Branksome Hall is an independent girls' school for day and boarding students from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12. Founded in 1903, the school is located on a 13-acre campus in in Toronto

Toronto

Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...

, Ontario

Ontario

Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....

, Canada

Canada

Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...

. Campus buildings include several heritage structures and some modern buildings, all linked by state-of-the-art technology. The school is an International Baccalaureate World School and a university preparatory school. It is the only all-girls IB school in the world where all students are enrolled in the three IB programs: the Primary Years Program (PYP), Middle Years Program (MYP) and International Baccalaureate Diploma Program (DP). Branksome Hall is located on Elm Avenue, off Mount Pleasant Road, one block north of Bloor Street

Bloor Street

Bloor Street is a major east–west residential and commercial thoroughfare in Toronto, in the Canadian province of Ontario. Bloor Street runs from the Prince Edward Viaduct westward into Mississauga, where it ends at Central Parkway. East of the viaduct, Danforth Avenue continues along the same...

, in the Toronto neighbourhood of Rosedale.

The school educates students from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12 and emphasizes preparation for post-secondary education. Generally, all graduates proceed to university, many with scholarships.

Setting

Branksome Hall's 13 acres (52,609.2 m²) campus is in the Toronto neighbourhood of Rosedale. The campus contains a section of Carolinian forest with an outdoor classroom, four tennis courts, a large lower field used by teams and classes, two playgrounds, and a "quad" with an adaptive playground, where senior students often relax and eat lunch during the warmer months. There are about a dozen buildings on the Branksome Hall campus, including three that are home to the school's 70 boarding students (Sherborne House, MacNeill House and Ainslie House). Tuition for the 2011-12 school year is 26,265 CAD for day girls (28,265 for IB1 and IB2) and an additional 22,030 CAD for boarders.

Junior School

• 14 classrooms spread throughout a two-storey building
• Kindergarten wing, housed in the historic Read Acres
• comprehensive library/resource centre
• sky-lit art studio with kiln
• gymnasium
• Performing Arts Room
• outdoor creative play space
• Forum on the first floor
• The Gillam Atrium on the second floor
• Design and Technology Centre

Middle School

• 2 state-of-the art science labs
• 7 classrooms spread throughout a 3-storey building
• drama room
• fitness centre
• change rooms and lockers
• 3 student work/study areas
• meeting and work areas for faculty and guidance staff
• outdoor playground

Senior School

• Film and Environmental Labs
• four science laboratories
• art, drama and music studios
• Allison Roach Performing Arts Centre
• gymnasium and fitness centre
• swimming pool
• cafeteria and tuck shop
• Library
• Reading Room for senior students
• Grade 12 (DP2) students' recreation room, known as the "grad room"
• 2 computer labs

Residence

The student body includes approximately 68 Residence students from around the world (Austria, Germany, China, Kenya, Korea, St. Kitts, and the United States). Three residence buildings house students in rooms for one, two or three girls. Residence staff provide 24-hour care and supervision.

Uniform

The most basic and formal uniform (also known as #1 Dress) consists of an off-white blouse, a blazer (green or, for Prefects, red), a tie, and a kilt.

Ties

There are five ties in Branksome. The most basic one is a tie featuring the same plaid (Hunting Stewart tartan) as the kilt. The second one is a navy blue tie with yellow stripes, for the Grade 10 clan chieftains and Grade 8 clan reps. The third one is a green tie with small crests, and is for Heads of Clubs and Societies. The fourth is a red plaid tie (Royal Stewart tartan) for girls in the Graduating Year. The fifth, for sports captains.

Kilts

There are two kilts at Branksome Hall. Most of the students wear the Hunting Stewart Kilt, which is green. Prefects wear red kilts that are Royal Stewart.

Blouses and Polo Shirts

There are long-sleeved and short-sleeved off-white blouses that students must wear with a tie for #1 Dress. Students may choose to wear long-sleeved or short-sleeved polo shirts on school days when #1 Dress is not necessary.

Blazers and Sweaters

There are two kinds of blazer: a green one for most students and a red one for elected Prefects. On non-#1 Dress days, students may choose to wear a zip-up green sweatshirt, a green wool sweater or the green button-up vest.

Gym Uniform

There are different team uniforms for all the sport teams, and all of them are green. During gym class, students usually wear a white T-shirt with the school crest, a pair of green shorts that says "Branksome Athletics", or a pair of black sweatpants. During some team games such as badminton and tennis, students must wear a "Branksome Athletes" polo shirt, Branksome shorts, and a red Branksome Hall athletic sweater. Branksome in 2007 adopted a team name: The Branksome Highlanders.

Prefects

Twelve Prefects are elected each year by the students, faculty and teachers to lead the school and represent the study body. Each Prefect has a different portfolio that represents an area of school life. Prefects wear a distinctive red kilt and red blazer. They, like the rest of the Graduating Class, also wear the red tie.

