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Go to child profileTFS develops multilingual critical thinkers who celebrate difference, transcend borders and strive for the betterment of humankind. The pioneer of French immersion in Canada, TFS teaches the curricula of France and Ontario through the IB's framework. Our students exude academic ambition, benefit from an all-round development, and view the world from an international perspective. Campuses in Toronto and Mississauga.
Curriculum delivery for 2020/21:
Grades | Living Arrangement | Delivery Model | Frequency |
---|---|---|---|
Day | Nursery/Toddler - Gr. 12 | In-person | Full-time |
Day | Nursery/Toddler - Gr. 12 | Online | Full-time |
The school celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2012, marking the end of an astonishing period of growth and development. The school really did start in a basement, moving from there into a range of branches throughout Toronto, in time consolidating onto the two campuses that the school occupies today. Schools don't grow that much, or that quickly, if they aren't servicing a specific need, and certainly that's true of TFS. The acronym stands for Toronto French School, which is the name that the school was founded with, though in time it was offering a lot more than the name suggested. Language remains an important part of the curriculum, though the culture of the school reaches beyond language. The environment is rich, varied, and supportive. The student body is culturally and academically diverse, all of which is encouraged through a robust bursary program.
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.
Program | offered |
---|---|
Primary Years | |
Middle Years | |
Diploma program | |
Career-related program |
Focus |
---|
Academic |
DIBELS Testing: This school periodically uses DIBELS testing to assess reading progress.
Subject | offered |
---|---|
Evolution as consensus theory | |
Evolution as one of many equally viable theories | |
Evolution is not taught |
Subject | offered |
---|---|
Biology | |
Chemistry | |
Ecology | |
Geology | |
Meteorology | |
Physics | |
Physiology | |
Zoology |
Subject | offered |
---|---|
Acting | |
Dance | |
Drama/Theatre | |
Graphic Design | |
Music | |
Visual Arts |
Expressive | |
Disciplined |
Subject | offered |
---|---|
Computer science | |
Robotics | |
Web design |
Flexible pacing style | offered |
---|---|
Subject-streaming (tracking) | |
Multi-age classrooms as standard | |
Ability-grouping (in-class) as common | |
Frequent use of cyber-learning (at-their-own-pace) | |
Regular guided independent study opportunities | |
Differentiated assessment |
TFS offers no/limited support for students with learning difficulties or special needs.
Subject Type | offered |
---|---|
Learning strategy and study counselling; habit formation | |
Extra support and minor accommodations for children experiencing subclinical difficulties |
Subject Type | offered |
---|---|
Accommodations | |
Modifications | |
Extra support |
Read our guide to special needs schools and special education
Program | offered |
---|---|
Full-time gifted program (parallel to rest of school) | |
Part-time gifted program (pull-out; parallel to rest of class) |
Curriculum delivery: Enrichment (The main focus is on enrichment. This means that while students may work at a marginally quicker pace than public school peers, the primary aim is to study subject in broader and deeper ways.)
Program | offered |
---|---|
Custom subject enrichment (special arrangement) | |
Custom curriculum compacting (special arrangement) | |
Guided independent study (custom gifted arrangement) | |
Cyber-learning opportunities (custom gifted arrangement) | |
Formalized peer coaching opportunities (specifically for gifted learners to coach others) | |
Custom subject acceleration (special arrangement) | |
Career exploration (custom gifted arrangement) | |
Project-based learning (custom gifted arrangement) | |
Mentorships (custom gifted arrangement) |
English - 40% | French - 60% |
In grade Gr. 12, TFS students perform an average of >2 hours of homework per night.
NS | PS | JK | SK | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
TFS | 0 mins | 0 mins | 0 mins | 0 mins | 15 mins | 30 mins | 30 mins | 45 mins | 45 mins | 60 mins | 60 mins | 90 mins | 90 mins | 120 mins | 120 mins | 160 mins |
Site Average | 0 mins | 2 mins | 6 mins | 7 mins | 15 mins | 17 mins | 23 mins | 30 mins | 35 mins | 40 mins | 53 mins | 57 mins | 69 mins | 80 mins | 97 mins | 106 mins |
Lettered or numbered grades | Nursery/Toddler to Gr. 12 |
Prose (narrative)-based feedback | Nursery/Toddler to Gr. 12 |
Academic achievement reporting | Nursery/Toddler to Gr. 12 |
Habits and behaviour reporting | Nursery/Toddler to Gr. 12 |
Parent-teacher meetings | Nursery/Toddler to Gr. 12 |
Competitive sports: 12
Recreational sports: N/A
TFS - Canada's International School offers 17 clubs and extracurricular programs.
