Greenwood College School EXTRACURRICULARS

Greenwood, in my experience, really encourages students to be as well-rounded as they can be. There are a lot of opportunities for leadership, community service, outdoor ed, arts, sports, and academics—all the usual high school things, and more. I was on the swim team, and I ran the Host and Ambassador teams, doing lots of tours and such. I was really into math and science—I took chemistry, biology, physics, the three maths, and Grade 12 English. I didn’t do a lot of humanities extracurriculars, although they were definitely there. That sense of well-roundedness has stuck with me in post-secondary. The leadership experience I gained—both formal roles and through peer tutoring and volunteering—has been really valuable.

If I had to pick one thing I was really proud of, it would be completing the Gold level of the Duke of Edinburgh Award. Greenwood encouraged all of us to do the Bronze, and I kept going with the Silver and Gold. You have to do an adventurous journey, an athletic component, a skill component, and a volunteer service piece. It tied in well with what I was already doing at school but also pushed me to get involved outside of it. I ended up volunteering at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital for the last three or four years of my time at Greenwood, and I really loved it. I still go back when I can.

If Greenwood were a person, I’d say it’s inclusive, encouraging, and adventurous. I helped start the school’s Jack Chapter in Grade 12, which focuses on youth mental health. There’s a big focus on learning about diversity and supporting each other. The school also encourages students to push themselves—whether that’s through academics, public speaking, or trying new things. And the outdoor ed program is a huge part of that—canoe tripping, dog sledding, sea kayaking, even a Costa Rica trip in Grade 12. Those experiences are things you don’t really get as an adult.

I joined a sports team every term, participated in Model UN without prior debate experience, competed in business case competitions, and even started a math club and a coding club. Greenwood made it easy to try new things by offering a wide range of programs, and when something wasn’t available, it was easy to start it myself because of how approachable the teachers were.

It’s hard to picture myself without Greenwood—it played a huge role in who I became. I gained so much confidence, especially socially. I used to be more nervous and anxious about talking to people, but over time, I grew into someone who brings people together. I’ve even been called a ‘friend captain.’ Being part of teams, going on outdoor trips, and doing plays helped me build strong friendships and leadership skills, and that has served me well ever since.

Greenwood doesn’t just do academics, arts, and athletics—it also builds in community service. Every week, we had a couple of hours set aside for it. Even Grade 7s were going to do reading buddies in Regent Park. That continues through all six years. I think it’s especially important in a private school setting, where most of us come from pretty fortunate backgrounds. That kind of community engagement helps with character development, and Greenwood really builds it in as a core part of school life.

Greenwood offers MANY different clubs, committees and teams. This is great as everyone who comes to Greenwood will have something that they would want to do. I have been a part of the Model UN club, Student Council, and the football (soccer) team. I have really enjoyed my roles in all of these committees/teams. These clubs and teams allow kids from different grades to meet, so overall these clubs aren't just fun, but they are rewarding as well. The reason that I didn't rate this category a 10/10 is because there are a few popular sports teams that students would like to be added, such as a baseball team and an American football team.

For a school the size of Greenwood, it is amazing how many sports teams and clubs the school has to offer. They have almost every type of sports team, for example (not an exhaustive list): Cross Country Running, Swimming, Hockey, Golf, Rugby, Ultimate Frisbee, Basketball, Volleyball, etc. They do not have Football or Lacrosse. Within many of those sports teams, they offer a Team A and Team B, so all kids who are interested in a sport but maybe not at a highly competitive level can have an opportunity to play with teammates, learn and compete. There is also a huge variety of clubs and Committees at school - e.g. Rock Climbing, Chess, Debate Team, Dance Team, Environmental and Stewardship Committee, etc. If a student wants to start a club that interests them and they have a few other students who are interested, they can approach a teacher to help start that club. There are also many opportunities in the Arts program to get involved, such as the choir and the junior and senior plays. There is also Community Time within the school timetable, and students can use that time for clubs and committees as well as free time (supervised) in the gym. There are many opportunities for kids to pursue their nonacademic interests.

There were abundant opportunities for students to pursue their passions through high-calibre athletics, arts and other extracurricular programs. I was in the android club which I believe led to my passion and possibly career in the near future. For me, it started off as fun but I took it serious and decided it would be one of my life paths. Some people even took their sporting activities serious such that they got college scholarships.

Greenwood gave me incredible opportunities. I talked about extracurriculars, but what stood out was the integration with outdoor education and camp-like experiences. Some students were used to summer camps; others weren’t. But we all got to step out of the academic world together—dog sledding, sea kayaking in BC, white-water rafting in Costa Rica. These were amazing life experiences, not just school trips.

The school is accessible for most students as it is on the bus line and not far from the subway. It is also close to many neighbourhoods for some to walk. The school does not currently have outdoor greenspace (although there are plans and permits for a field to be built next to the school starting this spring) the school takes advantage of many spaces around it. Students and staff access the June Rowland park across the street and the school uses the Mount Pleasant Cemetery for things like the Terry Fox Run and Cross Country running. The school uses a local pool for the Swim Team practices and they bus students to The Beach and Sunnybrook Park for rugby and ultimate frisbee. I think the school does a great job of accessing many community locations.

