We sent out the following press release to the media today, with the headline, “New Toronto Alternative School: Whole Child School Prepares To Open in Fall 2009”
Toronto, ON., January 22, 2009 – The Whole Child School (WCS) organizing committee is proud to announce the registration and information night for this new alternative school, expected to open in the fall, in Ward 15 (Toronto-Danforth).
WCS will be located within Roden Elementary School, which has a current student population of 300, and whose principal Teresa Tafaro, will be shared with WCS. On Thursday February 5th, an Information Night will be held in Roden’s school gymnasium, at 151 Hiawatha Road, from 7:00pm to 9:00pm. Attendance is mandatory for any parents who wish to apply for the 2009-2010 School term, as registration packages will be given out, and will not be available elsewhere. Further details around curriculum and pedagogy will be shared, and childcare, school resources and fundraising are some additional topics that will be covered. Tours will also be offered following the presentation.
Whole Child School believes that a new set of skills is necessary in order to address many current social, political, environmental, and economical issues. These skills include imagination, openness, collaboration, adaptability and flexibility. Because education plays a key role in preparing children to become engaged citizens, WCS believes that it is time to rethink how they are taught.
WCS will use innovative teaching methods to nurture and educate children in a multi-cultural, urban environment. Academic excellence will be achieved through an arts-integrated and experiential-learning curriculum. The learning approach, informed by holistic philosophies such as Waldorf education and inquiry-based learning, addresses the whole child – their intellectual, physical, psychological, emotional, interpersonal, moral and spirited potentials. This approach ultimately promotes the development of healthy, responsible, creative human beings.
HTML clipboardA great deal of research and planning has gone into this process, which began with a Letter of Intent and a School Proposal to the TDSB, in 2007. Last year, progression of the application lead to the development of a “Day in the Life†piece, and a series of TDSB reviews. The success of this application process has been long awaited and well deserved.  Above all, it has opened up a whole new world of wonder and possibility to the children of Toronto’s Public Schools.