedale, Mooredale’s March Break camp has been running for over 30 years. Each day has a different theme and campers get to try all sorts of activities including cooking classes, arts and crafts and sports. For the artistic camper Why not send your budding Tina Fey’s and Mike Myers’ to The Second City’s March Break improv camps. These sessions cater to students from grades 2 to 12. They’ll learn how to think on their feet, work as a team and say “yes” to everything. At the end of their week at camp, campers will put on a show for friends and family at the John Candy Box Theatre. Young People’s Theater offers drama-based March Break camps at their Front Street theatre. The camp is offered to students enrolled in JK through grade 6. For the fine artist, Avenue Road Art School’s March Break programs will see campers painting, drawing and cartooning. After a week at this camp your fridge will never look better. If they think they can dance or if they want to learn how to dance, send them to Conservatory of Dance and Music March Break camp. Campers will dance their way through the week learning all sorts of different dance styles including ballet and jazz.
For the cultured child Head over to the Art Gallery of Ontario for a week of exciting art projects. Not only will you leave with priceless art projects — they even have pizza lunch Fridays. The Royal Ontario Museum offers programming for all ages and all different interests. Check out the Dungeons and Dragons camp where you can lean about monsters, weapons and legends. The half-day Critter Craft camp for 5-year-olds will have little campers exploring the animals at the ROM. For older campers there is a Museum 101 camp where campers can learn how the museum runs. The Ontario Science Centre offers a camp for the young scientist in your family. Campers will get to check out the exhibits like Kids Park before the Science Centre opens to the public, then all afternoon campers will get to see different demos and try different science experiments. This year the camp is pirate themed. Harbourfront Centre camps are full of cultural exploration. With camps for everyone from arts camps to cooking camps and even a circus camp, there’ll likely be something to tickle your child’s fancy. For the Sporty Kid The University of Toronto March Break camps are great for the active kid in your family. From golf camp to gymnastics camp, there is a sport for everyone. For the lover of all sports, there is even a multi-sport camp. Lace up your sneakers and head over to the Ontario Racquet Club for a variety of March Break camps. Participants can choose between tennis, fitness and squash camps. And you do not have to be a member of the club to join in on the fun. At Sunnybrook Stables, March Break is all about horses. Campers will ride twice a day and learn how to care for both the horses and stable. At Power Soccer your little David Beckhams and Christie Sinclairs will learn to love the beautiful game at this
18 EDUCATION & CAMPS GUIDE Town Crier WINTER 2013
photo courtesy Avenue Road Art School
PAINT ME A PICTURE: For the artistically inclined, there are several March break camp opportunities for your child to both hone their skills and have fun.
photo courtesy Pawsitively pets
CRITTER CAMP: For kids who love animals Pawsitively Pets would be hands-on fun.
one-week, soccer-intensive camp. Campers will be divided based on age and ability and will improve their ball control, passing, dribbling, defending and shooting skills. Goalkeeping specific camps are also available. For the kid who wants something outside of the box If you want to come back from the Break with a new wardrobe, Sew Be it Girl is the place to start. Their March Break camp will have participants sewing up a storm to create their own designs. From dresses to boxers, they’ll help turn your fashionista into a one-of-a-kind designer. For the skater boy or girl in the family, Roarockit is the place to spend March Break. At campers actually make their own skateboard. They use Canadian Maple and help campers carve and design their own board. Animals lovers of all shapes and sizes head to Pawsitively Pets in Leaside for a critter filled week of excitement. Learn how to care for animals ranging from pocket pets,
dogs, and reptiles to birds, bugs and other exotic animals. For the older kids, Pawsitively Pets runs a Safari Camp where campers learn how to care for zoo animals at a private zoo. Want to learn French but don’t want to go to France? Send your kids Alliance Francaise de Toronto March Break camp where students learn French in an immersion environment. Offered at four different locations, each camp takes on a different theme. At the Toronto Botanical Garden, campers have a lot of different options to embrace their inner green thumbs. Each day camp takes on a different theme. They’ll become Super Chefs and make their own ice cream, take part in Grossology and dissect owl pellets and use their skills by planting their very own take-home garden. Evergreen’s Locavore Chef camp will see kids growing, harvesting, cooking, preserving and eating fresh, healthy, local food. Activities will happen at the Brick Works, but one day will be spent on an organic farm.
WINTER 2013 Town Crier EDUCATION & CAMPS GUIDE 19
Open Wide.
It could be a pair of track shoes, a theatrical costume, or maybe even a robotics set. If your child has a passion for something, we will harness it and take it to a whole new level. We will essentially attach a big set of sub-woofers to it and allow it to be amplified to the world. If they have yet to find it, we will dig down deep and explore all the possibilities, and not stop until we unearth that one thing that opens their mind and their eyes as big as humanly possible. It’s an incredible place to discover big, dreamy answers to the question,
Who will you be? cds.on.ca/whowillyoube
Join us at an open house, we think you’ll enjoy the view:
February 2, 10 am - 1 pm February 21, 9 am - 12 pm 7 pm - 9 pm
The Country Day School offers JK-12 in a co-ed, non-denominational environment located on 100 beautiful acres in King, Ontario. Education With Balance 20 EDUCATION & CAMPS GUIDE Town Crier WINTER 2013