Trinity College School KEY INSIGHTS

“Everything about the school just creates a very well-rounded aspect of character.”
—Julien Northey, alumnus (1988-1993) and current parent, professor of microbiology

“Trinity College School is one of the oldest boarding schools in Canada and, having been founded two years prior to Confederation, is older than the country itself. While it looks entirely different than it did when it was founded—there are no original buildings, nor does it sit at the same site as it did in 1865—the core values remain: quality academics with an eye to educating students into positions of social, professional, and political leadership.”
—From Trinity College School: The Our Kids Review

“While there'll be schools like St. Mike's that, at least from my perspective, appear to be like a sports school, or other ones that are arts schools, I think TCS really has a great degree of richness across the areas. And I think that was really good for me because I didn't know what my passions were going to be. I [originally] had no interest in service. I was not much of an athlete or an artist. And so that richness across [the domains], I think, really differentiates TCS.”
—Zach Chauvin, alumnus (2009-2013), software engineer

“There's no typical day at Trinity College School. But every day—if there's a theme—is very active, at all hours of the day. The kids are moving very quickly between their responsibilities, and pursuing their interests on a very active level.”
—Stuart Grainger, Head of School

“If TCS were a single person, I would describe the person as active and busy. An active and busy person; that’s how I would describe it.”
—Paula, current parent

“Everyone at TCS is very driven and goal-oriented. … Everyone is able to find out what they like and then make that their own. You'd be hard pressed to find a TCS student who doesn’t have some sort of avenue to really be themselves, and who is not taking advantage of that.”
—Lade Adeusi, alumna (2012-2014), student of medicine

“When I graduated from the school, I felt hopeful that I could accomplish whatever I set myself out to do. I felt I could achieve that. I feel like there’s a sense of hope here, where if you have dreams, you can fulfill them. You can aim big and fulfill those dreams.”
—Julien Northey, alumnus (1988-1993) and current parent, professor of microbiology

“I think if I were to give someone a tour [of the school] today, I would start at Osler Hall. It's our dining hall. Everyone always says it looks like Hogwarts and Harry Potter, but I would definitely start there. It's an impressive feat of architecture, but it's also such a cozy place where you spend a lot of time with your friends. This is a school where, even as a day student, you often have breakfast, lunch and dinner at school. So you're spending a lot of time at Osler Hall, a lot of time just talking to your friends and winding down, and you even see faculty in there as well. I think it's a beautiful place. And it has all along its perimeter the flags of the countries, of its students and faculty. I think it's a place where you can really see TCS's diversity as well.”
—Lade Adeusi, alumna (2012-2014), student of medicine

“I’ll never forget my first day of Grade 9,” says alumna Jocelyn Murphy. “Looking up in Osler Hall and seeing some 40 flags hanging from the ceiling. Around me was the incredible mini United Nations of kids and I felt like the luckiest person in the world.”
—From Trinity College School: The Our Kids Review

“Many [private and boarding] schools have beautiful campuses. But I think TCS really stands out here. Some of my favorite memories of TCS are of weekends spent with other students out on the terraces, which are a series of fields outside. The outdoor space is amazing.”
—Zach Chauvin, alumnus (2009-2013), software engineer

“As anyone in my generation would understand, TCS is "Dead Poets Society" in real life. The grounds and buildings of the school are awe-inspiring. The rich history is preserved. The landscaping is immaculate. The chapel, the dining hall, the hidden passages...it is all magical.”
—Candace Pickering, current parent

“Each day begins, for boarders and day students, in chapel. The students file in and then the head boy and girl close the chapel doors and take their seats. The students sit quietly, some gazing off into space, though even if they’re still shaking off sleep, there’s a sense of respect in the room. No phones are out. Students pick up the hymn book when the organ starts, they stand, and they sing. ‘It’s my favourite part of the day,’ says one student. ‘I just like how it brings the school together.’”
—From Trinity College School: The Our Kids Review

“Everyone at TCS has to wear a name-tag for the first month, which, if you're trying to be a cool high schooler, is kind of tough: you're like, ‘ah, this dorky name-tag.’ But you definitely get over that. The tag has your name, of course, your grade, and where you're from. And I think that just speaks to how TCS is trying to build a community. There's a real emphasis that all the teachers know all the students’ names, and that all the students know each other's names. If you're a grade 12 and there's a grade 9 in the hall, you say hi to them and know their name. By the time the name-tags come off in October, people know each other.”
—Zach Chauvin, alumnus (2009-2013), software engineer

“How many places can you refer to everybody—even people you don’t otherwise talk to much—by first and last name? I can remember names off the top of my head. … There’s that level of intimacy; you can know somebody so innately because you see them face to face in the chapel; you're going to the dining hall scene together to eat; you're going to classes; you may be [with them] in sports games. ... It passively produces a community that is hard to match.”
—Jessica Eruchalu, alumna (2012-2016), law student

