Gifts to TFS Fund in action

The Head of School’s Passion and Innovation Fund is fueled by the generosity of former parents, staff and community members who established an endowed fund in honour of the retirement of Jean Brugniau, beloved Head of School from 1995-2008. The TFS Foundation Granting Program finds its funding thanks to the contributions of parents, staff, alumni and other members of our community who give generously in support of TFS Annual Priorities in the annual appeals of the TFS Foundation. Both programs provide teachers and faculty with special grants for initiatives that directly enrich the student experience and strengthen our school.

In 2023-2024, the TFS Foundation Granting Program and the Head of School’s Passion and Innovation Fund supported the projects and initiatives below. We would like to express our gratitude for the generosity of all TFS Fund donors and the impact their gifts make on enhancing the educational journeys and wellbeing of our students.

Lab Upgrade
The Head of School’s Passion and Innovation Fund provided a lab used for 3D modeling with crucial upgrades, including proper storage space for laser cutter materials and fabrication tools, as well as a collaboration table for building models and workbench stools. Thanks to these upgrades, students in the 3D Modelling Club had the needed space and furnishings for their laser cuttings as they assisted in the building of a 3D architectural model.

First Tech Challenge team trips to provincials & World Championship
First Tech Challenge (FTC) competitions allow students to engage in STEAM opportunities, including design, mechanical, electrical and software engineering. This year, with funding for their trip that subsidized travel, accommodations and materials, TFS’s very own Robotic Unicorns took it all the way to the World Championship. Competing against the top 34 FTC robotics teams from across the province, the team won the prestigious Inspire Award at the provincial championships, qualifying for the FTC World Championship in Houston, Texas. The student-led start-up LUMiNE, which recycles plexiglass leftover from the COVID 19 pandemic into custom night lights, made a big impression with the judges, as did the team’s iterative robot design, interview, engineering portfolio and community outreach efforts.

3D printers
Developing hands-on skills in design thinking, Mixed Reality design and 3D printing are central to the school’s strategic plan as it relates to STEAM. The acquisition of new 3D printers enabled experiential learning activities for TFS students based on the Middle Years Program (MYP) Design Cycle in dedicated design classes, as well as interdisciplinary units at both the Senior School and West Campus.

Imagination Playground
Acquired for children at La p'tite école and to be installed this year, Imagination Playground is an innovative playground equipment system that transforms any space into a play space that encourages learning, social development, movement, and above all fun. Child-directed and open-ended, the system encourages self-expression through deep, joyful play. Using Imagination Playground blocks, kids can build a different world every day. They can give life to animals, construct rocket ships and robots, and make imaginary places like houses, factories and cities. They can dream up creative settings, scenes and games to play. Most importantly, they make the rules, and might even decide to bend them.

Augmented Reality Program iPads
Augmented Reality (AR) and 3D design projects that students are undertaking as part of their MYP Design Cycle learning and digital skill development required upgraded iPads with capability for mixed reality rendering. This investment in iPad technology enables further digital design and prototyping across the Grade 6 and Grade 7 design program, as students use innovative AR applications, such as Reality Composer, to connect digital and physical ideation. 3D design skill development in Tinkercad with students in Grades 4 and 5 are also made visible in mixed reality as students share their work in current file formats and relevant apps such as Apple AR and Quick-Look.

First Tech Challenge Robotics
Building and programming robots encapsulates every aspect of STEAM education, with a strong emphasis on engineering. Thanks to funding, TFS acquired the necessary tools, equipment, systems and software from goBILDA. The parts and components give students the opportunity to enrich their learning experience and develop the skills and knowledge necessary to build their own robot and excel in FTC Robotics.

Fitness Studio
In response to a growing voice from students and staff for an improved workout space, a grant from The Head of School’s Passion and Innovation fund got the project moving. Thanks to additional funding from a donor family in our community, we have now been able to convert what was previously the dance studio into a new multipurpose Fitness Studio. The space will provide students and staff alike a place on campus to contribute to building the best - and healthiest - version of themselves.