Established in 1842, Pickering College is an independent co-educational day and boarding school for students in Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12. It offers a variety of enriched academic, athletic and leadership programs in a caring community, preparing students not only for university, but for a life of purpose. At Pickering College, every student, Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12, benefits from the fully integrated, enriched programming of the Global Leadership Program (GLP).
The Global Leadership Program teaches students to deeply consider the global context, and to develop the skills necessary to effectively participate in this context. Creative and innovative decision making drives all programming in academics and activities beyond the classroom. Students learn to take theory to action, and to assess the impact of their actions.
Graduates of the Pickering College Global Leadership Program are creative, innovative and courageous agents of ethical and positive change, true to Quaker values.
SCHOOL PROFILE
FACTS & ATTRIBUTES
• Pickering College’s school community is comprised of students from 30+ countries. The Class of 2024 includes 72 students who hail from Canada, China, Dominican Republic, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Nigeria, St. Kitts and Nevis, South Korea, Thailand, Ukraine, and Vietnam.
• Pickering College has 65 dedicated and inspirational faculty members whose credentials include 121 bachelor degrees, 17 master’s degrees, and one doctorate.
• The school offers has a variety of competitive sports teams including soccer, volleyball, basketball, track & field, badminton, hockey, softball, flag football and ultimate frisbee.
• Pickering College’s arts program provides a diverse range of classes and co-curricular activities, including drama, music, and visual arts.
• Pickering College is the first independent school in Ontario to attain full membership in the UNESCO Associated Schools Network. The network links educational institutions from around the world to a common goal: to build the defences of peace in the minds of children and young people.
GLOBAL LEADERSHIP PROGRAM
The Global Leadership Program (GLP) provides students with rich, meaningful and relevant experiences both inside and outside the classroom. The program is delivered through subject classes, mentor meetings, visits from industry leaders, field trips and excursions, clubs, teams and committees, to name a just a few.
The two-year Capstone Project requires students to independently research an issue of local or global significance, propose a solution and take action. Every project is unique and students are supported in shaping their solution through university-level research workshops, debates, meetings with mentors and outreach to organizations or businesses working in similar fields.
The Global Leadership Program provides Pickering College graduates with a competitive advantage, as a result of their experience in having their problem-solving skills tested in a teaching environment.
Global Leadership Diploma Requirements
• OSSD Requirements
• Sustained and meaningful community engagement
• Recent and consistent GLP achievements at Competent or above as per GLP rubric, including the 10 Demonstrations of Global Leadership and the GLP Interdisciplinary Grade Projects
• Engaged participation in GLP Days and Activities
• Pickering College is a full partner of Facing History and Ourselves, a non-profit international educational development organization whose mission is to engage students of diverse backgrounds in an examination of racism, prejudice, and antisemitism in order to promote the development of a more humane and informed citizenry.
• Pickering College is proud to work closely with the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center (FSWC), one of Canada’s leading human rights and social advocacy organizations. FSWC works to build a more inclusive and respectful Canada by sharing the lessons of the Holocaust, advocating for human rights and combatting both antisemitism and hate in all its forms.
• Pickering College is the only JK-Grade 12 school in Canada with a CRTC-licensed radio station, 102.7 CHOP FM. The radio station is one of Pickering College's unique features, giving students the opportunity to become on-air hosts, producers, editors and interviewers.
• 98 per cent of 2024 graduates received either the prestigious Pickering College Global Leadership Diploma or the Pickering College Global Leadership Diploma with Distinction.
• 94 per cent of the Class of 2024 graduated as Ontario Scholars.
Global Leadership Diploma with Distinction
• Global Leadership Diploma requirements
• Recent and consistent GLP achievements at Distinction as per GLP rubric
• Average of top six courses at 85 per cent or above
ACADEMICS
Pickering Colleges offers a rigorous university-preparatory curriculum with an integrated Global Leadership Program, striking the ideal balance between challenging students to develop critical thinking skills and real world life skills. Pickering College offers the Ontario Ministry of Education curriculum.
Students graduate with an Ontario Secondary School Diploma and are eligible for the Pickering College Global Leadership Diploma (GLD) or the Pickering College Global Leadership Diploma with Distinction (GLD+), upon completion of the additional requirements.
ACADEMIC ADMINISTRATION
HEAD OF SCHOOL
Cinde Lock PhD, MA, BEd, BChem, OCT
ASSISTANT HEAD OF SCHOOL, ACADEMICS
Janet Downer BA, MA, MLIS, BEd, OCT
DIRECTOR OF TEACHING AND LEARNING
Joshua Armstrong, B.A (Hons), B. Ed., M. Ed., OCT
SENIOR SCHOOL DIRECTOR
Chris Schneider BA, MA, BEd, OCT
MIDDLE SCHOOL DIRECTOR
Julie Clement BSc, MA, BEd, OCT
JUNIOR SCHOOL DIRECTOR
Karen McCallum-Ryan, BA, MA, MEd, BEd, OCT
GUIDANCE COUNSELLORS
Sheri Simon BA Hons, BEd, OCT
Lotem Baram BA Hons, BEd, OCT
English:
English is designed to develop insightful, prolific and creative readers, writers and public speakers. It is required for all students through to the end of Grade 12. English as a Second Language courses provide additional support in developing key communication skills students require for success in other academic courses. Writer’s Craft is a complementary option offered.