“You got to know everyone so well. I don't think more than one or two weeks went by without us doing something together as a whole school. We had a lot of fun half-days. We had a lot of fun skate days and different school dances. And it really helped to foster the sense of community. I was coming from a school of over two thousand students. So to go from somewhere you feel a little bit anonymous to having your own place carved out for you was a really great feeling.”
—Lade Adeusi, alumna (2012-2014), student of medicine

“We looked at a boarding school in Ottawa. We did a very rigorous tour there, and it’s a great school. ... But inside, I sort of went, ‘But it’s not TCS.’ I just didn’t feel the sense of a community; what I felt was instilled in me [as a student at TCS]. There was just something missing there, though it is a very rigorous and a very great school, with wonderful people.”
—Julien Northey, alumnus (1988-1993) and current parent, professor of microbiology

“Port Hope isn’t large, and therefore it doesn’t upstage the school in the view of the students: the town experience is ancillary to the campus experience, rather than the other way around, as can be the case in boarding schools located in larger urban centres which have larger percentages of day students.”
—From Trinity College School: The Our Kids Review

“TCS continues to outshine in that department: people from different backgrounds, experiences, and understandings of the world are able to be present in this little universe that we enjoy within Port Hope. Not like in Toronto where you’re going in and out [of the school] — where the community may not be as solid. We’re in a dinky town — 16,000 people, (I love Port Hope) — and that forces you to really invest in your community.”?
—Jessica Eruchalu, alumna (2012-2016), law student

“I think the highest value of the school would be community. Coming together as a school community.”
—Lade Adeusi, alumna (2012-2014), student of medicine

“Although TCS boasts an enormous amount of incredible qualities, one quality stands above them all: community.”
—Benjamin Glassco, alumnus, photographer

“At its core, TCS emphasizes the importance of community on campus.”
—Jocelyn Murphy, alumna, humanitarian

“[TCS] is like a little village in and of itself. And living in a village gives you lots of opportunities for downtime and sports, athletics and arts. We often say here that learning takes place twenty four hours a day. It’s almost like how a lot of kids look at camp. You can tell that kids who went to camp loved it.”
—Stuart Grainger, Head of School

“We often used to say that we were at an academic summer camp because we had so much fun with one another.”
—Jocelyn Murphy, alumna, humanitarian

“I've visited many schools; I’ve played at schools for sports; I've been at them for academic competitions; I just visit them because my classmates or friends may be there. And the thing is: TCS is a community. I’ll continue saying that. I told my friends at Appleby, ‘You should have gone to TCS.’ I tell my friends at Havergal, ‘You should have gone to TCS.’ St. Clement’s? ‘You should have gone to TCS.’ … At TCS, boarding is first and foremost. … we were 55% of the population, which is not common.”
—Jessica Eruchalu, alumna (2012-2016), law student

“‘Trinity is a boarding school with day students,’ says Ryan Kirkaldy, as opposed to ‘a day school with boarding students.’ That was important for him and no doubt many others. ‘I couldn’t see myself in a place where the school just clears out on the weekends. That was a big thing.’”
—From Trinity College School: The Our Kids Review

“One thing that differentiates [the day student experience] at TCS from a regular day school is that you don’t feel weird staying late. Day students very frequently stay until 6pm, 7pm, working on projects with other students on campus, which makes the school experience very immersive for them as well.”
—Jessica Eruchalu, alumna (2012-2016), law student

“Though not all students are boarders, the culture of boarding pervades the entire school. ‘It’s the mentality of it,’ says Barb Piccini, who oversees Grades 5 to 8—grades composed entirely of day students. ‘It’s not rush, rush, rush to get to the end of the day. We’re here.’ She means that in the small ways, such as the fact teachers tend to arrive early and stay late, and that there are always snacks available in the dining hall. But she means it in larger ways too, as in the sense that there is always life on campus. It is a place where people don’t just sleep and study, but truly live. ‘We are a boarding school,’ she says, ‘and somehow or another that filters into the life of the school.’”
—From Trinity College School: The Our Kids Review

“The day students benefit from being part of a boarding school. The experience is actually very similar.”
—Stuart Grainger, Head of School

“I think a really cool thing about boarding school — and in particular TCS — is just how high quality the teachers are. You can find amazing teachers at all schools, but I think what’s cool about the teachers at TCS is that since many of them are living on campus, and you spend so much time on campus, they really are peers and friends. I remember in particular Mr Ingram: just a really incredible guy and somebody that I really looked up to. And I think it's just a great example of the number of role models you can have at TCS.”
—Zach Chauvin, alumnus (2009-2013), software engineer

Teachers never simply worked and then returned home. They were a part of the family that was TCS. Some teachers were so passionate and excited to teach that they bordered on eccentricity.
—Benjamin Glassco, alumnus, photographer

“TCS cultivates the well-rounded student who becomes a well-rounded person in the world.”
—Erica Brown, current parent

