Branksome Hall is an independent day and boarding school for girls in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.[1] It is Toronto's only all-years International Baccalaureate (IB) World School for girls. Branksome Hall is located on a 13-acre campus in the Toronto neighbourhood of Rosedale and educates more than 900 students from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12.[2]

Branksome Hall
Address
Map
10 Elm Avenue

,
M4W 1N4

Canada
Coordinates43°40′30″N 79°22′48″W / 43.6751°N 79.3800°W / 43.6751; -79.3800
Information
School typeIndependent day and boarding
university-preparatory
MottoKeep Well The Road
Founded1903
PrincipalKaren Jurjevich
GradesJK – 12
EnrollmentApproximately 900
LanguageEnglish
CampusUrban
Colour(s)     Red, green, black and white
MascotRibbit the Frog
Team nameHighlanders
Websitewww.branksome.on.ca

Branksome Hall has an athletics and wellness centre,[3] spaces dedicated to innovation and technology,[4] indoor rock-climbing wall and tennis courts. The school has a boarding program for Grades 7 to 12 and a study abroad program with its sister school, Branksome Hall Asia, on Jeju Island, South Korea. Financial assistance is available for new and returning students in Grades 7 to 12.[5]

Branksome Hall is led by principal Karen L. Jurjevich, who has been principal since 1998.

History edit

Branksome Hall was founded in 1903 by Miss Margaret Scott, who served as the school’s first principal. It is named for Sir Walter Scott’s poem, “The Lay of the Last Minstrel,” which references Scotland’s Branxholme Castle. The historic building was previously named Hollydene House and was the home of Canadian Railway magnate Hugh Ryan.[6]

Branksome Hall was originally located at 102 Bloor Street East. In 1910, the school relocated to 592 Sherbourne Street and Miss Edith Read was appointed principal.

In 1912, the school purchased 10 Elm Avenue. Between 1912–1948, principal Read added five homes to the campus and built a gymnasium and pool. She introduced the Prefect and Clan systems and adopted the Hunting Stewart tartan for the school uniform.[7] Branksome Hall students in grades JK-2 wear a tunic, and those in grades 3-12 wear a kilt - a nod to Miss Margaret Scott's heritage.

In 1940 a small group of girls and staff from Sherborne Girls’ School in England was evacuated to Branksome Hall.[8] The relationship between the two schools continues; every year, students from each school participate in an exchange where they stay with host families in each country, sharing school and family life.

Edith Read retired after 48 years as principal in 1958. Five principals have led the school since: Dr. Jennie MacNeill (1958–68), Miss Margaret Sime (1968–74), Miss Alison Roach (1974–93), Dr. Rachel Phillips Belash (1993–98) and Karen L. Jurjevich (1998–present).[9]

The school became a fully authorized IB World School in 2003,[10] opened Branksome Hall Asia in 2012[11] and the athletics and wellness centre in 2015,[12] and hosted feminist icon Gloria Steinem in 2017.[13] In 2022, ground was broken on the school’s new Innovation Centre and Studio Theatre. [14] The school was recognized as an Apple Distinguished School in 2023.

The Road Well Kept by Heather Robertson was published in 2002 to mark Branksome’s centennial. The book provides a synopsis of the history of the school, including archival photographs.[15]

Academics edit

Branksome Hall’s curriculum offers all three International Baccalaureate programs: the Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP) and International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (DP).

Student Life edit

Branksome Hall follows the IB’s experiential learning framework of creativity, activity and service.[16] IB Diploma students are required to complete approximately three to five hours per week of Creativity, Activity and Service (CAS) during their final two years of high school.[17]

Service learning activities for students include Reading Buddies and JUMP Math at Rose Avenue Public School, Kapapamahchakwew (Wandering Spirit School) Reading Program, engaging with students at Sunny View Public School, and volunteering at Let’s Grow Learning and Living Hub for medically complex, physically disabled adults.[18]

Branksome’s Athletics teams are called the Highlanders. The school is a member of the Conference of Independent Schools of Ontario Athletic Association. Fall teams include basketball, flag football, cross country running, field hockey, rowing, soccer and swimming. Winter teams include alpine skiing, badminton, ice hockey, rowing, squash, swimming and volleyball. Spring teams include golf, rowing, softball, tennis, track and field, and ultimate frisbee.[19]

Community edit

Branksome Hall is administered by an 18-member Board of Governors. The current chair is Mona Malone,[20] Chief Human Resources Officer and Head of People & Culture for BMO Financial Group.

The Branksome Hall Foundation, a registered charity in Ontario since 2005, is overseen by an independent board of trustees chaired by Scot Martin, and manages the school's endowment.

Notable Alumnae edit

Notable faculty and staff edit

  • Dr. Vaira Vike-Freiberga, Latvian politician who served as the sixth President of Latvia from 1999 to 2007. She is the first woman to hold the post.
  • Portia White,[33] Canadian contralto, known for becoming the first Black Canadian concert singer to achieve international fame.

