School Leadership

Norman Gaudet, Head of School at TFS, discusses the school's unique bilingual model, integrating the French Ministry curriculum with the IB framework. He highlights the school's rigorous academics, inclusive language programs, student well-being initiatives, strong community engagement, sustainability efforts, and commitment to leadership and innovation.

• Highlights from the interview

  • TFS is a unique school that blends the best aspects of international education. Our ethos is centered on language instruction, specifically French, which is our raison d’être—fundamental to our identity and existence in Toronto. We have transformed a French immersion model into a top-tier language instruction framework by integrating the French Ministry curriculum with the IB framework. This approach allows us to offer an Ontario Secondary School Diploma within an international setting that distinguishes us from many other schools in the province.

  • The school embodies both the academic rigor I believe in and a child-centered, community-oriented environment. Our academic rigor is well known, and while we take great pride in preparing students for university, we have also prioritized balance and mental health, ensuring a student-centered, personalized learning environment within a culture that celebrates achievement.

  • This strong sense of community dates back to the school's origins in the early 1960s when a group of families in Toronto, unable to legally provide French instruction to their children, established a private school to foster bilingualism. What began with six students in 1962 has grown into a thriving institution with over 1,500 students, yet the unifying commitment to bilingualism remains a core part of our identity. That mission and history are still palpable today. You can feel it in the hallways and in conversations with community members.

  • Our student body typically falls into two categories: those who come from French-speaking backgrounds and those who enter as English speakers with little to no knowledge of French. The majority belong to the latter group. To support them, we have developed an exceptional introductory French program that enables students to become fully integrated into a French-speaking classroom within one year. This immersive experience is a defining aspect of the TFS journey, allowing students to acquire fluency through an intensive yet supportive approach.

  • We take pride in our students’ performance, consistently achieving a 100% pass rate, with a significant proportion earning top grades—far exceeding global averages. This demonstrates their proficiency in French and validates the effectiveness of our language instruction. As students progress, they encounter key milestones characteristic of IB Continuum schools. In Grade 5, they participate in the Primary Years Programme (PYP) exhibition, showcasing their learning. In the Middle Years Programme (MYP), they complete a personal project, and in the Diploma Programme (DP), they undertake an extended essay. Additionally, as an accredited French Ministry school, our students sit for the Brevet exam at the end of Level 2, just as students in France do.

  • TFS is home to a beautifully diverse community, united by the shared belief in the power of bilingualism. Many of our families speak multiple languages at home, adding to the rich cultural tapestry of our classrooms. Within a single class, you might find students who speak Farsi, Arabic, Italian, Mandarin, and English. They choose TFS not only for our rigorous academics but also for our ability to cultivate true bilingualism—an achievement that even many immersion programs struggle to guarantee.

  • Our students earn the IB’s advanced bilingual diploma, a credential that only a small fraction of IB students worldwide attain, as it requires mastery of two languages at a mother-tongue level. Remarkably, TFS students represent about half of all recipients of this diploma worldwide.

  • Mental health is a top priority at TFS. Over the past decade, we have built an entire department dedicated to student well-being, ensuring both academic and personal support. Our approach is structured around three pillars: academic success, intrapersonal growth, and interpersonal relationships. The academic support system includes learning strategists and guidance counselors who assist students from preschool through graduation. Intrapersonal development focuses on self-awareness, mindfulness, and emotional regulation, supported by mental health professionals, including social workers and nurses.

  • The interpersonal component of our education emphasizes conflict resolution and positive relationship-building through restorative circles and positive discipline. We ensure students develop crucial social skills alongside academic excellence.

  • A key priority at TFS is integrating technology through design thinking. We recognize that technological literacy is essential across all fields, from medicine and engineering to business and the arts. To ensure students develop critical digital skills responsibly, we maintain a strict no-phone policy for younger students while incorporating structured technology education into the curriculum. From Grade 2 onward, students engage with coding and digital problem-solving within the IB’s inquiry-based learning framework. Ethical discussions about technology, such as the implications of artificial intelligence and deepfake technology, are integral to our approach, helping students navigate the digital world with both confidence and responsibility.

  • Parent involvement is another defining feature of our community. Families are deeply engaged in school life, whether through volunteer opportunities, classroom activities, or community events. Parents accompany students on field trips, participate in school traditions, and support extracurricular initiatives. This level of engagement reinforces the idea that TFS is not just for students—it is for families. The strong relationships we cultivate with parents contribute to our vibrant school culture and collective commitment to student success.

  • Sustainability and environmental responsibility are central to our mission. Our thriving planet initiative goes beyond recycling; it fosters a deep understanding of environmental stewardship. Students engage in hands-on ecological projects, monitoring biodiversity and soil health in the expansive ravine adjacent to our campus. This experiential learning fosters a lifelong appreciation for sustainability and equips students with the knowledge and skills to contribute positively to the environment in their future endeavors.

  • Restorative justice and positive discipline play a vital role in conflict resolution at TFS. Our staff is trained in these approaches, ensuring that conflicts are addressed collaboratively and constructively. When disputes arise, students participate in restorative circles to explore the impact of their actions and work toward meaningful resolutions. This method not only resolves conflicts but also fosters emotional growth and accountability, contributing to a supportive and respectful school environment.

  • Leadership at TFS is built on trust, open communication, and a commitment to community engagement. We maintain an open-door policy, encouraging parents to share concerns and collaborate on solutions. This culture of openness strengthens relationships and ensures that every member of the school community feels heard and valued. My personal philosophy is that every interaction—whether with a student, teacher, or parent—is important. I strive to be fully present and engaged in every conversation, recognizing the profound impact that even brief interactions can have.

  • Ultimately, my goal as Head of School is to foster a culture of respect, belonging, and preparedness. I want students to leave TFS feeling that they were part of a supportive, inspiring community that equipped them with the knowledge, skills, and mindset to thrive in an ever-changing world. My hope is that this culture endures long after my tenure, reflecting the values we have worked so hard to instill.

  • For prospective families, my advice is simple: visit the school. The culture of a school is something you can feel when you walk through its halls. At TFS, I want families to know that bilingualism is attainable for every child, regardless of whether their parents speak French. We have mastered the art of language acquisition, ensuring that students can achieve full bilingualism even if they join us at an older age without prior French experience. It is never too late to give a child the gift of bilingualism, and at TFS, we make that opportunity a reality.