Observations from students and alumni at BSS reveal a nurturing environment that empowers students to explore a broad range of extracurricular activities, supported by committed faculty and administration who help facilitate personal and academic growth.
BSS offers its students a wide range of experiences, many of which are quite eye-opening. For example, our choir didn’t just perform at school events like Christmas concerts and Remembrance Day but also sang at venues like Roy Thompson Hall and even performed the National Anthem for the Raptors. The school constantly found ways to expose students to experiences they wouldn’t have access to elsewhere. This exposure wasn't limited to academics; it also extended to extracurricular activities, giving us opportunities to engage with the world beyond the school.
The culture at the Bishop Strachan School is that whatever you want to do, the faculty members and the heads of the school and the leadership there will be super supportive. So while I was at the Bishop Toronto School, I started a lego robotics team to help the inner-city schools in Toronto. They saw that I was really interested in robotics, so I actually started the robotics team, and then we were able to compete, and we actually made it to the international competition in Atlanta. I think definitely having had those opportunities helped to strengthen my application for later on when I studied biomedical engineering at Columbia. It also helped me gain the skills to really thrive there, and it helped set me up for success later on in my career.
At Bishop Strachan School they always believe that girls can do anything, and that’s really what I felt there. For a lot of the activities I was involved with, they didn’t exist when I first arrived, but I always thought, ‘Hey, I’m interested in this,’ and I was able to get in contact with the administration and the faculty members who are really able to help me kick it off the ground and start. I really felt like I could do anything coming out of BSS.
Folks at BSS are all very caring of one another. We feel like a family essentially, with the students there. And I think the coolest thing is that all of the students all had different interests. It was a very diverse population of students, and it was cool learning from my friends who loved musicals while another friend was really into dance, and another friend was really into debating. And so just learning from my friends and being together and learning along the way together was really wonderful.
For new students, my advice would be to get involved in everything you can. Even if you think you won’t like something, give it a try because BSS offers so many opportunities. Whether it's joining a club, trying out for a team, or starting something new, there’s no penalty for experimenting. Some of the most fun experiences and friendships come from trying new things, even if they don’t lead to awards or accolades. The key is to be open-minded and take advantage of the opportunities BSS provides.
Another reason that I would recommend the school is the amount of extracurriculars that are at the school. And I remember there was a Prefect who did a speech, all the Prefects do speeches. I distinctly remember this speech because it really spoke to me at the time …. BSS has allowed me to explore so many different opportunities. Sometimes people think, “Oh, I have to be the best at hockey, I have to be the best at one particular thing.” But this girl was saying, You know what? It's also just as beneficial to try a bunch of different things and see what you like best. After hearing that speech, I tried to emulate that as well and try as much as I could.
There are specific traditions that follow throughout the whole year. You can do choir, and there are these nice traditions that only the people in the choir do. And there are so many things like that for all of the different clubs and houses and get to learn all the niche chairs. And so I think that having those really diverse opportunities is so meaningful.
My daughter had actually never had the opportunity to really get involved in a community before we came to the school. And BSS offered such diverse opportunities for girls to get involved in community service, and really look outside of the classroom. That was a really nice feeling for us, to know that she would have those opportunities readily available to get involved in, as well as leadership opportunities.
Their extracurricular programming was outstanding for me, at least. I really jumped into extracurricular programming head-on. I was in junior choir, I was in senior choir, I participated in sports, and I also participated in the plays.
Students are encouraged to try sports, music, theatre, and other activities, even things they haven’t done before. These experiences create lasting memories, build camaraderie, and are celebrated in assemblies, chapels, and house games.
My top reasons to recommend BSS are the care and dedication of the staff, the sense of community, and the opportunities to explore, learn, and try new things.
I thrived in the extracurricular world at BSS. I played sports - which included multiple OFSAA trips both for soccer and swimming, I played French Horn in the senior band where I met one of my best friends, I was co-head of the Speakers Union club where I learned the art of debating and public speaking and qualified to attend competitions across Canada and in the United Kingdom, I was elected as a sports coordinator for Dupont house in grades 10 and 11 and served as Games Captain Prefect in grade 12 - a leadership position that has sadly and for reasons unknown to me - been eliminated. Of all the things BSS offers - the extracurriculars are the best.
—Joanne A, alum (2004-2010), Historian (see
full review)
From our experience, I believe that there are many co-curriculars offered at BSS and have always felt that the school does a good job at encouraging students to get involved and try different clubs and teams. Throughout her Junior, Middle and Senior School years, our daughter has participated in a number of different co-curriculars and has had really positive experiences doing so.
—Jeffrey Brown, parent (beginning 2017) (see
full review)
When I attended BSS, participating in extracurricular activities was highly encouraged, and it was truly one of the highlights of my time at the school. BSS offered a broad range of extracurricular options, allowing students with diverse interests to find something that matched their passions outside of the classroom. These options included sports teams, clubs, leadership roles, and creative pursuits. While some activities required applications, auditions, or tryouts, making them more competitive, many others simply required students to sign up. These opportunities not only allowed students from different grades to interact and build relationships but also helped them develop valuable skills in collaboration and leadership.
—Allison D., alum (2006-2019), Fashion Designer (see
full review)
My experience in various clubs and extracurricular opportunities, I feel, prepares me very well to speak on this subject. I have played 3 sports, been a part of 5 student-run organizations, 1 academic team, and 3 student unions throughout my time at BSS. There is nothing I love more than a BSS club. These spaces have provided me with immeasurable chances to grow, learn about my surroundings, and develop meaningful connections with those around me. I feel as though BSS offers a very large multitude of clubs and activities, and additionally does a great job of providing space and opportunities for students to start their own clubs should they not exist previously. Also, BSS makes sure that students have the chance to build something meaningful within these spaces. Be it assuming a leadership position, creating a subgroup, or organizing additional meetings, BSS encourages student involvement across the board and makes sure that everyone has a chance to partake in something they love, are interested in, and find meaningful.
—Ava Comisarow, student (beginning 2019) (see
full review)