Affiliations edit

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Branksome Hall". CAIS.
  2. ^ "Branksome Hall | Boarding Schools In Toronto | CAIS Boarding Schools". www.boardingschools.ca. Retrieved 2024-01-05.
  3. ^ "Branksome Hall Athletics & Wellness Centre / MacLennan Jaunkalns Miller Architects". Arch Daily. MacLennan Jaunkalns Miller Architects. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  4. ^ "A state-of-the-art education facility to spark creativity and innovative thinking". The Globe and Mail. 2023-10-27. Retrieved 2024-01-09.
  5. ^ Nurse, Damion (2020-09-25). "How to navigate financial assistance at Toronto's top private schools". Toronto Life. Retrieved 2024-01-05.
  6. ^ Architectural Conservancy Ontario. "ACO Toronto - Hollydene House, Branksome Hall". acotoronto.ca.
  7. ^ staff, Town Crier (2002-11-02). "Branksome Hall celebrates its 100th birthday". Streeter. Retrieved 2024-02-15.
  8. ^ "Online Exhibition: Sherborne School & the Second World War". The Old Shirburnian Society. 2019-08-16. Retrieved 2024-01-22.
  9. ^ staff, Town Crier (2002-11-02). "Branksome Hall celebrates its 100th birthday". Streeter. Retrieved 2024-02-15.
  10. ^ "Branksome Hall". International Baccalaureate®. Retrieved 2024-02-15.
  11. ^ "Branksome Hall to open Korean campus". The Globe and Mail. 2010-07-09. Retrieved 2024-02-15.
  12. ^ "Branksome Hall Athletics & Wellness Centre / MacLennan Jaunkalns Miller Architects". ArchDaily. 2016-05-05. Retrieved 2024-02-15.
  13. ^ Reporter, Ainslie Cruickshank Staff (2017-10-23). "Gloria Steinem on fighting Trump, and women 'having it all'". Toronto Star. Retrieved 2024-02-15.
  14. ^ "Branksome Hall Innovation Centre and Studio Theatre". ennead. Retrieved 2024-02-15.
  15. ^ "The Road Well Kept: Branksome Hall Celebrates 100 Years · Canadian Book Review Annual Online". cbra.library.utoronto.ca. Retrieved 2024-01-22.
  16. ^ "Creativity, activity, service". International Baccalaureate®. 2014-08-19. Retrieved 2024-02-02.
  17. ^ "Creativity, Activity and Service | Branksome Hall". www.branksome.on.ca. Retrieved 2024-02-02.
  18. ^ "Service learning builds global citizens". The Globe and Mail. 2017-09-28. Retrieved 2024-02-02.
  19. ^ "Athletics | Branksome Hall". www.branksome.on.ca. Retrieved 2024-02-02.
  20. ^ "Mona Malone | Executive Bio | BMO". www.bmo.com. Retrieved 2024-01-26.
  21. ^ Robertson, Heather (2002). The Road Well Kept. Toronto: ECW Press. p. 179. ISBN 1550225448.
  22. ^ "A state-of-the-art education facility to spark creativity and innovative thinking". The Globe and Mail. 2023-10-27. Retrieved 2024-02-05.
  23. ^ "The READ magazine (Winter 2017) by Branksome Hall - Issuu". issuu.com. 2018-07-13. Retrieved 2024-01-11.
  24. ^ Blog, Skate Guard. "Skate Guard: The First Queen Of Canadian Pairs Skating: The Frances Dafoe Story". Skate Guard. Retrieved 2024-01-08.
  25. ^ Toronto, Darcy Streitenfeld for Streets Of (2018-06-11). "Amy Foster on her journey from songwriter to author". Streets Of Toronto. Retrieved 2024-01-08.
  26. ^ Laura (2020-11-12). "A Celebration of Girls' and Women's Leadership Like No Other". Abode2. Retrieved 2024-02-05.
  27. ^ "Royal exposure for Toronto fashion designers". mcgillnews.mcgill.ca. Retrieved 2024-02-05.
  28. ^ "Sarah LEVY'04".
  29. ^ "Toronto's most inspiring people of 2016: Dr. Molly Shoichet". Streets Of Toronto. 2016-12-16. Retrieved 2024-02-05.
  30. ^ Yumpu.com. "Dr. Frances Shepherd CV - (NCRI) is". yumpu.com. Retrieved 2024-01-08.
  31. ^ "Royal exposure for Toronto fashion designers". mcgillnews.mcgill.ca. Retrieved 2024-02-05.
  32. ^ "Budge Wilson Obituary - Halifax, NS". Dignity Memorial. Retrieved 2024-01-08.
  33. ^ McIver, Jane (2022-02-23). "Portia White: The Legacy of a Singing Sensation". Heaps Estrin. Retrieved 2024-01-08.
  34. ^ "TABS Member Schools". The Association of Boarding Schools. Retrieved 2024-01-22.
  35. ^ "Find a School - CAIS Canadian Accredited Independent Schools". www.cais.ca. Retrieved 2024-01-22.
  36. ^ "Our Member Schools - Conference of Independent Schools of Ontario". www.cisontario.ca. Retrieved 2024-01-22.
  37. ^ "G30 Schools - A gathering of interesting and like-minded school heads". G30 Schools. Retrieved 2024-01-22.
  38. ^ "Our Schools". NCGS. Retrieved 2024-01-22.
  39. ^ "NAIS Bookstore". my.nais.org. Retrieved 2024-01-22.

External links edit