“TCS was very leadership focused: they really focused on having well-rounded students and students having opportunities to excel in different areas, not only academically, but with sports, arts, drama, music. And I think that helped me. It helped give me more confidence in being independent with what I wanted to do, not only academically, but extracurricular-wise. I was able to choose what sports teams I would like to play on. I did Trinity Singers, which is our choir. I was involved extensively in volunteering and community service. Those all set me up with good habits to follow when I got to university. So I felt like when I got to university I was able to hit the ground running and find my own place there, not only with academics, but again volunteering and other things as well.”
—Lade Adeusi, alumna (2012-2014), student of medicine

“My children LOVE the amount of activity that occurs during a school day. This is an area where TCS goes above and beyond. For the Junior School students, the schedule is such that no two academic classes are back-to-back. The children have either lunch, recess or co-curriculars in between classes. The athletic program is fantastic—both competitive and intramural. There is something for every level. There are also opportunities for drama, art club, yoga, bike club, etc, etc. Every 6 weeks the Junior School students choose a new co-curricular activity.”
—Candace Pickering, current parent

“During my time there, a student was required to choose at least one "sport" and one "arts" extracurricular per semester. This filled their time between dismissal and dinner. Options for students went above and beyond basic sports teams and music, offering school rock bands, dance troupes, improv teams, school productions, debate teams, community service options, and countless others. The bottom line was, students must be kept busy...and busy we were!”
—Benjamin Glassco, alumnus, photographer

“Advice I’d give a new student: take a deep breath. It's easy to get overwhelmed at all the things you could do and all the expectations and classes and sports teams. Take a deep breath and really enjoy your time. It goes by so quickly. So take a deep breath. Enjoy your time.”
—Lade Adeusi, alumna (2012-2014), student of medicine

“I remember moments where it did feel overwhelming [with] the amount of assignments, the essays, the tests. But it's interesting because, when I look back on it, it was the highly collaborative environment with my peers that made it fun. I just have this memory of it being very fun, because it was so collaborative. And there were tense moments, and you didn’t ace every test necessarily. But there was just something very dynamic, very fun about it, which I think alleviated that [potential] feeling of burnout. … And the reason I'm raising this is because … three of [my kids’] friends actually dropped out [of an IB program at another school]; they dropped out of the program actually because of burnout. That was actually the issue. The school was so rigorous, but not well balanced. It was just all academic. There was no sporting; no arts. It just wasn't a well-rounded program. I don't think it was any more academically rigorous than Trinity, yet somehow, maybe, the feeling of burnout doesn't happen [at TCS] because of the way things are structured at the school. … My daughter is even busier [now at TCS], but doesn’t experience burnout.”
—Julien Northey, alumnus (1988-1993) and current parent, professor of microbiology

“I felt quite revitalized [by the busy schedule]. I’m charged by school, but someone else may be charged by sports, and they go to practice; or maybe you’re charged by painting, and you have space in your calendar for painting. You make sure you sign up for the things that charge you. … I think from the outside looking in, you’re thinking, ‘Oh, this is a lot’. But students are eased into it. And having been there for four years, it’s normal to me now. So when I went to UofT, I was like, ‘Wow, my first class is at 3pm? What do I do now? I guess I’ll go to the gym; I have to do something.’ And it’s just been inoculated within you; you’ve just normalized that behaviour. And it’s actually good behaviour, because burnout is not necessarily about doing a lot of things, but about doing things that don’t charge you.”
—Jessica Eruchalu, alumna (2012-2016), law student

“The best part [about TCS] is it's like the best part of life. You know, if you’re to live a full and enriching life, what would you like to do? Well, you'd like to be challenged. You'd like to be academically stimulated; intellectually stimulated. You’d need to be physically active. You’d like to be connected. You'd like to be recognized. You'd like to be celebrated. You’d want to feel part of something bigger than yourself, and contribute to something bigger than yourself. … [At TCS], on any given day, in any given week, you're kind of fulfilling what you always wanted to do.”
—Stuart Grainger, Head of School

“I compare it to language immersion. If you're trying to learn something like French, it makes a lot of sense to go to France or Quebec where you will be immersed. I think the analogy for a private or boarding school is that it really immerses you in academics, athletics, arts and service. Coming in, I think I didn't have any particular strong suit. (To be fair to myself, I was definitely academically inclined. But in terms of the other three, I had very little exposure.) And I think that was exciting for me and my family: to be in an environment where I can really fully immerse myself.”
—Zach Chauvin, alumnus (2009-2013), software engineer

“As a perfectionist, I certainly experienced a good amount of stress as there were so many things for me to do and be involved in while also maintaining good grades, but I never felt that it negatively impacted my quality of life. If anything, I found that the stress lit a fire that enabled me to engage and to succeed.”
—Jocelyn Murphy, alumna, humanitarian

“If there is any weakness to TCS, it is that it may not be for students who need a lot of "alone" time. Those who wish to spend many hours alone a day or to relax will most likely not enjoy the high-energy community of TCS. The school is intense in the best way possible, but those who have a hard time keeping up or developing their passions may feel a little overwhelmed.”
—Benjamin Glassco, alumnus, photographer