NS | PS | JK | SK | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | |
Day | $20,360 | $27,250 | $30,650 | $32,320 | $35,320 |
Discounts
Discount Type | Enrolment Type | Amount |
---|---|---|
3rd child (sibling) | all students | $500 |
4th child (sibling) | all students | $500 |
Grade range that need-based aid is offered: | 7 to 12 |
Percentage of grade-eligible students receiving financial aid | 0% |
Average aid package size | $35,000 |
Percentage of total enrolment on financial aid | 0% |
Total aid available | $0 |
This school works with Apple Financial Inc. for processing financial applications
Submit the most recent report card and the previous two years’ final reports. The academic record should demonstrate a minimum A average. Include any special awards or records of achievement.
Send the Confidential School Report to their current school to be completed and forwarded directly to TFS.
Submit two (2) letters of recommendation. These can be from a teacher, school administrator, coach or other adult (non-family member) who is knowledgeable about the student’s strengths, accomplishments, special interests and potential.
Choose to write either TFS' tests or the Secondary School Admission Test (SSAT). If the candidate is currently enrolled in a French program, they may also be asked to write a TFS French competency test.
Submit a financial assessment application to Apple Financial by November 27, 2020. A Scholarship Committee will review all applications. Selected candidates will be invited to attend a personal interview with the Scholarship Committee in February 2021.
TFS will award one full scholarship to an incoming student who is starting Grade 7 in September 2017, and who demonstrates high academic standing, involvement in his/her school and/or community, as well as financial need. As this is a full scholarship, covering tuition, uniform, books and incidental fees, we define financial need as a family’s inability to pay for any part of TFS’ tuition fees.
The TFS Grade 7 Entrance Scholarship is renewable every year until graduation, if the student maintains an average of 80% and meets the conditions noted below.
Students do not need to speak French to apply, but must be keenly interested in becoming bilingual.
We are now accepting applications for the scholarship and urge students who are seeking an exceptional education to apply! Applications are due on Friday, December 2. Applying is easy, and TFS will support you at every stage!
Please view tfs.ca for full details.
For more details, visit:www.tfs.ca/admissions/scholarship/Grades | Gender | Living Arrangement | Enrolment | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Group 1 | Nursery/Toddler to Gr. 12 | Coed | Day | 1500 |
Total enrolment | 1,500 |
Average class size | 12 to 22 |
% of international students (total enrolment) | 15% |
Number of different nationalities within student population | 60 |
NS | PS | JK | SK | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Day Enrollment | 30 | 50 | 70 | 80 | 80 | 88 | 88 | 88 | 88 | 90 | 90 | 105 | 105 | 95 | 95 | 95 |
Class Size | 5 | 11 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 20 | 20 | 20 |
Assessment | Required | Grades |
---|---|---|
Interview | 6 - 12 | |
SSAT | 6 - 12 | |
SSAT (out of province) | 6 - 12 | |
Entrance Exam(s) | 2 - 12 | |
Entrance Essay |
Day students: December 01, 2020
Offer mid-year entry:
Yes
Application fee: $200
Registration fee: $8,500
Deposit:
N/A
Admissions application plus:
This is the percentage of applicants typically accepted into the school. So if 50 students are admitted out of 100 applicants, the school has an overall acceptance rate of 50%.
Student Entry Points
This shows approximately how many openings there are likely to be in each grade in a typical year, as well as the estimated acceptance rate for each grade level.
