AN OUR KIDS REPORT:Guiding Light Academy vs. Toronto Prep School

one-to-one comparison:

View Guiding Light Academy's full report
VS.
View Toronto Prep School's full report

  • SCHOOL LOCATION

    Distance From

    Map

    Address

    Address

    225 Broadway Street, Mississauga, Ontario, L5M 1J1, Canada

    250 Davisville Avenue, Suite 200, Toronto, Ontario, M4S 1H2, Canada

  • SCHOOL OVERVIEW

    Basics

    Basics

    Founded

    2007

    2009

    Enrolment

    100

    430

    Grades

    JK to 8

    7 to 12

    Gender

    Coed

    Coed

    Living arrangements

    Day

    Day

    Language of instruction

    English

    English

    Faith Based

    School focus

    Academic

    Academic

    Developmental Priorities

    Balanced
    Equal emphasis is placed on a balance of priorities: intellectual, emotional, social and physical cultivation.
    Spiritual
    The goal is to cultivate "individuals with inner resourcefulness, strong faith and respect for God or a higher power."
    Balanced
    Equal emphasis is placed on a balance of priorities: intellectual, emotional, social and physical cultivation.
    Intellectual
    The goal is to cultivate "academically strong, creative and critical thinkers, capable of exercising rationality, apprehending truth, and making aesthetic distinctions."

    Academics

    Academics

    Curriculum

    Traditional, Montessori

    Traditional

    Curriculum pace

    Accelerated
    The main curriculum accelerates beyond the pace of the provincial one; ALL students do the work of OLDER public-school peers in tangible and measurable ways. This accelerated pace is maintained by the teachers and school, (through textbook selection, topic selection, grading, assignment standards and expectations, etc).
    Standard-enriched
    Broadly-speaking, the main curriculum -- like that of most schools -- paces the provincially-outlined one. This pace is steady and set by the teachers and school. The curriculum might still be enriched in various ways: covering topics more in-depth and with more vigor than the provincial one, or covering a broader selection of topics.

    Academic culture

    Rigorous
    A school with a “rigorous” academic culture places a high value on academic performance, and expects their students to do the same. This does not mean the school is uncaring, unsupportive, or non-responsive -- far from it. A school can have a rigorous academic culture and still provide excellent individual support. It does mean, however, the school places a particular emphasis on performance -- seeking the best students and challenging them to the fullest extent -- relative to a normal baseline. High expectations and standards – and a challenging yet rewarding curriculum – are the common themes here. Keep in mind this classification is more relevant for the older grades: few Kindergarten classrooms, for example, would be called “rigorous”.
    Rigorous
    A school with a “rigorous” academic culture places a high value on academic performance, and expects their students to do the same. This does not mean the school is uncaring, unsupportive, or non-responsive -- far from it. A school can have a rigorous academic culture and still provide excellent individual support. It does mean, however, the school places a particular emphasis on performance -- seeking the best students and challenging them to the fullest extent -- relative to a normal baseline. High expectations and standards – and a challenging yet rewarding curriculum – are the common themes here. Keep in mind this classification is more relevant for the older grades: few Kindergarten classrooms, for example, would be called “rigorous”.

    Avg. Class Size

    5 to 16

    14 to 16

    Special needs support

    Learning, Developmental

    Gifted learner support

    Dedicated gifted school

    In-class adaptations

    Preschool/K curriculum

    Academic
    Academic-based preschools and Kindergartens are the most structured of the different types, and have a strong emphasis on math and reading readiness skills. These programs aim to expose children to what early-elementary school is like. While time is still allotted to free play, much of the day is built around explicit lessons guided by the teacher. Classrooms often resemble play-based ones (with different stations set up around the room), but at an Academic program the teacher leads students through the stations directly, and ties these activities to a whole-class lesson or theme.

    Tuition

    Tuition

    Day Tuition

    $10,000

    $32,250

    Boarding Tuition

    Financial aid (FA)

    No

    No

    Students on FA

    0%

    0%

    Eligible grades for FA

    None

    None

    Median FA package size

    $0

    $0

    Enrollment

    Enrollment

    Avg. enrollment per grade

    9

    72

    Percent in boarding

    0%

    0%

    Admissions

    Admissions

    Admissions rate

    90%

    90%

    Day entry years

    JK, SK, K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

    7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

    Boarding entry years

    Day admissions deadline

    Rolling

    Rolling

    Boarding admissions deadline

    Not available

    Not available

    Interview required?

    Yes: grades JK - 8

    Yes

    SSAT required

    No

    No

  • OUR PERSPECTIVE

    The Our Kids Review

    The Our Kids Review

    GUIDING LIGHT ACADEMY

    information not available

    TORONTO PREP SCHOOL

    As the name suggests, Toronto Prep School is very much a preparatory academy intending to prepare students for university. The ideal student is one who arrives at the school with a clear sense of where they are going and is able to effectively manage their time and their schedule. The environment is rigorous, and the school operates very much with the demands of a teen lifestyle in mind. Classes start late in order to align with teens sleep patterns; a partnership with GoodLife Fitness, located within the same building as the school, provides an opportunity to maintain physical fitness. Those kinds of things are beneficial to students who are prone to making the most of them.
    Read The Our Kids Review of Toronto Prep School

    Our Take

    Our Take

    GUIDING LIGHT ACADEMY

    One of the reasons that private school is attractive is because there is no assumption that one size fits all, and Guiding Light is a great example of that. It presents both traditional and Montessori instruction in consort with the values and lessons of the Catholic church. It’s not for everyone, though for some, it provides a strikingly tailored fit. The ideal family is one that is active within the Catholic faith and looking for a school that will support that spiritual life. Families who enroll are drawn by the strength of the academic program, as well as by the breadth of extra-curricular offerings, all offered within a very close-knit school community. There is no other school like it, and for the families that enrol, that's perhaps Guiding Light's greatest strength. 