“Stuart Grainger has been the headmaster since 2004, one of a long line of impressive leaders. … During his tenure at TCS, he has focused on addressing students’ lifestyles and ensuring a balance between achievement and rejuvenation (‘I don’t want kids stressed. I don’t want them worn out.’)”
—From Trinity College School: The Our Kids Review

“I thought my desired success was the same my teachers desired for me, however I quickly realised they were very different. I thought success in school meant getting excellent grades, performing well in sports and arts as well as service but my teachers made me understand that success was primarily achieved through happiness and good health. They explained that they believed success was when I was able to get at least seven hours of sleep a night, plan my time effectively so I can work at my optimum, and enjoy the whole school experience.”
—Mariam Omilabu, current student

“[We want our students to] feel that when they move on to university or afterwards, they're better prepared to face the slings and arrows that life is going to send them; that they can reflect back on a pretty rigorous, pretty active school life and say, ‘oh, I remember it was pretty tough. I remember being this busy. I remember being this worried. I remember thinking I wouldn't make this team. I remember I wasn't sure if I was going to make friends. I wasn't sure if I was going to fall flat on my face when I had to do this public speaking thing. But I succeeded. I did it.’ And so later in life, they will say, ‘I know I can handle these kinds of circumstances going forward’.”
—Stuart Grainger, Head of School

“Every time I face a difficult assignment, I’m like, ‘I did this before. They made me write a five thousand word paper in my grade 12 year.’ And that idea of prioritization: right now I’m in law school and they give me forty-five readings a week, and I know how to prioritize. TCS made me do three varsity sports. I was doing prefectship, Masterkey—you learn to prioritize. And these are skills you don't think about when you're in high school, but you learn to appreciate once out.”
—Jessica Eruchalu, alumna (2012-2016), law student

“What I appreciated most was the rigor. The fact that you’re just always busy; you're always having to learn to prioritize; you’re always learning how to manage your time well. I really appreciated that rigor. And the focus: there were just so many activities, so many sports, so many things going on. It [engendered] a tremendous amount of focus. You had to be a focused individual … And, of course, in the midst of all that, there was just a tremendous amount of enjoyment in that process of a very full day; of a very well-rounded day.”
—Julien Northey, alumnus (1988-1993) and current parent, professor of microbiology

“To understand the mindset of TCS academia, one must understand that a student is ASSUMED to soon be attending a great university in Canada, the U.S. or abroad. The question is not whether they will be admitted to a revered institution, but it is how well they will compete once they begin their first degree.”
—Benjamin Glassco, alumnus, photographer

“I came to university very well equipped. When I went to university, I felt comfortable. I'm in law school now and I still feel comfortable. I tell my friends that my work at law school is very close to my AP standard at TCS. I was very well prepared academically.”
—Jessica Eruchalu, alumna (2012-2016), law student

“When I was going through university and graduate school there was an aspect with my writing skills—with my analytical skills, which were taught at the school—where I felt I always had an edge over my peers.”
—Julien Northey, alumnus (1988-1993) and current parent, professor of microbiology

“Pauline, my eldest [who already graduated from TCS], she's way ahead of all her peers in college here in Mexico. I get frustrated because I see the classes that she now has in college in Mexico, and I see the classes that she had in TCS, in high school. And, I mean, it's abysmal, the difference. At TCS, every teacher, every member of the community, goes beyond [the norm] to help the student.”
—Paula, current parent

“There is somebody that specializes in US admissions, and he kind of noticed from early on that I might be a candidate to attend school in the States. He definitely took an interest in me and helped coach me through that process, which was super valuable.”
—Zach Chauvin, alumnus (2009-2013), software engineer

“One of the main driving factors for me choosing TCS was this focus on career and post high school life. I had a friend who went to TCS and I could see that they had the resources to really spend time with us to make sure that what we wanted to do after high school could be realized and achieved. I always wanted to go to medical school, but I didn't know exactly what routes there were for me, and TCS told me about the opportunity to do medical school overseas, which I'd never heard of before. And they fully supported me through that whole application process.”
—Lade Adeusi, alumna (2012-2014), student of medicine

“[A student who will thrive at TCS is] a student who wants a fresh start; somebody who either really knows what they want to do — or who has no clue. So, somebody who knows, ‘I want to be a medical doctor’: we could actually give them the path. ... We could come up with a program that would best support them to pursue getting into a medical program. We could do that. But what about the kid that says, ‘I have no idea what I want to do’? Well, we have as much time for those kids, because I actually don't think it's a bad thing to not know what you want to do at age 14, 15, 16. So what you want to do [for them] is create as many opportunities as you possibly can, with the confidence that they're going to latch onto something.”
—Stuart Grainger, Head of School

