EXTRACURRICULARS

Metropolitan Preparatory Academy’s extracurricular offerings include diverse sports with both competitive and recreational options, a variety of clubs such as mountain biking, archery, and robotics, and an engaging soccer program. Families and graduates highlight the supportive atmosphere for individual passions, the blend of arts and STEM programs, and a strong focus on community engagement.

Facts and analysis

SPORTS AND ATHLETICS

Sports at Metropolitan Preparatory Academy are diverse and provide a balance of competitive and recreational options.

For comparison, other Canadian schools we cover typically offer around 8 competitive sports and 8 recreational sport options.

Competitive offered

Recreational offered

Signature sport

Uncommon sport

Archery
Badminton
Baseball
Basketball
Canoeing/Kayaking
Cricket
Cross-country skiing
Curling
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
Ultimate
Volleyball
Weightlifting
Wrestling

Why it matters

Beyond promoting physical fitness, school athletics teach life skills like discipline, teamwork, and resilience. A greater variety of sports creates more opportunities for students to develop these skills while building peer connections and a sense of belonging. While competitive sports encourage student-athletes to strive for excellence, recreational sports foster inclusion, exploration, and enjoyment.

CLUBS AND PROGRAMS

Metropolitan Preparatory Academy offers a highly diverse array of extracurricular clubs and programs.

Other schools we review usually provide about 14 clubs and programs.

Clubs offered

Clubs not offered

Signature program

all clubs and programs]

Animation

Art Club

Astronomy Club

Audiovisual Club

Ballet and Classical Ballet

Band

Chess Club

Choir

Community Service

Computer Club

Dance Club

Debate Club

Drama Club

Environmental Club

Foreign Language Club

Habitat for Humanity

Jazz Ensemble

Math Club

Musical theatre/Opera

Online Magazine

Outdoor Club

Outdoor Education

Paintball

Photography

Poetry/Literature club

Radio club

Robotics club

Round Square

School newspaper

Science Club

Scouting

Student Council

Yearbook

Yoga

Why it matters

Clubs and enrichment programs, including after-school clubs, extend learning beyond the classroom. They encourage creativity, leadership, and friendships while helping students explore passions, build skills, and gain confidence in a low-pressure environment.

DISTINCT EXTRACURRICULAR FEATURES

What makes Metropolitan Preparatory Academy’s extracurriculars distinct: established strengths and current initiatives

Metro Prep’s Elementary Track team competed at the annual SSAF meet held at Brampton’s Terry Fox Stadium. The boys were led by Christian, earning a whopping 4 medals in 5 events. Luka also fared well claiming silver in the 400m.

SSAF Cross Country championships held at Sunnybrook Park. Over 500 athletes competed in six different categories for their chance to call themselves a champion. Metro athletes faired very well in the U20 boys division as Kieran and Kenny finished in the top 10 out of a competitive field.

Metro Prep’s U20 Boys and Girls Track team competed well at the annual SSAF meet held at York University. Cameron placed 2nd in the long jump. Daniel earned a silver medal in the 400 meter dash. The girls were just as successful earning two medals of their own. Melanie placed 3rd in the 200 meter and Randi earned gold for Metro Prep in the triple jump.

The Metro Prep Soccer team hosted the third annual Metro Cup Indoor Soccer Tournament earlier this semester. The tournament brought 12 schools together to compete at the nearby Toronto City Sports Centre Dome. Metro boasted a strong line up and prevailed through their quarter final match but fell short in the semifinals, finishing fourth overall. It was a strong showing and a great opportunity to keep working on ball handling skills in the winter.

The girls’ basketball team had one of the most successful seasons to date. With leadership from senior captain Casey Q., and junior captain Casey A., the team earned its first birth into playoffs in years. The girls were committed and persevered through various challenges during the season. The team improved with every game and is looking forward to next season. We hope this positive performance and progression in girls’ basketball will lead to future success for the Metro Prep Predators.

The hockey team once again hit the ice at the Victoria Village Arena every Tuesday throughout the year. Although the SSAF hockey tournament was cancelled this year the Metro team still was able to compete in an exhibition game against TMS. The team was led by seniors Nick and Josh, who held down the crease throughout the year.

The Senior Basketball team fell short of their goal of winning three consecutive championships by losing in the semifinals to a tough team from ARS. Although the team did not finish a perfect season, progress was made throughout the year and a solid foundation has been laid down for a successful season next year. Highlights for the year include Batu scoring 60 points in a single game, Allen L. making 8 out of 10 three-pointers in the pre-season championship game, and Kirk leaving Metro Prep to continue his basketball career at Durham College.

