Branksome Hall, Toronto
10 Elm Avenue M4W 1N4 Toronto, ON, Canada

It was a no-consumption competition for two Grade 8 Geography classes. As part of a "Resources and Industries" unit with a service learning twist, students collected worn-out pens, markers and highlighters to properly recycle through Terracycle and Staples Canada, with 355 items saved from the dump!

Know a remarkable student who is interested in coming to Branksome? Our Virtual Open Houses start tomorrow at 9 a.m. for the Junior School. Join us for the Middle and Senior Schools sessions on Nov. 2 and 9. It’s the best way for potential parents and students to get a feel for the school and student experience, gain an understanding of the admissions process and hear directly from students, administrators and more. Spread the word and register now: https://bit.ly/3bdJXd9 #openhouse #girlsschools #independentschools #virtualtour #cisontario

It was fitting that when two of our student leaders asked MP Marci Ien about her mentors she mentioned her Grade 2 teacher who invested in her, with deep interest and copious amounts of books to read. Years later she was able to tell Ms. Kerr about the impact she'd made. In today's inspiring National Coalition of Girls' Schools keynote conversation, Grade 12 students Amonda and Vita engaged Ien with wide-ranging questions on meaningful inclusion, how to lead with empathy and the value of inter-generational collaboration. Full story to follow.

The National Coalition of Girls' Schools' Virtual Educating Girls Symposium launched today with an hour of expert reflection about how students and educators have shifted their understanding of learning and teaching during the pandemic; how girls are forging a path of action and agency to create true societal change in which all voices are heard; and how radical change can clear a path for innovation. The keynote panel, moderated by Branksome’s Dr. Mira Gambhir, Head, Research & Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, included Dr. Claudia Mitchell and Dr. Lisa Starr from McGill University’s Department of Integrated Studies in Education and Katherine Nikidis from Trafalgar School for Girls. #NCGS #GlobalGirls #educatinggirls

Look who's featured in the The Globe and Mail's STEM to STEAM Education Report! Noodle winners Grade 12 students Kaitlin and Lauren, who are calling for one trillion trees to be planted 1,000 for every global youth aged 15 to 24 years and still aiming for the ambitious goal that won them top prize in our inaugural innovation incubator competition. #BHNoodle #STEMtoSTEAM #innovation https://tgam.ca/3b5DGQu

Grade 12 student and Prefect Emma spoke in today's Assembly about the impact of last week's mass-shootings in Atlanta. Sharing a timely and urgent message, she spoke of the need to "constantly remind ourselves that as a community we are stronger together and that we must continue to work to foster inclusion at Branksome." #StopAsianHate #AntiAsianRacism

Congratulations to Grade 10 student Olivia for earning a National Medal in the 2021 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, presented by the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers, the most prestigious recognition program for creative teens in the U.S. Nearly 320,000 original works in 28 different categories of art and writing were submitted in 2020-21. Olivia's teacher Samantha Koscec received an accompanying certificate as an "outstanding educator" for supporting this work. #BHGallery #BranksomeHall

Today marks the United Nations' International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. This week, our families, educators and students discussed the rise of anti-East Asian racism in Canada and, in the wake of the mass-shootings in Atlanta, shared resources to support conversation, education and social change. We stand in solidarity and with support for all our community members. We are saddened and impacted by these events. #FightRacism https://www.un.org/en/observances/end-racism-day

To mark the UN Women Day of Women and Girls in Science, GY students Alex and Caroline interview Liz KENNEDY'19, a nursing student at uOttawa. Suggestions for future alum profiles welcome: [email protected] #GenerationEquality #WomenInScience https://youtu.be/RP53tVGvUCM

Today marks the Spring Equinox and the Persian New Year or Nowruz. For millions around the world, it is a time for family, rebirth, love, peace and renewal. We wish all employees and families in our community who celebrate a very happy new year. #PersianNewYear #Nowruz

We are pleased to announce that Anima Leadership has been chosen to conduct #BranksomeHall’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) audit, the result of a competitive process. Co-founders Shakil Choudhury and Annahid Dashtgard lead this award-winning firm and are thought leaders in the field. The audit includes a demographic survey, policy review and focus groups, and is an important piece of our Action Plan to ensure a systematic and successful approach to DEI. #BHDEI Read more here: https://tinyurl.com/4s8ttsj2

It's time for #BHGallery Fridays! Grade 10 art students have explored influences that impact them as artists. Their first work centred around the value of perseverance, creating a still-life drawing that included one object to represent their experience with COVID. Their second artwork focused on the importance of empathy through portrait photography.

It's not just our eyes that feel strain from virtual learning and working. Here are some easy exercises, recommended by our #BranksomeHall social work team, to stretch, oxygenate and energize our bodies. #WellnessWednesday

Tanya Talaga, award-winning Ojibwe author and journalist, will join Grades 10 and 11 students, as well as interested parents and employees, as the Rebecca CHISHOLM Clarkes'66 speaker on February 22. A visionary for Canada’s reconciliation journey, Talaga is one of Canada's most sought-after keynote speakers with messages of truth, hope and Indigenous inclusion.

We welcome suggestions to the 'Our Community Recommends' section of our #BHDEI website. New to the site for #BlackHistoryMonth, our Junior and Senior School Library teams have curated this list of titles and authors, including frequent #BranksomeHall guest Joshua Watkis's new book, Tethered, who will be doing Spoken Word workshops with Grade 10 students later this month. #BHM Check it out here: http://ow.ly/pNAQ50DvQK1

Now it's YOUR turn to do #BranksomeHall JK students Kate and Sylvia a good turn for #kindnessweek. They want our community’s help to find out the age of this great old tree in Sherborne playground. If you have any clues, please respond to this post. #BHKindness

#BranksomeHall is participating in a Canadian Boarding School (CAIS) Virtual Student Fair tomorrow at 5 p.m. for students in Eastern North America, including Ontario. Prospective families can learn what sets CAIS Boarding Schools affiliates apart by talking with admission directors, parents and alumni. Register for this and other upcoming Fairs here: https://caisboarding.vfairs.com/ #boardingisbetter #experiencemore #openhouse #girlsschools #independentschools

With a provincial focus on #BullyingAwareness and Prevention Week, our #BranksomeHall social work team recommends excellent resources from PREVNet, including a free screening of Dark Cloud: The High Cost of Cyberbullying, and a Q&A on how families can prevent digital harassment, featuring Dr. Wendy Craig and other experts. Register for tonight or Nov. 25 here: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/dark-cloud-virtual-screening-an #bekindalways #healthyrelationships #respect #bullyingresources #BHKindness

It's Stand Up for Kindness Week in the #BranksomeHall Junior School, with many activities to help students stand up for each other and stand up to bullying. Check out why kindness rules, and what's planned to support this important message this week. #BHKindness

For new long-distance #BranksomeHall student Gracie, who is learning virtually from China, it's a challenge to know when an assignment is due since she's 12 hours ahead: "To catch up with everything, I need to watch a lot of replays. I attend [synchronous] classes from 8:20 p.m. until 11 p.m. and then catch up with the rest of the day the next morning. I am looking forward to learning on campus as soon as possible!" #VirtualBranksome