Going Beyond - Spring/Summer 2023

Contributors

Paul Yip

Peter Hill

Rachel Marks

Rakesh Tripathi

Raje S. Roger Marlés

Sarah Siddiqui

Shane Small

Sheila Thomas

Suzanne Bonus

Andrea Ng-Willis

Andrea Tomaso

Anna Bouzina

Ashley Willis

Carolyn Reid

Cecillia Dos Santos

Colleen Prince-McInnes

Crystal Winkley

David Cordner

Doris Rackett

Evelyn Tenhagen

Fernanda Serroul

Gayathiri Thevarajah

Jelena Gacesa

Jessica Wong

Judy Warren

Kara Tang

Kelli Cartwright

Kirsten Eastwood

Lisa Cantor

Lisa Nurse

Thomas X.

MESSAGE FROM THE HEAD

At the schools my grandparents attended, the primary aim of education was to transmit as much factual knowledge as possible, with very little time spent on inquiring about the nature of facts or truth. Concepts like “wellness” and “wellbeing” were still almost a century away, and my grandparents’ schools had no guidance counsellors, nurses, advisory groups or reading specialists. Fast forward to 2023, and social-emotional learning is an increasingly vital part of education systems. The World Economic Forum, in an article published on January 16th, 2022, confirmed what teachers everywhere knew all too well: “Beyond learning, growing evidence shows the negative effects school closures have had on students’ mental health and well-being, health and nutrition, and protection, reinforcing the vital role schools play in providing comprehensive support and services to students.” Given this backdrop, schools must work harder than ever to nurture the well-being of our students. For children to experience genuine and longterm well-being, they must feel a deep sense of belonging and inclusion. In addition, they must have a strong sense that the adults in their world genuinely care for them. And finally, they must feel challenged—and rewarded—by what they are learning. Innovative teachers produce happy, engaged students.

Many parents in both public and independent schools have expressed concern about what impact the addition of social-emotional instruction to the traditional academic curriculum will have on their child’s ability to be competitive when it is time to apply to universities and colleges.

The reality is that a thoughtful and well-crafted social-emotional curriculum adds depth, not time to a child’s daily experience. Here at TMS we have already been enriching the curriculum by incorporating wellness and well-being into lessons across the grade levels for some time. In many year groups, it is embedded in existing Advisory classes or lessons led by the counselors. Core academic subjects continue to receive just as much time in the curriculum as they always have. The difference now is that schools in both the public and independent spheres are widening the lens through which we teach our students the various subject areas.

This shift clearly looks different in a CH3 class than it does for a Grade 10 lesson but the aim remains the same: to ensure that we are supporting children of every age as they emerge from a very difficult couple of years into a world that increasingly looks different from the one their parents knew when they were in school. Providing opportunities for children to speak openly about their own experiences, worries and hopes for the future is one of the cornerstones of a healthy school culture, and it is something that our TMS faculty and staff have embraced wholeheartedly.

On that optimistic note, I wish all of our TMS Community a wonderful summer break, and we look forward to welcoming you back in September. To those families leaving us during the summer, we wish you and your children much happiness and fulfilment in the future.

Andrew Cross Head of School TMS

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Thoughtful and well-crafted social-emotional curriculum adds depth, not time to a child’s daily experience.

www.discoveryday.ca

Discovery Day Camp (an entity of TMS) is a fun, exciting, and memorable day camp for children (4 years of age and older) made up of a multitude of programming that gives campers opportunities to experience activities in the creative arts, athletics and science, while immersing them in nature and the outdoors.

HIGHLIGHTS OF DISCOVERY DAY CAMP

Outdoor Pool Catered Lunch Exciting Activities

Campers will enjoy recreational swim times during camp

Fresh, healthy and nutritious meals each day are included

Sports, arts, drama, computers, wood working, and more!

Speciality Programs from Partner Organizations

Making the most of the great outdoors, with activities like wilderness survival, canoeing, building campfires, nature art and more!

Custom-made STEAM activities for Discovery Day Campers; Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math based topics

Inspiring programming in the field of robotics and coding, helping kids develop critical digital skills and capabilities

Voted best Magician in the GTA by Today’s Parent Magazine, Chris Westfall brings his high energy, unique and engaging magic for audiences to enjoy

Exciting, energetic and creative activities aimed to foster respect, cooperation and team spirit

Academics

TMS has garnered a reputation for creating an extraordinary learning environment. Throughout the School, from the youngest learners in the Toddler Program to Alumni who return again and again to visit, students are passionately engaged in their academic pursuits. Read about the latest updates in Academics at TMS.

Towering Gardeners

Lower Elementary students got the chance to experience space-age gardening all winter long this year! Starting in the fall, rotating classes of Grades 1 to 3 students germinated seeds in special foam cubes. Once the seeds sprouted, students then transplanted them into their own little basket in the Tower Garden; a vertical aeroponic garden complete with its own lights and irrigation system. There, the sprouts received regular doses of nutrient-enhanced water, and an optimal amount of light regardless of the weather outside or the length of day. A variety of plants were chosen by the students, including various wildflowers and vegetables, and all classes got the opportunity to see their plants go from seed to full plant in the course of several weeks. These ideal growing conditions allowed students to experience the full life cycle of their selected plants in a way that would otherwise not be possible.

Elementary EcoLeadership Journey

As we approach the end of the school year, the Grade 6 Eco-Leadership project is nearing completion. Students will research and plan the final details required to implement their action plans. Materials are being sourced, priced, and compared; sites are being researched and evaluated for compatibility with objectives. As part of the Eco-Leadership program, the entire Grade 6 cohort met up with Grade 7 students from the Upper School in a tree planting event at the Oak Ridges Community Centre. Beautiful weather allowed for a great morning of friendship, and direct stewardship action. Soon, the Grade 6 students will spend three days and two nights at our Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) partner facility, engaged in a series of hands-on activities designed to raise awareness, build skills, and consolidate their learning from the year!

Mindfulness Matters: Growth Mindset in Children’s House

Have you ever tried something new and given up because you could not do it the right way? Remember the feelings of sadness, frustration, anger or even embarrassment. For children these feelings can be intensified, which is why developing a growth mindset early in life is so important. Teaching students mindfulness and practicing these skills regularly has been shown to improve one’s mood, self-esteem, self-regulation, positive behaviour and academic learning. Our Children’s House 2/3 students have begun a journey to develop a growth mindset this year. They have been learning about emotions and feelings. They have discovered that everyone experiences different emotions at different times and that actions and behaviours impact others.

Some techniques of deep breathing, meditation and yoga have been implemented in the class; along with special mindfulness circles. These group activities provide opportunities for role playing different scenarios and in depth conversations allow for critical thinking. These experiences have been powerful and impactful for all the students. The children reflect on their own thoughts and actions and learn how to make better choices. They are displaying now to respond in thoughtful ways versus being reactive. When we teach mindfulness, we provide them with tools to manage stress and approach challenges with confidence and assurance. The Children’s House 2/3 students are developing important lifelong skills that are crucial to their development.

Grade 10 Personal Project Fair

In February, Grade 10s successfully completed their Personal Project journey!

The Personal Project is the cornerstone project that every student completes in the final year of the Middle Year Programme (MYP). Students begin their journey in September when they choose a project, inspired by their personal interests: STEM, arts, fashion, public speaking and much more. Students then develop their own personal learning goals—what they hope to get out of the learning process—as well as product goals, which are the outcomes to share their learning. Students then begin working on building or developing their products while simultaneously completing crucial steps in their process journal for their final report. There was a wide range of products this year including apps, novellas, videos, songs, tasty delights, robots and much more. The end results are a showcase of student innovation and creativity.