The Metro Prep Predators once again competed in the SSAF ball hockey championships held at the Magna Centre in Newmarket. The team was comprised of both ice hockey players and other students who learned their hockey skills in the gymnasium. The team battled hard but unfortunately lost in the semifinals. The team was led by Joshua R. who played hard and backstopped the team making over 100 stops on the day. Great job boys.

The girls’ volleyball team had a very successful season this year. After finishing the regular season in 2nd place with a 4 and 1 record, they moved onto the final tournament which boasted the top 4 SSAF schools from the North and South divisions. After a tough day of battling on the court, the girls earned a respectable 5th place overall in the SSAF.

Both the U20 and elementary students competed at the SSAF badminton championships this past spring. The elementary team unfortunately did not earn a spot in the playoff rounds but the senior team did extremely well in their qualifying tournament. Adam and Allen W. placed 2nd and 3rd in men's singles along with Terry and Pierce, who earned a 3rd place in the men's doubles competition and earned a spot in the championship tournament. Randi and Tiffany M. also qualified in women's doubles as well as Daniel D. and Melanie who qualified in mixed doubles.

The tennis team once again competed at the annual SSAF invitational tournament held at the Mayfair tennis club. Entering both singles and doubles teams, the students battled through stiff competition throughout the day. Adam, Mark and Pierce all earned silver and bronze medals respectively!

The boys’ soccer team had a very successful season. Starting way back in October the team participated in 2 indoor tournaments and finished the season in May competing in 2 outdoor tournaments. Although they came up short in the tournaments they did end the year with three 3rd place finishes against a very competitive group of teams.

The senior softball team put in a tremendous amount of work throughout the season. They practiced 3 times a week, for over a month, and many players were able to greatly improve their overall ability. The team fared well at the tournament and finished with 3 wins and 2 losses on the day, eventually losing to the championship team.

The elementary soccer team competed both in the SSAF indoor and outdoor championships this past year. The team battled hard and was able to earn a spot in the playoff rounds in both tournaments. They were led by strong goaltending by Luka and by their defensive line lead by Steven.

MOUNTAIN BIKING- After a lengthy hiatus, the Metro mountain biking club has been resurrected. We have taken advantage of Metro's close proximity to the Don Valley mountain biking trails by going on weekly rides in the fall and spring. Berms were thrashed, jumps were hit, and roots were crushed.

ARCHERY- Flinging arrows and putting holes in targets like Swiss cheese! This autumn, Metro Prep introduced the first ever Archery Club. The club practiced at the outdoor Toronto Archery Range in E.T. Seton Park, a little oasis amongst the towers of the concrete jungle we call Toronto. It was a safe and interactive environment where the club members learned how to shoot, handle and perfect their skills in archery.

BOARD GAME CLUB- Every Monday after school, several students have been meeting in room 21 to have some friendly competition playing games. Each week, students have volunteered to bring in various board games or card games and compete against one another.

ROCK CLIMBING CLUB- approximately 15 middle and high school students from Metro Prep attended a climbing trip to the Toronto Climbing Academy. For many of the students it was their first experience climbing. The students received professional instruction, rentals and were able to climb for three hours. A few students overcame their fear of heights and reached the top of the climbing walls.

ROBOTICS CLUB- On Saturday, November 29, Metro Prep’s Robotics Club participated in the Vex Robotics Competition – Skyrise where they placed 22nd out of 69 schools. This competition had students build a complex robot and learn how to control and alter its handling characteristics. It was our first major robotics competition and the students did very well. We will look to improve our performance next year.

Why it matters

These highlights, provided by the school, describe unique aspects of its extracurricular activities in terms of history, tradition, and current innovations. These reveal priorities and culture, and give you a clearer picture of the special opportunities students could experience here.

Qualitative insights

These insights are based on conversations with parents, alumni, and school leadership. Handpicked and curated by our editor, they offer a close look at how the school is experienced and perceived by those who know it best.

There is encouragement and support for individual passions.

Observations from students and alumni suggest that the supportive environment at Metropolitan Preparatory Academy enables students to pursue their individual passions with encouragement and resources provided by the school.