    View full report

    TORONTO PREP SCHOOL

    As the name suggests, Toronto Prep School is very much a preparatory academy intending to prepare students for university. The ideal student is one who arrives at the school with a clear sense of where they are going and is able to effectively manage their time and their schedule. The environment is rigorous, and the school operates very much with the demands of a teen lifestyle in mind. Classes start late in order to align with teens sleep patterns; a partnership with GoodLife Fitness, located within the same building as the school, provides an opportunity to maintain physical fitness. Those kinds of things are beneficial to students who are prone to making the most of them.

    View full report
  • INSIDER PERSPECTIVES

    Written Reviews

    Written Reviews

    GUIDING LIGHT ACADEMY

    "Focus of the school is not simply in academics but also helping develop the children into good people."
    Felix Wong - Parent   (May 08, 2018)
    My children love their experience at Guiding Light. The school provides a warm, welcoming, and safe... View full review

    "Students heighten their education at Guiding Light Academy with various forms of teaching outside of workbooks..."
    Vania Padua - Parent   (Mar 17, 2021)
    A large part of our worries as parents is wondering what our children’s experience will be at scho... View full review

    "The teaching staff at Guiding Light Academy is highly knowledgeable about their subject and I love how creative they are in..."
    Cindy Flandes - Parent   (Mar 17, 2021)
    Guiding Light Academy has been a home away from home for all my children. I am mother to seven child... View full review

    TORONTO PREP SCHOOL

    information not available

  • School’s perspective

    Who are you, as a school?

    Who are you, as a school?

    GUIDING LIGHT ACADEMY

    "Guiding Light Academy is a Catholic private elementary school in Streetsville, Mississauga. We offer an enriched curriculum for JK, SK & Grades 1 to 8 that far exceeds the Ontario standard. We focus on spiritual development, academic excellence & an extensive co-curricular program that includes music, gymnastics, sport, drama, elocution & dance. The Spiritual Guidance is under the full responsibility of The Heralds of the Gospel & Lumen Veritatis Academy. Each school day begins with Daily Mass at our local Parish."

    • Catholic private education from Kindergarten to Grade 8
    • Faith Based Environment that teaches all students the foundations of the Catholic Faith
    • Daily Mass at the Local parish
    • Accelerated Academic program using Guiding Light Academy's propriety blended curriculum & workbooks
    • Accelerated French Program from Jk to Grade 8 includes DELF examinations
    • Themed learning weeks for students to develop an attachment to a particular subject
    • Accelerated French Program from Jk to Grade 8 includes DELF examinations
    • Graduating Students test into IB programs, AP programs or other Private Schools
    • Extensive Co-curricular program includes professional voice training, public speaking and sports

    TORONTO PREP SCHOOL

    "The Toronto Prep School is completely dedicated to providing a superior academic program for the children of parents who value the importance of knowledge, technology, individuality, responsibility, and integrity in a safe, nurturing, and highly motivated environment. Our mission is to prepare our students by equipping them with the academic tools and life skills needed to enter and succeed not only at the post-secondary school level, but ultimately, in their chosen career path. Given the pace of technological change and the growth of information technologies in all aspects of our lives, it is crucial that students gain mastery over these tools. We are committed to developing students who are confident and responsible and exhibit the values necessary to become effective communicators, informed and productive thinkers, self-directed learners, collaborative workers, and skilled information processors and problem solvers. As educators we will develop the facility for learning and foster the motivation for students to continue to learn after their formal school years. We will challenge each student to maximize his or her effort and in so doing realize their potential. The development of a sound work ethic and effective organizational and study skills will be stressed."

    • A semestered, university preparatory curriculum
    • MacBook Pro 13"
    • Extended After School and Saturday Study Club Programs
    • On site English and Math Resource Centres with teachers
    • Member of SSAF and TDCAA Sports Organizations
    • Extra-curricular Clubs
    • Classes start at 10:00am daily
    • On site Fitness Centre

    Array

    What do you do differently and uniquely well?

    GUIDING LIGHT ACADEMY

    Information not available

    TORONTO PREP SCHOOL

    "Our people, atmosphere, and academic ethos differentiate TPS from other schools. While this sounds like an empty platitude, it is anything but. We believe that a school can be academically rigorous, but we also believe that teachers and administration should be approachable and create a comfortable environment. Growth does indeed occur when we are uncomfortable, but trust needs to be established before this growth exists."

    Array

    What tradeoffs has your school made to serve families in this way?

    GUIDING LIGHT ACADEMY

    Information not available

    TORONTO PREP SCHOOL

    Information not available

    Array

    What key junctures in your school's history have most shaped its present?

    GUIDING LIGHT ACADEMY

    Information not available

    TORONTO PREP SCHOOL

    Information not available

    Array

    What type of student is a good fit for your school?

    GUIDING LIGHT ACADEMY

    Information not available

    TORONTO PREP SCHOOL

    Information not available

    Array

    Under what conditions would you advise a family against choosing your school?

    GUIDING LIGHT ACADEMY

    Information not available

    TORONTO PREP SCHOOL

    Information not available

    Array

    To your knowledge, why do families choose your school over others?

    GUIDING LIGHT ACADEMY

    Information not available

    TORONTO PREP SCHOOL

    "According to students and parents who have chosen TPS as their school, it seems personal attention, accountability, and academic flexibility are the deciding factors. Our semestered system, with a plethora of elective courses, allows students to find their passion and build a foundation upon which to launch their post-secondary journey. When students are provided with academic options and have the ability to choose a number of their classes, it makes for a better learning environment."

    Array

    How would you characterize your school's image amongst the public?

    GUIDING LIGHT ACADEMY

    Information not available

    TORONTO PREP SCHOOL

    Information not available

    Array

    What aspect of your school is underappreciated?