Elementary Showcases

The hallways were filled with excitement as students, teachers and parents gathered together as a community during the Lower Elementary and Upper Elementary Showcases held this term. These events provided the perfect opportunity for students to showcase their talents and projects and present their work in various areas such as music, art, science, history and geography. During the event, students demonstrated their skills by performing skits, singing in the choir, teaching various art lessons, highlighting media tools, displaying skills developed in physical education classes as well as speaking French fluently. Various science projects, experiments, oral presentations and exhibits highlighted the hard work and tremendous learning achieved by our Elementary students. By demonstrating their work and knowledge in front of parents and members of the TMS community, students developed important social and communication skills. Learning rooted in inquiry and integration fosters intrinsic motivation and sets our students up for success throughout their educational journeys.

TMS Students Pitch Currency Design to Bank of Canada

In the IDU Canadian Currency Redesign Unit, TMS Grade 10 students create versions of Canadian money to express Canadian Identity. This year, they focused on expressing Canadian Identity from the perspective of marginalized communities. Students selected individuals to feature on the currency to bring attention to important Canadians who may have been previously overlooked. The culmination of this work saw students pitching their finished products in a competition format to a panel of guest judges from the Bank of Canada and the RCMP. The judges selected the top 3 designs that showcased the best application of the updated bills and coins.

Arts

Students thrive artistically at TMS, working individually or in groups with guidance and support. Our Lower and Upper School students are encouraged to explore new ideas and concepts and showcase their talent whenever possible. Read about the latest updates in the Arts at TMS.

The Gallery Experience: Diploma Programme Visual Arts Exhibition

In April, the artistic works of Diploma Programme students got the full gallery treatment at the annual Visual Arts Exhibition. While being a requirement of the IB diploma, this exhibition is an opportunity for arts students to showcase a selection of their best work from the 2-year programme in an authentic curated gallery evening. Their work reflected the impressive art we have grown accustomed to at TMS. Over the years, our art students have gone on to further their studies and develop their craft at prestigious schools including University of the Arts London, Parsons School of Design, Penn State, and the School of the Art Institute Chicago.

With the success and continued growing interest our arts students have experienced, this year, the TMS Visual Arts program has expanded with the addition of the Film course. These students have been learning about the various roles involved with film production and developing their skills as content creators. The exhibition marked our filmmakers first public showing of their work. Students who elect to study art in the diploma programme are typically motivated by a passion for the arts and the creative outlet it offers, and that was evident in the displays and explanations of their work. Like the internal assessments in other subjects, the exhibition asks students to consider topics that are personally significant, reflecting both their experience in the methodologies of the discipline as well as its real-world application. As such, the gallery showcased a wide range of topics and issues including mental health, family, nature, architecture, and music.

Matilda Jr., The Sold-Out Elementary Play

In May, the TMS Community came together at the Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts to celebrate Upper Elementary Students and faculty as they presented the musical Matilda Jr. to a completely sold out theatre!

Performing in a musical is an experience that young people will remember for the rest of their lives. Musical theatre has so many benefits and learning experiences for children, including:

1. Active Participation in the Arts: Participating in the arts provides young people with a chance to explore their creativity and imagination in a structured and safe environment. Musical theatre is especially remarkable because it is the only art form that combines all areas of the arts: acting, singing, dancing, music, and visual arts.

2. Improving Literacy Skills: From reading scripts to memorizing lines to learning to tell a story, young people continually improve their literacy skills while rehearsing and performing in a musical.

3. Becoming a Confident Public Speaker: It takes a lot of confidence to stand up and sing or dance in front of family, peers, and what may seem like the entire community. Experience with public speaking at a young age gives students confidence that will be important to them for the rest of their lives.

The production truly reflects our school’s dedication to the arts and the joy of dramatic expression. It was exciting to see the community come together and be a part of that story.

Toddler Concert Series

Our TMS Toddlers and their families enjoyed the sights and sounds of beautiful music during the Toddler Concert Series, a student-led initiative by Upper School students. Organized by the Integrated Arts Class, Grade 10 students eloquently and thoughtfully introduced the various families to instruments, their various different parts and the function that each plays in creating the sounds that they do. They played many familiar tunes, including crowd-favourite Baby Shark.

The concert series provided a great opportunity for senior students to engage young children and to understand the role of music in their development. At the same time, it provided an opportunity for Toddlers and their families to positively engage and participate, and immerse themselves in the world of music. It was delightful to see both age groups come together. It will be wonderful to watch our current Toddlers return during the 2035/36 school year to entertain a new group of youngsters.

UPPER ELEMENTARY PRESENTS...

Poster Design: Millie Z., Rikki C., Dongling L., Devyn Y.

MONDAY, MAY 1ST, 2023 AT 7:00PM FREE ADMISSION PRESENTED AT THE RICHMOND HILL CENTRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS 10268 Yonge St, Richmond Hill, ON L4C 3B7

Upper School Spring Showcase

The Upper School Spring Showcase is a spectacular event in which the Upper School's young artists celebrate the successes of their school year by presenting to their parents and teachers a range of performances, art, and design work. The event includes a series of galleries highlighting work from all grades, the DP Art Exhibition, and a showcase of the Performing Arts. This included performances from clubs led by senior students such as the Strummers, Dance, Vocal, and Drama Clubs, as well as a highlight of the music program with bands from every cohort as well as the Upper School Concert Band. We applaud the Visual Arts, Design, and Performing Arts teachers for their excellent guidance and encouragement of our exceptional young artists, and we congratulate them all on their outstanding results.

TMS Talent at CIMSF 2023

Every spring, a chosen group of young musicians from the Conference of Independent Schools perform a spectacular concert under the leadership of CIS members' instructors and music conductors. For the 2023 Conference of Independent Schools Music Festival (CISMF), a group of adjudicators carefully selected a number of remarkable musicians at an audition that was held last autumn. In the spring, they gathered and prepared the selected repertoire in just two rehearsals, then presented the results to their parents on the third day at the majestic Roy Thompson Hall.

We are proud of those who represented TMS at the concert: Wind Ensemble: Felice L.; Symphonic Band: Vince P., Patrick G., Kaitlyn Y. and Vitus C.; Concert Band: Ruoxi W.; String Ensemble: Ethan C; Concert Band Conductor: Mr. Marlés.

Food Art in the Lower School Dining Hall

To help celebrate the grand opening of the new Dining Hall on the Lower School campus, students in Grade 5 were involved in a collaborative project to create larger than life pieces of fruit and vegetables to hang on the walls for decoration. Cardboard served as the base shape of each fruit. Groups of 4-5 students applied torn bits of coloured paper to fill in the colour, creating a mosaic effect. These food sculptures, now on display in the dining hall, are a big hit with staff and visitors!

Cake Anyone?

The Grade 6s were very excited about the Creative Cakes sculpture project. I mean, who wouldn’t be?

The students measured and cut pieces of cardboard, taping them together to resemble a slice of cake. They then covered the cardboard with plaster bandage. Once dry, students painted the ‘flavour’ of their cake with acrylics. The final touches were created with a modeling compound, which really added personal flair to each and every cake. The end results - which were absolutely spectacular! - were on display in the Lower School for everyone to enjoy.

Children’s House Collaborative Art Project

This year, Children’s House students came together to elevate our learning space. It all started with a tree that was created and placed in the main hall of our second level at the Lower School. Each season, students in Children’s House collaborated to create different pieces of art with our Art Specialist and in class to adorn the tree. It was wonderful to witness the reactions of the children and staff when each new look was revealed. Children would run around the tree to find their contribution, even spotting artwork by their friends. The art project represented the coming together of the Children’s House community, while positively adding to our beautiful learning environment.

