Boarding

Boarding Toronto, Canada

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BRANKSOME HALL

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

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BRANKSOME HALL

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

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BRANKSOME HALL

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

Branksome Hall’s International Baccalaureate (IB) Program will stretch your mind and equip you for the challenges of university and beyond. We will teach you the tools to become a critical thinker and an effective communicator. Along the way,

you’ll discover the importance of caring for others and the environment, as well as ways to achieve balance in your life. You will continue to grow as a well-rounded, competent and confident person who will be able to make a difference in the world.

An Outstanding School

Our Community

Branksome Hall, Canada’s leading independent, non-denominational schools for girls:

If you decide to live and study at Branksome Hall, you’ll become part of a vibrant on-campus community that provides the following:

• offers an International Baccalaureate Program that is excellent preparation for university and life • helps students develop their thinking, communication, research, self-management and social skills • balances classroom life with a variety of athletic, service, artistic and leadership activities • offers accommodation in heritage homes located on a scenic, 13-acre campus in the safe and beautiful residential neighbourhood of Rosedale, close to downtown Toronto • provides easy access to theatre, libraries, safe public transportation and many other benefits of living in an exciting, multicultural city.

• boarding facilities for girls in Grades 7 through 12 • a warm, welcoming atmosphere in three heritage homes • supportive and caring boarding staff to listen to you and guide you when you need help • a diverse group of fellow boarders from more than 18 countries • state-of-the-art academic, athletic and dining facilities to nurture your mind and body • a wide array of social and cultural activities that will help you connect with other students and your new city.

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BRANKSOME HALL

Branksome-at-a-glance Established 1903 Enrolment 900 Junior School (JK-6) 270 Middle School (7-8) 180 Senior School (9-12) 450 Boarding Students 66 Day Students 834 Faculty 120 (40 with graduate degrees) Student Faculty Ratio 7:1 Average Class Size 18-22 Annual Student Financial Assistance $1 Million-plus University Placement 100%

Branksome timeline 1903 Branksome Hall founded by Miss Margaret Scott.

1912 C ampus expands to include property at 10 Elm Avenue. 1926 B ranksome Hall builds the first indoor school swimming pool in Toronto.

1958 Edith Read retires after 48 years as Principal.

1998 Karen Jurjevich becomes the seventh Principal of Branksome Hall.

2004 B ranksome Hall becomes a fully authorized IB World School.

2012 B ranksome Hall Asia opens on Jeju Island, South Korea.

2015 The Athletics and Wellness Centre opens.

2016 C handaria Research Centre is established, making Branksome Hall one of only a handful of schools to have its own research centre.

2017 G loria Steinem, feminist activist, is our Rachel Phillips Belash Speaker.

2019 B ranksome Hall will host the World Individual Debating and Public Speaking Championship, making us the first Canadian school to host this international competition.

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BRANKSOME HALL

Boarding Boarding is a remarkable place to grow! Branksome Hall will become your home away from home. In boarding, you’ll be living with 65 students from more than 18 countries, including Canada.

Your home will be in one of our three historic buildings: Ainslie House, Sherborne House or Principal’s House.

Each of these historic houses is equipped with the following: • single, double and triple bedrooms, with roommates assigned based on age, grade and interests

A Balanced and Supportive Schedule

• a communal lounge area with comfortable couches, cable television, movies and games

W E E K DAYS

• Internet access in every bedroom and full access to email and a variety of software programs

7:00 a.m.–8:15 a.m.

Breakfast in the dining room.

• a music area with a piano

8:25 a.m.–3:35 p.m.

Attend classes.

Eat lunch with the day students.

• a kitchen for preparing snacks • laundry facilities.

COMFORT FOOD FOR THOUGHT Our meals are nutritious, varied and international in scope, appealing to global tastes. Most important, there is a student committee that offers input into meal choices. Rest assured, your voice—and preferences—will be heard.

Boarding students come together for nutritious and delicious breakfasts and dinners in our bright, spacious dining hall. Boarding and day students come together at lunch in the dining hall. Students are required to attend dinner and are joined by staff for a family-style meal.

3:35 p.m.–5:30 p.m.

Resource Centre, in your house, or go off-campus with staff or peers.

Relax before dinner.

Participate in co-curriculars.

5:30 p.m.–6:30 p.m.

Enjoy family-style dinner with fellow boarders and staff; share news and ideas.

7:00 p.m.–9:00 p.m.

Supervised study.

9:00 p.m.–10:00 p.m.

Free time on campus.