Clubs

Clubs play a very important part in the lives of the students of Branksome Hall. In the 07/08 school year, 39 clubs exist, with about 80 heads. Some of the clubs allow Branksome students to meet people from other schools in Canada, Toronto, and other countries. The school is also represented at conventions such as the International Model United Nations in The Hague

The Hague

The Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam...

, SSUNS in McGill, World Affairs Conference held at Upper Canada College

Upper Canada College

Upper Canada College , located in midtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada, is an independent elementary and secondary school for boys between Senior Kindergarten and Grade Twelve, operating under the International Baccalaureate program. The secondary school segment is divided into ten houses; eight are...

, SOMA

Southern Ontario Model United Nations Association

The Southern Ontario Model United Nations Assembly is the oldest and largest Model United Nations simulation run entirely by high-school students in North America. Founded in 1973, it has run continuously for 39 years. SOMA is a registered charity and reports annual revenue of approximately $75,000...

 held by University of Toronto

University of Toronto

The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...

, and possibly the Ontario Model Parliament

Ontario Model Parliament

The Ontario Model Parliament is a model parliament for high school students in Ontario, Canada. The OMP was founded in 1986, much through the efforts of Dr. Paul Bennett, a former history master at Upper Canada College in Toronto. The OMP is not affiliated with any political party.Approximately...

 this coming school year. The Debating program at Branksome participates in numerous public speaking and debating tournaments, Canada-wide and international. Branksome Hall is a member of the Fulford League

Fulford League

The Fulford League is a debating league in Ontario, Canada for independent schools. The leagues membership includes some of the most prestigious schools in Canada...

, a group of independent schools that compete in several tournaments each year to achieve the Fulford Cup at the end of the year. Branksome Hall was the first all-girls school to win this cup.

Peer Support

2011-2012 Head: Hailey Barootes
There are approximately 40 Grade 11-12 students in Branksome Hall who act as mentors and "peer supporters" for the school community. This small group tackles issues such as drugs and alcohol, body image, bullying, and other issues that might concern girls. Potential peer supporters apply for these positions and go through interviews with a guidance counsellor and a current peer supporter. To identify themselves to fellow students, peer supporters wear a yellow patch in the bottom left corner of their kilts.

Arts

Drama, visual arts, and music are also important to the Branksome community, with several productions put on by both the drama students and other groups throughout the year. Celebrations of art such as Collage and Paper Magnolia happen regularly. The multicultural music, drama and reading show, Infusion, is held every two years. Students' prodigious literary and visual arts creations are celebrated through art shows and several publications, including the annual collection Perennial, and the school papers The Kilt Press and the annual yearbook, Slogan.

Music

Every year the music students and band members put on several concerts to show off their own distinct styles and tastes. There are many different music groups in Branksome:

Bands

• Concert Band
• Stage Band
• Senior Band
• Woodwind Ensemble

The heads are of the Music Council by default, along with the Music Department teachers.

Sport Teams

Under the Creativity, Action, Service (CAS) principle, girls are encouraged to participate in sports. Branksome Hall offers several sports teams each season:

Clans

There are 8 clans in Branksome Hall Senior and Middle School:

• Scott (blue)
• Ross (red)
• Douglas (pink)
• Campbell (purple)
• MacGregor (yellow)
• McAlpine (green)
• MacLean (black)
• McLeod (orange)

There are also 8 clans in the Junior School:

• Fraser (blue)
• Bruce (red)
• Robertson (pink)
• MacDonald (purple)
• Gordon (yellow)
• Johnston (green)
• Grant (black)
• Duncan (orange)

• Every Senior School (east side) clan has two leaders: a grade 10 or 12 chieftain and a grade 8 rep. There are always competitions between clans, ranging from intramurals (dodgeball, ultimate Frisbee, floor hockey, etc.) to the Terry Fox fundraisers. Chieftains host Clan Homerooms and Assemblies about once a month to keep the school updated on past and coming clan events. Students are usually encouraged to participate in clan activities,like Intramurals, and it is a big part of Branksome's school life.

Other Community Activities

Branksome offers several "communities" within its main student body. Each student is assigned to an Advisor Group. This is a group of students that meet several times during the school's eight-day schedule, and usually consists of 8-10 students and an Advisor teacher. The students in each advisor group all belong to the same clan.