“We think of ourselves far too frequently as just individuals, separated from one another, whereas you are connected and what you do affects the whole world. When you do well, it spreads out; it is for the whole of humanity.”

– Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu

Elementary Winter Celebrations

After a few years of quiet, we were thrilled to have all Elementary students diving into music with our Winter Celebration Concerts before their well deserved March Break. You wouldn’t have been able to tell that for some students it was their very first time on the TMS stage, while others were returning to it after such an unanticipated delay. The preparations that occurred behind the scenes reinforced the life skills of goal setting, perseverance, responsibility, collaboration and confidence. The final product brought many to their feet from the very moment the performers hit the stage, keeping them on the edge of their seats until the final notes. Whether it was the Lower Elementary performing “Etiquette Rap”, or Upper Elementary students performing on a variety of instruments, there was no denying the joy of performance has returned once again to TMS. We can’t wait to see what the 2023/2024 year brings!

Athletics

TMS is committed to excellence in Athletics as a part of a larger commitment to excellence in Education. At TMS, athletics is an integral component of student life and we strive to provide an innovative and successful program. Read about the latest updates in Athletics at TMS.

Lower School Athletics

The Athletic Program at the Lower School has been full steam ahead during both the winter and spring terms. It has been an exciting couple of months as the teams continue to play for the first time in CISAA (Conference of Independent Schools Athletics Association) and we have had exponential participation from students across all grade levels.

Grade 2 Co-Curricular Basketball

With the implementation of co-curricular mornings, our Grade 3 and 4 students enjoyed co-Volleyball and Basketball two days a week. Now the spring term has provided an opportunity for our Grade 2s to hone their Basketball skills. This is thanks to added capacity with three coaches, which has meant us being able to add 10 more spots to the previous cap of 40 students. It is exciting to introduce younger students to these games, and get them excited for athletics.

Exciting Spring and Winter Season

The tail-end of the winter season featured a robust roster of teams competing at various levels. Two teams for U10 Boys Basketball (Grade 4); two teams of 14 for U12 Boys Basketball; and two teams of 13 for U12 Girls Volleyball (Grade 5 and 6).

The spring has an equally exciting line-up of teams. A total of 50 students from Grades 3 to 6 participated in a number of Track and Field events, played at various venues including York University, Pickering College and other independent schools. In addition, the U12 Girls Soccer team (Grades 5 and 6) participated in three tournaments at Trafalgar Castle School, TFS Toronto French School and Holy Trinity School.

Ultimate Frisbee Anyone?

New this year is the introduction of U12 Co-ed Ultimate Frisbee for Grade 5s and 6s. The sport hasn’t been played at the Lower School for almost a decade, and this year marks the first time it has been offered for students this age in CISAA history. The students were so excited by its introduction that we were able to make two complete teams.

To support the growth of Ultimate Frisbee, the sport has also been added to the Grade 4, 5 and 6 curriculum to help students better understand the sport and what it means to be a part of the team. While Grade 4s cannot try yet out for the team, the early exposure gives them many more athletic options in the future.

Overall, the teams have played in 21 tournaments across a multitude of sports. We are excited for a number of events in June, including our Annual Grade 4-6 Track and Field Day, our Grade 1-3 Play Day, and our Awards Assembly to celebrate the many talents across our sports. Go Titans!

Lower School Winter Term

U12 Girls Volleyball

Mrs. Nurse, Mr. Watson and Venom Volleyball Club

U10 Boys Basketball

Ms. Soo See and Elite Basketball

U12 Boys Basketball

Mr. Cordner and Elite Basketball

Lower School Spring Term

U12 Girls Soccer

Mrs. Nurse and Miss Milne

U12 Coed Ultimate Frisbee

Mr. Cordner, Mr. Enyedi and Mr. Haines

Grade 3-6 Track and Field Team

Mrs. Adams, Ms. Soo See, Ms. Rovazzi, Mr. Watson and Mrs. Brooksbank

Upper School Athletics

We had approximately 120 athletes participate in our Winter Athletic Season and represent TMS in CISAA competition. Our Titans did not disappoint in their perseverance, passion and performance skills displayed over the course of the long winter season. Tryouts and training commenced back in November, with CISAA Championships consolidating the season in late February. A majority of our teams earned play-off positions and some even a spot in the coveted final four championship tournaments. Our JR Girls Volleyball DIII team brought home the hardware, winning 2nd place and silver medals!

All of our athletes definitely deserve much credit and recognition for their athletic pursuit and desire to represent their school - truly showing what it means to be a Titan!

TMS offered the following CISAA Winter Team Sports in 2022-2023

SR Girls Volleyball DIII

Coached by Ms. Willis

JR Girls Volleyball DIII

Coached by Mr. Hill and Mr. Bisnauth

U14 Girls Volleyball DIII

Coached by Mr. Bohte

U14 Girls Volleyball DII

Coached by Ms. MacKay

SR Boys Basketball DIII

Coached by Mr. Walker

JR Boys Basketball DIII

Coached by Mr. Reynolds and Ms. Dickson

U14 Boys Basketball DII

Coached by Ms. Light and Mr. Moustafa

U13 Boys Basketball DII

Coached by Mr. McLafferty and Ms. Masoudi

U14 Curling

Coached by Ms. Abedini, Ms. Datt

SR Open Curling DI and DII

Coached by Mr. Alves, Ms. Abedini

Although we couldn’t recognize every specific athlete, we can say with confidence that all of our athletes are Titans at heart and did a fantastic job being ambassadors for TMS in the CIS community. On March 6th, we did recognize 1 MVP and 1 TITAN award recipient per team at our Winter Seasonal Team Awards Ceremony. Congratulations to the athletes below who earned a trophy for their outstanding performance and commitment over the past Season.

TMS Seasonal Athletic Award Descriptors

Award Description

Individual Team – Each coach will nominate 1 athlete per team that best meets the criteria stated for each award. These awards are presented at the end of each respective season during our Athletic Assembly.

MVP Award This award recognizes the most valuable player for each team. They demonstrate outstanding physical performance and are highly competent and consistent when executing sport-specific and fitness skills in competitive events.

Titan Award This award recognizes a player that is extremely coachable and an excellent team player. They demonstrate exemplary attitude, commitment and perseverance.

TMS Upper School Winter Athletic Award Recipients

U13 Boys Basketball DII

Titan – Kiarash Mahallati

MVP – Joshua Phone

U14 Boys Basketball DII

Titan – Krishh Misra & Aaron Lai

MVP – Kyrus Ho

JR Boys Basketball DIII

Titan – Paul Belemsaga

Titan – Kevin Tian

SR Boys Basketball DIII

Titan – Venkat Koda

MVP – Ian Hung

U13 Girls Volleyball DII

Titan – Alessandra Pacitto

MVP – Melody Yap

U14 Girls Volleyball DII

Titan – Fiorella Franca

MVP – Jerma Nedeljkovic

JR Girls Volleyball DIII

Titan – Mikayla Thomas

MVP – Alessia Tsiantis

SR Girls Volleyball DIII

Titan – Emma Jang

MVP – Sophia Cross

U14 Coed Curling

Titan – Colin Cheung

MVP – Malek Ben Hamed

SR Open Curling DI

Titan – Audric Pau

MVP – Matthew Scherbaty

SR Open Curling DII

Titan – Dehati Yao

MVP – Vincent Huang

TMS Upper School Spring Athletic Program Information:

TMS Upper School started tryouts and training for Spring Athletics immediately after March break. Our Titans were very excited to start another season of sport! We have over 160 student-athletes on a team and the school is thriving in CISAA competition.