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BRANKSOME HALL

BOARDING PROGRAM

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

Ensuring your well-being

Weekend Programing

You’ll live and study in a safe, supportive and nurturing environment, supervised by caring boarding staff who:

Weekends are for exploring interests outside the classroom and for learning more about the world around us. Boarding Advisors will lead excursions off-campus to discover the diversity of Toronto neighbourhoods such as:

• are on duty each day from the time you arrive home from school until the time you leave for class the next morning • are university graduates and certified teachers, who can help you with your studies after school

• Chinatown

• supervise homework, curfews, bedtimes and social outings

• Little India

• are experts in the educational and social needs of girls your age • help you learn to manage your academic, co-curricular and social commitments • encourage your fitness and well-being • foster an atmosphere where all cultural backgrounds are respected and appreciated • keep in touch with your subject teachers, as well as with Guidance Councellors and international language teachers • communicate regularly with your parents to ease their concerns.

Staffed by a Registered Nurse, with a school Doctor available as needed, the Health Centre is open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. weekdays.

At all other times, a nurse is on call and ready to help you.

We also have a school Social Worker, who specializes in girls’ social and emotional needs.

• Greektown

• Koreatown International Mindedness begins by looking at our local community and realizing we can make a difference.

Boarding students can participate in service activities such as: • Keep Well the Woodlot on campus or tree planting locally • Breast Cancer Society ribbon making initiative • Local community service activities Imagine trying something totally different and discovering a new passion! Boarding weekend events are designed to do just that. Our students like to try new things such as: • Cooking or baking • Ice-skating • Rock-climbing • Yoga and meditation • Hip-hop dancing • Winter skiing and snowboarding

BRANKSOME HALL

The Annex

Bloor St. West

Yonge St.

ROSEDALE

BloorYorkville

Royal Ontario Museum

dale

BLOOR-YONGE

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Bloor St. East

SHERBOURNE

College St.

Discovery District

Kensington Market

Church St.

Sherbourne St.

WELLESLEY

Carlton St.

COLLEGE

Downtown Yonge Ryerson University

Chinatown DUNDAS

ST. PATRICK

Dundas St. W.

Dundas St. E.

Eaton Centre

Art Gallery of Ontario

Parliament St.

QUEEN’S PARK

Little Italy

Yonge St.

Bay St.

University Ave.

Church Wellesley Village

University of Toronto

City Hall

Queen West

Queen St. W.

Bay St.

QUEEN

Queen St. E.

Financial District Sports and Entertainment District

King St. E.

KING

ST. ANDREW

St. Lawrence Market

W

St. W. Front

Yonge St.

Spadina Ave.

OSGOODE

Fashion District

UNION

St. Lawrence District

Rogers Centre CN Tower

Bathurst St.

Valle

MUSEUM

Koreatown

Bathurst St.

Rose

Toronto Reference Library

BAY

ST. GEORGE

SPADINA

BATHURST

CHRISTIE

Avenue Rd.

Bathurst St.

Spadina Rd.

Davenport Rd.

Jarvis St.

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Mt. Pleasant Rd

DUPONT

Dupont St.

Scotiabank Arena

Lake Sho re Blvd (westbound

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Toronto Islands Ferry Docks

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BRANKSOME HALL

BOARDING PROGRAM

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Toronto As Your Destination Branksome is situated in downtown Toronto, Canada’s largest city, known as one of the most multicultural cities in the world. More than 100 dialects and languages are spoken in Toronto, making it a city that truly has representation from all cultural groups.

With 3 million residents contributing to its economic pulse, artistic excitement, and cultural activities, Toronto is a dynamic, diverse, and expanding city that is praised for being a great city in which to find employment and for being a safe city to live in and raise a family. It is also revered as a friendly city, as citizens are quick to show support for their neighbour’s well-being.

According to The Economist, Toronto is the safest city in North America.

collectively attract and entertain approximately 3 million residents and tourists. The city is home to over 50 major attractions, including heritage sites and cultural centres, and boasts seven professional sports teams.

With more than 1,500 city parks and an extensive network of ravines and forest systems throughout the city, Toronto offers residents access to nature without compromising the convenience and amenities of the city.

Toronto boasts a wealth of creative talent. The city is home to more than 70 film festivals, including the annual Toronto International Film Festival, as well as internationally recognized symphony, ballet, opera and theatre companies, such as the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, the National Ballet of Canada and Mirvish Productions.

The city hosts a myriad of cultural, art and dining festivals, including Nuit Blanche, Winterlicious, and the Canadian National Exhibition, which

Toronto Facts • Toronto is continuously ranked one of the world’s

• Toronto is home to three universities, four colleges

most livable cities.

and a world-renowned college of art and design.

• The PATH is the largest underground pedestrian

• The St. Lawrence Market is one of Canada’s great

markets and one of the world’s best food markets.

system in North America. The 28 kilometres connects 1,200 stores and restaurants, 50 office towers, 20 parking garages, five subway stations and a railway terminal.

