Branksome Hall is an independentday 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 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 Grace McCallum.
History
Branksome Hall was founded in 1903 by Margaret Scott, who was the school’s first principal. It is named for 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 Edith Read was appointed principal.[7]
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.[8] Branksome Hall students in grades JK-2 wear a tunic, and those in grades 3-12 wear a kilt - a nod to Margaret Scott's heritage.[citation needed]
In 1940 a small group of girls and staff from Sherborne Girls’ School in England was evacuated to Branksome Hall.[9] 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.[10]
Edith Read retired after 48 years as principal in 1958. Six 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), Karen L. Jurjevich (1998–2024) and current principal Grace McCallum.[8]
The school became a fully-authorized IB World School in 2003,[11] opened Branksome Hall Asia in 2012[12], the athletics and wellness centre in 2015,[13] and hosted feminist icon Gloria Steinem in 2017.[14] In 2022, ground was broken on the school’s Innovation Centre and Studio Theatre.[15] The school was recognized as an Apple Distinguished School in 2023.[16]
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.[17]
Campus and Facilities
Branksome Hall’s campus includes East and West campuses divided by Mount Pleasant Avenue, as well as a ravine woodlot. Facilities include junior, middle and senior school buildings, administrative buildings, a uniform shop, two boarding residences, an outdoor classroom, lower field and tennis courts.[18]
In 2015, the new athletics and wellness centre opened, designed by MacLennan Jaunkalns Miller Architects. The facility has two saltwater pools, a gymnasium, a fitness centre, yoga and dance studios, an erg rowing room, a dining hall with a kitchen, and rooftop terraces.[19] In 2017, the landscape design for the building, created by PMA, received the Toronto Urban Design Award of Excellence.[20]
Branksome Hall is currently constructing the Karen L. Jurjevich Innovation Centre and Studio Theatre (iCAST), designed by Ennead and MJMA, which will have spaces for performing arts, innovation, and collaboration, including a STEAM studio, wood and machine shops, robotics lab, design space, and a black-box studio theatre.[21]
In 2022, Math Instructional Leader and teacher Edith Louie was recognized with the René Descartes Medal. She has taught mathematics at Branksome Hall for 25 years.[22]
Heather Friesen, Head, Curriculum Innovation & Professional Learning, was awarded the 2022 Continuing and Professional Learning (CPL) Award of Excellence from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) of the University of Toronto.[23]
Student Life
Branksome Hall follows the IB’s experiential learning framework of creativity, activity and service.[24] 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.[25]
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.[26]
Athletics
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.[27]
From the 2022 fall season to the 2023 spring season, Branksome athletes won 11 CISAA (Conference of Independent Schools Athletic Association) championships in cross country running, swimming, badminton, alpine skiing, softball, volleyball and tennis.[citation needed] In June 2023, Branksome rowers took part in the Canadian Secondary Schools Rowing Association Regatta in St. Catharines. In the finals, gold medals were awarded to Branksome’s Junior 63kg 4+, Senior LTWT 63kg 4+ and Junior LTWT 63 kg 8+.[28]
Branksome Hall is administered by an 18-member Board of Governors. The current chair is Mona Malone,[31] Chief Human Resources Officer and Head of People & Culture for BMO Financial Group.[32] 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.[33]
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