8569 Bayview Avenue, Richmond Hill, Ontario, L4B 3M7, Canada
201- 1085 Homer Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6B 1J4, Canada
8569 Bayview Avenue, Richmond Hill, Ontario, L4B 3M7, Canada
201- 1085 Homer Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6B 1J4, Canada
1961
2017
870
80
Preschool to 12
K to 7
Coed
Coed
Day
Day
English
English
Academic
Academic
Montessori, International Baccalaureate
Progressive
Varies
9 to 11
Accelerated curriculum
$19,100 to $32,700
$19,855
Yes
Yes
0%
0%
Preschool to 12
K to 8
$0
$9,000
54
10
0%
0%
0%
75%
Preschool, JK, SK, K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Rolling
Rolling
Not available
Not available
Yes
Yes: grades K - 6
Yes
No
information not available
information not available
TMS was founded by Helma Trass, who learned the instructional approach from Maria Montessori herself. Trass was at the leading edge of Montessori education in Canada, and the school is, today, home to one of the longest running programs of its kind in the country. The elementary program that she began remains vital today, and it retains her dedication to the core ideals of the Montessori method. With the addition of middle and high-school programs, the school grew to become one of the largest Montessori programs in North America. The rebranding, from the initial Toronto Montessori Schools, to the acronym TMS, was adopted along with the growth of the school into the upper Grades. While the program is continuous, it is divided between two campuses, with preschool through Grade 6 taught at the Bayview campus, and Grades 7 through 12 at the Elgin Mills campus, which was opened in 2009. That campus is also home to the IB program, one that further extends an already impressive breadth of instruction.
View full reportClaren Academy is one of those places that, in every way, was clearly created with the the learner foremost in mind. The teaching environment is bright, clean, and inviting, with lots of colour and natural light. It’s just a very comfortable place for young people to spend their days. Instruction is student-centred, building on the skills, interests, and needs that the students bring with them into the room. The intention is to deliver the attributes and knowledge they will need in the future as they move on to secondary and post-secondary education, and life. Administration references future-focused skills, though it says something about the school that creativity, empathy and kindness make that list. The school leadership is accessible, and assessment and progress reporting is consistent and detailed. So, yes, the school looks charming, and indeed it is, in all kinds of ways. Founded in 2017, Claren Academy has quickly become an important and valued educational offering within the city.
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"TMS teachers nurture students’ abilities to be free-thinking, independent, passionate, and intrinsically motivated from such a young age.""
Alexandra Makos - Parent (Jul 11, 2019)
We have one child that recently completed the Toddler program, and who is moving on to Children's Ho...
View full review
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"Founded in 1961, TMS is a leading, accredited independent school that offers a uniquely designed framework combining the Montessori and International Baccalaureate (IB) programmes. TMS operates from two beautiful campuses in Richmond Hill, Ontario with exceptional learning environments for students of all ages and stages. Our Lower School (at Bayview Avenue and Hwy 407) offers a Montessori start for students from 18 months to Grade 6. Our Upper School (at Bayview Avenue and Elgin Mills Road) is the only independent school in York Region that offers the International Baccalaureate Programme for students in Grades 7 to 12. Our co-ed student population of over 850 thrives in academics while developing the life-changing mindsets of entrepreneurial thinking, positivity, and resilience that build a foundation for Significance at university, and in life. The unique design of the TMS student journey provides a framework within which your child can say I Am Known. Get to know us at www.tmsschool.ca."
"Claren Academy is a future-focused independent school located in downtown Vancouver. Claren Academy has a brand new campus and a vibrant middle years program for students in grades 7, 8, and 9. With individualized learning plans, dedicated educators, strong fundamentals, and real, hands-on learning, Claren Academy gives students the tools to be creative, competent, and happy in their changing world."
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Thank you for your interest in TMS!