TMS Upper School Spring Sport Offerings for 2023:

U14 Coed Badminton

Coached by Ms. Cantor, Ms. Wong and Mr. Moustafa

JR Coed Badminton

Coached by Mr. Walker

SR Coed Badminton

Coached by Mr. Lam

U14 Coed Gold Ultimate

Coached by Mr. Pastoor and Ms. Datt

U14 Coed Blue Ultimate

Coached by Ms. Dickson and Ms. Harris

JR Coed Ultimate

Coached by Mr. Haines and Mr. Bisnauth

SR Coed Ultimate DII

Coached by Ms. O’Brien and Ms. Willis

Open Golf

Coached by Mr. McLafferty, Ms. Jepson and Ms. Frosst

U14 Open Track/Field

Coached by Ms. Abedini, Ms. Boz, Ms. MacKay and Mr. Sulyamen

JR Open Track/Field

Coached by Ms. Serroul, Mr. Banks, Mr. Serroul

SR Open Track/Field

Coached by Ms. Serroul, Mr. Banks, Mr. Serroul

With most teams halfway through their current season, based on our results, we expect much success in the postseason and play-offs. Good luck Titans!

U14 Boys Basketball DII

U13 Boys Basketball DII

JR Boys Basketball DIII

JR Girls Volleyball DIII

2022/2023 CISAA Silver Champions SR Girls Volleyball DIII

U13 Girls Volleyball DII

Citizenship

Citizenship and giving back are important parts of student life at TMS. Across all levels of the school, students are involved in (and often lead) raising funds for worthwhile causes, donating their time to build awareness of social issues and using their powerful voices to make change happen. Read about the latest updates in Citizenship at TMS.

TMS Grade 6s and 7s Collaborate to Plant Trees in Celebration of Earth Day!

As part of Earth Day, people across the world are looking for ways to give back to the environment. Here at TMS, we did just that. In April, students in Grade 6 and 7 in conjunction with the City of Richmond Hill went out to the Community Centre in Oak Ridges and planted trees. Students learned the proper way to plant a tree, while also understanding that by planting a tree, you are more than just beautifying a space. They also learned that trees help to remove carbon dioxide from the air, help produce oxygen, filter out pollutants from the air and also help preserve water levels in the soil. By celebrating Earth Day in this way, students had an opportunity to become more aware of our environment and make a positive difference in our community.

TMS Friends of the Community

The TMS Friends of the Community is a group of young students who, through their service to the community, showcase the importance of giving back to the less fortunate. The students meet every other week and through their various initiatives learn about the values of citizenship towards those most vulnerable in the community. At the same time, the students also learn different skills such as making and designing posters, promoting each event to all the classes and teachers at the Lower School and actively contributing to a variety of different causes.

Winter Drive for 360°kids

As a school we wanted to continue our support of youth in need by collecting items to help them get through the cold winter months. The Winter Drive in February for the 360°kids charity gathered a large amount of food and warm winter accessories, as well as over $700 in gift cards. The initiative highlighted the importance of supporting vulnerable community members, while fostering a commitment to service and cultivating compassion within our students as they internalize and understand the importance of empathy and kindness.

Salvation Army Annual Toy Drive

During the December holiday season, the group collected toys and gift cards for the Salvation Army’s annual toy drive which resulted in a huge mountain of toys in our Lower School Atrium. The Salvation Army representatives were so impressed with the efforts of our students and the generous contribution by the TMS Community.

Reduce. Reuse. Recycle.

In the spirit of raising awareness and promoting respect for the environment, the club members cleaned up our playground and collected garbage and litter from the school yard during Earth Week. The group ends the year with the Friends of the Community Used Book Sale. At this event, students learn the importance of reducing waste and reusing items. In addition, all proceeds raised go to WorldVision to help two young children, similar in age, with whom the group has been exchanging postcards and letters throughout the year.

Upper School Justice League

Local Environment Clean Up

In collaboration with the City of Richmond Hill, the Upper School Justice League and the Environmental Stewardship Club joined forces to collect trash and recyclables around our local area. A community cleanup is a wonderful eco-action opportunity for everyone to get involved. For the three Mondays following Earth Day, we invited the Upper School student body to join in cleaning up our local environment, with great progress being made during the clean-ups. Students who participated enjoyed an impactful collective experience taking care of our Earth.

Aside from the clean-up, the Justice League and Environmental Stewardship Clubs joined together to create presentations and activities for the school to raise awareness about how students can make changes to their daily routine to create a more environmentally friendly community.

Cupcake Fundraiser for Patients' Amenities Fund at Sick Kids

This year, funds raised at the annual Upper School Justice League Cupcake Sale went to help the Patients' Amenities Fund at Sick Kids. The Patient Amenities Fund provides support to families with low financial means whose children are receiving care at Sick Kids. The fund assists qualified families with expenses that are not or only partially covered by public health insurance and community resources. These include transportation, food, lodging, medication, and medical equipment. Many of the club members dedicated a lot of time to helping make this initiative a success. The fundraiser ended up being a huge success, with a very fast sell out.

Mental Health Awareness Month

May is Mental Health Awareness Month and the Justice League raised money for the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) by selling cookies that could be decorated using special pens. Students were encouraged to wear stickers and pins to help take a ‘Bite out of the Stigma’ of mental health challenges!

Montessori Education Week

The last week of February is designated across the world as Montessori Education Week. During the week we take time to celebrate Maria Montessori. This year was the 116th anniversary of the first Montessori school, the Casa dei Bambini, which opened in Italy.

In our classrooms, we celebrated Dr. Montessori in a variety of ways. The students read books about her accomplishments, wrote stories about TMS and their favourite materials, learned the geography of Italy, sang songs and made delicious foods representing Dr. Montessori’s Italian heritage – pizzelle cookies and pizza. We came together to reflect on her work and the value of a Montessori education at a Lower School Assembly.

During this week, our students also recognized Pink Shirt Day. Our youngest students focused on “Being the I in Kind”; The pairing of Montessori Education Week and Pink Shirt Day is fitting as Dr. Montessori’s pedagogy places a strong emphasis on grace and courtesy, the importance of being kind, inclusivity and maintaining peaceful classrooms. As a devoted humanitarian, Dr. Montessori was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize three times for her advocacy towards a more peaceful humanity. We are proud to continue her desire for the world to be a peaceful, accepting and loving place for all!

Thomas Xiong Achieves Gold Level Duke of Edinburgh Award

The Duke of Edinburgh Award, marking its 60th anniversary this year, empowers young people between the ages of 14 and 24 to discover hidden talents, broaden their abilities, increase their self confidence, develop untapped leadership potential and make a difference in their community.

The unique framework of the Award encourages young people to set and achieve goals in four sections, and a fifth at the Gold level: Voluntary Service, Physical Recreation, Skill, Adventurous Journey and the Gold Residential Project. There are three progressive levels to the Award: Bronze, Silver and Gold.

The Award is a marathon and not a sprint. It is all about dedication and commitment to staying consistently active. Volunteer activities boost high-yield skills like advocacy, leadership and empathy. Physical Recreation activities and the Adventurous Journeys not only establish healthy physical habits, but build transferable skills such as collaboration, motivation, resilience and self-awareness. Meeting the demands of the Gold Level Award isn’t easy, but when met, participants broaden their experience of life and make choices as responsible citizens in life away from work.

Despite the challenges we faced through the COVID-19 pandemic, Thomas Xiong completed and achieved the Gold Level award. He and 67 other individuals from Canada were invited to the Award Holder Celebration. Thomas was recognized for his Gold Award achievement by His Royal Highness, Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh KG GCVO and Her Honour, the Honourable Elizabeth Dowdeswell, OC, OOnt, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario.