I joined Greenwood in Grade 7 after switching from another Toronto independent school. A part of what made Greenwood appealing to me was how the programming embodied character and personal growth. Outdoor education really fostered us and showed us a different way to connect and to learn. The OE program allowed us to breathe, be people and learn about ourselves. Prospective students should expect to set a routine for themselves and stick to it, and find people to help them do that. No one is there telling you what to do or to get to class. You have to get yourself from point A to point B. It’s a big change, leaving Greenwood and going to post-secondary. However, it’s OK if it takes time to adjust. It’s OK to not love it in the first few weeks. Give it a chance and give it time.

At Greenwood, students were allowed to venture further together. Venturing further meant embracing challenges and persevering in overcoming them. It also meant thinking independently in a complex global landscape. It meant doing what was right, even when it was not easy. It meant building connections with the broader world. For me, the skill and character-building experiences we had during Outdoor Education trips prepared me well for life's next steps. It was a high-challenge, high-support environment that encouraged growth, engagement and competition. Teachers were dedicated to knowing their students not only as learners but as people. We had opportunities to work with and learn from our peers. We always received clear and visible next steps in our learning and feedback was timely, specific and actionable. In addition to fostering high academic achievement and important critical thinking skills, this model also helped students develop soft skills that would be invaluable in post-secondary education.

Personally, I liked the small-school feel, but I know some friends would have preferred more AP courses or more competitive sports teams. Because Greenwood is smaller and newer, it can’t offer as wide a range as some of the older, bigger schools. For me, that wasn’t a downside, but it’s something to consider.

My sister’s now in Grade 11 at Greenwood, so even though I’ve graduated, I’ve been able to see how the school continues to grow. I think I realize even more now how lucky I was to be there. The one-on-one support from teachers, the outdoor trips, the chances to try new things—it’s pretty special. You don’t always get that in everyday life.

The school’s small size and supportive learning atmosphere made a lasting impression. Greenwood has fewer than 500 students from Grades 7 to 12, which gives it a close-knit community feel. Despite its size, the school offered a surprising number of options, both academic and extracurricular. I appreciated that you didn’t have to be the best to participate in sports or clubs; you just had to show interest and put in the effort. Unlike schools where making a team can be highly competitive, Greenwood created an inclusive space where trying something new was always encouraged.

I think I appreciated the opportunities that were there for me, and what I mean by that is, I think it was in part because it was a small school. There were just so many things you could be involved in at Greenwood. I participated in three different sports teams—I played basketball, volleyball, and tennis. I was in the school play, I volunteered to help out with other plays that I wasn't participating in, and I joined clubs like Model UN and Model Parliament. Some of those things I had never tried before; for instance, I had never played volleyball before trying out for the Greenwood team. That’s something I ended up playing in university and still play now. At other schools, I might have been intimidated to try something I wasn’t already good at. At Greenwood, there was this energy and a sense of “hey, just go for it.” That atmosphere let me get really involved, and those extracurriculars were a huge part of how I bonded with other students.

My student experience at Greenwood has been incredible. I really love this school and it feels like a second home to me. Every day is exciting, enjoyable and fulfilling. There are always fun things to do around the school whether it is playing basketball in open gym with your friends, or joining a club to do something that you enjoy. These activities make the school days something to always look forward to for many people. Before I arrived, I wish I knew to go outside of my comfort zone. At Greenwood, going out of your comfort zone is highly valued because it can give you unforgettable experiences. Whether you try to meet someone new, jump off of the diving board at Kilcoo, or tell a joke on the announcements, going out of your comfort zone is important to grow as a person. If I'm honest, I wouldn't change anything at Greenwood. Sure, there are a few imperfections like that there isn't a field to play sports with your friends, but this adds to the amazing essence of Greenwood. Who doesn't love bus rides to football games? Every day, I enter the school doors greeted by radiant smiles, which sets the tone for the rest of the day. I am really extremely grateful to be able to go to this school.

I have three kids (1 girl, and 2 boys) who go to or went to Greenwood (our daughter graduated in 2020). All of my kids started at Greenwood in grade 7. My kids have different personalities and different academic interests and strengths and they have all had a very positive experience at Greenwood. I think the thing that stands out the most for our kids is the sense of community at Greenwood. The day starts off with heads of the student council and some staff greeting students at the door as they walk into school. The multi-grade House activities as well as other multi-grade programs (e.g. peer mentoring, sports, arts, committees) at the school give an opportunity for students to meet and work with a variety of students as well as teachers. Kids get to know a lot of different people in the school.

The general atmosphere of the student body seems to be one of people who want to be at Greenwood and want to participate with student life. There are many ‘multi grade’ opportunities for students to interact together - e.g. in clubs, committees, some sports teams and especially with House activities. Also, when grade 7 students leave for their Outdoor Education trip to camp in September, they have grade 12 students as their ‘counselors’. Due to these many opportunities for students to be together, the dynamic seems to be one of people in the same grade as well as other grades interacting with each other and getting along. As well, because teachers and staff go on OE with the students (and trained guides), the dynamic between teachers and students becomes more familiar.