All-Round Development
The TFS Experience
At TFS, our mission is to develop our students not only as learners, but also as individuals and citizens.
Our approach to fostering individuals and citizens rests on our values of integrity, discernment, respect and engagement, which are integrated into everything we do.
We encourage our students to discover new personal interests and develop their passions through a varied program of athletics, arts, clubs, societies and other co-curricular activities.
We nurture students as individuals, focusing on helping them acquire skills for life, including self-confidence, team spirit, creativity, initiative and entrepreneurship.
Just as important to us is that our students learn what it means to be citizens in this complex world.
Given TFS’ history as a school that has always been Canadian and international in outlook, our idea of citizenship is inspired by both the European tradition of civic engagement and responsibility, and the North American concept of character education.
A cornerstone of citizenship at TFS is our mentoring program. Beginning in PK and found at every branch of TFS, this program pairs small groups of students with a teacher to discuss compelling, age-appropriate issues ranging from values to world events. Mentoring at TFS fosters discernment in students, that is, the ability to use intellectual and ethical reasoning to understand issues and ideas. It also deepens students’ relationship with teachers and each other.
Assemblies also support our students’ learning and development as citizens. Held regularly at each branch, they are centred on a theme. For instance, during one week at TFS, the assemblies reflected on liberté (freedom) in its different forms at the West Campus; engagement at La p'tite école, where students viewed a film about children who face enormous challenges just to get to school; gratitude at the Junior School, using the thoughts of a TFS alumna who is an Olympian and asking the students to share their personal thoughts on gratitude; and engagement at the Senior School, where students viewed a film, read passages of a graphic novel and listened to songs about an Aboriginal teenager who was a victim of the residential school system.
During assemblies, our students frequently present to their teachers and peers, and they often hear from expert leaders from various backgrounds.
At the Senior School, societies involve students in activities that advance their knowledge, leadership opportunities and skills for life. Wide-ranging, they can be formed around a social issue, personal growth, an area of academics or based on arts, language and culture.
Our approach to fostering individuals and citizens rests on our values of integrity, discernment, respect and engagement, which are integrated into everything we do.
We encourage our students to discover new personal interests and develop their passions through a varied program of athletics, arts, clubs, societies and other co-curricular activities.
We nurture students as individuals, focusing on helping them acquire skills for life, including self-confidence, team spirit, creativity, initiative and entrepreneurship.
Just as important to us is that our students learn what it means to be citizens in this complex world.
Given TFS’ history as a school that has always been Canadian and international in outlook, our idea of citizenship is inspired by both the European tradition of civic engagement and responsibility, and the North American concept of character education.
A cornerstone of citizenship at TFS is our mentoring program. Beginning in PK and found at every branch of TFS, this program pairs small groups of students with a teacher to discuss compelling, age-appropriate issues ranging from values to world events. Mentoring at TFS fosters discernment in students, that is, the ability to use intellectual and ethical reasoning to understand issues and ideas. It also deepens students’ relationship with teachers and each other.
Assemblies also support our students’ learning and development as citizens. Held regularly at each branch, they are centred on a theme. For instance, during one week at TFS, the assemblies reflected on liberté (freedom) in its different forms at the West Campus; engagement at La p'tite école, where students viewed a film about children who face enormous challenges just to get to school; gratitude at the Junior School, using the thoughts of a TFS alumna who is an Olympian and asking the students to share their personal thoughts on gratitude; and engagement at the Senior School, where students viewed a film, read passages of a graphic novel and listened to songs about an Aboriginal teenager who was a victim of the residential school system.
During assemblies, our students frequently present to their teachers and peers, and they often hear from expert leaders from various backgrounds.
At the Senior School, societies involve students in activities that advance their knowledge, leadership opportunities and skills for life. Wide-ranging, they can be formed around a social issue, personal growth, an area of academics or based on arts, language and culture.
Assemblies, mentorship and societies offer a way of reflecting about the world directly and in an integrated manner, rather than through the study of a particular subject area.
Ultimately, the effect of these experiences, singly and combined, is to instil in our students the goal to lead meaningful personal lives, while also pursuing the greater good through their professional and social involvement.
Ultimately, the effect of these experiences, singly and combined, is to instil in our students the goal to lead meaningful personal lives, while also pursuing the greater good through their professional and social involvement.