Mathematics:
Mathematics is a requirement for all students in Grades 9-11. In Grades 10 and 11, students may apply to join enhanced STEM sections where students complete the curriculum (many working a grade level ahead) as well as modules in robotics, coding and the engineering design process. In Grades 11 & 12, students can complete more than one mathematics course (Data Management, Advanced Functions, Calculus & Vectors). Students in our STEM program, and others who complete Grade 11 Functions with exceptional grades, may continue to study mathematics in our enhanced Grade 12 Advanced Functions, AP Calculus AB and AP Computer Science Principles courses.
Science:
Science is a requirement for all students in Grades 9-10 at the academic level. These courses take a modular approach that involves units on Physics, Chemistry, Biology and the Environment. In Grades 11 & 12, students can choose to take Biology, Chemistry, and Physics at the university-preparation level, or AP Chemistry.
Technological Education
Effective September 2024, Grade 9 students must complete a credit at the Grade 9 or 10 level in Technological Education.
ACADEMICS
In addition, elective credits are offered in Grades 11 & 12 in Communications Technology and in Radio and Audio Production.
Social Sciences:
Canadian Geography is required in Grade 9. In Grade 10, students must take Canadian History and two half-credit coursesCivics and Career Studies. Students have a variety of electives to choose from in Grade 11 & 12 including World History, Physical Geography, Canadian and World Issues, Accounting, Entrepreneurship, and Economics. The Grade 11 Leadership, Explorations, Adventures & Perspectives (LEAP) course, developed by the school, is a unique offering that embeds leadership principles with an outdoor education teaching scope. In Social Sciences, students can choose from universitypreparation courses including Grade 11 Introduction to Anthropology, Sociology and Psychology, Grade 12 Philosophy, and Grade 12 International Business Fundamentals.
Modern Languages:
All Grade 9 students are required to take French, except for English Language Learners. Spanish and French are electives for
At Pickering College, we develop and instil in our students the attributes, values, knowledge, self-confidence and courage to be successful in post-secondary studies and beyond. Our students not only develop strong academic skills, but they develop social consciousness and leadership skills in order to contribute to the world in a meaningful way. Our students have big plans for the future, with admission to
students in Grades 10 to 12. Students who take Grade 11 and Grade 12 French have the opportunity to write the B1 or B2 level DELF (Diplôme d’études de langue française), an internationallyrecognized test of French proficiency awarded by the French Ministry of National Education. Pickering College also offers AP French Language and Culture.
The Arts:
Students can cultivate their creativity and talent in Music, Dramatic Arts, and Visual Arts. Beyond the required one arts credit, students can take additional courses, join school productions, exhibit artwork, and participate in music ensembles.
Health and Physical Education:
Health and Physical Education is required for all students through to the end of Grade 9, and optional for Grades 10-12. In addition, the High Performance Student Athlete (HPSA) Program is offered as a credit course for students in Grades 9-11 who are competing at the provincial or national level in a particular sport. Recreation and Healthy Active Living Leadership and Introductory Kinesiology are offered at the Grade 12 level.
prestigious universities around the world. In addition to attaining the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD), our students earn the Global Leadership Diploma, completing a culminating Capstone Project that requires them to independently research an issue of global significance, develop an innovative solution and then take action to address this issue.
Note: Pickering
PICKERING STUDENTS
CLASS OF 2024: PROGRAMS OF STUDY
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (53% of graduates)
Accelerated Dental Program
Chemical Engineering
Civil Engineering
Computer Science
Computing
Engineering
Financial Mathematics
Fish and Wildlife Technician
Forensic Science
Geography and Environmental Management (co-op), Aviation specialization
Health Sciences
Integrated Biomedical Engineering & Health
Sciences
Kinesiology
Life Sciences
Life Sciences (Biochemistry)
Life Sciences (Co-op)
Life Sciences (Gateway)
Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering Design and Technology
Mechatronics & Robotics Engineering
Physical Mathematical Science
Science
Science + Engineering Diploma
Software Engineering
Business Programs (21% of graduates)
Accounting and Financial Management
Business
Business Administration
Business Management and Organizational
Studies
Commerce
Economics
Management
Real Estate
$1,751,800 in scholarship offers
Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities (26% of graduates)