    GUIDING LIGHT ACADEMY

    Information not available

    TORONTO PREP SCHOOL

    "The most important aspect of TPS is its reliance and insistence on the importance of family. From admissions, through matriculation, and capstoned by graduation, a given student’s personal family blends with TPS’s educational family. By this, we mean that it is essential for the morals, values, and ethics of prospective families to meld with those of TPS. Academic integrity, familial gratitude, and respect for oneself and others are the hallmarks of TPS."

    Array

    What might families find surprising about your school?

    GUIDING LIGHT ACADEMY

    Information not available

    TORONTO PREP SCHOOL

    "Once families enter our campus, they are typically surprised by the breadth of our physical location. In addition to our 33 traditional classrooms, TPS bolsters a professional grade music recording studio, a 100 seat mainstage auditorium, a fully equipped, 2000 sq. ft. fitness studio, a wellness centre, and the list goes on."

    Array

    What improvements or changes has your school made recently?

    GUIDING LIGHT ACADEMY

    Information not available

    TORONTO PREP SCHOOL

    Information not available

    Array

    How will your school change in the next 5 years?

    GUIDING LIGHT ACADEMY

    Information not available

    TORONTO PREP SCHOOL

    Information not available

  • SCHOOL LEADERSHIP

    Message from school leadership

    Message from school leadership

    We at Guiding Light Academy are blessed to share the integral role of guiding our children during the formative years of their lives.

    Through outstanding learning and teaching, with constant reinforcement of core values, we strive to prepare our children for the tapestry of life.

    On a personal note, I have founded and managed School of Knowledge, Sharjah, U.A.E., for the last 30 years. My gratification is when my students, now young adults, feel that the best years of their lives were the ones spent in our care! This sense of achievement is what I endeavour  to bring to the field of education in Toronto as well.

    It gives me great pleasure, as Principal of Toronto Prep School, to welcome you to the official Toronto Prep School website. This website has been prepared in the hope that it will become for parents, students, and visitors to the site, a valuable source of school news and timely information. This website has been developed to enable everyone to become familiar with our school, its policies, and other procedures that are basic for the smooth functioning of our school, as well as to provide you with updated school news, schedules and events.

    The website is for many an introduction to the Toronto Prep School as a new, private, co-educational, university preparatory day school option.

    Parents are increasingly concerned about the role education will play in securing the future they want for their children. Parents recognize that superior schools prepare children not just for today's test but rather for all of life's tests. Acceptance to a prominent university is not good enough; the ability to succeed once you are there and beyond is the goal.

    Parents understand that the best education is a values-added experience that offers a rigorous academic curriculum, a structured, nurturing environment with an appropriate integration of technology to promote literacy and numeracy, but also values the importance of hard work, personal responsibility, respect, leadership and maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle. Our small class sizes and commitment to positive discipline play integral parts in the recognition and fostering of individual strengths. Dedicated and caring teachers challenge students to strive for excellence while encouraging social responsibility. We provide a community where achievement, character development and academics are equally important aspects of the total educational experience. Helping students develop a life-long love of learning is our ultimate goal.

    Our curriculum places a premium on students taking an active role in their own education. Learning by doing promotes a spirit of inquisitiveness and a deeper understanding of ideas. Talented and committed faculty members put students in the forefront and challenge them to pursue their dreams. Teachers who genuinely enjoy working with and connecting with young people engage our students to take constructive risks as they develop academic and personal attributes we value.

    Our goal is to inspire all our students to develop both creative and analytical skills, which are essential to successful learning, while supporting them as they accept responsibility for who they are and what kind of people they want to become. We, as educators, have a rich history of achievement to draw upon. We step confidently forward to challenge ourselves and our students to excel.

    A great deal of information about our programs, and our calendar is at your fingertips, and I invite you to explore the Toronto Prep experience.


    Sincerely,

    Pete Tsimikalis
    Principal

  • ACADEMICS

    • OVERALL CURRICULUM


      Primary Curriculum

      Primary Curriculum

      GUIDING LIGHT ACADEMY

      Traditional


      Secondary Curriculum

      Secondary Curriculum

      GUIDING LIGHT ACADEMY

      Montessori

      TORONTO PREP SCHOOL

      Information not available


      Our Take: primary curriculum type

      Our Take: primary curriculum type

      GUIDING LIGHT ACADEMY

      Traditional curricula tend to be very content-based and rooted in the core disciplines. It is a structured approach that involves the teacher delivering a unified curriculum through direct instruction. Students usually learn by observing and listening to their teacher, studying facts and concepts in textbooks, and completing both tests and written assignments - which challenge students to not only demonstrate their mastery of content but their ability to analyze and deconstruct it critically. Class discussions are also used to create critical dialogue around the content of the curriculum.

      TORONTO PREP SCHOOL

      Traditional curricula tend to be very content-based and rooted in the core disciplines. It is a structured approach that involves the teacher delivering a unified curriculum through direct instruction. Students usually learn by observing and listening to their teacher, studying facts and concepts in textbooks, and completing both tests and written assignments - which challenge students to not only demonstrate their mastery of content but their ability to analyze and deconstruct it critically. Class discussions are also used to create critical dialogue around the content of the curriculum.


      Our Take: secondary curriculum type

      Our Take: secondary curriculum type

      GUIDING LIGHT ACADEMY

      Particularly popular in the younger grades (preschool to elementary), but sometimes available all the way up to high school, Montessori schools offer an alternative vision to the standard lesson format of most classrooms. Instead of listening to whole-class lessons, Montessori classrooms allow students to choose which "tasks" or activities interest them. These tasks centre around special Montessori puzzles - their essential feature being they contain a right answer and allow for selfcorrection. A strong emphasis is therefore placed on lessons being concrete and rooted in practical experience, along with students developing a sense of self-sufficiency, confidence and curiosity.