“There are so many things I do now that I didn’t do prior [to TCS]. I remember Mr. Large … he was like, ‘Hey Jessica, you should sign up for debating.’ And I was like, ‘What’s debating, Mr. Large?’ And he’s like, ‘Oh, it’s this thing where you just talk.’ And he put me in debating. It’s just one example of a challenge where they say, ‘Hey, you’re really good at this, try it out.’ … And now I’m in law school.”
—Jessica Eruchalu, alumna (2012-2016), law student

“Just the richness across the four pillars of education of academics, athletics, arts and service: TCS has really deep investment in each of those categories, and that means that you can come in a little bit of a blank slate and experiment a lot and ultimately find and and pursue a deeper relationship with whichever pillar or pillars that you end up being really interested in.”
—Zach Chauvin, alumnus (2009-2013), software engineer

“I came in not really knowing who I was or what I wanted out of life, and I think TCS gave me a lot of opportunities to really practice and fall on my face a couple of times, and give me the resources to kind of pick myself up and try again. ... I would definitely recommend the school to other students who are looking for somewhere to be themselves and become themselves. I think TCS has so many avenues that you can explore and you can really make it your own. And I think it gives you a lot of confidence, a lot of ability, a lot of independence, which I don't think can be found in many other schools.”
—Lade Adeusi, alumna (2012-2014), student of medicine

“My youngest, she’s a bookworm. So she found herself a bunch of nerds [at TCS]. TCS will give your child whatever they need to become who they are meant to be.”
—Paula, current parent

“‘We’re carrying 121 different courses,’ says Myke Healy, director of teaching and learning. That’s a hefty amount, particularly for a school of this size. The intention, says Healy, is to maximize choice. ‘If a student can pick their courses, there’s a commitment to the learning.’”
—From Trinity College School: The Our Kids Review

“In grade 9 you have to take a class that has a little bit of computer science, and I really loved it. But I still kind of pushed it away: I was on the straight and narrow path to [pursue] a more traditional science. But there was a teacher, Mr. Voynov, who every time I passed him in the hall, would ask me: ‘So when are you going to take AP Computer Science? You really liked it.’ I was like, ‘I know, but there's too many other AP [courses]: I can't do it.’ But he persisted. Literally, I think every time [I passed him] he smiled and said, “We would really love to have you in AP Computer Science.” So I ended up taking both grade 11 and grade 12 computer science—really loved it. By the time I got to college, I was pretty sure I wanted to do computer science.”
—Zach Chauvin, alumnus (2009-2013), software engineer

“Upon entering the school, Jocelyn Murphy presented as perhaps the typical student at TCS: smart, capable, yet needing a bit of inspiration and pizzazz to truly motivate her to reach further and achieve more. ‘For lack of a better explanation,’ says Murphy, ‘I was a very bright student in high school and academics came easily to me. My teachers recognized this, along with the fact that this brightness made me lazy at times.’ At TCS, she was pressed to take Advanced Placement courses, study languages, and get involved in areas beyond her core interests, including equal representation of humanities and sciences. ‘My teachers recognized my abilities and my weaknesses and supported me to tailor my course load accordingly … [it] taught me the importance of challenging myself to strive for something greater.’”
—From Trinity College School: The Our Kids Review

“‘I believe that demanding a lot of students is a complement to them,’ says Piccini. ‘Too often [educational] environments are warm and casual, and then they bleed out, because that’s all they are. But we have very high expectations for our kids in all areas: comportment, thinking, respect. And we demand of them in a most compassionate and understanding way. And I love the marriage between the two—which I think is quite unique to this school.’”
—From Trinity College School: The Our Kids Review

“I think TCS really cares for its students, and the community cares for each other, whether it's, you know, the teachers recognizing the boarding students are away from home and caring for them and paying attention to problems, or just really trying to engender in all the students a real care for each other and for the world. I think that's something that TCS does really well.”
—Zach Chauvin, alumnus (2009-2013), software engineer

“One thing I would say to improve [the school] is to let children make mistakes sometimes. But TCS is like, ‘Oh, mistakes? Give us your phone before you sleep, so you have a full eight hours.’ I don't know what eight hours looks like. [Laughs]. I count to ten and skip eight. I don’t know how to get a full eight hours of sleep now as a law student. But TCS will say, ‘You will get a full eight hours of sleep. You will eat your breakfast. You will go to class on time.’ … You can’t skip class in peace at TCS. But that shows you the level of commitment they have to making sure that nobody slips through the cracks.”
—Jessica Eruchalu, alumna (2012-2016), law student

“Back when I was at the school, if you missed a class, you’d get quarters. This is one of these demerit points; we called them a quarter. So when you got four quarters for missing class, you had to run 10 kilometers, and you had to run 10 kilometers within an hour. And if you didn’t, you had to do it again the next day, which means you’d miss your practice, which meant you probably weren’t a starter then [on your sports team]. So you made sure you went to class. But they’ve gotten rid of it now. I would put that back: I would make everyone run 10 kilometers for missing something.”
—Julien Northey, alumnus (1988-1993) and current parent, professor of microbiology

