How we see The York School
The 50-page review of The York School is part of our series of in-depth accounts of Canada's leading private schools. It provides a unique and objective perspective on the school's academics, programs, culture, and community.
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How The York School sees itself
"A gender inclusive JK - Grade 12 International Baccalaureate (IB) school in the heart of Toronto, York prioritizes its students’ physical and emotional wellbeing alongside building their academic strengths to prepare them for the future. Our students are inquiring, knowledgeable, caring and engaged world citizens. Forward thinking, we integrate the richness of the IB curriculum with hands-on experiential learning and the latest advances in technology. We are an urban school with a global outlook."
"The York School is a gender inclusive IB World School located in the heart of Toronto. Our innovative approach to education prepares our students to not only be exceptional problem solvers, but to be able to ask the right questions to get to the heart of an issue. At The York School, we teach our students to ask the right questions so that they can truly be in a position to guide their own study while being engaged in experiential learning within the community they live in and beyond."
"97% of our parents selected The York School to enhance their child's academic abilities.
91% say they enrolled their child at The York School to help them find their passions.
92% selected The York School because of the opportunities that they will have once they graduate from The York School."
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Junior School Gym
Middle & Senior School Gym
Junior School Playground
Junior School Campus (JK-Grade 5)
Middle & Senior School Campus (Grades 6-12)
Junior School Art Room
IB Science Lab
Middle & Senior School - IB Science Lab Breakout Space
Middle & Senior School Science Classroom
Middle & Senior School Turf
Middle & Senior School - Learning Commons
Middle & Senior School - Digital Lab
Junior School Cafeteria
How people from the school’s community see The York School
Top-down influence on the school’s direction and tone
Struan Robertson, Head of School
The York School is an International Baccalaureate, coeducational, non-denominational school located in midtown Toronto. The International Baccalaureate curriculum, in simple terms, helps guide students in the junior grades to ask lots of questions, in the middle grades to question their understanding of the world, and in the senior grades to challenge themselves to be the very best version of themselves as they look towards the opportunities available at The York School and beyond.
We work hard to ensure all of our students embody our mission statement which is to “develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who are engaged citizens of the world.”
Please read more about our fantastic programming and opportunities on our website. I encourage you to make an appointment with our Admissions team to come in and experience The York School's inclusive, international and exceptional community.
Most big schools provide your extroverted child with plenty of social opportunities and the ability to interact with different peer groups with a wide range of personalities, interests, values, etc. A larger student population and more extracurriculars—including activities like team sports, arts programs, and debate—will give them a broader scope of opportunities to participate in events that scratch their interpersonal itch. “This may also give them the opportunity to hone certain skills,” say Ann and Karen Wolff of Wolff Educational Services. “For instance, they might run for student council to develop leadership and public speaking skills and learn to be a voice for other students.”
Throughout the continuum—from the Primary Years Programme (PYP) to the Diploma Programme (DP)—the IB offers plenty of group work, projects, and activities, which can be great for extroverts who often enjoy social and collaborative learning. Also, “Since IB schools have a strong emphasis on community service and activism, your child will have great opportunities to harness their outgoing and collaborative personality,” says Stacey Jacobs, Director of Clear Path Educational Consulting. These schools will also give your child the chance to interact and spend time with a bright, motivated, and ambitious group of kids who may have interests similar to them.
However, given the challenging curriculum and heavy workload of the IB, it can sometimes leave less time for socializing. This makes it especially important to ask about social opportunities at the school, including the ability to interact with different peer groups, both in class and out.
Make sure any prospective school, no matter what size, provides the right social environment to help your child feel at home, make friends, and develop confidence. This is especially important at big schools, which are sometimes more socially overwhelming and challenging for an introvert to find their bearings in. Of course, “Because larger schools usually have a more diverse student population, introverted kids are more likely to find a small group of people like them, a peer group they can relate to and find acceptance from,” says Dona Matthews, Toronto-based education consultant and co-author (with Joanne Foster) of Beyond Intelligence.
Bigger schools often have a broader scope of extracurricular activities, which is another way to help your child meet the right group of friends. “This may also give them the opportunity to develop certain skills,” say Ann and Karen Wolff of Wolff Educational Services. “For instance, they might run for student council to develop leadership and public speaking skills and learn to be a voice for other students. Remember, though, each child is different—so what works for one may not work for another.”
IB schools give your child the opportunity to interact and spend time with a bright, motivated, and ambitious group of kids who may have interests similar to them. Due to the IB’s heavy focus on group work, the programme offers a social and collaborative learning environment, which can help your introverted child overcome their shyness and get to know their peers well. This can relieve some of the pressure associated with having to take the initiative outside of class to make friends.
Just make sure any school you're considering offers enough independent work time for your introverted child—something which can vary widely between IB schools.
THE OUR KIDS REPORT: The York School
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