Student Life

Student Leadership

Where girls lead
An education at The Bishop Strachan School allows girls to be leaders in the classroom, on sports teams and clubs, in formal leadership roles, and in every aspect of school life.
Students take an active role in school culture. From the Junior School through to Grade 12, they understand that their actions can have a positive impact on the world around them. Girls build confidence, teamwork, decision-making, leadership and communication skills. In the Senior School BSS has many leadership positions which give students the opportunity to strengthen school culture by running events and activities that build a sense of pride and community.

Junior School

Every student has the capacity to be a leader. It is a skill that can be acquired over time and our students are given many opportunities to develop and demonstrate leadership. Our students come to know that leadership requires important skills, like listening to others and learning to incorporate the collective ideas of a group to accomplish challenges together. These experiences then set our students up for success in Grade 6 when they are able to take on more roles of responsibility within our Junior School community.
Leadership activities in the Junior School include:

  • Younger students organize events and share their stories at Chapel and Assembly
  • Grade 4 and 5 girls are learning buddies for JK-Grade 2 students
  • Grade 5 girls volunteer on the JK/SK playground and play with the girls at recess
  • Grade 6 students run Chapel and Assembly, organize House spirit events, run service initiatives like food drives, and volunteer at Flemingdon Food bank

Middle School

In the Middle School, students learn that a leader inspires and motivates others both in quiet and public ways. There are a variety of opportunities for students to develop leadership skills. Through Homeroom activities, students learn about different leadership styles and explore various ways of leading, as well as the importance of “following”. Throughout the year, students exercise leadership in Assembly, Chapel, Homeroom, in co-curriculars, on the court or field, as well as being on councils, planning events or attending workshops.

Senior School

In the BSS Senior School, students practise leadership through participation in many ways. They strengthen the school culture by organizing events and activities that build a sense of pride and belonging.

Our student leaders make BSS a welcoming community, where all students feel a sense of belonging and are inspired to get involved. Grade 11 and 12 students wishing to take on formal leadership positions are elected by their peers and faculty. Students can apply to be interviewed for many other leadership roles including House Heads, Student Ambassador, Council Heads, Mentors and Co-Curricular heads.

All students have the opportunity to participate in academic groups such as the Model U.N., community groups like the Jewish Student Union or Gender Sexuality Alliance, or the many councils and committees. From volunteering in the community to serving on a school council, girls build confidence, teamwork, decision-making, leadership and communications skills.

List of 2 items.

  • A group of grads wearing their Grad sweatshirts pose for a photo with the Senior School Principal

    Grad Leadership Retreat

    The Leadership Retreat is a unique opportunity for senior student leaders to become agents of change within the School and beyond. Held at the Kingbridge Conference Centre, the retreat helps students learn how to create an inclusive environment, mobilize and mentor peers, leverage strengths, and hone other leadership skills.
  • A group of students in business attire pose for a photo at the Ontario DECA competition

    DECA - Preparing for business leadership

    DECA prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs for careers in marketing, finance and management. Through DECA BSS students compete regionally, provincially and internationally in business case competitions, developing confidence, employment skills and leadership. BSS students have participated in international competitions seven times and placed in the top 20 five times.

Leadership Opportunities

List of 5 items.

  • Formal leadership roles (elected by peers and faculty)

    • Head Prefect
    • Head Boarder
    • Grad Prefect
    • House Prefects
    • 7 Pillar Prefects (Initiatives, Service Leadership, School Life and Community Voices)

  • Leadership roles (interviewed by faculty advisors and student leaders)

    • Student Ambassadors
    • Council Heads
    • Grade 9 Mentors
    • Middle School Mentors
    • Academic Team Heads
    • Student Community Group Heads
    • Ensemble Heads

  • Councils

    • Arts Council
    • Academics Council
    • Boarding Council
    • Business Council
    • Chapel Council
    • Communications Council
    • Events Council
    • Environment Council
    • Global Awareness Council
    • Grad Council
    • School Life Council
    • Service Leadership Council
    • Athletics Council
    • Wellness Council
    • Mental Health Council

  • Academic Groups

    • DECA
    • HOSA
    • Math Society
    • Mock Trial
    • Model United Nations
    • Robotics
    • Science Club
    • Science Olympiad
    • Speaker’s Union

  • Community Groups

    • Asian Student Union
    • Black Student Union
    • Muslim Student Union
    • Jewish Student Union
    • Peer Connections
    • Moral Courage Task Force
    • Gender Sexuality Alliance
    • Spectrum school newspaper
Three Grade 12 student leaders discuss student-led initiatives at BSS, their motivations for getting involved, and their plans for the next chapter of their academic journey.

Related Pages:

298 Lonsdale Road, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M4V 1X2     •     (416) 483-4325