There were certainly students that resented being 'forced' to do [extracurriculars], but I think that we were all better for it.
—Jocelyn Murphy, alumna, humanitarian

“Students maintaining an 86% average or above are free to manage their study schedules and can study in their dorm, the library, or anywhere else on campus. Students who have lower grades are required to study in assigned study rooms, during prescribed times and under supervision. Independence is fostered, not assumed.”
—From Trinity College School: The Our Kids Review

“Just the history of TCS being around since 1865: like, there's a real sense of history there, whether it's like war memorials or our main dining hall just being really beautiful and being a tribute to all of the people that have attended Trinity in the past. The history of TCS sets it apart.”
—Zach Chauvin, alumnus (2009-2013), software engineer

“If anyone wants to understand the history of the school and wants to feel the TCS spirit, the chapel would be the best place to go. It is loaded with so many told and untold stories of the school's history with things like carvings of beautiful and metaphoric symbols of the school on doors, old school paintings and even a list of all the reverends TCS has ever had. It functions as the school's very own museum.”
—Mariam Omilabu, current student

“‘My uncle is that gentleman up there,’ says Steph Feddery, pointing to one of the portraits that look down from the walls of the dining hall. ‘It’s fascinating, when you look around and see the history and the names.’”
—From Trinity College School: The Our Kids Review

“In 2017, TCS participated in the 150th cricket tournament with Upper Canada College. The first tournament was held in 1867—the same year Canada became a country—and the teams have met ever since. ‘How many schools can say they have a 150-year history of participating in a sport?’ says director of athletics Tim White. ‘Being part of the school, you’re a keeper of that tradition.’ If the tournament were just a few years old, White expects far fewer students would be keen to take part. Tradition can be a unique motivator.”
—From Trinity College School: The Our Kids Review

“TCS definitely pushes students to be ambitious in whatever it is that they end up really loving. There's still flexibility: for instance, if you're not into athletics, while they encourage you to be active, you're able to swap a little [athletics] out for arts, for example. But finding what it is you're excited about and having ambition in that area is certainly something that TCS passes on.”
—Zach Chauvin, alumnus (2009-2013), software engineer

“We have a bit of a mantra here at the school in terms of what distinguishes us. And it tends to be very simple: we strive to care more and work harder. And I'm not suggesting that people aren't working hard enough, but if you care more about whatever it is you're interested in, then you're prepared to work harder.”
—Stuart Grainger, Head of School

“The kind of kid we look for is like a typical kid who either knows what they want to do or doesn't know, but they’re interested in finding their purpose. They are keen on discovering, you know, where they're strong, what their strengths are, what those areas are they need to develop; they are motivated to come to the school. ... What we want are motivated kids; kids who want a fresh start. They want to pursue something. They want to be heard. They want to be connected. They want to be engaged. They want to be celebrated. They want to build their confidence so that by the time they graduate, they feel exceptionally proud of themselves.”
—Stuart Grainger, Head of School

“What makes schools like TCS—and TCS [itself]—so strong is that the kids have chosen to be here. They've done the research. They've gone online. They're there for the tour and they want to be here. It’s like kids who love camp. They love camp. Why? The whole experience. And I find [in] a lot of our kids … that enthusiasm to want to be part of the community and get a fresh start. So the common thread would be kids wanting to have a change … and then, you know, just wanting to dive in, even if they're scared. ... They want to start looking after themselves. They want to take control over their own education.”
—Stuart Grainger, Head of School

“During the application process, I was so stressed. I was an anxious kid and felt that my entire future was on line if I wasn't accepted into the school of my choice. However, the moment I went to TCS for a tour and an interview, all of that melted away and it became peaceful.”
—Jocelyn Murphy, alumna, humanitarian

“Academic achievement is highly valued—this is a school, as many will tell you, where it is cool to be smart. Achievement is also regularly rewarded. ‘I have a citizenship pin,’ says Grade 10 student Ben Traugott, ‘a few scholar’s pins, Remembrance Day, the arts pin. I was also captain of the swim team.’ Those, as well as recognition in chapel, are means of letting students know that their efforts are recognized, something which permeates the delivery of the program.”
—From Trinity College School: The Our Kids Review

“Competition was friendly, yet fierce, as the culture was one of pushing each other's boundaries of development. One example of this was the intense house debates that took place periodically throughout the school year. Spirit and gusto saturated the historic hallways of TCS during these times. The winners of House Debates were celebrated and respected because of their wit and resourcefulness, demonstrating the school's respect for academic potential and the strive for greatness.”
—Benjamin Glassco, alumnus, photographer

“Is it possible to be a happy, fulfilled B-student at TCS? ‘Absolutely,’ says headmaster Stuart Grainger without missing a beat. ‘University stats and all that kind of stuff, that’s not where we’re truly satisfied. I think if you’re a genuine educator and a genuine teacher, you just want to have an impact on a kid’s life.”
—From Trinity College School: The Our Kids Review