      TORONTO PREP SCHOOL

      Not applicable


      What the school says about their curriculum

      What the school says about their curriculum

      GUIDING LIGHT ACADEMY

      The Enriched Curriculum at Guiding Light Academy provides your child with the opportunity to learn and grow spiritually, physically, and emotionally through creative learning. At Guiding Light Academy, we focus on three key Elements including Spiritual Guidance, Academic Excellence, and Co-curricular Activities. We combine traditional methods of academic learning with aspects of social interactive learning. Our main goal is to provide a learning environment that inspires life long learning, encourages strong self -development, and instills deep spiritual values.

      TORONTO PREP SCHOOL

      Our curriculum places a premium on students taking an active role in their own education. Learning by doing promotes a spirit of inquisitiveness and a deeper understanding of ideas. Talented and committed faculty members put students in the forefront and challenge them to pursue their dreams.Teachers who genuinely enjoy working with and connecting with young people engage our students to take constructive risks as they develop academic and personal attributes we value. Our goal is to inspire all our students to develop both creative and analytical skills, which are essential to successful learning, while supporting them as they accept responsibility for who they are and what kind of people they want to become.

    • COURSE PEDAGOGIES

      • Early Reading


        Approach

        Approach

        GUIDING LIGHT ACADEMY

        Phonics-intensive

        TORONTO PREP SCHOOL

        Not applicable


        Our take: early reading approach type

        Our take: early reading approach type

        GUIDING LIGHT ACADEMY

        Systematic-phonics programs teach young children to read by helping them to recognize and sound out the letters and syllables of words. Students are then led to blend these sounds together to sound out and recognize the whole word. While other reading programs might touch on phonetics (either incidentally or on a “when needed” basis), systematic phonics teaches phonics in a specific sequence, and uses extensive repetition and direct instruction to help readers associate specific letter patterns with their associated sounds.

        TORONTO PREP SCHOOL

        Not applicable


        What the school says about their early reading program

        What the school says about their early reading program

        GUIDING LIGHT ACADEMY

        Information not available

        TORONTO PREP SCHOOL

        Information not available


        DIBELS testing

      • Writing


        Approach

        Approach

        GUIDING LIGHT ACADEMY

        Equal balance

        TORONTO PREP SCHOOL

        Not applicable


        Our take: writing approach type

        Our take: writing approach type

        GUIDING LIGHT ACADEMY

        Programs that balance systematic and process approaches equally likely have an emphasis on giving young students ample opportunities to write, while providing supplementary class-wide instruction in grammar, parts of sentences, and various writing strategies.

        TORONTO PREP SCHOOL

        Not applicable


        What the school says about their writing program

        What the school says about their writing program

        GUIDING LIGHT ACADEMY

        Information not available

        TORONTO PREP SCHOOL

        Information not available

      • Science


        Approach

        Approach

        GUIDING LIGHT ACADEMY

        Equal Balance

        TORONTO PREP SCHOOL

        Equal Balance


        Our take: science approach type

        Our take: science approach type

        GUIDING LIGHT ACADEMY

        Science programs that balance expository and inquiry learning equally will likely have an equal blend of tests and experiments; direct, textbook-based instruction and student-centred projects.

        TORONTO PREP SCHOOL

        Science programs that balance expository and inquiry learning equally will likely have an equal blend of tests and experiments; direct, textbook-based instruction and student-centred projects.


        What the school says about their science program

        What the school says about their science program

        GUIDING LIGHT ACADEMY

        Information not available

        TORONTO PREP SCHOOL

        Information not available


        Topics covered in science curriculum

        Topics covered in science curriculum

        GUIDING LIGHT ACADEMY

        Evolution as consensus theory
        Evolution as one of many equally viable theories
        Evolution is not taught

        TORONTO PREP SCHOOL

        Evolution as consensus theory
        Evolution as one of many equally viable theories
        Evolution is not taught


        Treatment of evolution (value)

        Treatment of evolution (value)

        GUIDING LIGHT ACADEMY

        Physiology

        TORONTO PREP SCHOOL

        Not applicable

      • Literature


        Approach

        Approach

        GUIDING LIGHT ACADEMY

        Equal Balance

        TORONTO PREP SCHOOL

        Equal Balance


        Our take: literature approach type

        Our take: literature approach type

        GUIDING LIGHT ACADEMY

        These literature programs draw in equal measure from “Traditional” and “Social Justice” programs.

        TORONTO PREP SCHOOL

        These literature programs draw in equal measure from “Traditional” and “Social Justice” programs.


        What the school says about their literature program

        What the school says about their literature program

        GUIDING LIGHT ACADEMY

        Information not available

        TORONTO PREP SCHOOL

        Information not available


        Domains covered by the literature program

        Topics covered in literature curriculum

        GUIDING LIGHT ACADEMY

        Ancient lit
        English lit
        World (non-Western) lit
        European (continental) lit
        American lit
        Canadian lit

        TORONTO PREP SCHOOL

        Ancient lit
        English lit
        World (non-Western) lit
        European (continental) lit
        American lit
        Canadian lit

      • Social Studies


        Approach

        Approach

        GUIDING LIGHT ACADEMY

        Core Knowledge

        TORONTO PREP SCHOOL

        Not applicable


        Our take: social studies approach type

        Our take: social studies approach type

        GUIDING LIGHT ACADEMY

        Usually focused on teaching history and geography at an early age, the core knowledge approach uses story, drama, reading, and discussion to teach about significant people, places, and events. Breadth of content and knowledge is emphasized. The curriculum is often organized according to the underlying logic of the content: history might be taught sequentially, for example (as students move through the grades).

        TORONTO PREP SCHOOL

        Not applicable


        What the school says about their social studies program

        What the school says about their social studies program

        GUIDING LIGHT ACADEMY

        Information not available

        TORONTO PREP SCHOOL

        Information not available

      • Humanities and Social Sciences


        Approach

        Approach

        GUIDING LIGHT ACADEMY

        Equal Balance

        TORONTO PREP SCHOOL

        Equal Balance


        Our take: humanities and social sciences approach type

        Our take: humanities and social sciences approach type

        GUIDING LIGHT ACADEMY

        These programs represent an equal balance between the perennialist and pragmatic approach to teaching the humanities and social sciences.