Student Type | NS | PS | JK | SK | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Day Acceptance (Acceptance rate) | 29 - 30 (75%) | 48 (77%) | 12 - 24 (74%) | 16 - 20 (81%) | 10 - 15 (86%) | 5 - 10 (91%) | 5 - 10 (88%) | 5 - 10 (88%) | 5 - 10 (94%) | 5 - 10 (83%) | 5 - 10 (65%) | 5 - 10 (70%) | 5 - 10 (85%) | 5 - 10 (85%) | 5 - 10 (100%) | 0 |
Average graduating class size | 60 |
Students accepted into post-secondary studies upon graduation | N/A |
Percentage of students who attend post-secondary institutions outside of Canada | N/A |
Students who attended a Ivy+ school Number of students in the past 5 years that that attended one of Harvard, Yale, Princeton, University of Pennsylvania, Dartmouth, Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Stanford, University of Chicago, Oxford or Cambridge (UK) | 20 |
TFS - Canada's International School Graduates’ Post-Secondary Studies:
This information is not currently available.Aggregate of All Schools’ Post-Secondary Studies:
Career planning | |
Internships | N/A |
Mentorship Program | N/A |
University counseling |
What TFS says:
Alumnus | Grad Year | Accomplishment |
---|---|---|
Martha Baillie | 1977 | Bestselling author and Giller Prize nominee (2009), University of Edinburgh, l’Université Paris-Sorbonne and University of Toronto. |
Molly Shoichet | 1983 | Professor of Chemical Engineering, University of Toronto, Donnelly Centre for Cellular & Biomolecular Research, Ph.D., Polymer Science and Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Recipient of the Order of Ontario (2011). |
Samantha Nutt | 1987 | Founder & Executive Director of War Child Canada and bestselling author. Recipient of the Order of Ontario (2010) and Order of Canada (2011). M.D., McMaster University. |
Alastair Rucklidge | 1982 | Professor of Applied Mathematics, University of Leeds (UK), Ph.D., University of Cambridge. |
Karandeep Sonu Gaind | 1986 | Psychiatrist and Psycho-Oncology Consultant, Princess Margaret Hospital. Associate Professor, University of Toronto. M.D., University of Toronto. |
Justin Poy | 1987 | Creative Director, The Justin Poy Agency. B.A. (Radio and Television), Ryerson University. |
Carole Piovasan | 1995 | Associate, McCarthy Tétrault LLP. M.Sc., Social Policy and Planning in Developing Countries, London School of Economics and Political Science. J.D., Osgoode Hall Law School, York University. |
Ruth Milkereit | 2004 | Ph.D. Candidate, Biochemistry, University of Toronto. Direct entry from B.Sc., Immunology, McGill University. |
Daniel Posen | 2005 | Ph.D. Candidate, Engineering and Public Policy, Carnegie Mellon University (US), Master of Research in Green Chemistry, Imperial College, London, Master of Science in Economics, London School of Economics/Political Science. |
Dr. Josep L. González is TFS’ Head of School. Dr. González brings to TFS exceptional academic and international experience. He holds a Ph.D. in English literature from the University of Oxford, and has been department head, and a language and literature professor and lecturer, for over two decades at prestigious schools and universities, including Eton College and the University of Oxford. With a passion for languages, he speaks French, English, Catalan, Spanish and Italian fluently.
In his welcome message, he writes: “TFS holds a special place in history as the pioneer of French immersion education in Canada. Today, as a French and multilingual international school, we are in a unique position to empower our students to become accomplished individuals, as well as responsible citizens who consciously choose to make a positive difference in the world. In fact, that is precisely the sentiment expressed in our motto: Individuals who reflect, citizens who act.
Our school has long been renowned for its excellent academics. In addition, our identity is deepened by ascribing to specific values – integrity, discernment, respect and engagement – that are lived by staff and nurtured in students every day. Ultimately, a TFS education is based on three major pillars: academic ambition, all-round development and an international perspective.
This explains why our graduates are well-rounded, emotionally intelligent young men and women, who can balance their rights as individuals with their responsibilities as citizens.
As a school that was founded to promote multilingualism as one of its core principles, we are particularly conscious that fluency in other languages gives TFS students a gateway to other cultures and different ways of understanding the world. Our families and staff are linguistically and culturally diverse, and this diversity strengthens us as a community.
Our pupils have many opportunities to experience the power of language and gain intercultural competencies through a range of trips and exchanges abroad. Our international perspective is further reinforced by teaching the curricula of France and Ontario through the framework established by the IB programs.
It is this layering of language, personal interaction, experiential journeys and varied academic programs that gives TFS students an international outlook and inspires in them a purposeful will to contribute to the progress of humanity.
These are the ideals and beliefs that permeate our community, as we walk together in the same direction and share the conviction that we provide the best possible education for our children."
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