It is a pleasure to share with you some of the special features that give our school its unique identity and which inspire those of us who work here to give our very best to every child. Our students experience a warm and nurturing environment every single day when they walk through our doors. We are a community of caring and innovative educators and support staff, and students who continually amaze us with their artistic, academic, athletic, and linguistic prowess and their desire to grow and develop as responsible young citizens.
We appreciate that a school is more than a collection of individuals. For us, a school is a place where lasting relationships are formed, where lifelong interests and aptitudes develop, and where character is refined and shaped by exposure to a wide range of beliefs, traditions and views of the world. Finding the right school for your children is one of the most important gifts you can bestow upon them. Our students develop strong attachments to TMS, both during their time with us and after they leave us. When our graduates venture off into the world, they do so equipped with the knowledge, resilience and sound ethical framework that comes from being known and cared for deeply as individuals.
Indeed, the phrase I Am Known sums up in a few words our entire approach to educating children. From the youngest children in our Toddler program to our graduating classes in Grade 12, our students know the feeling of being supported and guided as unique individuals.
We place high value at TMS on academic rigour and our graduates are accepted at outstanding universities in Canada and abroad. Of equal importance to us, however, is that our students leave TMS not only with a broad knowledge base but with an educated heart and an internationally-minded outlook on the world.
As a leading Montessori school in Canada, we believe strongly in the world-class education that TMS teachers provide our 18 month-old to Grade 6 students. Beginning in Grade 7, we offer the International Baccalaureate (IB) programme which culminates in the IB Diploma Program in Grades 11 and 12. The IB is globally recognized as a rigorous and holistic curriculum which provides an outstanding preparation for university studies. Our skilled and experienced IB teachers help our students to achieve their full potential, and our IB scores are well above the world average.
During these very challenging times for all of us, TMS has continued to offer an outstanding education to our students. As we open our doors for the new school year, we will continue to do everything possible to keep our students and staff safe and well, and to promote the values that have guided our school for the past 60 years.
I invite you to contact our Enrolment Management team for much more information about our programs, people and facilities. Ask questions, explore our website, schedule a virtual visit and let us invite you to learn more about one of the leading independent schools in Ontario.
Yours sincerely,
Andrew Cross
Head of School
TMS
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Progressive
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Particularly popular in the younger grades (preschool to elementary), but sometimes available all the way up to high school, Montessori schools offer an alternative vision to the standard lesson format of most classrooms. Instead of listening to whole-class lessons, Montessori classrooms allow students to choose which "tasks" or activities interest them. These tasks centre around special Montessori puzzles - their essential feature being they contain a right answer and allow for selfcorrection. A strong emphasis is therefore placed on lessons being concrete and rooted in practical experience, along with students developing a sense of self-sufficiency, confidence and curiosity.
Progressive (sometimes called "in- quiry-based") curricula attempt to place children's interests and ideas at the heart of the learning experience. Instead of lessons being driven by predetermined pathways, progressive curricula are often "emergent", with learning activities shaped by students' questions about the world. Instead of starting with academic concepts and then tying it to everyday experience, progressive methods begin with everyday experience and work back to an academic lesson. Teachers provide materials, experiences, tools and resources to help students investigate a topic or issue. Students are encouraged to explore, reflect on their findings, and discuss answers or solutions.
Some private schools offer International Baccalaureate (IB) programming. The "Diploma Programme" is offered to students in the final two years of high school, while the "Primary Years Programme" (ages 3 to 12) and "Middle Years Programme" (ages 11 to 16) serve as preparation for the diploma program.
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Lower School - 18 months to Grade 6 Internationally Recognized Flagship Montessori Program Upper School - Grade 7 to 10 International Baccalaureate (IB) Middle Years Programme (MYP) and Grade 11 to 12 International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme (DP) TMS students thrive in academics while developing the life-changing mindsets of entrepreneurial thinking, positivity, and resilience that build a foundation for Significance not just at university, but in life.
