Junior School Viewbook 2024

The Country Day School

The Journey Begins

Why is community our first priority as a school? Because as educators, we know that exceptional learning only happens within the context of supportive relationships. We also know that a strong sense of belonging paves the way for individual exploration and accomplishment. Students who feel at home will take risks, reach higher and know themselves better.

The most effective preparation for a life of purpose and distinction is a solid sense of self. That’s why our guiding question for students is “who will you be?” If they know who they are, their path in life will reveal itself and they will proceed with the confidence and clarity that ensure success.

To support their journey, we offer a balanced academic, experiential and extracurricular program. We attend to wellness and character as much as intellectual development and university preparation. We take pride in knowing, inspiring and supporting our students. And we participate actively in their discovery of who they are and where they are headed in life.

Each Child is Unique

MINDFUL TECHNOLOGY

Technology is an important support for learning, and Junior School students have regular access to iPads, Chromebooks, several different robotics programs and other digital technologies. But while digital learning is a part of every grade, we know that the greatest factor affecting student success is the student-teacher relationship.

THE JUNIOR KINDERGARTEN PROGRAM

A typical week for our JK students includes:

• Math

• Language Arts

• Science

• Outdoor Education

• Art

• Music

• Phys Ed

ENGAGING CURIOUS MINDS

Our youngest students develop a strong sense of self in a supportive and engaging learning environment.

This is a time of exploration and adventure. Whether they are in Primary (JK-Grade 3) or Junior (Grades 4-6), children are curious about the world and want to know who they are and where they fi t in. What passions will they discover? What talents will emerge? Will they become athletes, musicians, math whizzes, engineers or stewards of the environment? Every child deserves the best possible opportunity to find out.

At CDS, the journey from early learner to confident leader is carefully nurtured by talented teachers who are close by to support learning and foster independence. And we invite parents to be an important part of the equation: through attending special classroom events, dramatic productions, music nights, school assemblies and school sports, they see firsthand how the warm embrace of the Junior School contributes to their children’s growth.

LEADERSHIP AND MENTORING

Leadership opportunities build gradually from grade to grade culminating in Grade 6 when students manage morning announcements, run assemblies, lead peers on play days, organize community service events and teach younger students, such as their Grade 1 reading buddy. Through real-world experiences, our students learn to lead with purpose and compassion.

• Library

• Reading Buddies

No split classes in any grades

A DAY IN GRADE 6

Our full rotary program includes:

• Math

• Language Arts

• Science

• Social Studies

• Outdoor Education

• French

• Phys Ed / Health

• Music and Choir

Outdoor Learning

HANDS-ON LEARNING

Our country setting allows us to include hands-on, experiential learning based on the Ontario science and social science curriculum.

A NEW KIND OF LEARNER

A real outdoor education requires students to use their senses in a whole new way as they explore the landscape and direct their own learning. Sometimes, they sit quietly and take in the natural world around them or write refl ectively in a journal. Other times, they build forts or roam the hills to investigate biodiversity. Learning outside is different: the mind is free, the imagination is stirred and a sense of independence takes root.

THE NATURAL CLASSROOM

Learning outdoors encourages environmental citizenship, promotes health and well-being, and is just plain fun.

Research shows that there is no place like the great outdoors to improve memory and attention – critical skills for success in learning and life. The natural world also promotes creativity, enhances confidence and enriches a child’s sense of wonder and connection to the earth. That’s why we want our students to go outside with a purpose.

Our 100 acres of protected wetlands, fields and forests are home to indigenous plant species and regional wildlife and create a unique opportunity for students to learn and explore. The CDS campus is a natural classroom where students head outside for a hands-on education equipped with essential learning tools: rubber boots, weatherproof clothing and their five senses.

OUTDOOR EDUCATION All classes in JK-Grade 6 enjoy Outdoor Education for a 60-90 minute period, every four days. Each year our Grade 4s enjoy a night of camping on our beautiful 100-acre campus.

Michelle, Grade 6

Let the Music Play

MUSICAL THEATRE

Every year the Junior School puts on its own theatre production that Grades 4-6 students audition for and the entire school enjoys. Recent productions include James and the Giant Peach, The Little Mermaid and The Lion King.

VISUAL ART

Junior classroom themes are integrated into vibrant, creative content that encourages young artists to tap into their imaginations using various mediums. Dedicated art classes are offered from Grade 4 to Grade 12.

VOCAL MUSIC/CHOIR

Vocal music instruction begins in JK and carries on within the classroom until the end of Grade 7. Beginning in Grade 2, students become part of a formal choral class that prepares them for the Junior Choir. Vocal music is also an extracurricular option starting in Grade 4 and continuing through Grade 12.

SPARKING CREATIVITY

A balanced education includes the arts so that students are able to develop the creativity, self-awareness and communication skills to be successful in life. Our youngest students develop a strong sense of self through the exploration of drama, music and visual art, and numerous opportunities for public speaking.

Whether performing Les Trois Petits Cochons in Grade 2 French or the lead role in a drama production in Grade 6, the confidence developed through practicing and memorizing lines, emulating a character, and presenting in front of an audience is priceless.

INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC

CDS offers instrumental music instruction from Kindergarten to Grade 12. In Grades 3 and 4, our students are introduced to the recorder, ukulele and Orff instruments. In Grade 5, they take up either a brass or woodwind instrument and join the Junior Band.

All Junior School students perform in two music concerts each year in our state-of-the-art Performing Arts Centre Theatre. They also create art throughout the year, and their teachers frequently change up displays for parents to enjoy and marvel at when in the school.

Sophia, Grade 3

Active and Healthy Living

TEAM AND SCHOOL SPIRIT!