In addition to this, each grade is encouraged to become a close community. Each year in February the school hosts a week of grade celebrations called "Spirit Week". Normal classes continue during this week, but the week is punctuated by lunchtime activities such as the arts event or the human scavenger hunt. The most celebrated events of the week are the lipsync and cheer that occur on the final days. Each grade is assigned a colour, which is used as a way of expressing grade pride. The grade is given a colour in Grade 7 and continues with that colour until they graduate, with new Grade 7s inheriting the colour of the previous year's graduates. Colours for each grade are as follows:

• Graduating Class of 2014 and 2020 - Pink
• Graduating Class of 2013 and 2019 - Purple
• Graduating Class of 2012 and 2018 - Blue
• Graduating Class of 2011 and 2017 - Orange
• Graduating Class of 2010 and 2016 - Yellow
• Graduating Class of 2009 and 2015 - Red

During each day of Spirit Week, students dress in a specific fun manner. Traditionally, during Spirit Week, Tuesday is Crazy Hair Day, followed by Crazy Tie day (Wednesday), Crazy Socks Day (Thursday), and then Friday is a "Grub Day" during which students are free to wear whatever they choose so as long as it meets the dress code. Typically, each grade orders an item of "grade wear" and wears them on Friday.

Currently, Grade 9 students go to Onandoga for outdoor camping, which helps them develop leadership skills. Grade 8 students take part in many activities in Stratford, ON, and Grade 7 students travel to Ottawa as part of their leadership program.

Alumnae

Generally, 100% of the graduates go to university. A list of university destinations of the graduates from 2006-2010 is provided on the Branksome website. One can get a more detailed brochure about the 2010 graduates' destinations in the school.

Noted alumnae

• Jackie Burroughs
  Jackie Burroughs
  Jacqueline "Jackie" Burroughs was an English-born Canadian actress.-Life and career:Born in Lancashire, England, Burroughs acted in live theatre at Ontario's Stratford Festival...
  
  , actor
• Amy Verner, journalist
• Budge Wilson
  Budge Wilson
  Budge Wilson is a highly acclaimed Canadian author who was born and raised in Nova Scotia. She graduated from Dalhousie University with a B.A. in Philosophy and Psychology...
  
  , an author of several short stories, including "The Courtship"
• Nancy Ruth
  Nancy Ruth
  Nancy Ruth, CM is a Canadian Senator from Ontario. She was appointed to the Senate by Governor General Adrienne Clarkson, on the advice of Prime Minister Paul Martin, on March 24, 2005. While initially appointed as a Progressive Conservative, on March 28, 2006 she joined the Conservative caucus...
  
  , Ontario senator and philanthropist
• Lucile Pratt, noted philanthropist
• Linda McQuaig
  Linda McQuaig
  Linda Joy McQuaig is a Canadian journalist, columnist and non-fiction author.-History:Long a business reporter at the Globe and Mail, she subsequently wrote a column for the National Post before moving to her current job at the Toronto Star...
  
  , journalist and author of works of non-fiction, including The Wealthy Banker's Wife
• Stacey Farber
  Stacey Farber
  Stacey Anne Farber is a Canadian actress who is best known for playing Eleanor "Ellie" Nash in seasons 2 through 7 of the television series Degrassi: The Next Generation....
  
  , actress, best known as Eleanor on the TV show Degrassi: The Next Generation
  Degrassi: The Next Generation
  Degrassi: The Next Generation is a Canadian teen drama television series set in the Degrassi universe, which was created by Linda Schuyler and Kit Hood in 1979. Degrassi is the fourth fictional series in the Degrassi franchise, and follows The Kids of Degrassi Street, Degrassi Junior High, and...
  
  
• Jennifer Lees and Fiona Lees, founders of Balmshell, a cosmetics company
• Ann Rohmer
  Ann Rohmer
  Ann Margaret Rohmer is a television personality on CP24 in Toronto, Canada.- Television career :In 1979, she hosted the syndicated program Show Biz. Hired by Global TV, she was a host on the award-winning magazine show That’s Life...
  
  , lead anchor of CP24
• Lindsey Deluce, news anchor of CP24
• Marjorie Gross
  Marjorie Gross
  Marjorie Gross was a television writer and producer. She wrote for such shows as Newhart, The Larry Sanders Show, Square Pegs and Seinfeld.-Biography:...
  
   (April 18, 1956–June 7, 1996), graduated in 1974. She was a television writer and producer and wrote for such shows as Newhart, The Larry Sanders Show and Seinfeld.
• Caillianne,Samantha and Chloe Beckerman, founders of Beckerman clothing
• Meredith Shaw, singer/songwriter, recording artist and resident Boom 97.3 radio personality
• Alexandra Clarke, writer, Harriet the Spy: Blog Wars
  Harriet the Spy: Blog Wars
  Harriet the Spy: Blog Wars is a 2010 Canadian/American television film starring Jennifer Stone which premiered on March 26, 2010, on Disney Channel. It is the second film adaptation of the book, Harriet the Spy, by Louise Fitzhugh, after the 1996 Harriet the Spy film that starred Michelle...
  
  

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