        TORONTO PREP SCHOOL

        These programs represent an equal balance between the perennialist and pragmatic approach to teaching the humanities and social sciences.


        What the school says about their humanities and social sciences

        What the school says about their humanities and social sciences

        GUIDING LIGHT ACADEMY

        Information not available

        TORONTO PREP SCHOOL

        Information not available

      • Foreign Languages


        Approach

        Approach

        GUIDING LIGHT ACADEMY

        Equal Balance

        TORONTO PREP SCHOOL

        Equal Balance


        Our take: foreign language approach type

        Our take: foreign language approach type

        GUIDING LIGHT ACADEMY

        These programs feature an equal blend of the audio-lingual and communicative styles of language instruction.

        TORONTO PREP SCHOOL

        These programs feature an equal blend of the audio-lingual and communicative styles of language instruction.


        What the school says about their foreign language programs

        What the school says about their foreign language programs

        GUIDING LIGHT ACADEMY

        Information not available

        TORONTO PREP SCHOOL

        We offer French starting in grade 7 through to grade 12. Our classes are teacher directed with lectures, notes and examples. Language skills such spelling, grammar, and comprehension are developed through reading, writing and videos. Interactive group work, games, and conversational exercises contribute to the student's confidence. Quizzes, written tests, and projects are used for assessment purposes.


        Language instruction offered in:

        Topics covered in science curriculum

        GUIDING LIGHT ACADEMY

        Hebrew
        ESL
        Spanish
        Russian
        Latin
        Japanese
        Italian
        Greek
        German
        French
        Chinese-Mandarin
        Chinese-Cantonese

        TORONTO PREP SCHOOL

        Hebrew
        ESL
        Spanish
        Russian
        Latin
        Japanese
        Italian
        Greek
        German
        French
        Chinese-Mandarin
        Chinese-Cantonese


        Learning a foreign language is required until

        Treatment of evolution (value)

        GUIDING LIGHT ACADEMY

        Information not available

        TORONTO PREP SCHOOL

        Information not available

      • Fine Arts


        Approach

        Approach

        GUIDING LIGHT ACADEMY

        Equal Balance

        TORONTO PREP SCHOOL

        Equal Balance


        Our take: fine arts approach type

        Our take: fine arts approach type

        GUIDING LIGHT ACADEMY

        These programs have an equal emphasis on receptive and creative learning.

        TORONTO PREP SCHOOL

        These programs have an equal emphasis on receptive and creative learning.


        What the school says about their fine arts program

        What the school says about their fine arts program

        GUIDING LIGHT ACADEMY

        Information not available

        TORONTO PREP SCHOOL

        We offer classes in Fashion Design, Art, Drama, Communication Technology, Media Arts and Computer Science in addition to all the core courses. Every student is gifted either a MacBook Pro as a tool to help facilitate learning. Our teachers encourage our students to be creative with their work. Our students are given the tools and taught the skills so that they can use their imaginations to create. Many of our students have gone off to post secondary institutions such as Parsons: The New School of Design and OCAD to study their craft. More importantly, our faculty is experienced with Portfolio Management so our students are able to put their best effort and work forward.


        Courses offered in:

        Topics covered in science curriculum

        GUIDING LIGHT ACADEMY

        Acting
        Dance
        Drama/Theatre
        Graphic Design
        Music
        Visual Arts

        TORONTO PREP SCHOOL

        Acting
        Dance
        Drama/Theatre
        Graphic Design
        Music
        Visual Arts

      • Computers and Technolgy


        Approach

        Approach

        GUIDING LIGHT ACADEMY

        Heavy integration

        TORONTO PREP SCHOOL

        Heavy integration


        Our take: computers and technology approach type

        Our take: computers and technology approach type

        GUIDING LIGHT ACADEMY

        A major effort is made to integrate the development of digital literacy throughout the curriculum and in everything students do. Digital literacy is understood to be a fundamental skill in the 21st century: it therefore follows, the idea goes, that teachers should find ways to connect every lesson back to technology. Effort is made to ensure the use of technology is meaningful and advances students’ skills beyond what they would otherwise be from using computers outside the classroom.

        TORONTO PREP SCHOOL

        A major effort is made to integrate the development of digital literacy throughout the curriculum and in everything students do. Digital literacy is understood to be a fundamental skill in the 21st century: it therefore follows, the idea goes, that teachers should find ways to connect every lesson back to technology. Effort is made to ensure the use of technology is meaningful and advances students’ skills beyond what they would otherwise be from using computers outside the classroom.


        What the school says about their computers and technology program

        What the school says about their computers and technology program

        GUIDING LIGHT ACADEMY

        Information not available

        TORONTO PREP SCHOOL

        All our new students are gifted a MacBook Pro 13\" to use while at TPS. This laptop is used as a tool for better learning. Students use it to complete homework, write essays and create PowerPoint presentations. Through teacher direction, they are able to use the Internet for research, and resource. Furthermore, the laptop is used for graphic design and communication technologies. It is important to note that the laptop is used as a tool to develop skills such as note taking, essay writing and organization.


        Courses offered in:

        Topics covered in science curriculum

        GUIDING LIGHT ACADEMY

        Web design
        Robotics
        Computer science

        TORONTO PREP SCHOOL

        Web design
        Robotics
        Computer science

      • Physical Education


        What the school says about their physical education program

        What the school says about their computers and technology program

        GUIDING LIGHT ACADEMY

        Information not available

        TORONTO PREP SCHOOL

        Leadership and sportsmanship are encouraged through a range of athletic activities and teams. Students who actively participate in these types of extra-curricular activities find that they are capable of working well in all team settings. In addition, it also helps to emphasize the importance of finding a balance between work and leisure activities, a skill that is useful throughout one's life.

