Established 1965 Grades JK – 12 Junior School Principal Jennifer Wyatt Senior School Principal David Hamilton | Chair Stephen Yuzpe Gender Co-Educational Head of School Conor Jones Middle School Principal Helen Gin | |
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School type Independent Elementary and High school Motto Experience Teaches / Experientia Docet Address 1320 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M4T 1X2, Canada Profiles | ||
The York School (TYS) is a co-educational JK to Grade 12 independent school located in the heart of Toronto, Ontario. The York School was founded in 1965 and is the first school in Canada accredited to offer the International Baccalaureate (IB) from Junior Kindergarten (JK) to university entrance (Grade 12). The York School's motto is "Experientia Docet" or "Experience Teaches."
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History
In 1965, Barbara Goodwin-Zeibots established The York School as a nursery school, recognizing the need for quality preschool education within a caring community. In 1978, the school added a toddler program as well as an elementary school. The first Grade 8 class graduated in 1985. The Senior School was founded in 1995 with the addition of a Grade 9 class.
In the late 1990s, 1320 Yonge Street was purchased through the "Home of Our Own" capital campaign.
Goodwin-Zeibots remained the Head of School until retiring in the spring of 2006. She was succeeded by Ezio Crescenzi. In 2011 Conor Jones became Head of School.
In September 2010, The York School opened a second campus at 1639 Yonge Street which houses the Junior School (JK-Grade 5).
The location at 1320 Yonge Street houses the Middle and Senior School campus for Grades 6-12. In 2015, The York School celebrated its 50th anniversary and announced a Capital Campaign to raise $5 million for the renovation of the Middle and Senior School campus at 1320 Yonge Street.
Program
The York School is an IB World School and was the first in Canada to offer all three levels of the International Baccalaureate Programme (Primary Years Programme K-5, Middle Years Programme 6-10 and Diploma Programme 11-12), also known as the IB Continuum.
The school also offers a variety of outdoor education programmes and excursions both locally and internationally.
Campuses
The York School has two campuses. JK-Grade 5 students are located at 1639 Yonge Street. Grades 6-12 are at 1320 Yonge Street, in the Summerhill district.
The Principal of the Junior School is Jennifer Wyatt. The Principal of the Middle School is Helen Gin. The Principal of the Senior School is David Hamilton.
Curricular and Co-Curricular Programmes
The York School offers a programme for Grade 9 students called ICE (Integrated Canadian Experience), exploring Canadian history, geography, civics and literature and what it means to be Canadian. All Grade 9 students participate in this intensive programme and produce a documentary to reflect on their learning at the end of the year. The documentary is screened by parents and educators.
The York School sends a group of Grade 11 student volunteers to the Global Pathways School in India, which was co-founded by Barbara Goodwin-Zeibots.
All students and staff are part of a house system named after four important figures in Canadian history including two women and two men to reflect the co-ed nature of the school. The houses include McClung, Champlain, Simcoe and Johnson, named after Nellie McClung, Samuel de Champlain, John Simcoe and Pauline Johnson.
The school's Gladiator Athletics programme is a part of the Conference of Independent Schools of Ontario Athletic Association.
Approximately 20% of The York School's families are international. The school has provided support for students and families moving from abroad.
Tuition
As of 2016/2017, tuition is $29,700 for Grades 1-12, $24,700 for Senior Kindergarten and $19,700 for Junior Kindergarten. There is also a $6,000 one-time fee for registration.