Girls from around the world love to live and learn at Branksome Hall’s downtown Toronto campus, located on 13-acres along a wooded ravine. Here, in heritage homes and new buildings linked by state-of-the-art technology, girls thrive as they study the prestigious International Baccalaureate program. Our school welcomes over 60 students from Canada and around the world into Boarding as they embark on a remarkable journey to discover who they are, develop their interests and passions, and build life-long friendships.
Boarding Advisors And Family Groups
Boarding Advisors are qualified teachers who can offer homework help and social-emotional support to each student, in addition to ensuring student safety, planning fun activities and modelling a healthy, active lifestyle for overall wellness. Each boarding student belongs to a Family Group, headed by a Boarding Advisor, which meets together regularly to provide care and support as well as communicate with parents and guardians.
Boarding Administrative Assistant
Our Boarding Administrative Assistant supports all boarding students and their families with any questions about their school account, student allowances (pocket money), travel arrangements to and from the airport, and so much more. For international students, the Boarding Administrative Assistant coordinates directly with Citizenship and Immigration Canada to renew study permits and temporary resident visas in a timely and efficient manner.
Health Services
When students need extra care, the on-site Health Centre, staffed by a Registered Nurse with the support of the school doctor, monitors and supports the health and well-being of all boarding students. The school Social Worker tends to the mental health needs in our community, building acceptance and openness to mental health support.
Student Support
Guidance Counsellors provide individualized counselling to help students manage their IB courses, university applications and prepare for university life. Advisors meet weekly with a small group of students to discuss school life, and ensure a positive experience and full participation in teams and clubs. The Learning Strategies Department offers specialized support to students with specific learning challenges and integrates adaptive technologies to ensure academic achievement.
Teachers
Subject Teachers are available before and after school and at lunch for extra help ‘sittings’ to ensure students are successful at every stage of the school year. International Language Teachers hold classes in the evenings and give individual attention to each student as they study their native tongue. ESL (English as a Second Language) and ELL (English Language Learner) support is provided through offering all four levels of ESL (BO, CO, DO and EO) to students who require assistance with their English language learning.
Ongoing communication between students, parents and guardians, Boarding Advisors, Health Centre staff, Guidance Counsellors, Advisors, Learning Strategies, and subject and international language teachers helps to ensure the best possible support network for each student.
Orientation Week
All new boarding students, Canadian and international, attend our week-long Orientation Program in late August. Orientation Week is an essential time for students to get settled into life at Branksome Hall and helps girls transition into the community.
Program highlights
Weekends
On Saturday afternoons, Boarding Advisors will lead excursions off-campus to help students explore Toronto and explore their own interests while also connecting students to each other, our local community and Canadian culture. Students and staff will experience local attractions such as museums, art galleries, nature trails or sporting events, and participate in community service activities.
On Sunday afternoons, Boarding Advisors will organise an on-campus stress-buster activity to encourage students to take a break from their homework and try something new and fun such as hula dancing, origami or yoga. Creative pursuits help to calm busy minds and give perspective as we come to the end of a busy weekend.
On long weekends, Boarding Advisors partner with Guidance to offer university campus visits to local post-secondary institutions such as University of Toronto, McGill University in Montreal and Queen’s University in Kingston. These day-trips are an invaluable way to experience university life and gain a better understanding of best match when making post-secondary choices.
Boarding Advisors
Boarding Advisors coordinate with local and international community service organizations to partner with service opportunities both on- and off-campus. Past partnerships include New Circles clothing bank, Canadian Breast Cancer Society pink ribbon campaign, Toronto Humane Society dog toy drive and the Children’s Peace Monument origami crane project.
Our youngest students in Grades 7 and 8, require additional support and programming. A dedicated Boarding Advisor is available every day to help with homework, organize activities on and off campus, and provide structure and guidance as they learn the skills to grow their independence.
During the winter months, Branksome Hall partners with Snowhawks Ski and Snowboard School to offer fun on the slopes on Blue Mountain, one hour north of Toronto, every Saturday or Sunday. Depending on age and ability level, students participate in lessons and free time with students from other local schools. Transportation to and from the mountain is included in this additional program.
Right at our doorstep, Branksome students have access to Canada's largest, most multicultural city and the many cultural, educational and recreational highlights of Toronto.
A rich weekend program for boarding students includes supervised off-campus trips to local attractions such as Niagara Falls and Ripley's Aquarium.
All new boarding students participate in Orientation Week programming that helps them get to know each other, the city of Toronto and ease comfortably into life at Branksome Hall.
Our Boarding Program takes full advantage of Toronto's urban opportunities and the changing seasons to make for a truly Canadian experience.
Thanks to Branksome Hall's central location, our boarding students enjoy easy access to public transit and popular attractions listed to the right.
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