Junior School

The Junior School (JK - Grade 6) is a place to explore, grow, discover, collaborate, create and have lots of fun. It is the first step in the lifetime adventure of learning.

Inspired by the Reggio Emilia Approach®, we see our students as individuals who are curious about the world around them and have the aptitude and intellect to learn. We use fundamental concepts from the Ontario curriculum to build a strong foundation in essential academic skills, such as math, literacy and research, while learning and discovering as a group.

Students enthusiastically dive into projects. They work with one another and their teachers to answer important questions and solve complex problems in real-life contexts that matter to them. They test new ideas and develop approaches using diverse materials and tools, both digital and physical. Master teachers enrich the experience by creating an inspiring learning environment. When complete, students present what they’ve learned to their peers, deepening understanding and building self-confidence.

Our light-filled building inspires creativity and collaboration and makes learning visible. Student voices and ideas are everywhere, expressed through photographs, stories, sculptures, videos, paintings and more. Our walls celebrate the process of learning, inspire others and guide future exploration.

Our Core Principles

Community

Students, teachers and parents make up the learning community, sharing the adventure together. Learning is visible, validated and understood by everyone in the community.
Image of the Child

We see each student as rich in potential, strong, competent, and connected to adults and other children. When students feel valued, they can tackle challenging academic tasks.
Inquiry

Teachers and students create exciting learning experiences by tackling problems and asking questions in a real-world context. Learning is deeper when it connects to the world around us.
Integrated Learning

Our learning adventures bring together literacy, mathematics, science, technology, engineering, design thinking, social studies and research. After all, that’s how the world works.

Co-Curriculars that Deepen Learning

Sports teams, community outreach, assemblies, Chapel, mentoring, leadership – for Junior School students these co-curricular activities are all part of discovering themselves and the world around them.

From an early age, our students are given many opportunities to lead. They learn critical leadership skills such as listening and collaborating. In Grade 6, they take on more responsible roles within the Junior School community.

Lynda Watters, Junior School Principal

Students’ voices, theories, knowledge and lived experience can be seen and heard throughout our learning environment, and are important parts of our community. Our students engage deeply as they acquire knowledge and skills that prepare them for the future.

A Kindergarten class sits on the classroom floor while their teacher reads a book
A student creates an object out of blue modelling clay
Junior_800x800

Two students build a block tower during a robotics competition

Shelley Van Benschop, Visual Arts Specialist and Lead Teacher

Moved and inspired by the Reggio Emilia Approach, we at BSS embrace the power of collaborating and co-constructing. We see this as being and becoming together.

Junior School Life

Every Junior School student is welcome to join a team or athletic club and develop fundamental skills. Sports include basketball, cross country, soccer, lacrosse, swimming, track & field, volleyball and softball.

From an afternoon exploring a local ravine to overnight trips of one to three nights, outdoor education is an important part of Junior School life.

And because you can’t like what you don’t know, our Fun Plus program introduces students to diverse activities and skills. From ballet to robotics and Mandarin to cooking, Fun Plus is an opportunity to find a new passion.

What learning looks like in the Junior School

List of 4 items.

How can we keep our pets safe?

Grade 5 students designed and constructed a safe enclosure for their class rabbit. They interviewed experts in architecture, engineering and veterinary science, sketched out designs and built prototypes. They created a budget for materials and presented a funding proposal to school leadership. Finally, they unveiled the finished enclosure at a special ceremony at the end of the year. Students engaged in design thinking and the engineering design process while developing building and budgeting skills, as well as a sense of empathy for our animal companions.
How do you make a good argument?

Each year, students in Grade 4 to 6 participate in an annual speaking celebration. They first learn how to craft a thesis statement and supporting arguments. Grade 4 students then apply this structure to an informative topic of their choices. Grade 5 and 6 students write a persuasive speech, and can explore creative ways of presenting their topic, such as poetry. After presenting to their classes, one student is selected from each class to present to their whole grade. Students learn how to write an informative or persuasive essay, while also having the freedom to express themselves in different ways. They practice their oral communication skills through public speaking, and build their confidence by using their voice in a supportive environment.
How do you turn a design into reality?

Guided by a design thinking process, Junior Kindergarten students embarked on a creative journey to design their own birdhouse. They began by brainstorming ideas, using building blocks and LEGO, that could be transferred to a digital medium. They were encouraged to venture beyond the conventional notions of what a birdhouse should look like, and were exposed to images and sounds to fuel their creativity. From there, they observed the creation of digital design sketches using Adobe Illustrator, and had the chance to experiment with the software themselves. Once the drawings were completed, students watched as the laser cutter turned their ideas into reality. Through this project, students applied the design process to build structures, practiced collaborative and abstract thinking, and were exposed to design technology.
What is the language of code?

As part of the Grade 1 curriculum, students are introduced to the concept of coding, and learn to write and execute simple code with a focus on creating effective instructions. The concept of coding is initially introduced in an analogue way. Through trial and error, students learn how to give instructions to accomplish a task. Once they have grasped this concept, students apply their knowledge to program two robots called Dash and Dot to practice sequencing and operations. Once they are comfortable with basic programming, they use block code to guide Dash and Dot through mazes made of LEGO.