Claren Academy prepares students for the world of the future, with strong academic foundations and creative use of technology. We strive to develop critical thinkers who are caring, confident, lifelong learners in a diverse community. We foster creativity, joy, and passion for learning through our personal connections with each student and their family. We provide opportunities, encouragement, inspiration, and mentoring for each child. We use the B.C. curriculum to provide strong fundamentals using developmentally appropriate practices and materials, while also exposing students to forward-looking areas of study such as programming, virtual reality, robotics, and much more. Our technology-enhanced personalized learning takes place in a school environment that emphasizes creativity, independence, entrepreneurial skills, and academics. There is an equal emphasis on acceleration and enrichment. All students are immersed in a creative learning process through exploration, critical thinking, and reflection. Together the students think, work, and create in a way that demonstrates their new understanding.
Equal Balance
These math programs feature an equal balance of “Traditional” and “Discovery” methods.
For the core foundational subjects of literacy and math we used a levelled program that fits students into their just-right group, regardless of grade. That allows students to have more support as needed, and to advance with mastery.
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Balanced Literacy
Balanced reading programs are typically Whole Language programs with supplementary phonics training. This training might be incidental, or it might take the form of mini-lessons.
For the core foundational subjects of literacy and math we used a levelled program that fits students into their just-right group, regardless of grade. That allows students to have more support as needed, and to advance with mastery.
Equal balance
Programs that balance systematic and process approaches equally likely have an emphasis on giving young students ample opportunities to write, while providing supplementary class-wide instruction in grammar, parts of sentences, and various writing strategies.
For the core foundational subjects of literacy and math we used a levelled program that fits students into their just-right group, regardless of grade. That allows students to have more support as needed, and to advance with mastery.
Equal Balance
Science programs that balance expository and inquiry learning equally will likely have an equal blend of tests and experiments; direct, textbook-based instruction and student-centred projects.
No matter how much the world changes, creativity and inventiveness are skills that will always be in demand. The Oxford study The Future of Employment states, “Specialist occupations involving the development of novel ideas and artifacts, are the least susceptible to computerisation.” This includes occupations in the fields of science and engineering, but it also includes work in the fields of entertainment, helping, and the arts. We foster creativity in our students by reducing emphasis on rote memorization, and by teaching them to find answers for themselves, critically assessing the information available.
Evolution as consensus theory
Evolution as one of many equally viable theories
Evolution is not taught
Evolution as consensus theory
Evolution as one of many equally viable theories
Evolution is not taught
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Ancient lit
English lit
World (non-Western) lit
European (continental) lit
American lit
Canadian lit
Ancient lit
English lit
World (non-Western) lit
European (continental) lit
American lit
Canadian lit
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Hebrew
ESL
Spanish
Russian
Latin
Japanese
Italian
Greek
German
French
Chinese-Mandarin
Chinese-Cantonese
Hebrew
ESL
Spanish
Russian
Latin
Japanese
Italian
Greek
German
French
Chinese-Mandarin
Chinese-Cantonese
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Acting
Dance
Drama/Theatre
Graphic Design
Music
Visual Arts
Heavy integration
A major effort is made to integrate the development of digital literacy throughout the curriculum and in everything students do. Digital literacy is understood to be a fundamental skill in the 21st century: it therefore follows, the idea goes, that teachers should find ways to connect every lesson back to technology. Effort is made to ensure the use of technology is meaningful and advances students’ skills beyond what they would otherwise be from using computers outside the classroom.
Humans evolved to enjoy play because play helps us to learn about our environment and prepare for our adult lives. However, learning only feels like play when it is hands-on, self-directed, and self-motivated. Students are excited about learning when they can see how the subject at hand will be relevant to their lives. Most high school students are not excited about learning the quadratic formula because they don't see how it will ever be useful to them outside of school. At Claren Academy, we expose students to aspirational fields in a hands-on way to show that their studies will indeed help them to excel in the areas they most enjoy. Our students are introduced to: Computer programming Digital art & music Robotics & electronics Entrepreneurship Science experiments 3D printing Broadcasting & streaming Digital film making & animation Virtual reality Molecular gastronomy (cooking!) Game design and much more!
