The Country Day School

As a school of balance, we don’t operate from a “one size fits all” approach. Instead CDS differentiates instruction and seeks to meet the individual needs of each student. This approach is in everything we do. We cultivate the passion a child brings with them, or help them to discover one here. Academically, we want our students to be open to different academic subjects and styles of learning. Our faculty are constantly checking and enhancing the curriculum – all with an eye on providing students with opportunities to achieve success.

Athletically, we encourage them to try their hand at multiple sports early on until they find those that they truly enjoy. Artistically, we offer numerous opportunities for CDS students to explore the arts, whether that be on the stage, in the concert hall, or at an easel. Environmentally, we want our students to appreciate nature and become stewards of the environment. Taking the learning outdoors with a purpose fosters environmental responsibility while also enhancing health, wellness and the capacity to learn.

When it comes to developing leadership skills, there are numerous extra-curricular opportunities at CDS and students are encouraged to participate and play a role in fine tuning everything from the activities offered, to the direction they take. Character building is an underlying theme in everything we do.

The Country Day School is a school where students are encouraged to sprint for a try on the rugby pitch; continue their pursuit of the saxophone in the Jazz Band; and lead a Social Justice Club meeting after school. It is an exhilarating pursuit of individual interests. It is what we call education with balance. Our recent graduates articulate this philosophy beautifully in a series of video vignettes entitled Portrait of a CDS Graduate.

Community still remains at the core of all that we do here at CDS. In 1971 a group of committed parents first conceived of the idea to start a co-ed private school in King and worked tirelessly to open our doors to 49 students just a year later. CDS has since grown to 770 students with offerings in JK-12 and beautifully situated on the original 100-acre country setting.

This is a place where your children can come be themselves and feel encouraged and supported in everything they do. Our tagline – Education with Balance – speaks to our balanced offerings of a wide range of individualized academics, athletics, arts and extra-curriculars that will cultivate a passion in every student and help them achieve a healthy balance. I encourage you to experience some wonderful examples of this by watching our Portraits of a Graduate videos.

Are you just starting your search for an independent school? Or are you well on your way to making a decision? Whatever stage you are at in this important process, We invite you to explore our website and social media presence, and then attend an Open House or request a personal visit. A virtual tour will give you some insights, but can’t possibly replace the connections made during a face-to-face visit, which will allow you to experience firsthand the feeling of community I talked about earlier.

CDS provides an intellectually challenging, diversified and balanced academic program that is learner-centred and delivered through a supportive and caring community dedicated to meeting the individual learning needs of all its students. At the heart of The Country Day School’s academic vision is the belief that all students can achieve success and meet their learning goals. A one-size-fits-all approach to learning does not serve the best interests of most students who approach their studies from various learning styles and preferences and at differing stages of skill development. To this end, we diversify our instructional strategies, the content of our curricula and our assessment methods to create an overall approach that focuses on how students are learning.

University preparation is integral to who we are; our curriculum is engaging and challenging. But we also believe that academic rigour should be balanced with opportunities for individual growth, exploration and reflection. We want our students to discover their passions, and to nurture and cultivate them throughout each stage of their educational journey with us.

Research tells us that one of the single greatest factors affecting student success is the relationship forged between students and teachers. Our classroom teachers, teaching associates, homeroom advisors, guidance councillors, learning strategists, and administrators recognize this connection and are committed to fostering professional yet kind and caring relationships where each student’s needs are supported and addressed.

Our goal in the Junior School is to provide children with the very best start possible. Students need a solid foundation for further study and the guidance to be the best people they can be. We pride ourselves on employing highly talented faculty. Our teachers work collaboratively with the students to develop the ability to adopt other perspectives, work collaboratively, cultivate empathy, compassion, care and concern for others, share responsibility and resolve conflicts respectively. All of this is done in safe, supportive and engaging learning environments. The Junior School is a busy and happy place where friendships are made and where the right course is set, both academically and personally.

A successful kindergarten program encourages curiosity and imagination. Our full-day developmental program provides our students with a balance between academically appropriate activities covering math, language, science and social studies, and fosters a sense of mutual respect, responsibility and a positive attitude toward learning.

At CDS we are mindful that as students enter the final stages of their educational journey with us, they will be confronted with very difficult life choices, not least of which are post-secondary destinations. We offer the Ontario Secondary School curriculum, as well as some Advanced Placement courses. As students move through their Senior School years, the number and range of optional course offerings increase to reflect greater levels of independence and choice, so that by their final year students have over 20 optional courses from which to choose. Our Senior School staff is committed to a yearly academic renewal process in which new courses are vetted for consideration to ensure students have the opportunity to fully engage their interests and cultivate the skills necessary for future success.