    • PRESCHOOL/K CURRICULUM


      Approach

      Approach

      GUIDING LIGHT ACADEMY

      Academic

      TORONTO PREP SCHOOL

      Not applicable


      Our Take

      Our Take

      GUIDING LIGHT ACADEMY

      Academic-based preschools and Kindergartens are the most structured of the different types, and have a strong emphasis on math and reading readiness skills. These programs aim to expose children to what early-elementary school is like. While time is still allotted to free play, much of the day is built around explicit lessons guided by the teacher. Classrooms often resemble play-based ones (with different stations set up around the room), but at an Academic program the teacher leads students through the stations directly, and ties these activities to a whole-class lesson or theme.

      TORONTO PREP SCHOOL

      Not applicable


      What the school says

      What the school says

      GUIDING LIGHT ACADEMY

      The Enriched Curriculum at Guiding Light Academy provides your child with the opportunity to learn and grow spiritually, physically, and emotionally through creative learning. At Guiding Light Academy, we focus on three key Elements including Spiritual Guidance, Academic Excellence, and Co-curricular Activities. We combine traditional methods of academic learning with aspects of social interactive learning.\nOur main goal is to provide a learning environment that inspires learning, encourages strong self -development, and instills deep spiritual values.

      TORONTO PREP SCHOOL

      Information not available

    • CURRICULUM PACE


      Pace

      Pace

      GUIDING LIGHT ACADEMY

      Accelerated

      TORONTO PREP SCHOOL

      Standard-enriched


      Our Take

      Our Take

      GUIDING LIGHT ACADEMY

      The main curriculum accelerates beyond the pace of the provincial one; ALL students do the work of OLDER public-school peers in tangible and measurable ways. This accelerated pace is maintained by the teachers and school, (through textbook selection, topic selection, grading, assignment standards and expectations, etc).

      TORONTO PREP SCHOOL

      Broadly-speaking, the main curriculum -- like that of most schools -- paces the provincially-outlined one. This pace is steady and set by the teachers and school. The curriculum might still be enriched in various ways: covering topics more in-depth and with more vigor than the provincial one, or covering a broader selection of topics.


      What the school says

      What the school says

      GUIDING LIGHT ACADEMY

      Our small class sizes allow us to spend one on one time with every child ensuring that the course material and pacing is customized to each child.

      TORONTO PREP SCHOOL

      Information not available

    • ACADEMIC CULTURE


      Culture

      Culture

      GUIDING LIGHT ACADEMY

      Rigorous


      Our Take

      Our Take

      GUIDING LIGHT ACADEMY

      A school with a “rigorous” academic culture places a high value on academic performance, and expects their students to do the same. This does not mean the school is uncaring, unsupportive, or non-responsive -- far from it. A school can have a rigorous academic culture and still provide excellent individual support. It does mean, however, the school places a particular emphasis on performance -- seeking the best students and challenging them to the fullest extent -- relative to a normal baseline. High expectations and standards – and a challenging yet rewarding curriculum – are the common themes here. Keep in mind this classification is more relevant for the older grades: few Kindergarten classrooms, for example, would be called “rigorous”.

      TORONTO PREP SCHOOL

      A school with a “rigorous” academic culture places a high value on academic performance, and expects their students to do the same. This does not mean the school is uncaring, unsupportive, or non-responsive -- far from it. A school can have a rigorous academic culture and still provide excellent individual support. It does mean, however, the school places a particular emphasis on performance -- seeking the best students and challenging them to the fullest extent -- relative to a normal baseline. High expectations and standards – and a challenging yet rewarding curriculum – are the common themes here. Keep in mind this classification is more relevant for the older grades: few Kindergarten classrooms, for example, would be called “rigorous”.


      What the school says

      What the school says

      GUIDING LIGHT ACADEMY

      Information not available

      TORONTO PREP SCHOOL

      With smaller class sizes, our teachers develop a working relationship with their students and are better able to identify their strengths and weaknesses, helping them overcome challenges through encouragement and greater attention in specific areas of need. Each child and young adult has the ability to overcome his or her individual obstacles through a more focused setting and trusting two-way communication with the teacher. Read for meaning and write for purpose;  Locate and evaluate information;  Manipulate numbers and interpret data. 


      Approach to student honours

      Approach to student honours

      GUIDING LIGHT ACADEMY

      "We honour and distinguish our brightest students, using them as examples for other students to follow."

      TORONTO PREP SCHOOL

      "We honour and distinguish our brightest students, using them as examples for other students to follow."

    • DEVELOPMENTAL PRIORITIES


      Primary

      Primary

      GUIDING LIGHT ACADEMY

      Balanced
      Equal emphasis is placed on a balance of priorities: intellectual, emotional, social and physical cultivation.

      TORONTO PREP SCHOOL

      Balanced
      Equal emphasis is placed on a balance of priorities: intellectual, emotional, social and physical cultivation.


      Secondary

      Secondary

      GUIDING LIGHT ACADEMY

      Spiritual
      The goal is to cultivate "individuals with inner resourcefulness, strong faith and respect for God or a higher power."

      TORONTO PREP SCHOOL

      Intellectual
      The goal is to cultivate "academically strong, creative and critical thinkers, capable of exercising rationality, apprehending truth, and making aesthetic distinctions."


      What the school says

      What the school says

      GUIDING LIGHT ACADEMY

      Information not available

      TORONTO PREP SCHOOL

      The Toronto Prep School is completely dedicated to providing a superior academic program for the children of parents who value the importance of knowledge, technology, individuality, responsibility, and integrity in a safe, nurturing, and highly motivated environment. Our mission is to prepare our students by equipping them with the academic tools and life skills needed to enter and succeed not only at the post-secondary school level, but ultimately, in their chosen career path.