It made me want to reach for the stars with whatever I did—because I knew there were people behind me who supported me. I appreciated the bonds that were created and the memories I made there. I took on so many leadership opportunities at the school, for example, the many sports tournaments that I ran.

—Danielle Perlon, alum (see full interview)

I started a club at Metropolitan Preparatory Academy called the Metro Business Club. It was a club a few friends and I started after taking a business class. The business teacher was very encouraging and told us to start a club if we're interested in stuff.

—Haikun Liu, alum (2014-2019) (see full interview)

I brought my camera to Ecuador, and I shot a lot of pictures and videos, and the goal was to put together a documentary. Essentially, we made that happen, but it was quite a journey. The coolest part was that I got to do that, and I was supported by Metropolitan Preparatory Academy. The school even gave me a week off to put everything together because we were stressed about the deadline. In the end, we got to put together a Christmas film premiere/film screening kind of thing. We packed a school theatre, and there was a ticket price, and then that all went back to the charity we worked for during the service trip to Ecuador. That would be one of my proudest moments because I was able to get it done, and many people enjoyed the movie and asked me to buy the movie afterward. I think that was very cool.

—Haikun Liu, alum (2014-2019) (see full interview)

I think that Metropolitan Preparatory Academy has shaped who I am today, and I'm glad that they did because I like who I am. I wish I could have gotten over my stage fright and joined the Music Club, because I play the piano and guitar, and I sing. I also wish the location of the school was closer to my house, just because it's a little far for me, but the commute was worth it. If it wasn't for that, I think I would have tried to join the Music Club, and other clubs, because the clubs were pretty awesome.

—Danielle Perlon, alum (see full interview)

With small classrooms, I connected more with the teachers; they get to know you personally rather than just a number in a classroom, something absent at my previous schools. Because of the small class sizes, participation in extracurricular activities was encouraged more. I joined nearly every sports team at Metro, a feat I wouldn't have achieved at other schools. From being a novice at volleyball to being the coach in Grade 12, the opportunities were abundant compared to other public schools.

—Stephanie, alum (see full discussion)

There is a unique blend of arts and STEM programs.

Reports from insiders indicate that Metropolitan Preparatory Academy offers a unique blend of arts and STEM programs, ensuring a well-rounded education through initiatives like the SMITH Program and diverse extracurricular activities.

Metropolitan Preparatory Academy just started a thing called the SMITH Program. So that's an acronym for the School of Music, Integrated arts, Theatre and Humanities. It’s essentially an arts program. I feel like before, Metro Prep was very STEM focused and STEM heavy, but right now, they're investing in a lot of arts, humanities, and social sciences. We put on different concerts in the program, and we help with the play, attend different events, and stuff like that.

—Haikun Liu, alum (2014-2019) (see full interview)

Something my daughter was quite proud of was being placed on the honour roll at Metro Prep on a regular basis. She worked really hard, and so it showed when she was able to see her name on the honor roll amongst the other students who had also placed. She really enjoyed being part of the SMITH Program, the Performing Arts Program at Metro Prep. That was something she was quite proud of as well, her participation, and that was very important. So her confidence in herself grew tremendously from being at Metro Prep and achieving all the goals that she had set for herself.

—Mishma Gashyna, parent (see full interview)

There are also plenty of clubs and sports teams that really bring our community together. During my time at Metro Prep, the arts program, called the SMITH Program, was very active around the school. We did an annual school play, hosted concert nights and did field trips to the ballet and such. So I would say that an appreciation for the arts is another thing that really connects Metro Prep students.

—Alexis Gashyna, alum (see full interview)

My daughter loved being in the SMITH Program at Metro Prep. The most important thing was knowing that the teachers were there and they were supportive and encouraging and she could truly be herself. There was no fear of being ridiculed, by anyone, whether it was a student or faculty. She felt totally comfortable to be herself at Metro Prep and as young kids, that's really important.

—Mishma Gashyna, parent (see full interview)

There is a focus on community engagement.

Accounts from participants reveal that Metropolitan Preparatory Academy is deeply committed to service and community engagement, offering students numerous opportunities to contribute through trips, fundraisers, and charity activities.

Metropolitan Preparatory Academy went on different service trips throughout the years, and I participated in that. When I was in Grade 9, we went to Tanzania, and that was for one summer, and then the summer before entering my senior year, we went to Ecuador.

