Testimonials
What Our Parents Say
“We knew our daughter was smart, but she did not connect with school. By grade 9 we were desperate and did not know where to turn. Toronto New School has been our answer.
I don’t know where we would be if we had not discovered it. Our daughter actually “likes” school, and comes home and does her homework on her own. She is succeeding academically for the first time in her life, and with that has come a new sense of accomplishment and self confidence.
She is back on track to becoming the young woman we knew she could be.”
“Through grade 8, our son had gone to two mainstream private schools. But, as we looked for the right high school, he broached at the prospect of wearing a uniform. When it came right down to it, there were few choices that would offer the kind of educational quality we were looking for… without the blazer and tie. The one that stood out for us was Toronto New School. Its curriculum, small class involvement and the extraordinary connection between teachers and students have all ignited our son’s genuine desire to learn. He’s always been an independent thinker. The school has engaged him and channelled that energy.”
“ Environment is a crucial part of the educational experience. At TNS, our son is provided with a rigorous, focused, and impassioned learning environment It was very easy for our son to get lost, to fly below the radar in the large public high school he was attending in grades 9-10. The difference this school has made to his education–to how he thinks about learning–is immense. He is engaged in and challenged in ways that have met our expectations, and surpassed our hopes. The staff are pros, and know how to reach kids who feel disenfranchised or alienated from the school experience.”
What Our Teachers Say
Ryan Burwell: “I provide students with the academic materials and analytical tools to build their own world view.”
“A well delivered course asks questions rather than prescribes answers. It is through this approach that my students become inquisitive, unique and engaged adults.”
Dave Ferguson: “Education for the future does not lie in the provision of answers but rather in the formulation of appropriate questions”.
Dave also provided this quotation from Plutarch – “The mind is not a vessel to be filled but a fire to be kindled.”
Brad Johnson: “In all of my courses, I challenge my students academically, but at the same time, I make my classes engaging, intellectually stimulating and interesting.”
Ewa Kasinska: “I am proud to say that three of my past students have become high school math teachers themselves and attribute their career decisions, in part, to my influence.”
“Being demanding, but fair, provides me with students’ respect; being relaxed and allowing laughter helps time fly during my classes.”
“I stay away from passive note taking in favour of individual attempts at finding the solutions.”
Mike MacConnell: “I have a passion for language and ideas that I try to share with my students. Vivid memories of my own high school years ensure that I try to connect with students on a personal level and to present the subject matter from a viewpoint that will be relevant from a teen-age perspective. I enjoy interacting with teen-agers and working with them to develop a mature balance between hard work and personal growth.”