The Award experience helped me to meet new people, develop new skills and become more physically active!

Thomas Xiong, ‘23

At TMS, we believe that not all learning happens in the classroom. In fact, we register all our students in Grade 9 to start the Award at the Bronze Level. Through outdoor education, school clubs and school athletics, TMS enables students to complete all three award levels of the Duke of Edinburgh Award by the time they graduate from high school.

TMS Triumphs on the Local, Provincial and National Public Speaking Podium

In a little over a year, our debate and public speaking co-curricular club has grown from its new beginning to a fierce competitor. Our students work tirelessly on eloquently articulating thoughts, arguments, and broadening their viewpoint. They develop strong research skills and an initiative to learn, all which increases their confidence. This co-curricular is favourably looked upon by University applications in law, political science, marketing, and biomedical degree programs where there is a need for strong communication skills.

While the rest of the world was getting ready for holidays in December, the club was competing in the Ontario qualifier to secure a place in the National Public Speaking Championships. At this qualifier, Maryam J. placed 5th in impromptu debate, 2nd in persuasive, and 1st in impromptu speaking. She placed 2nd overall, making TMS history. Maryam qualified for the National Public Speaking Championships.

Nationals found a home for three fun and challenging days in wintery Winnipeg. Maryam was one of only a few students to break into finals for multiple categories. She is one of the top students in all of Canada for impromptu speaking and impromptu debate, and 11th overall.

Maryam’s success continued in the Nora McRae Tournament, as the 1st place Senior Speaker. In this tournament TMS's Ava L. received 1st place for dramatic interpretation, and Aryana K. received 3rd place for impromptu speaking (Junior Division). Maryam placed 1st in After Dinner, 1st in Declamation, and 3rd for Impromptu. Winning the Nora McRae trophy, the team of Maryam, Ava, and Ayden, won the Senior Division!

Our students have put in countless hours preparing for these competitions, supported by a strong community around them. TMS coach Ms. Dickson collaborates with other faculty for speech stylization critiques as well as securing an Assistant Crown Attorney coach to support our students. We are excited to see the group continue to excel in the years to come.

“If I had to describe my public speaking experience at TMS in one word, it would be: invaluable. Competing in these tournaments has allowed me to enhance my public speaking, leadership, and critical thinking skills. I definitely feel as though I have grown as an individual as a result of these experiences, and I look forward to future events next year!

Maryam J. ‘24

How TMS is Developing a WELL-BEING MINDSET

Maria Montessori was an innovator and forward thinker. One of her key points was, “We must orient the child to his/her place and time.” The pedagogy that she created over 100 years ago in its understanding of the developmental stages of children and their innate qualities has not changed. What has changed is the increased external and societal influences on our children.

The connection between Montessori and IB is very clearly articulated in our practice of creating a community of collaboration and ensuring we support the pursuit of academics through a lens of inquiry. From Toddler to Grade 12, classroom environments are created where leadership can flourish and where students can share strengths, identify challenges, and learn from one another through the cultivation of compassion and empathy.

One of our key learnings post pandemic is that while we have always paid great attention to the academic side of the learning journey, the social and emotional health of our students is equally important to their ability to build resilience, develop coping skills and connect to their feelings – or “feel the feels” as we say in the Elementary program. Academically, we can advance students while supporting their cognitive development through collaborative activities and an enhanced social emotional curriculum. In short, we are creating well-being programs that ensure our

students feel good and function well in their lives. These programs include guidance support, access to advisors or transition leads (Grade 6 to 7), specifically designed curricular programs, and clubs, sports teams and co-curricular groups.

The mission of any guidance program is to support and foster students’ well-being and growth in three areas: personal (student development), interpersonal development, and academic/career development. A guidance program allows students a safe and secure place to address any academic concerns, social issues, or emotional needs.

TMS was one of the first independent schools to develop an Elementary guidance program, something usually associated with a middle or high school. The vision for the program is “to nurture and develop the growth of confident, independent and innovative learners who cultivate leadership through hard work, empathy and the development of creative,

critical and collaborative thinking skills.” Perry Enyedi, who joined TMS this year, has started to see some powerful results with students who seek him out for time to talk, share their feelings, and explore solutions to challenging social issues. The Elementary teachers see guidance as a partner in the classroom to support the learning needs of all students. Perry said, “over the past few months, I have met with students presenting with a range of issues from academic to self-esteem to stress management and social acceptance as well as needing to respect boundaries, and address conflict.”

A recent change that supports this foundational work is the grouping of Grade 6 students together in a 1-year split. This acknowledges that the Grade 6s are closer to adolescence and are starting to experience very different social and emotional needs. As a result, Grade 6s have the chance to delve deeper into social issues and topics that are often too mature for younger students (when we had Grade 4-6s in the same class). Rachel Marks, Head of Elementary says, “this change allows for the expansion of social groups, a key need for this age, and encourages social relationships to form more naturally and flourish more easily. The change has increased our ability to curate leadership opportunities such as our

Student Council and Student Ambassadors, which is fundamental to a successful move from Grade 6 to 7. With increased confidence in their leadership skills, the students can focus on the cultivation of their growing need to be independent.” She goes on to add, “the work we do in developing a guidance program to address the social and emotional needs of our Elementary students helps to build a strong foundation for the Upper School.”

Sense of meaning and purpose

Deeper-level connection

Living the good and authentic life

Sustainable impact

Well-Being

Achieving goals

Maximizing potential

Inner joy

Optimism

Positive emotions

Con dence

Growth mindset

Engagement

Relationship

Self-regulation

Resilience

Perseverance

Healthy routines

Well-being components (adapted from Seligman 2011)

TMS knows the value of ensuring a healthy continuum of support between the Lower and Upper Schools so we have created a framework of transition leaders at both campuses to ensure our Grade 6 and 7 faculty share information, effective tools and resources so students continue to access the same care and support regardless of the campus. At the Upper School, students start to connect with a guidance counsellor in Grade 7. That counsellor is well versed in the needs of 12 and 13 year old students and helps to ensure that the transition goes well. Our Upper School guidance counsellors know that conversations about selecting DP courses, exploring university programs, and undertaking the Pillars requirements are not successful without the foundation of students developing key competencies like independence, self-understanding, confidence, collaboration and leadership skills.

Mark Bunten, one of our Upper School guidance counsellors, talks about some of the ways we are building a well-being mindset for our students in Grades 7-12. “We undertake periodic well-being surveys to assess how students are feeling and options to support them. That way, we are tailoring the programs and solutions to meet their specific needs. For example, our Grade 11 and 12 students have planned time with Guidance on PostSecondary Planning, Stress Management, and Life Skills and we ensure our Grade 7 and 8 students benefit from the Social-Emotional and Ethical Guidance Curriculum. We are also very mindful of our commitment to diversity, ensuring the social-emotional needs of all students are met. To that end we support our Student Gay-Straight Alliance focused on Identity and Well-Being.”

All Upper School students are part of an advisory group from Grade 7 to 12. Within this group, students build a community in a number of ways: celebrating birthdays, holidays, milestones; collectively supporting a cause such as the World Wildlife Fund; and going on excursions together. From a wellbeing perspective, advisory groups talk about difficult topics together, support one another through the assignment calendar, and create potlucks, gift exchanges, and sharing activities that allow them to grow closer and bond as a group. From Day 1, all TMS Upper School students are placed in a house – Atlas, Helios, Phoebe, and Tethys. While the House System is competitive, it also fosters relationships through building a house culture.

Clubs and sports teams are a big part of life at both campuses, with students enjoying activities that cater to their interests. As a result, students can meet and connect with like-minded artists, athletes, social innovators or debaters. Once students are able to commit to a club or make it onto a team they enjoy, they build relationships across classes and grades to accomplish goals together.

