The Giles School a Hidden Gem with a Global Purpose

The Giles School a Hidden Gem with a Global Purpose

With another academic year underway, the Giles School is celebrating its 30^th anniversary – a significant milestone for the small French immersion school known for its diversity and inclusion efforts.

“We are a very small school with 100 students and 15 teachers,” says Barbara Smith, who recently joined as head of school. “Many people don’t know about Giles; it’s not on their radar. But we are doing many innovative things I haven’t seen at other schools, especially in terms of diversity and languages.”

Smith disagrees with the idea that bigger schools have a greater variety of courses to choose from. “We offer everything listed on anybody’s web page, from all manner of sports to robotics and STEM programs. The added bonus is that kids coming here become bilingual in English and French.”

Harry Giles, considered a pioneer in bilingual French immersion in Canada, founded the Toronto-based Giles School in 1989. He was also the founder of Toronto French School.

The JK to Grade 8 school’s foundational pillars are based on three “I’s”: inclusion, innovation and internationalism, which were reflected in the 2019 valedictory address. Rather than a single speaker, eight students collectively delivered the address. Switching between French and English, they praised the generosity, compassion and support of their teachers.

The language program at Giles does not stop at French. Mandarin is introduced in Grade 1 as part of the day-to-day curriculum, and students can sign up for after-school Spanish, Italian and Arabic classes.

The short-term goal is to add Russian to match the United Nations’ six official languages and its mandate to enable clear and concise communication on issues of global importance, Smith says. “We don’t just have a Model UN club kids can join. The entire school is on the road to becoming a Model UN.”

Many schools talk about globalism, but not everyone has been able to reach the same level as Giles, she stresses. “It’s not just about multilingualism. Rather it’s about exposing students to other cultures through language. There’s a real need for that level of communication in today’s world. It’s what inclusion is all about. Even in Toronto, kids are exposed to multiculturalism every day.”

Vice-principal Caroline Bernaba has spent 25 years with the school. Originally from Lebanon, she says learning several languages can improve critical thinking, concentration and memory, multitasking, and listening skills. “It encourages students to connect with people abroad, understand cultures, respect and embrace other people’s traditions, create links between countries, and bring people closer to each other.”

The exposure to languages is also a significant advantage when students enter Grade 9, she adds. “Most get into their schools of choice after Grade 8.”

Genevieve Lee is a case in point. She applied to five private schools for Grade 9 and was accepted by every single one. Not only did she study the prerequisite French and Mandarin at Giles, she opted to add Arabic to her repertoire.

“I’m really, really grateful I started learning additional languages in Grade 1. I thought it was all so fascinating,” she says. “I particularly like Arabic because it is such a beautiful language.”

“I’m really, really grateful I started learning additional languages in Grade 1. I thought it was all so fascinating,” she says. “I particularly like Arabic because it is such a beautiful language.”

Lee says her language skills were one of the biggest factors in her acceptance in some of the city’s most prestigious private schools. “It’s what made me stand out from the thousands of students applying.”

While her new school doesn’t offer the variety of languages she would like to study, Lee plans to pursue her love of learning languages through an accelerated French program, translation apps, and available programs outside of school.

Lee also believes the size of the Giles School and her relationships with teachers have contributed to her success. “They are not just there to teach. They help us grow as people, to learn and figure out the things we love to do. They are like a family away from home.”

As Smith notes, students really come to understand and appreciate diversity through exposure to multilingualism. “Language is a nice way into that and is an integral part of the culture of the school,” she says. “We have a nice little micro-community of people with different backgrounds who work well together. It’s really wonderful to see how much a small school like ours can accomplish.”

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