In the Junior School, the foundation of our academic program is a positive, caring and professional teacher-student relationship, combined with an understanding of the profound importance of valuing and educating the whole child. Our teachers work closely with our students throughout the school day – in the classroom, as coaches, in the arts, and in the realm of leadership and service learning.

These relationships are the cornerstone of a diverse academic program that encourages students to strive for excellence and provides support and remediation as needed. While focusing on core academic skills, the goal is always to tackle authentic, deeper learning tasks that are connected to the world around us. There is a focus on individualized attention and the provision of ongoing feedback.

We value the learning process and promote the importance of knowing yourself as a learner and developing metacognitive skills, or “learning how to learn.” These skills include responsibility, initiative, collaboration, goal setting and recognizing the contributions of peers. Students are encouraged to tackle their academic responsibilities with creativity and innovation, and perseverance when they encounter challenges. Students graduating from our Junior School program are well on their way to developing the “habits of heart and mind” needed for success at the high school level and beyond.

Grade 5 & 6

In our Grade 5 & 6 program, students are immersed in the critical final years of their elementary education. In small classes, they forge close relationships with their homeform teacher, who serves as their core mathematics, language arts and science teacher. This relationship is fundamental to our students’ social and emotional development, as well as their individual academic growth. In addition, students benefit from having specialist teachers in other subject areas, including the arts, physical education and music. A key element of the Grade 5 & 6 learning experience is character development, including a focus on our TCS habits of heart and mind and on creating caring and respectful relationships between students and with their teachers as well. This creates an inclusive and supportive classroom culture in which students can take risks confidently and develop a growth mindset that focuses on their long-term development as learners.

An intentional and structured approach is provided in teaching students organizational and time management skills, and their learning is scaffolded when teaching literacy, numeracy and study skills. Building upon this foundation, students are challenged to think creatively and to focus on authentic tasks which develop 21st century skills like collaboration, digital literacy and the ability to tackle open-ended questions with confidence. There is frequent cross-curricular integration in Grades 5 & 6 and technology is integrated throughout the curriculum as well through the use of iPads and a variety of apps and Google platforms. Students emerge from our Grade 5 & 6 program with an excellent foundation of academic skills and an ability to be an active problem solver. They are well on the road towards living a “life of purpose and service.”

Grade 7 & 8

In the Grade 7 & 8 program, we build upon the solid foundation developed in our Grade 5 & 6 classes, with an intentional shift of responsibility from the teacher to the student. During this important phase of early adolescence, students work with faculty members who are both subject specialists and devoted to working with middle school learners. Our teachers exude caring, enthusiasm and a deep understanding of the adolescent learner that inspires students to excel.

Our character development program continues to focus on the TCS habits of heart and mind. A consistent focus on attributes like compassion, integrity and perseverance helps our students to navigate the increasingly complex world of adolescent relationships, both face to face and as digital citizens. In a safe and inclusive environment, students are encouraged to discover their existing strengths and explore and develop new talents, with a firm belief in the value of a growth mindset. They explore and practise mindfulness, as a way of building confidence and resilience. In small classes, teachers work closely with students to develop executive functioning skills which will be crucial for success in high school. These include organizational, time management and study skills, academic goal setting, guided and independent problem solving and the ability to make ethical decisions. There is a focus on authentic, experiential and deeper learning initiatives, that seek to connect the students to the world around them in creative and collaborative ways. Educational technology is used extensively to facilitate this process, with a 1:1 student-laptop ratio. Our Grade 7 & 8 students are exposed to a variety of service learning and leadership options that encourage them to shift the focus from themselves to the world around them. Upon completion of Grade 8, it is our goal that our students have the skills and attitudes to lead “a life of purpose and service” even as they enter high school.