Web design
Robotics
Computer science
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Play-based
Montessori programs aimed at preschool and Kindergarten- aged children allow young learners to choose which “tasks” or activities interest them. These tasks centre around special Montessori puzzles -- the essential features of these puzzles being they contain a “right answer” and allow for self-correction. A strong emphasis is therefore placed on learning being concrete and rooted in practical experience, along with children developing a sense of self-sufficiency and confidence. Specially trained teachers act as guides, introducing children to progressively more difficult materials when appropriate. A Montessori classroom is typically very calm and orderly, with children working alone or, sometimes, in small groups.
If you want to learn more about Montessori education, check out our comprehensive guide. You can also check out our guide to Montessori preschools, elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools.
Play-based programs are the most common type of preschool and Kindergarten, and are founded on the belief young children learn best through play. Largely open-ended and minimally structured, play-based programs aim to develop social skills and a love of attending school. “Pre-academic” skills are taught, but in a more indirect way than at, say, an Academic program: through children playing in different “stations” set up around the classroom, which children choose on their own volition. Stations often contain an indirect lesson or developmental goal. Play-based classrooms are highly social and active.
TMS has garnered a reputation for creating an extraordinary learning environment. Up to Grade 6, the curriculum is based on the core premise of a Montessori education: that students need to drive their own learning. Using materials and processes that make abstract ideas concrete, students initiate their learning and can assess their own progress. This balance between the freedom and responsibility of a child produces highly competent learners who are self-reliant, self-disciplined and self-confident.
We have developed a method of teaching to personalize learning for each child. Teachers prepare materials, centre play activities and projects with our students' interests and needs in mind. Our programs are inspired by the approaches used in Reggio Emilia, Montessori and Play-based programs. Humans evolved to enjoy play because play helps us to learn about our environment and prepare for our adult lives. However, learning feels like play most often when it is hands-on, self-directed, and self-motivated. Students are excited about learning when they can see how the subject at hand will be relevant to their lives.
Standard-enriched
The main curriculum pace is non-standardized and is HIGHLY responsive to the pacing of individual students, (via differentiated instruction, differentiated assessment, etc). In theory, some students outpace the default/normalized curriculum, while others spend periods "behind schedule" if they need the extra time.
Broadly-speaking, the main curriculum -- like that of most schools -- paces the provincially-outlined one. This pace is steady and set by the teachers and school. The curriculum might still be enriched in various ways: covering topics more in-depth and with more vigor than the provincial one, or covering a broader selection of topics.
Montessori Program - Toddler to Grade 6 IB MYP and DP- Grades 7 to 12 Varies by level
Our students have opportunities each day to learn across grades in a large group setting as well as smaller groups based on ability and/or on curriculum.
Supportive
A school with a “rigorous” academic culture places a high value on academic performance, and expects their students to do the same. This does not mean the school is uncaring, unsupportive, or non-responsive -- far from it. A school can have a rigorous academic culture and still provide excellent individual support. It does mean, however, the school places a particular emphasis on performance -- seeking the best students and challenging them to the fullest extent -- relative to a normal baseline. High expectations and standards – and a challenging yet rewarding curriculum – are the common themes here. Keep in mind this classification is more relevant for the older grades: few Kindergarten classrooms, for example, would be called “rigorous”.
A school with a “supportive” academic culture focuses more on process than short-term outcomes: academic performance is a welcomed side-benefit, but not the driving focus. This does not mean the school lacks standards, or has low expectations for its students: a school can have a supportive academic culture and still light the fire of ambition in its students. It does mean, however, the school provides a less intensive culture than schools with a “rigorous” academic classification, and is focused more simply on instilling a love of learning and life-long curiosity.
