Junior School

Start right, finish strong!

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. They build a strong foundation in essential academic skills while discovering together.

Students enthusiastically dive into projects, working with one another and their teachers to answer questions and solve problems. 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.

A unique feature of our Junior School program is Signature Learning. Once in every eight-day cycle, there’s an opportunity for students to develop passion projects related to their own interests. They learn how to work through the major stages needed to bring a concept to life, ideation and incubation. Among the projects that have emerged from this time are the Loose Parts initiative and the Arcade Game STEAM project.

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.

Catherine Hant, Principal

The school community is a place where student voices and ideas are valued, visible and shared. This encourages them to be responsible for their own learning and to build a shared understanding with others.

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, co-constructing and curriculum creating. 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 6 items.

How does learning continue after school?

Whatever your daughter's passion, BSS After Care has something for her. You can take comfort knowing that your daughter is in good hands every day after the bell rings, with countless opportunities to learn, be active and have fun! After Care is available five days a week,
offering you day-to-day flexibility when you need it most.
What makes cities beautiful?

Inspired by this question, one kindergarten group learned about cities, buildings, urban planning and architecture. They explored aspects of geometry, geography, communication, communities, science and technology. They even connected with the creators of “Our Home and Miniature Land,” a new tourist attraction under way in Toronto. They expressed their learning by designing their own buildings and then 3D printing them.
Why should birds be free?

A Grade 1 class wanted classroom pets. They incubated 26 quail eggs for 17 days, and then documented how the babies grew in structure and size for three weeks. Eventually, the students came to the realization that keeping wild birds in captivity is selfish.
Why are bugs so cool?

A Grade 3 class studied the world of insects, learning about some of the smallest and most curious creatures on earth. Intrigued by the Legged Rain Crawler and the Unicorn Flyer Bug, among others, they created wonderful art and photography. They expressed their learning by designing objects inspired by the unique characteristics of insects (biomimicry).
How do pictures tell a thousand numbers?

A Grade 5 class explored the world of data visualization -- the act of taking information and placing it into a visual context to make it easier to understand. During their deep dive, they discovered new ways to make meaning out of the huge amounts of information we have access to.
Why does social justice matter?

Our Grade 6 students are encouraged to explore themes of leadership, social justice and intersectionality. One class wrote and produced a multimedia play focusing on women leaders in marginalized groups.