Our youngest students develop a strong sense of school spirit upon their arrival at CDS. Every student is assigned to one of four Houses (Dunlap, Eberts, Ross or Taylor) and there are friendly competitions throughout the year to win House points.

The House System is designed to encourage community and friendly competitions between students and staff and instills a sense of tradition and culture. It also encourages an active approach to student life in academic, athletic and extracurricular activities.

Fitness and wellness are top priorities, and our Junior School students are on the go, both inside and outside, rain or shine. We like to say, there is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing choices. Whether in Phys Ed, Outdoor Education, during lunch in our Dining Hall or at recess, an emphasis on movement and wellness is instilled in our students every day.

TEAM SPORTS

Students in Grades 4-6 can join our Basketball, Soccer, Cross Country and Track & Field teams. Starting in Grade 5, students may also play on the Hockey, Volleyball and Softball teams.

Meet our Mascot, Storm the Cyclone!

FITNESS FOR LIFE

Through physical education classes, students build knowledge and skills that will enable them to acquire physical and health literacy and develop the comprehension, capacity and commitment needed to lead healthy, active lives.

HEALTHY EATING MARCHÉ STYLE

Baked flaxseed chicken fingers, gnocchi with butter sage sauce, grilled marinated flank steak ... a typical week in the CDS Dining Hall. These delicious healthy meals are made with locally-sourced ingredients whenever possible. Dietary needs are easily accommodated by the kitchen staff and we offer our youngest students a little extra help since they are not quite ready to serve themselves. Meals are delivered to Kindergarten classrooms, and Grades 1 to 3 dine “family style” with their teachers. Students in Grades 4 to 6 serve themselves marché style from the food stations and eat alongside the Junior School faculty.

Colson, Grade 6

Junior School Renewal

In September 2023, CDS opened Burns Family Hall and the rejuvenated portion of our Junior School to coincide with the culmination of our 50th anniversary.

BUILDING MAGIC

When The Country Day School opened its doors in 1972, we welcomed 47 students in Kindergarten–Grade 8 in a three-room leased building on a few acres. Today we have more than 800 students in JK–12 on a 100-acre campus. While other parts of our school have evolved over the past half century, until recently, the beloved Junior School has remained largely the same.

The Building Magic campaign changed all that. Our rejuvenated Junior School has eight new classrooms, updated indoor and outdoor junior spaces, and a welcoming new entranceway into a magnificent

atrium that encloses and protects our historic 1883 one-room Eversley Schoolhouse.

The new wing includes a Before and After-Care room and purpose-built classroom space for our JK and SK students, Grade 1 and 2 classrooms, and new administrative offices.

The addition also allows for new homes for our Outdoor Education program, dedicated classrooms for Junior and Primary French language studies, and an infirmary.

CENTRAL MEETING SPACE

This inspirational renewal of the original part of our school allows us to create a signature and versatile venue for students, classes, parents, and alumni to gather and celebrate our history. It also serves as a central hub to better connect all components of our Junior School.

A NEW PLAYGROUND

The new location for our primary playground and playing fi eld is nestled in between the classrooms in a protective courtyard and easily accessible to the primary classrooms.

Looking Ahead

““

From day one, the CDS community has been like a family to us. The wonderful teachers have nurtured our children and guided them in a safe and caring environment making them strong, confident and thoughtful individuals. CDS has helped our children build the foundation to have a successful future in whatever comes their way.”

– Current CDS Parent

For someone who has attended CDS since kindergarten, it has become like a second home. We have grown to love the school and embrace everything that it has taught us. We have loved our time here, including the connections it has brought us with both our teachers and friends.”

– Georgie Tsiolis ’20, CDS ‘Lifer’

TOP 10 CANADIAN UNIVERSITY DESTINATIONS FOR CDS GRADUATES

Queen’s University

Wilfrid Laurier University

Western University

University of Toronto

McMaster University

University of Guelph

Dalhousie University

Ryerson University

University of Waterloo

McGill University

UNIVERSITY DESTINATIONS

At CDS, students pursue their passions in every subject and field imaginable. After graduation, the variety of university programs and professions they choose highlights the value of an education with balance.

Science typically leads the way with 40% of our graduates pursuing Life Science, Physical Science or Engineering. The Social Sciences and Humanities are next at 35% and Business at 20%. Some unique disciplines pursued of late include Graphic Communications Management, Environment and Urban Sustainability, Architectural Engineering and Astrophysics.

The vast majority of CDS students attend Canadian universities, although many apply and are accepted elsewhere. In recent years, about 10% of students have opted to go to US or UK destinations, including the University of Oxford, King’s College London, the University of Edinburgh, Royal College of Surgeons Ireland, University of Southern California (USC), Brown University, Berklee College of Music and George Washington University.

CDS QUICK FACTS

1972

Founding year

18

Average class size

88

Graduates in the Class of 2023

365 Days of summer in the sports dome

3

Dramatic productions each year

100

Acre campus in King, Ontario

40 + Clubs and extracurriculars

806 Students enrolled in Grades JK–12

99 % University acceptance

2100 Alumni worldwide

WE CANNOT WAIT TO SHOW YOU AROUND

Thank you for including The Country Day School in your search for an independent school! We look forward to getting to know you and your family on this journey and helping you determine whether an education with balance is the right choice for your child. Call or email us today to find out the best next steps for learning more.

See you soon, The CDS Admissions Team

PLAN YOUR VISIT

www.cds.on.ca/visitus

CONTACT US

905.833.1972

admissions@cds.on.ca

www.cds.on.ca

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The Country Day School

13415 Duff erin Street

King, Ontario Canada L7B 1K5