While we are still in the relatively early stages of building a mindset of well-being for our students, we know we are taking the right approach to creating a healthy, safe and empowering learning journey.

AN UPDATE ON THE MIDDLE SCHOOL

When TMS made the decision to build a new Middle School, it was with the goal of providing a separate but connected space for our Grade 7 and 8 students. The Middle School, due to open this coming Fall, will provide learning and collaboration spaces for 120 students to make the transition from the Lower School to a high school environment easier while fully respecting their needs to feel safe, secure and supported.

Located on the Upper School campus, the Middle School will add six beautiful classrooms and two breakout/collaboration spaces providing much needed physical space and a heightened sense of belonging to all Middle School students. Grade 7 and 8s will have most of their classes in this new building, with the exception of Music, P.E., Art, Design and some Science classes where students will travel to specialty classrooms. The Advisory sessions will also be housed in the Middle School and we anticipate that some lunchtime co-curricular programming as well as some tutorial and peer tutoring will be provided in this space.

The TMS Middle School Program will focus on the following five features:

Building a sense of community

In line with TMS’s belief in I Am Known, we want to create a community where all Middle School students feel that they belong and know their teachers and peers want them to succeed. We have events throughout the year that are focused on building the Middle School community including specific assemblies, House events, and social gatherings.

Universal implementation of Social-Emotional Learning (SEL)

SEL has been proven to provide students with strategies such as self-awareness, emotional regulation and working collaboratively with others in order to be successful in school. Teachers incorporate SEL into their everyday teaching and build strong relationships with their students. SEL also forms the foundation of our Grade 7/8 Guidance curriculum.

Restorative justice

For students, Middle School is about trying new things, figuring out who they are, and making mistakes. When students get into trouble, we encourage open conversation focused on getting to the root of the problem. Rather than punitive discipline, we focus on repairing the harm and learning skills such as conflict resolution.

A curriculum that is challenging, active, and playful

Students who are given more difficult tasks with higher expectations rise to the challenge. TMS provides a curriculum that is challenging and exploratory. Students who feel connected to the material are more engaged and more motivated to work hard, so teachers ensure the learning is both meaningful and fun.

Smooth transition from the Lower School

The Middle School team has a strong partnership with the Elementary team to ensure that Grade 6 students have a smooth transition into the Middle School program.

Our new Middle School Coordinator, Caitlin Harris, will be located in the new building, and will be focusing on student learning strategies and augmenting our family-studentteacher relationships.

We have already ordered Middle School-specific furniture which will be colourful, comfortable and suited to support individual and collaborative inquiry learning. Lockers for the students will be in the adjacent hallways next to the classrooms.

As the building goes up, so does our excitement in welcoming 120 students into this space, designed to support the academic, social and emotional needs of our Middle School learners.

Celebrating TMS CLASS OF 2023

The Class of 2023 is excitedly waiting for their next educational adventure as they all head off in different directions to their universities of choice. This diverse group of students, some of whom started at TMS when they were under 2 years old, have demonstrated and showcased their interests and talents in multiple arenas. Among them we have singers, musicians, mathematicians, athletes, social activists, environmentalists, avid historians, aspiring architects, chemists, engineers, lawyers, teachers and medical professionals. They have worked well together over the years, supported each other when the going got tough, and in the process have shown us the value of camaraderie and collaboration. We wish them the best!

Ashley Alshubil Joined: Grade 9

Xiaohan (Alexandrae) Chen Joined: Grade 9

Meghan Ayala Angumba Joined: Toddler Artin Rezaei Haddad Joined: Grade 10

TMS CLASS OF 2023

Message From the Valedictorian

Raje Talal Samadi - Class of 2023

About Raje:

Valedictorian Raje Samadi follows his siblings’ (Ahmad ‘19 and Rose ‘21) footsteps in graduating from TMS. Having joined TMS in Grade 7, he describes his journey through the Upper School as one in which he learnt to apply himself, helping him to become the graduate he is today. He gave academics a major focus, reflecting on being on the Head’s list many times. By the same token, kindness and sincerity became valuable character traits as he engaged with his peers and the larger community. Raje recollects that in his younger years at TMS, his interests were quite varied between different sports and subjects, but in his later years, his interest in the Sciences grew, to a point where is now committed to pursuing a career in the medical field as a doctor.

Raje’s Message:

“I want to remind my peers to never give up. Life will always challenge us in novel ways. Sometimes, those challenges may seem difficult to overcome, but once we do, we will gain so many new rewarding life experiences. You must always continue to find the little joys in life - partake in activities that are meaningful to you. Do not settle.

Each of us in the class of 2023 will strive to accomplish our dreams as we progress in life. I hope that as we achieve these successes, we remain as close as we are today, always sharing our accomplishments and achievements with one another. Enjoy your time at University and always make sure to live life to the fullest. There will be challenges but nothing we, the class of 2023, can’t handle!

Thank you for being my friends and greatest supporters! I am so happy to have met you all and grown up with you.”

Creating Opportunities for Experiential Learning

TMS is known for the amazing learning that happens in the many beautiful spaces on both campuses: classrooms where students use the Montessori materials or present their Personal Projects, science labs where experimentation takes place, art rooms where creativity flourishes and libraries where students develop a love of reading. The other aspect to learning at TMS comes from our robust field trip program that provides an opportunity for experiential learning, an aspect of TMS that develops competencies and supports the curricular journey in a real life context.

At the Upper School, trips are either halfday, full-day, or overnight in length – all with multiple objectives. In some cases they are designed to allow for individual, cohort and full grade bonding. In others, they may be focused on building outdoor skills and pushing individual comfort zones (such as camping trips and the Duke of Edinburgh program). Day trips are more typically focused on curricular ties to a specific discipline. For example, Grade 11 students visited the Richmond Hill Library, which supported the research project for their Extended Essay, a 4000 word essay requirement for the Diploma Programme.

The Upper School structure allows for a regular Monday morning assembly, which brings together the entire student and faculty community. Once a term, an assembly is devoted to bringing in a speaker to share insights with the students. At one recent assembly, a Student Council representative interviewed Justin Morrow, a retired Toronto Football Club (TFC) soccer star who is now working philanthropically with TFC to support underprivileged youth in Canada. During Black History Month, the students heard from George Elliot Clarke, renowned Canadian poet, author, song writer and U of T professor.

At the Toddler and Children’s House level, we focus more on in-house visits where we welcome a range of speakers and experts who come into TMS to provide experiential learning opportunities. This year, our Toddlers participated in weekly yoga lessons which provided the chance for our youngest students to explore the range of movements they can make with their bodies and help to enhance their balance, body awareness, large motor coordination, focus and mindfulness. The Toddlers also enjoyed a hands-on experience with reptiles during a visit from Reptilia. This brought their vocabulary enrichment cards to life while observing, handling and exploring various species up close.

Our Children’s House students have enjoyed a myriad of visitors this year to complement and enrich the Montessori curriculum. The Culture and Science curriculum was fortified with in person visits from Mad Science, Astronomy in Action and a virtual tour of the Metro Zoo. The students learned about the principles of air pressure with Mad Science, entered the portable planetarium from Astronomy in Action and used their imaginations to become astronauts while learning about planets and stars. They expanded their understanding of various species and lifecycles “at” the Zoo.

In our Elementary program, students participate in a range of field trips, some connected to curricular learning such as the Lower Elementary visit to Black Creek Pioneer Village to enhance their understanding of Canadian history. Other visits focus on developing key leadership and collaboration skills such as the Grade 4/5 outdoor learning trip to Kettleby Valley. In Grade 6, emphasis is placed on the students’ experience as Eco-Leaders through our partnership with the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA). Through visits to the Kortright Centre for Conservation and Lake St. George, the students develop an understanding of environmental stewardship and their role in leading this work.