• Toronto has more than 8,000 restaurants.

• The Toronto Islands, just a short ferry ride away

from the downtown core, is the largest urban car-free community in North America.

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BRANKSOME HALL

IB Advantage for Girls Curiosity, caring and the confidence to ask difficult questions are hallmarks of the Branksome educational experience. These attributes are fostered through our Middle Years Program (MYP) and Diploma Program (DP), designed to provide a progressive platform for learning, inquiry and growth.

The Middle Years Program (MYP) engages students, from Grades 7-10, in a liberal arts program that teaches students the essential skills for learning how to learn, as well as their own unique learning strengths and areas for growth, ultimately preparing them for success beyond Branksome Hall.

Grounded in the liberal arts tradition, the Diploma Program (DP) features study in Humanities, Mathematics, Sciences, Languages and the Arts. Designed to instill a global perspective and promote cross-cultural understanding and respect, the Diploma Program supports Branksome Hall’s mission to inspire students to shape a better world.

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

More than 2,300 universities across the globe recognize the IB as a valued secondary school credential. Increasingly, the best higher education institutions seek out and reward IB graduates.

In the U.S. and Canada, IB Diploma holders are often awarded university level credits, in some cases equivalent to one full year.

Our graduates tell us that they were prepared for the challenges of university, and the foundation they received at Branksome Hall also prepared them for continued success in life. One hundred per cent of our graduates attend universities, almost all with scholarships.

Curriculum All students work towards the same goal— graduating with their Ontario Secondary School Diploma and the International Baccalaureate Diploma. Our program will help you develop your skills in research, inquiry, critical thinking and integrative thinking.

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BRANKSOME HALL

Middle Years Program (MYP) LA NG U

Context fosters deeper INSIGHT and new perspectives.

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1. Expands upon her PYP explorations, building a global perspective.

2. Questions and debates the meaning of these significant ideas across every subject area.

3. Expresses what she knows. In Grade 10, she places her passion into a global context, analyzing and working to resolve a need in the community.

4. Focuses and grounds her abstract questioning through foundational understanding of these subject areas.

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How do I know?

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INSIGHTS inform actions.

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Diploma Program (DP) E ACQUISI GUAG TIO N LAN

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Is it worth knowing – and what will I do with my knowledge?

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Teachers guide students to consistently and courageously DEMONSTRATE what they know.

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1. Reflects on the nature of human knowledge.

2. Completes independent research.

3. Helps build community. CREATIVITY, ACTIVITY, SERVICE (CAS), employing creative strengths, desire for action and responsibility to engage, contributes to bettering Toronto and beyond.

4. Studies a wide range of subjects, including two languages, provides the firm foundation for their university path.

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BRANKSOME HALL

Our Campus Branksome Hall’s campus blends together historic homes and state-of-the-art facilities.

Classrooms of Tomorrow - Integrating space, furniture and technology, these adaptive spaces are configured to suit student learning needs. One classroom is used specifically for research and test-piloting best uses of space and technology.

AWC Dining Hall - With a focus on fresh and healthy menu offerings, including a new vegan station, the dining hall serves over 3,000 meals each week.

Athletics & Wellness Centre - Opened in 2015, this award-winning, state-of-the-art facility has transformed our campus and become a hub of activity, well-being and fitness.

Training and Teaching Pools - Two salt-water pools are used by Branksome students for training, lessons and competitions.

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BRANKSOME HALL

Located on 13 beautifully appointed acres in downtown Toronto’s Rosedale neighbourhood, students and faculty are inspired each day to explore, learn and grow in Branksome’s world-class spaces.

Three Historic Houses - Are home to more than 66 boarding students and offer all of the comforts of home.

Allison Roach Performing Arts Centre - Home to our theatrical and musical productions, this stage has seen the beginning of many notable acting careers.

STEAM Studio - Offering Students equipment and facilities –from 3D printers to robotics– that nurture a love for science, technology, engineering and mechanics.

Middle School Lounges - These modern, friendly, colourful and welcoming spaces allow students to connect and collaborate.

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BRANKSOME HALL

Applying to Branksome Hall 1. Apply online: www.branksome.on.ca/admissions 2. We will arrange an interview for you in Toronto, in your community or online.

3. Complete the Secondary School Admissions Test (SSAT). For more information, visit www.ssat.org

Branksome is proud of its ability to support students through our program of Financial Assistance. Our philosophy is to partner with as many families as possible as they look to finance the Branksome experience. We offer over $1 million in need-based bursaries and merit-based entrance scholarships.

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BRANKSOME HALL

BOARDING PROGRAM

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Branksome Hall 10 Elm Avenue, Toronto ON M4W 1N4

Tel. 416-920-6265 ext. 268 admissions@branksome.on.ca branksome.on.ca