—Haikun Liu, alum (2014-2019) (see full interview)

There's a collaboration between Metropolitan Preparatory Academy and organizations like Free the Children, or Me to We. There are service trips, but we also help fundraise both for that trip and the charities throughout the school year. We would have a toy drive during Christmas, and we'd also hold charity concerts that the SMITH Program puts together. We would get many students to practice different instruments and put together a show during the year, and all the proceeds for the charity concert also go there. I think a cool thing about the Metro Prep band is that it's very unconventional. I feel like you'd either imagine the band as a typical orchestra, or very rock and roll, but I feel like the band at Metropolitan Preparatory Academy is very different. We have the traditional rock and roll songs, but I think the coolest part is the fact that different people play unique instruments from various cultures.

—Haikun Liu, alum (2014-2019) (see full interview)

The opportunities are diverse and wide-ranging.

Comments from students and parents highlight the wide array of clubs, sports teams, and arts programs at Metro Prep, which cater to varied interests and ensure a well-rounded school experience.

I was involved in theatre at Metropolitan Preparatory Academy for five years. The vice principal also serves as the theatre director and every year we would put on a different play. We did Lord of the Flies, The Flick, and Of Mice and Men. I acted in two of them, and I did sound editing and film and photography for the other ones. I also played varsity soccer for all six years I was there. It was pretty nice because it was just a bunch of my best friends who just all played soccer together all the time.

—Haikun Liu, alum (2014-2019) (see full interview)

The extracurriculars are a great way to get to know other students and become more a part of Metropolitan Preparatory Academy’s social life. The Music Club is incredible. Everybody is such a talented musician at Metro Prep. DIY club was so much fun, because you can actually make something, hang out with your favourite teachers, and you get to bring something home that you've made. I still have some stuff that I made there, like origami and whatnot.

—Danielle Perlon, alum (see full interview)

My children have very different interests and they have both been able to pursue their interests–that's what's fantastic about Metro Prep. My son was able to take part in all the sports that the school offered, and be part of many teams, and yet keep a very, very high academic average. My daughter, very artistically inclined, was part of the Smith program, while still loving math and science, and excelling at those.

—Theda Zigomanis, parent (see full interview)

To new students, I would advise embracing all opportunities at Metro, whether in sports or arts. Those experiences made some of my fondest memories at Metro, they allowed personal growth and exploration that went beyond academics.

—Stephanie, alum (see full discussion)

What I most appreciated about Metropolitan Preparatory Academy was the number of opportunities I was given. I'm not a super athletic person, but I could still play on the basketball team, soccer, and Frisbee team. I think that it's pretty unique to be given many opportunities to experiment and try different things, and very healthy. With the number of opportunities I was given and resources on hand, I didn't feel like anything was inaccessible. I felt like everything was very accessible, and if I wanted to pursue photography, I could have. Metro Prep is where my passion and interest in photography started.

—Haikun Liu, alum (2014-2019) (see full interview)

The sports were competitive, but also inclusive, which always kept us on our toes during games. I was involved in different teams, with my friends being teammates and teachers were coaches.

—Stephanie, alum (see full discussion)

Metro Prep is such an incredible opportunity. I would recommend taking full advantage of that. I'd recommend joining a sports team or a club. The school is full of intelligent and ambitious individuals.

—Alexis Gashyna, alum (see full interview)

There are many different extracurriculars at Metro and that is something I have always loved about the school. From grades seven to twelve, anyone is welcome to join extracurriculars and the environment is always free from judgment. In grade seven I joined the volleyball team with no experience outside of gym class. Although I was not very good, the coach worked to help me improve my skills and by grade twelve I became captain of the team. This to me shows that the faculty at Metro see potential in all their students and help you want to be better at anything you’re passionate about.

—Stephanie Ivanoff, alum (2013-2019) (see full review)

When you grow close to teachers you tend to join a lot of the clubs that they run. I joined debate club, girls club, basketball, volleyball, plays, and lot more. When you have students that are interested in different things then you can find a way to make different clubs happen.

—Lindsay Demagus, student (beginning 2016) (see full review)

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Facts and analysis

SPORTS AND ATHLETICS

Why it matters

CLUBS AND PROGRAMS

Why it matters

DISTINCT EXTRACURRICULAR FEATURES

Why it matters

Qualitative insights

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EXTRACURRICULARS

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Facts and analysis

SPORTS AND ATHLETICS

Why it matters

CLUBS AND PROGRAMS

Why it matters

DISTINCT EXTRACURRICULAR FEATURES

Why it matters

Qualitative insights

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