News
Inside and Outside the Classroom - Fall 2024
Our approach to learning is inquiry-based. We know that when students are pushed to think inquisitively, it motivates and inspires them to go deeper. BSS students are active learners and critical thinkers who follow their curiosity and investigate increasingly complex questions. Already this year, students have been diving enthusiastically into learning.
- In Grade 5, students are learning 3D design and coding with Tinkercad. They practiced measuring, designed keychains, and used inquiry-based thinking to refine their ideas, asking questions like, "Will it fit in my pocket?" Next, they'll 3D print their designs.
- In Grade 8 social studies, students are conducting research into their family history by analyzing artifacts and interviewing family members. They will then construct a visual art piece that combines historical inquiry with artistic expression.
- In AP Chemistry, students are studying thermochemistry, exploring energy changes in chemical reactions. They asked complex questions crossing multiple disciplines, from math to biology, and practiced identifying key information in large texts. They also improved their shorthand note-taking skills, preparing them for fast-paced university lectures.
We also encourage students to explore their interests by trying a wide range of co-curricular activities, from sports to music to leadership.
- Fall athletics are off to a great start with students trying out for field hockey, soccer, cross country, swimming and more.
- The annual Club Fair showcased our extensive range of student-run clubs and affinity groups, on topics as diverse as literature, design, business, STEM, and social and environmental justice.
- Students in Grades 6, 7, 9 and 12 participated in grade trips, where they engaged in challenging and exciting activities, strengthened their grade connections and made lasting memories.
- Eighteen students undertook a Silver Duke of Ed canoe journey in Temagami. They paddled, portaged and hiked more than 75 km, showing tremendous grit and resilience, and met with an elder from the Temagami First Nation.
- Students in Grades 7 - 9 have the opportunity this year to earn a Global Citizenship Certificate through the UNESCO Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Education for Peace and Sustainable Development. This program nurtures leadership and equips students to be ethical, empathetic and informed global citizens.
- In late November, exchange students from Australia and Japan will join BSS, sharing their unique cultures and participating in school traditions like Nativity and Festival of Carols.
- Auditions for this year’s choir program and theatre productions are also underway. We can’t wait to see our students express their creativity on the stage!