Many of our field trips convey important lessons in a fun yet accessible way. For example, all Elementary students enjoyed a magic show that helped them develop skills such as empathy and compassion and learn tools to support anti-bullying. They also benefitted from a travelling theatrical company where, in addition to enjoying a musical performance, they learned the importance of public speaking and audience manners. Our DP Physics students spent a day at Canada’s Wonderland, enjoying the rides while learning about the physics behind the roller coaster designs. Across both campuses, students regularly engage in activities to support their health and wellbeing from yoga in Children’s House to tennis lessons and bowling in Elementary to the Duke of Edinburgh program at the Upper School.

independence. Their first opportunity happens in Grade 4 and 5 with the students’ end of year visit to Teen Ranch. At the Upper School, all students start the school year with a camp experience that builds connections and encourages risk taking in a safe environment. Students learn to ski and practice their French in Quebec, learn about the workings of government in Ottawa as part of the Grade 9 Civics course and, in Grade 12, have an overnight experience that both provides the opportunity to complete their Extended Essay and have bonding time with their classmates.

These additional experiences create an exceptional educational experience for all our students, exposing them to different perspectives, environments, spaces, hands-on learning, and building key competencies – resilience, risk taking, independence, leadership and cooperation.

Faculty & Staff Updates

The Community of Staff and Faculty at TMS evolves each year. The following is a list of staff additions/changes as of May 31, 2023.

New Hires

Name Position

Kamelia Jalali Lower School Faculty

Cynthia Wong Lower School Faculty

Stella Boz Upper School Faculty

Anita Ho Lower School Faculty

Nancy Promane Upper School Faculty

Sandra Mulcahey Board Assistant

Eva Wang Extended Care

Adnan Mohamedbhai Director of Strategic Communications & Marketing

Perry Tang Extended Care

Desiree Diallo Extended Care

Jennifer Ferdinands Assistant Director, Enrolment Management

Linda Ren Administrative Support, Learning Strategies (Upper School)

Promotions/New Positions

Name New Position

Gayathiri Thevarajah Digital Marketing and Content Specialist

Retirements

Name New Position

Celia Bowker Upper School Faculty

Kevin Budd Upper School Faculty

Kathe Leyser Upper School Faculty

Ann Rotolo Lower School Administration

Carolyn Ventrillon Lower School Faculty

TMS Wellness Committee

TMS has an amazing group of 185 staff and faculty! We seek to be an employer of choice and consistently have numerous applications to our positions. We love the fact that when people come to TMS, they stay. Our average tenure is 12 years although we have teachers who have been here for over 25 years!

At TMS we understand that supporting employee and community wellbeing is an essential component of fostering a rewarding and sustainable work environment. This includes designing and implementing policies, processes and programs that enrich all aspects of health - physical, mental, emotional and occupational. In the past few months, we have created a TMS Wellbeing Committee with a mandate to support positive mental health and wellbeing through the lens of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

The committee is comprised of volunteer staff and faculty, across both campuses, with diverse personal backgrounds, roles, and functions within the school. The committee is undertaking an extensive review of the school’s wellbeing initiatives in Education; Strategy, Sustainability, and Assessment; Program Development; and Social and Physical Environments. The group will be exploring ways to enhance mental health for employees through fun activities to build a culture of wellbeing and by providing access to information about how to take care of personal mental health and wellness.

Finally…Together Again! Highlights from the 2023 Titan Gala

After four long years, over 420 guests made their way to the Titan Gala at the Universal Event Space in Vaughan. Current and new families, TMS alumni, community partners, faculty and staff were treated to a night of fun activities, delicious food and unparalleled entertainment, celebrating the joy of being together in-person once again.

First-ever Titan Gala After Party! As guests enjoyed their meals, the lobby was transformed into our own indoor Carnival – where guests could play games and win raffle tickets for one of four great prizes – the top prize being an Omega watch.

Layne the Auctionista emceed a wonderful silent auction that raised thousands of dollars for the school.

First-ever Titan Gala Digital Silent Auction, to gave both attendees and non-attendees an early start on the bidding for their favorite item.

Customized special Titan Gala dessert created by MasterChef Canada Season 7 Winner Christopher Sui

From signed jerseys, to premium sport event tickets to unique pieces of art, donors from all levels of the school supported the Titan Gala by donating hundreds of items for the silent auction and our main live auction. Lower School classroom photo trays and the Top 10 photos from the Upper School Photography contest were especially hot items on the digital auction site.

Prior to the event, a Virtual Titan Talk was held with fashion expert and TV personality Mana Mansour on what to wear at the gala.

The event would not be possible without our amazing sponsors and donors, all of whom contributed to the success of the event. Thank you!

Also, a big thank you to Gala Chairs Debbie Fung and Jenn Gilroy, as well as a very engaged and enthusiastic Gala committee, for their time and commitment on crafting a fun, memorable event, one that engaged the entire community.

After a couple of challenging years, the TMS Community told us they wanted to be Together Again and the Titan Gala delivered on all fronts.

Immersing Parents New to TMS with the Community

It is exciting when a new family joins the TMS community. To celebrate, TMS hosted New to TMS Parent Events at both the Lower and Upper School to provide parents an opportunity to hear from various members of our school community, receive preparatory information to support their child’s introduction to the school, and to get insight on what they could expect from the school in the coming months. It was incredible to have parents visit both campuses and engage with both faculty and staff. They felt comfortable to ask the many burning questions that they had, and really create a connection with the school and its greater family. These events also served as an opportunity to meet other parents of children in the same grade level, and help create new connections before the school year begins. We are excited to welcome all the new students and parents to the TMS community!

Alumni

Cultivating our Grade 12s as Alumni of the School

The move from Grade 12 to post-secondary education is a huge milestone in a student’s life. TMS recognizes that the change is not as simple as moving from a school to a university, but one that comes with many aspects. As a school, TMS has begun to focus for this transition of our graduating students at the start of the Grade 12 year. The graduating class is first surveyed at the beginning of the year to get a better understanding about the kind of support they would like to receive from the school. They will be surveyed again after they graduate and asked for feedback about whether the program helped meet their needs, areas of possible improvement, and other areas of support they think they may need once they are in university.

Over the course of the year, the school has focused on sessions such as a financial literacy program to help students learn how to budget, do their taxes, and other real life financial skills; an Alumni panel discussing what to expect in the first year of university; a speed mentoring session; and a breakfast with the Head of School in their smaller Advisory groups to get their feedback about their TMS experience and possible future plans. In the future, we may look at additional sessions such as basic cooking and life skills to prepare our young alumni for life away from home.

The ability to support our Grade 12 students will be driven by our students’ needs and feedback, so the focus of these sessions will be specific to each graduating class. The Guidance team and Grade Advisors play a key role in helping to develop this program as they have supported our students throughout their time at the Upper School.

Alumni Panel

As part of the transition from Grade 12 to post-secondary, TMS works with our Grade 12 students to provide them with opportunities to prepare them for their next steps. On February 21, 8 TMS Alumni visited the new Upper School Dining Hall as part of an informative panel discussion on what to expect in University. Grade 12 students had questions answered on many topics including:

1. What is life like at university? How is it different from High School?

2. What skills are important in surviving the first year? What are the keys to success at university?

3. What's their story? How did TMS help them on their journey?

4. How did they end up on their career path?

5. Are there any other pieces of advice you can share?

The event served as an opportunity for students to gain valuable feedback and advice, while also giving our Alumni a chance to reconnect with the school community and the teachers who taught them.