“Heather started at TCS with people thinking she needed to do testing for a learning disability, because she just was so far behind the rest of the class. [But] in grade seven, for her first math test, she came home with a huge smile on her face, saying she got eighty two percent on her math test. This is where she was failing in grade five. We [had] just felt, you know, she just needs time. She needs time to catch up, build her confidence, build that focus, that desire to learn; to love learning, to actually love it. And that has come over these years [at TCS], to the point where I don't have to ask her to do her homework; she loves doing math homework.”
—Julien Northey, alumnus (1988-1993) and current parent, professor of microbiology

“The biggest [change in my daughters] was confidence: a tremendous, tremendous increase in confidence in themselves, with all three of my girls. I don't think, to be honest, I could have done that as a parent. There's something about the school that was able to instill that.”
—Julien Northey, alumnus (1988-1993) and current parent, professor of microbiology

“The general atmosphere is one of students who are thoughtful, confident, and appreciative of the opportunity to attend the school. There are perhaps schools in the country where privilege is the main takeaway, though TCS isn’t one of them.”
—From Trinity College School: The Our Kids Review

“A common theme, honestly, [amongst families who choose TCS, and make up the TCS community] … is genuineness. There’s just a genuineness to the people: honest, genuine people. Sounds simple, but it’s what comes to my mind.”
—Julien Northey, alumnus (1988-1993) and current parent, professor of microbiology

“It’s not a posh school. Wealth is not exhibited. Everyone’s equal. I think that’s something we [in the TCS community] have in common. When I was looking for boarding schools, and I would go to the United States to see their boarding schools, that would scare me. Wealth was exposed; they were very posh. Not TCS: everyone’s equal. It’s very democratic.”
—Paula, current parent

“Service is central to the ethos of the school, as underscored by a robust program of service-learning dedicated to developing opportunities within the local community and beyond. … The stated mission of the school is ‘developing habits of heart and mind for a life of purpose and service.’ It’s a bit of a mouthful, but that mission is apparent throughout the school.”
—From Trinity College School: The Our Kids Review

“I did an international volunteering trip with TCS in my last year. We went to Kingston, Jamaica, and that was probably one of the highlights of my whole time in TCS. We were working in an inner city school and I was part of teaching and helping assist the teachers in a class of people who weren't able to finish high school on their own. I think it gave us such a good understanding of other cultures; made us really reflect on where we come from in Canada, and allowed us to connect with other people who you would never even think you could connect with.”
—Lade Adeusi, alumna (2012-2014), student of medicine

“I think a real commitment to service is something that TCS presses on and something that stuck with me. They made available all sorts of opportunities to volunteer your time. It was common for me to be volunteering for upwards of 10 hours a week, whether it was after school, with the community, or with other students … There's a week at TCS called "Week Without Walls", which is a whole week dedicated to service. The school offers up tens of different [volunteer] opportunities which each student is able to pick from. … [Now] in Silicon Valley, I volunteer as a teacher at a high school, teaching computer science. I really wasn't aware of, or interested in, service going into grade 9 [at TCS]. But coming out, it became a big part of what gets me excited.”
—Zach Chauvin, alumnus (2009-2013), software engineer

“There’s such an emphasis on character—[on the values of] kindness and character; discipline. Being a great citizen, and understanding what it means to be a contributing citizen.”
—Julien Northey, alumnus (1988-1993) and current parent, professor of microbiology

“Holding doors at TCS, in a very small way, is a sign of being part of a community and not just thinking of yourself — and we all [hold doors], and we talk about it a great deal. When you hold a door open, literally, you’re caring about somebody else. You're showing them a pathway; you're providing them an openness, a warmth, a hello, a greeting and eye contact, an opportunity to say thank you, and an opportunity to engage in some way, either verbally or otherwise. [We encourage] that habit of heart; of, yes, trying to enhance your own skills and prepare yourself for a future, but also being part of a team. Little, tiny, important social engagements are actually setting up kids to do the right thing.”
—Stuart Grainger, Head of School

“They teach them to be human beings. Everyone is very focused on the academic [side]; on the ‘my child will enter a super Ivy League school’. But TCS teaches their students to be humans: to be respectful, to help each other, to reach out to their communities. It’s something that [students] learn indirectly at TCS. That’s what really impacted my eldest [daughter]. … [At TCS] Pauline learned how to be helpful to others—how to be reachable to others.”
—Paula, current parent

“What truly stands out at TCS, is the definition of "cool" seems to have been redefined there. … The most idolized students were not those with good looks, elitist tendencies, or natural athleticism, but were the ones with the most genuinely pure hearts. This was demonstrated by being friends to the community, volunteering, being kind to others, discipline in academia, leadership in sports, and passion in the fine arts. These trends fostered a community like no other, where holding open doors, mentoring younger students, and generally being ‘good’ was revered above all else.”
—Benjamin Glassco, alumnus, photographer

