Toronto, ON | Grades PS - 4 | Shortlist
CGS was founded in 1986 by Marie Bates, who remains as the principal at the school today. As that suggests, the school has remained very true to the founders’ initial intentions, namely to create a place that provides a strong academic foundation in a caring, open, and supportive environment. While reading, writing, and numeracy are key—just as they should be—so is the development of creativity and social engagement. Bates believes that children learn as much in music class as they do in math class, and she’s right of course. As such, the program promotes links across the curriculum, allowing children to see those connections while also broadening their horizons of interest. The strength of the program is reflected by the reputation that CGS has earned over the thirty-plus years of its life.
CGS (Children's Garden School)
My husband and I couldn't be happier about our decision to send our 3 year old son to CGS. He has had such a positive experience in their Early Start program due to many factors, including the warm and caring teachers, broad spectrum of classes/learning opportunities provided and overall family atmosphere of the school. There are not many preschool programs in the city that offer such a diverse curriculum including Music, French, Gym, Technology and Mindfulness. My son is quite sporty so he par... View full review
My kids enjoy the nurturing and encouraging school atmosphere created by the teachers and staffs at CGS. My daughter feels safe and comfortable to express her thoughts and ideas. The school is also a fun place to be, as the learning is integrated with exciting school activities and various projects. View full review
We had 3 children go through CGS and each loved being able to do things that young children aren't normally able to do at a bigger school with older children. Big things such as starring in the school play in grade 1 or being on student council, and little things like reading the announcements on the PA and performing in monthly assemblies. The small size was fantastic as they received indivudualized attention and really were made to feel like stars. View full review
My kids love CGS. They appreciate the family like feel of the school and how nurtured they are. Every teacher genuinely loves children and as a result the kids feel supported, happy and special. View full review
