Summary Report of the Visiting Committee to ST. ANDREW’S COLLEGE
Issued: February 2014
BASIC DATA FOR 2013 – 2014 SCHOOL YEAR
Name of School:
St. Andrew’s College
Founding date:
September 10, 1899
Name of School Head and title:
Kevin R. McHenry, Headmaster
Name of Board Chair:
Michael Sifton
School’s location address:
15800 Yonge Street, Aurora, ON L4G3H7
School telephone number:
905-727-3178
School fax number:
905-841-6911
School website:
www.sac.on.ca/
Total enrollment:
613
School Divisions:
Middle (grades 5-8) and Upper (grades 9-12)
INTRODUCTION Founded in 1899 with over 600 students, including approximately 250 boarders, St. Andrew’s College is a boys’ school characterized by a unique and compelling combination of tradition and innovation. As one arrives on its beautiful 110 acre campus, the school’s positive culture and strong sense of community are immediately evident, as is its welcoming, boy-friendly environment. There is a palpable pride in St. Andrew’s traditions and accomplishments, as well as an eagerness to continue the process of improving the school and enhancing the experiences of its students, present and future. One of St. Andrew’s great strengths is the fact that it is a mission driven school. Even if they can’t quote the mission verbatim, all stakeholders, including the boys, understand the school’s focus on the “complete man” and the development of the “well rounded citizen.” The Mission drives decision-making at the Board and senior management levels, and it provides focus and cohesion within the overall school community. Reinforcing the mission is a strong sense of tradition. Retaining many vestiges of its past, including the Cadet Corps, the Carol Service, and the wearing of kilts, St. Andrew’s is not slavish in its adherence to traditions. To the contrary, there is an openness to change, and the school’s leadership is deliberate and focused in its attempts to strengthen both faculty and student culture while moving forward with the implementation of its most recent Strategic Plan. As one teacher indicated to the Visiting Committee, over the course of the past 10 or 15 years, the culture of St. Andrew’s College has shifted from a “boys will be boys” sort of culture to a culture of excellence. From the Board, Headmaster and Leadership Team through to faculty, staff and the boys, there is a shared commitment to doing one’s best and striving for excellence. Without being arrogant, the school demonstrates confidence and a pride in its accomplishments. The Visiting Committee had the good fortune of attending the school’s production of “The Lord of Flies.” Not only was it a brilliant show, but it also reflected a healthy school culture defined in part by a willingness to be bold and to address challenging issues. Staged during antibullying week, the play was integrated into the school’s anti-bullying program, providing a valuable opportunity to engage the boys in meaningful, thought-provoking discussions. As one Committee member observed, the production reflected a mature and reflective school culture in which responsible risk-taking is encouraged. Similarly, the Visiting Committee was thoroughly impressed by the school’s students. Approachable, open and happy, the boys of St. Andrew’s are proud of their school and grateful for the opportunities afforded to them. They interacted confidently and respectfully with the Visiting Committee, demonstrating an ability to be reflective in discussing a wide range of issues. During one meeting, for example, a somewhat tongue-in-cheek question from a Visiting Committee member about kilts led to a fascinating conversation about the importance of tradition in building school culture and providing boys with a sense of belonging. On another occasion, during an unexpected downpour, a boy made a significant detour across the field in CAIS Visiting Committee Report St. Andrew’s College • 2014
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order to open a locked door allowing a Committee member to escape the rain. These were not isolated incidents. The boys’ open and welcoming manner certainly made the members of the Visiting Committee feel comfortable as they visited classes, toured the boarding houses, and generally immersed themselves in the Andrean community. Another impressive characteristic of St. Andrew’s is its boy friendly environment. This is a school that knows boys and that has built a learning environment in which boys can flourish. The emphasis on knowing and involving every boy is commendable. Moreover, Visiting Committee members didn’t encounter a single classroom in which the desks were arranged in rows, and they observed varied student-centered instructional strategies directly involving the boys in their learning. The positive rapport between the boys and their teachers was equally impressive, as are the structures put into place to support the boys and to ensure that no one falls between the cracks. Finally, the Visiting Committee was impressed by the school’s “growth mindset” marked by a laudable commitment to ongoing school improvement. The thoroughness of the internal review process, combined with a “bring it on” attitude and an eagerness to engage in open discussions with the Visiting Committee, set the stage for a highly productive visit. St. Andrew’s is a great school, but it recognizes the need not to rest on its laurels as it strives for ongoing improvement. A defining characteristic of St. Andrew’s is its boarding program. The school constitutes Canada’s largest boys boarding program, and even though a majority of its students are day boys, it still has the look and feel of a boarding school. Most teachers have boarding responsibilities. As well, many day boys join the boarders for dinner and access extra help in the evenings through the boarding houses. The boarders benefit from a comprehensive and well-articulated boarding curriculum, and they were enthusiastic and positive in talking about the overall boarding experience. Despite the outstanding quality of its boarding program, there is no room for complacency. The data is clear. The number of domestic boarding students in Canadian independent schools has declined significantly in recent decades, and this trend is likely to continue. Within this challenging and increasingly competitive environment, the St. Andrew’s community would be well advised to undertake a strategic analysis of boarding as a first step in developing a long term vision and plan for its future. Otherwise, the school may find itself in an increasingly reactive position, and its boarding program could become peripheral to the overall St. Andrew’s experience. Enormous progress has been made in the past 10 or 15 years in implementing boy-friendly, 21st Century practices and programs. The school has a clear academic vision that has been implemented by the faculty. Nevertheless, additional benefits would arise from greater consistency. By continuing to develop a shared understanding of concepts such inquiry, globalism, and critical thinking, the school would be in a stronger position to operationalize these concepts thereby ensuring that they are embraced at the grass roots level. The same could be said for developing a comprehensive scope and sequence for the four pillars of the
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school’s academic program vision. In a school where everyone is already busy, time, our most valuable resource, will be required in order to advance these and other important initiatives. St. Andrew’s College operates from a position of great strength, and is well situated to establish itself as a world leader in the education of boys. In the past decade or so, it has enhanced programs and instructional practices, and by the spring of 2015, it will have completed an ambitious program of facilities renewal. Within this context, the challenge will be to envision the next chapter in the school’s history. While consolidation and a measured approach to change are laudable, there also is a need to think boldly and to look at the school’s future from a big picture, long term perspective. How can it build on its current enviable position and take the next great leap forward? That, presumably, will be the focus of the school’s next strategic plan. Tom Matthews, Chair CAIS Visiting Committee
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