  • SPECIAL NEEDS SUPPORT

    FORMAL SUPPORT FOR DISORDERS, DISABILITIES, AND EXCEPTIONALITIES

    A - Forms of Support

    Accommodation:
    Modification:
    Remediation:

    B - Environments

    Indirect Support:
    Resource Assistance:
    Withdrawal Assistance:
    Partial Integration:
    Full-Time Class:
    Forms of Support Environments Forms of Support Environments
    ADHD (moderate to severe)
    This is a neurodevelopmental disorder. Children with ADHD may be hyperactive and unable control their impulses. Or they may have trouble paying attention. These behaviors can interfere with school and home life.
    Learning disabilities
    Dyslexia (Language-Based Learning Disability)
    This is a learning disability that can limit a child's ability to read and learn. It can have a variety of traits. A few of the main ones are impaired phonological awareness and decoding, problems with orthographic coding, and auditory short-term memory impairment.
    Auditory Processing Disorder (APD)
    This is a sound differentiation disorder involving problems with reading, comprehension, and language.
    Dyscalculia
    This is a kind of specific learning disability in math. Kids with this math disorder have problems with calculation. They may also have problems with math-related concepts such as time and money.
    Dysgraphia
    This is a kind of specific learning disability in writing. It involves problems with handwriting, spelling, and organizing ideas.
    Language Processing Disorder
    This is characterized by having extreme difficulty understanding what is heard and expressing what one wants to say. These disorders affect the area of the brain that controls language processing.
    Nonverbal Learning Disorders (NLD)
    These involve difficulties interpreting non-verbal cues, such as facial expressions and body language. They're usually characterized by a significant discrepancy between higher verbal skills and weaker motor, visual-spatial, and social skills.
    Visual Perceptual/Visual Motor Deficit
    A characteristic seen in people with learning disabilities such as Dysgraphia or Non-verbal LD. It can result in missing subtle differences in shapes or printed letters, losing place frequently, struggles with cutting, holding pencil too tightly, or poor eye/hand coordination.
    Developmental
    Autism
    Refers to a range of conditions that involve challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, and speech and nonverbal communication. They also involve unique strengths and differences. For instance, there are persons with both low- and high-functioning autism (some claim the latter is identical to Asperger's syndrome).
    Asperger's Syndrome
    On the autism spectrum, Asperger's is considered quite mild in terms of symptoms. While traits can vary widely, many kids with Asperger's struggle with social skills. They also sometimes fixate on certain subjects and engage in repetitive behaviour.
    Down syndrome
    his is associated with impairment of cognitive ability and physical growth, and a particular set of facial characteristics.
    Intellectual disability
    This is a condition characterized by significant limitations in intellectual functioning (e.g., reasoning, learning, and problem solving). Intellectual disabilities are also known as general learning disabilities (and used to be referred to as a kind of mental retardation).
    Williams syndrome
    This is a rare genetic disorder present at birth. It is characterized by intellectual disabilities or learning problems, unique facial features, and cardiovascular problems.
    Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)
    Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is an umbrella term used to describe the range of effects that can occur in an individual whose mother consumed alcohol during pregnancy. These may include growth deficits, facial anomalies, and damage to the central nervous system, which can lead to cognitive, behavioural, and other problems.
    Behavioral and Emotional
    Troubled behaviour / troubled teens
    roubled teens tend to have problems that are intense, persistent, and can lead to quite unpredictable behaviour. This can lead to behavioural and emotional issues, such as drug and alcohol abuse, criminal behaviour, eating disorders, depression, and anxiety.
    Clinical Depression
    This is a mental health disorder also called "major depression." It involves persistent feelings of sadness, loss, and anger. According to the Mayo Clinic, symptoms are usually severe enough to cause noticeable problems in relationships with others or in daily activities, such as school, work, or one's social life.
    Clinical anxiety
    This is a mood disorder involving intense, relentless feelings of distress and fear. They can also have excessive and persistent worry about everyday situations, and repeated episodes of intense anxiety or terror.
    Suicidal thoughts
    This involves persistent thoughts about ending one's life.
    Drug and alcohol abuse
    This involves the excessive use of drug and/or alcohol, which interferes with daily functioning.
    Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD)
    This is a disruptive behavioural disorder which normally involves angry outbursts, often directed at people of authority. This behaviour must last continuously for six months or more and significantly interfere with daily functioning.
    Physical
    Multiple sclerosis
    This is a condition of the central nervous system. It affects the brain, optic nerves, and spinal cord. Symptoms can include fatigue, loss of motor control, memory loss, depression, and cognitive difficulties.
    Cerebral palsy
    his refers to a group of permanent movement disorders that appear in early childhood. CP is caused by abnormal development or damage to the parts of the brain that control movement, balance, and posture.
    Muscular dystrophy
    Muscular dystrophy is a neuromuscular disorder which weakens the body's muscles. Causes, symptoms, age of onset, and prognosis vary between individuals.
    Spina Bifida
    This is a condition present at birth due to the incomplete formation of the spine and spinal cord. It can lead to a number of physical challenges, including paralysis or weakness in the legs, bowel and bladder incontinence, hydrocephalus (too much fluid in the brain), and deformities of the spine.
    Dyspraxia (Developmental Coordination Disorder)
    This is a Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD). Also known as "sensory integration disorder," it affects fine and/or gross motor coordination in children and adults. It may also affect speech.
    Blindness
    Visual impairment is a decreased ability or inability to see that can't be fixed in usual ways, such as with glasses. Some people are completely blind, while others have what's called "legal blindness."
    Deafness
    Hearing impairment, also known as "hearing loss," is a partial or total inability to hear. The degree of hearing impairment varies between people. It can range from complete hearing loss (or deafness) to partial hearing loss (meaning the ears can pick up some sounds).
    Cystic Fibrosis
    Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is an inherited genetic condition, which affects the body's respiratory, digestive, and reproductive systems. It affects young children and adults.
    Multiple physical
    Accommodating a wide range of physical conditions and disabilities.