“I think a lot of kids look at the world as almost broken. [Now], how can they be part of the solution? I would say the evolution of our school will be just to have a greater emphasis on creating kinder, more caring, more active, engaged, and involved students, willing to do something and not just speak about it.”
—Stuart Grainger, Head of School

“TCS is a very international, global school. And I have Nigerian heritage. And it was so nice to meet people who actually grew up in Nigeria and live in Nigeria and are coming over to TCS to be a boarder [Lade was a day student living in Port Hope], and meet people from other countries who I never would have had the chance to meet before — that would be the highlight for me.”
—Lade Adeusi, alumna (2012-2014), student of medicine

“Students seem genuine in their appreciation of the school’s international character. ‘It exposes you to so many experiences that you usually wouldn’t be able to have,’ says Nathan Titterton. ‘I have friends from all over the world, have been exposed to so many other cultures, and done things that I never would have even thought of doing prior to coming to TCS.’”
—From Trinity College School: The Our Kids Review

“I appreciate how well-prepared I was socially. I was around such a diverse group of students. I had classmates from Mexico, Germany, Japan, China, Zimbabwe, Namibia. And then I lived with these people 24/7. So you learn to be your authentic self.”
—Jessica Eruchalu, alumna (2012-2016), law student

“I still have friends from around the world; close friends from Indonesia, China, etc. I had a roommate from Japan. That aspect is really neat.”
—Julien Northey, alumnus (1988-1993) and current parent, professor of microbiology

“I think the experience of essentially having grown up together, living on the same campus, really leads to some amazing friendships. I think that's something that's really special and might not be apparent from the outside.”
—Zach Chauvin, alumnus (2009-2013), software engineer

“I got to know my classmates so well that the person I live with right now is from TCS. I have two TCS people right now in my house. We are life friends; we have been friends for seven years now. I think [not a lot] of people [can] say they have this degree of friendship with their high school friends. … And I've met so many other TCS people who I see in the streets, and we stop and say hi to each other. And that's a level of community that's hard to come by. I’ve graduated from UofT, and UofT has not met that standard.”
—Jessica Eruchalu, alumna (2012-2016), law student

“The community of TCS students, parents and alumni was a huge draw for our family when deciding to send our children to TCS. My brother is an alumnus of TCS and it is a meaningful part of his identity.”
—Candace Pickering, current parent

“The strength of the TCS community … you really get to know your peers super well. Something I always look forward to is a reunion that they do every year for the alumni. I love seeing all my friends. I think the yearly cadence of the reunion — I think that speaks to the strength of the community.”
—Zach Chauvin, alumnus (2009-2013), software engineer

“The alumni list includes some great Canadians, of which the school is rightly proud … At least some of the alumni of the school remain fairly rabid in their engagement with each other and with the school. There is a range of opportunities for alumni to keep in touch, including groups in Canada and beyond.”
—From Trinity College School: The Our Kids Review

“I was lucky to attend what was called an entrepreneur's dinner while I was in college. And there I met all sorts of really amazing alumni from TCS. And actually through one of them I got my first tech internship. From there I was able to get an internship at Facebook and ultimately work full time. So [TCS] definitely shaped [me] in terms of the opportunities it afforded me.”
—Zach Chauvin, alumnus (2009-2013), software engineer

“Some of my closest friends from TCS are still my closest friends as an adult. We attend each other's weddings, visit when we happen to be in the same city anywhere in the world and talk on a regular basis. It is a community that continues to give.”
—Jocelyn Murphy, alumna, humanitarian

“I would like to think that there are a whole series of pull factors [drawing families to TCS]. The parents would say, ‘Wow, TCS, we've heard of your international reputation’, or, you know, ‘I know such and such is raving about your school’. That's what we would like to think: that it's all these positive things. But the reality is there's normally a push factor for a family and child. And that’s no disrespect to the school they're presently at. But for whatever reason, there's a sense of a need for change. It could be associated with somebody not being challenged enough academically, or a child that feels kind of lost in the system. It could be a friend network that maybe they just need to break from. It might be they want to be in a sports program that's not offered at their present school, or they're driving all over the place for activities, and they're just getting tired because they're playing hockey or they're in dance at strange hours and driving all over the place, and they just want one place where they can just do it all.”
—Stuart Grainger, Head of School

“As a parent, puberty is the hardest stage. The best solution is to send [your child] to boarding school. If you want to keep a good relationship with your child, send them to boarding school for those four years. Believe me, when they come back, they will love you forever and you will love them. I mean, it's the antidote to puberty.”
—Paula, current parent

“Honestly, [choosing a school] will come down to a gut feel. The number of people that have said as soon as they drove through the gates to TCS, they went, ‘I knew that this was my school!’ Or conversely, some of them who went to another school, would say, ‘As soon as I went to that school, I knew. I had all of these things that I was looking for, but [those things] didn't matter, because I love — I love the feeling at the school’.”
—Stuart Grainger, Head of School