Speed Mentoring

TMS hosted its fourth Alumni Speed Mentoring event in May at the Upper School. The Speed Mentoring event is a great way for Alumni from both campuses to return to TMS as both mentors and mentees. Mentors consist of individuals from a variety of fields including current families, TMS local community partners, and experts from across the GTA. Mentees in attendance consisted of young Alumni (graduated within the last 5 years) and Grade 10, 11, and 12 students.

The evening started off with keynote speaker Diana Chan giving tips and techniques on developing networking skills in different environments. This was followed by five speed mentoring sessions, where mentees moved to different mentors from different fields in 7 minute intervals. Both groups had a handbook to help focus discussions in the sessions. Mentees were exposed to different careers they were interested in as well as new career options which may not have been on their radar. After the mentoring session concluded, the mentees practiced their newfound networking skills in a mini-reception, where they followed up and connected with mentors.

The session acted as a powerful catalyst to help mentees develop strong networking skills that they could use in their postsecondary education and subsequent careers.

Alumni Updates

Our Alumni are an important part of our TMS Community and we’re always excited to hear about how they are making an impact in whatever they pursue. Here are some TMS Alumni that connected with us to share what they’ve been up to!

Hermann Pasha (TMS’21)

After graduating from TMS in 2021, I embarked on my medical school journey at the Royal College of Surgeons Ireland. The program is rigorous, but the various learning opportunities such as anatomy labs, patient-simulated history taking, clinical skills, and case-based learning allows me to understand the content. Living in Dublin affords me the opportunity to explore different cities in Europe on a monthly basis adding to my cultural and social experiences. Additionally, I actively participate in several clubs and societies, enabling me to pursue my passions while staying committed to my studies. I am currently involved in various research projects revolving around heart failure with the hopes to gain an internal medicine residency in Toronto and to further specialize as a cardiologist.

Ario Sarafraz (TMS’06)

As the manager of our family's food service business, I oversee sales and operations, servicing the supply needs of some of Toronto's finest restaurants. Despite the ups and downs of entrepreneurship, I embrace the journey with positivity, social skills, and ambition - all traits that TMS helped cultivate during my 11 years there. The strategies and support I received from teachers, friends, and staff were invaluable and instrumental in my success today. Without their guidance, I wouldn't be where I am now. It's a hectic job, but one that I truly love, and I owe much of my success to the foundation TMS provided.

Chase

Drieberg (TMS’18)

I just completed my first year of law school at the University of Ottawa, after receiving my undergraduate degree at Arizona State University. After a competitive 1L Toronto recruitment I landed a job with Davies, Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP. I will summer at the firm for the next two years, with the hopes of joining the firm as an associate at the end of law school. This summer I will work in the practice areas of Insolvency, Competition and Corporate law. I look forward to bringing the values TMS instilled in me from 18 months to Bay Street this summer.

Cassandra

Ko (TMS’21)

I graduated from TMS in 2021 and recently completed my second year at the Parsons School of Design in New York City. Throughout these two years, I was able to explore new mediums within the field of digital technology, such as physical computing, coding, 3D asset creation, and game design. In my free time, I volunteer at the Giant Room as a Creative Tech Resident, and encourage children to explore creative potential through the use of technology such as coding, laser cutting, and 3D printing. This summer, I'll be working at Scotiabank as a UX Designer to further enhance their innovation sector. I can't wait to apply my design skills and gain real-world experience in this role.

Chris Ruhland (TMS’89)

I am the CFO of a family operated transportation company that is a leader in its market segment. I also serve as a board member and treasurer for the Canadian International Air Show. My past experiences involved repositioning companies on their journey through a variety of M&A transactions as well as working with real estate/lending organizations. I am thankful for being part of the TMS family as it has been pivotal in laying the necessary foundation for my career.

Ankit Mehra (TMS’11)

I completed my BBA from the Schulich School of Business and am also a CFA Charterholder. I actively manage stock selection, research, portfolio rebalancing, option trading and tax efficiency - as Portfolio Manager with Mehra Wealth Management, CIBC Private Wealth, Bay Street Branch. We are the top option traders in the country, actively using defensive option strategies to protect client investments and grow wealth. My team won the very first award as Best Active Manager Exchange Traded Derivatives in 2019, sponsored by the Montreal Exchange, TMX Group. The practice has organically built through educational seminars on multiple financial topics and word of mouth.

Jay

Yoo (TMS’16)

After graduating from TMS, I completed a BASc in Engineering Science from the University of Toronto. During this time, I had the opportunity to develop deep learning-assisted methods for protein reconstruction. I have since transitioned my focus to artificial intelligence for precision medicine using medical imaging. For my MSc at the University of Toronto's Institute of Medical Science, I researched non-invasive solutions to brain tumor diagnosis in affiliation with Sick Kids hospital. I will soon graduate and have accepted an offer to pursue a PhD at the University of Toronto's Department of Computer Science where I will expand upon this research.

Great Learning Experiences This Summer

Immersive Activities for Children

From walking or cycling your favourite trail, to teaching your child outdoor games you played as a child to drawing pictures and mailing them to relatives. These ideas may seem simple, but they are things that we forget to do when our lives are so rushed and hurried with the demands of everyday life. Your children will benefit from the connections you are strengthening, enhanced fine and gross motor skills, the love of books, and a deeper knowledge of our world.

Carolyn Reid, Head of Toddler and Children’s House

Food Festivals Across the City

Food is a great way to help children immerse themselves into different cultures and cuisines. It provides a great, enjoyable avenue to immerse oneself, learn and understand different people and what makes them who they are within Canada’s ever growing melting pot. Food adventures from The Taste of the Danforth to local farmers markets to exploring the St. Lawrence Market on a Saturday all help expose children to new food experiences.

Rakesh Tripathi, Director of Alumni and Community Relations

Library Summer Programming

Libraries across various municipalities have dozens of summer activities for children of all ages. This is a wonderful opportunity to immerse children and their families in interactive programming, one that helps to discover new interests and skills. Events can range from summer reading clubs, STEM workshops, language development activities and the creative arts.

Adnan Mohamedbhai, Director of Strategic Communications and Marketing

Summer Camp!

While it’s a staple reaction for many to suggest camp over the summer, the reality is that the camp experience offers children an opportunity to develop valuable leadership and interpersonal skills, various valuable life skills, and a deeper understanding of nature and the world around us. TMS’s Discovery Day Camp, for example, provides a multitude of program offerings that immerse our young folks to the creative arts, athletics, technology, science and much more. Not to mention a pool! It’s a great way to help kids enjoy the summer months, while still learning in a fun way.

Andrea Tomaso, Camp Director, TMS Discovery Day Camp

Nature Excursions

“The land is where our roots are. The children must be taught to feel and live in harmony with the earth” Maria Montessori.

Young children are sensorial learners. They learn by experiencing various sights, sounds, and smells, touching objects and tasting. As adults we must provide rich and varied environments for them to explore, so they can stretch all of their senses. Many studies have indicated that time outdoors in a natural setting “is a vital element for healthy childhood development” (Jennifer Ward). For inspiration to engage in activities in nature, I Love Dirt - 52 activities to help you and your kids discover the wonders of nature by Jennifer Ward is a great resource.

Jelena Gacesa, Toddler Teacher

Enjoy a Staycation

If you can’t get away this summer, plan a Staycation where you explore your town or city as a tourist. Visit a local museum or zoo, explore regions around the great lakes, take the GO train downtown to see a baseball game or pack a picnic of local goodies and enjoy an afternoon at a park. The time provides your family with a low stress activity while being together and trying new things.

Kirsten Eastwood, Executive Director, Community Development