    Additional support

    Additional support

    GUIDING LIGHT ACADEMY

    Social skills programs
    Occupational therapy
    Psychotherapy
    Speech-language therapy

    TORONTO PREP SCHOOL

    Social skills programs
    Occupational therapy
    Psychotherapy
    Speech-language therapy

    INFORMAL SUPPORT FOR MILD DIFFICULTIES

    Learning Strategy

    Extra Support

    Mild but clinically diagnosed ADHD

    Accommodations


    Additional support

    Additional support

    GUIDING LIGHT ACADEMY

    Social skills programs
    Occupational therapy
    Psychotherapy
    Speech-language therapy

    TORONTO PREP SCHOOL

    Social skills programs
    Occupational therapy
    Psychotherapy
    Speech-language therapy


    What the school says about their special needs support

    What the school says about their special needs support

    GUIDING LIGHT ACADEMY

    Information not available

    TORONTO PREP SCHOOL

    Information not available


    What happens if child develops disorder while enrolled/Should families seek enrollment if child has disability

    What happens if child develops disorder while enrolled/Should families seek enrollment if child has disability

    GUIDING LIGHT ACADEMY

    Information not available

    TORONTO PREP SCHOOL

    Information not available

  • EXTRACURRICULARS

    Competitive

    Comp.

    Recreational

    Rec.

    Competitive

    Comp.

    Recreational

    Rec.

    Badminton

    Baseball

    Basketball

    Canoeing/Kayaking

    Cricket

    Cross-country skiing

    Cycling

    Downhill skiing

    Equestrian

    Fencing

    Field Hockey

    Figure Skating

    Football

    Golf

    Gymnastics

    Ice Hockey

    Ice Skating

    Lacrosse

    Martial Arts

    Mountain biking

    Racquet Ball

    Rowing

    Rugby

    Running

    Sailing

    Skateboarding

    Snowboarding

    Soccer

    Softball

    Squash

    Swimming

    Tennis

    Track & Field

    Volleyball

    Weightlifting

    Wrestling

    Archery

    Curling

    Ultimate


    Clubs Offered

    Clubs offered

    GUIDING LIGHT ACADEMY

    Ballet and Classical Ballet
    Yoga
    Yearbook
    Student Council
    Scouting
    Science Club
    School newspaper
    Round Square
    Robotics club
    Radio club
    Poetry/Literature club
    Photography
    Paintball
    Outdoor Education
    Outdoor Club
    Online Magazine
    Musical theatre/Opera
    Math Club
    Jazz Ensemble
    Habitat for Humanity
    Foreign Language Club
    Environmental Club
    Drama Club
    Debate Club
    Dance Club
    Computer Club
    Community Service
    Choir
    Chess Club
    Band
    Audiovisual Club
    Astronomy Club
    Art Club
    Animation

    TORONTO PREP SCHOOL

    Ballet and Classical Ballet
    Yoga
    Yearbook
    Student Council
    Scouting
    Science Club
    School newspaper
    Round Square
    Robotics club
    Radio club
    Poetry/Literature club
    Photography
    Paintball
    Outdoor Education
    Outdoor Club
    Online Magazine
    Musical theatre/Opera
    Math Club
    Jazz Ensemble
    Habitat for Humanity
    Foreign Language Club
    Environmental Club
    Drama Club
    Debate Club
    Dance Club
    Computer Club
    Community Service
    Choir
    Chess Club
    Band
    Audiovisual Club
    Astronomy Club
    Art Club
    Animation


    What the school says

    What the school says

    GUIDING LIGHT ACADEMY

  • Financial Aid

    Grades eligible

    Grades eligible

    Students on aid

    Students on aid

    0%

    0%

    Avg. aid package (annual)

    Avg. aid package (annual)

    $0

    $0

  • ADMISSIONS

    Admissions

    Admissions rate

    90%

    90%

    Day entry years

    JK, SK, K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

    7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

    Boarding entry years

    Day admissions deadline

    Rolling

    Rolling

    Boarding admissions deadline

    Not available

    Not available

    Interview required?

    Yes: grades JK - 8

    Yes

    SSAT required

    No

    No

    SSAT(out of province) required

    No

    No

    Entrance exams required

    No

    No

    Entrance essay required

    No

    No

    Application fee required

    No

    Yes

    Type of student school is looking for

    Type of student school is looking for

    GUIDING LIGHT ACADEMY

    Guiding Light Academy aims to develop all around students with a focus on Catholic values, an intensive academic program and an extensive co-curricular program. We expect a student of Guiding Light Academy to have a deep understanding of the Catholic faith, a strong focus on academics and have the ability to sing and dance on stage as part of a performance.

    TORONTO PREP SCHOOL

    The goal of TPS is to find those students who best fit with our program and values. Students are not chosen merely by their academic qualifications, though these, of course, play an important part in any decision. We are looking for students who want to be a part of our dynamic community, who are concerned about the wider society and are willing to share their talents and improve their skills. We stress the importance of extra-curricular activities and place effort and character above all.

    What the school says

    What the school says

    GUIDING LIGHT ACADEMY

    As part of the application requirement, we ask that the parents along with the child meet with the school's admission team to discuss the child and the school's curriculum. 

    TORONTO PREP SCHOOL

     We want to discover who the candidate really is, and as such, rely on a detailed application package (including teacher and community referrals, school reports, a parent statement, and a candidate’s statement) and an interview rather than writing an SSAT or entrance test.

  • NOTABLE ALUMNI

    Alumni

    information not available
    information not available

Compare:

GUIDING LIGHT ACADEMY:
THE OUR KIDS REPORT  

TORONTO PREP SCHOOL:
THE OUR KIDS REPORT  




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