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The Value of Student Support Services at Our Boarding School for Girls
At The Bishop Strachan School, students learn deeply, get to know themselves and become independent, lifelong learners. The Signature of a BSS Girl comprises many attributes, including grit, compassion and ethical citizenship. Extensive support is provided to each student to support their growth, well-being and success, inside and outside of the classroom. We strive to be an inspirational force for young women to reach their fullest potential. Read on to learn more about the support services available at BSS that make our vision possible.
Finding Support Outside of the Classroom
Aside from academics, students often have many other engaging commitments, and our goal is to help each student learn how to balance their obligations and maintain their well-being. Students’ lives naturally get busier as they progress through Middle and Senior School, which requires some adjustment. A feeling of acceptance and community, as well as caring support from peers and staff, can go a long way towards helping students strike the right balance.
When students aren’t in the classroom at our day and boarding school for girls, they are in a welcoming environment that supports their growth and development on many levels. One area where students find a great deal of support is in their assigned House. Every student from JK to Grade 12 is assigned to one of 12 BSS Houses. These Houses are smaller communities within the school that encourage students to connect informally with girls from other grades throughout the year. Our students also attend Chapel services every week where they can further connect with their peers as they come together to celebrate the many diverse faiths represented by BSS students. These Chapel services provide a brave space where students develop their character and explore their spirituality.
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Discovering Strengths and Skills in Teacher Advisory Groups
Our Senior School students benefit from Teacher Advisory Groups (TAG) that provide support and guidance by talking through personal or academic challenges that students may be facing. All Senior School students at BSS participate in these advisory programs, meeting regularly in small groups with other students and a faculty advisor. In Middle School, Homeroom and the Middle School counsellor help students navigate the unique challenges of pre-adolescence.
Students have the same faculty advisor from Grade 9 to Grade 12, helping to keep their progress on track as they work to achieve their academic goals. They are also encouraged to simply talk openly, as the group welcomes dialogue and participation from each student.
Transitioning To and From Other Schools
Student Services is a team of staff dedicated to the smooth transition either from another school to BSS, or from BSS to post-secondary education. With a comprehensive university preparation process, students can rely on our Student Services staff to help them navigate their next steps. Counsellors at BSS work hard to help students recognize their own interests and aptitudes as they complete their private education for girls. Through the development of their interpersonal skills and educational paths, students explore a variety of career paths that prepare them to make the right choice when it comes to picking a university.
The Student Services team also works diligently alongside the Dean of Boarding to provide additional support to boarding students as they adapt to their new environment, whether they are international or domestic students. BSS also highly values the physical and mental well-being of its students, which is why students have access to nurses as well as a school psychologist to address any ongoing challenges they may encounter. The multifaceted nature of the support found at BSS is what helps our students thrive in the most formative years of their lives.
Interested in learning more about our all girls school in Toronto?
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