Academics
Student Support
From JK to Grade 12, we support student well-being and promote a sense of belonging. We do everything we can to encourage balance and accommodate students’ lives outside school.
Our caring faculty and staff create a welcoming, inclusive environment. One thing is certain – if a BSS student needs support, a listening ear and a caring heart are always at hand.Whether it is academic or personal challenges, we nurture every student. This is at the core of the BSS school experience.
Advisory Programs
BSS students participate in advisory programs (small groups of students who meet regularly with a faculty member) beginning in Grade 4. In Grades 7 and 8, students belong to an Advisory class in which they take most of their core subjects. In Grade 8, these classes are divided into smaller groups. These groups help students build trusting relationships with faculty and other students in their grade. In Grades 9 to 12, each student is part of a Teacher Advisory Group (TAG) with the same advisor every year. It’s an opportunity to talk about personal and academic challenges, or just to reflect on the world around them. Boarding also offers Family Advisory Groups led by dedicated Boarding Advisors.
Learning Services
Our Learning Specialists engage with students who require additional support to ensure they are academically successful. They work with teachers, counsellors and parents to develop strategies for student success. Learning Specialists are experts in their fields and share their knowledge with faculty by providing programming and resources.
The Learning Resource Centre (LRC) fosters independence through strategy-based teaching, and supports and facilitates accommodations for students with an Individual Education Plan (IEP) through assistive technology, language resources and skills-based workshops. The LRC is also a place for all students to find the academic support they need. Extra help is offered through a peer-tutoring program on a drop-in basis.
The Learning Resource Centre (LRC) fosters independence through strategy-based teaching, and supports and facilitates accommodations for students with an Individual Education Plan (IEP) through assistive technology, language resources and skills-based workshops. The LRC is also a place for all students to find the academic support they need. Extra help is offered through a peer-tutoring program on a drop-in basis.
Student Life & Community
A vibrant and inclusive community supports our students’ well-being and academic success. Students from JK to Grade 12 are assigned to one of 12 BSS Houses, a smaller community within the school that encourages students to interact informally with girls in other grades in fun and supportive ways throughout the year. Our student-centered leadership program enables students to undertake initiatives that respond to the needs of the school, and actively build a culture of belonging and inclusion. For boarding students, weekend and evening programming provides opportunities to share experiences and bond with fellow boarders. Workshops focused on life skills and wellness support boarders’ physical and mental health, while Study Advisors, tutors and academic workshops support their success in school.
Chapel
BSS honours the whole person, nurturing academic, athletic, artistic, social and spiritual growth. Students gather weekly in our historic Chapel in a spirit of inclusivity that affirms our multifaith and multicultural community. Our Chaplain helps students explore their spirituality, fosters a community of ethical responsibility and provides spiritual support through individual counselling. Traditions like the annual Opening and Closing Chapels, the Remembrance Day Service and the Nativity Play bring many generations of the BSS community together and remind students of the value of ritual and tradition.
University Counselling
The BSS University Counselling team has the expertise to help students navigate their post-secondary journey. Our counsellors work with students and their families to understand what factors make a post-secondary choice the right fit, and provide guidance throughout the application process, from research to interview prep to campus visits. They regularly connect with institutions in Ontario, Canada and internationally, learn about new programs and keep up-to-date with admissions requirements. Using a strengths-based approach, counsellors help students develop self-awareness, independently problem-solve and build self-efficacy. This two-pronged approach - expert knowledge of post-secondary pathways combined with facilitating students’ maturity - helps ensure BSS graduates thrive at university.
Well-Being
BSS has a dedicated well-being team that includes guidance counsellors, learning specialists, nurses, the chaplain and a psychologist. Well-being counsellors are experts in the social and emotional life of girls. They work closely with faculty and student leaders to build engaging, relevant and culturally responsive programs. Well-being counsellors also provide one-on-one support as needed. With nurses on site, the Wellness Centre supports the physical and mental health of students and delivers health and wellness initiatives. In a time of life marked by constant change, our school psychologist is available to talk about the complexities of school and personal life.
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Health and Physical Education
We believe in the value of healthy activity to promote physical and emotional well-being. Our Physical Education curriculum includes mental health components, and our superb facilities offer many ways to get active. They include:- Two gyms
- Turf field
- Two dance studios
- A fitness centre with on-site fitness instructor
- A rock-climbing wall
- A pool
- Junior School playgrounds
- Nearby spaces for outdoor experiential learning