TMS offers a uniquely designed framework that combines a Montessori start and International Baccalaureate (IB) finish. Our academics are rigorous and each student is "known" and supported. We deliver an accredited educational experience designed to inspire and challenge students to discover the best of who they are and to achieve their full potential.
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"We intentionally avoid all forms of public distinction between students in terms of academic performance."
Balanced
Equal emphasis is placed on a balance of priorities: intellectual, emotional, social and physical cultivation.
Intellectual
The goal is to cultivate "academically strong, creative and critical thinkers, capable of exercising rationality, apprehending truth, and making aesthetic distinctions."
Balanced
Equal emphasis is placed on a balance of priorities: intellectual, emotional, social and physical cultivation.
At TMS every student is "Known". TMS provides an environment where students are cared for. TMS students are given a foundation to grow, to be ambitious and bold. TMS creates opportunities for children to be inspired by learning through experimentation, exploration, and self-discovery.
We foster creativity in our students by reducing emphasis on rote memorization, and by teaching them to find answers for themselves. Similarly, we encourage diversity over conformity, and instead of a "one size fits all" program, our students are at liberty to explore their own areas of interest, permitted that a strong grasp of core subjects has been demonstrated.
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RecreationalRec. |
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RecreationalRec. |
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Badminton |
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Cycling |
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Equestrian |
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Fencing |
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Field Hockey |
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Figure Skating |
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Football |
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Golf |
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Gymnastics |
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Ice Hockey |
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Ice Skating |
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Martial Arts |
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Mountain biking |
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Racquet Ball |
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Rowing |
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Rugby |
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Running |
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Sailing |
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Skateboarding |
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Snowboarding |
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Soccer |
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Softball |
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Squash |
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Swimming |
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Tennis |
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Track & Field |
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Volleyball |
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Weightlifting |
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Wrestling |
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Archery |
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Curling |
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Ultimate |
Ballet and Classical Ballet
Yoga
Yearbook
Student Council
Scouting
Science Club
School newspaper
Round Square
Robotics club
Radio club
Poetry/Literature club
Photography
Paintball
Outdoor Education
Outdoor Club
Online Magazine
Musical theatre/Opera
Math Club
Jazz Ensemble
Habitat for Humanity
Foreign Language Club
Environmental Club
Drama Club
Debate Club
Dance Club
Computer Club
Community Service
Choir
Chess Club
Band
Audiovisual Club
Astronomy Club
Art Club
Animation
Ballet and Classical Ballet
Yoga
Yearbook
Student Council
Scouting
Science Club
School newspaper
Round Square
Robotics club
Radio club
Poetry/Literature club
Photography
Paintball
Outdoor Education
Outdoor Club
Online Magazine
Musical theatre/Opera
Math Club
Jazz Ensemble
Habitat for Humanity
Foreign Language Club
Environmental Club
Drama Club
Debate Club
Dance Club
Computer Club
Community Service
Choir
Chess Club
Band
Audiovisual Club
Astronomy Club
Art Club
Animation
Preschool - 12
K - 8
0%
0%
$0
$9,000
0%
75%
Preschool, JK, SK, K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Rolling
Rolling
Not available
Not available
Yes
Yes: grades K - 6
Yes
No
No
No
Yes
No
No
No
No
No
Admission to grades K-8 at Claren Academy is based on: - The candidate's social, emotional, and developmental readiness - The family's interview - The candidate's actions during the play-based observation - The school's assessment of references and past academic records The following may also be considered: - Availability of space in the year to which the candidate is applying - Diversity and gender balance - Siblings of students already enrolled
Please visit our admissions page to learn about our requirements and process.
Claren Academy is accepting applications for kindergarten to grade 8, adding a grade each year up to grade 12. Children born from 2010 to 2018 are eligible to apply for 2023.
Application steps:
Interviews and play evaluations take place on a rolling basis. Placement decisions will be announced within two weeks of your interview and observation. Successful applicants will then be asked for a deposit to secure enrolment.
Please visit our admissions page to learn about our requirements and process.
