Branksome Hall is an independentday and boarding school for girls in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.[1] It is Toronto's only all-years International Baccalaureate (IB) World School for girls. Branksome Hall is located on a 13-acre campus in the Toronto neighbourhood of Rosedale and educates more than 900 students from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12.[2]
Branksome Hall has an athletics and wellness centre,[3] spaces dedicated to innovation and technology,[4] indoor rock-climbing wall and tennis courts. The school has a boarding program for Grades 7 to 12 and a study abroad program with its sister school, Branksome Hall Asia, on Jeju Island, South Korea. Financial assistance is available for new and returning students in Grades 7 to 12.[5]
Branksome Hall is led by principal Karen L. Jurjevich, who has been principal since 1998.
History
Branksome Hall was founded in 1903 by Miss Margaret Scott, who served as the school’s first principal. It is named for Sir Walter Scott’s poem, “The Lay of the Last Minstrel,” which references Scotland’s Branxholme Castle. The historic building was previously named Hollydene House and was the home of Canadian Railway magnate Hugh Ryan.[6]
Branksome Hall was originally located at 102 Bloor Street East. In 1910, the school relocated to 592 Sherbourne Street and Miss Edith Read was appointed principal.
In 1912, the school purchased 10 Elm Avenue. Between 1912–1948, principal Read added five homes to the campus and built a gymnasium and pool. She introduced the Prefect and Clan systems and adopted the Hunting Stewart tartan for the school uniform.[7] Branksome Hall students in grades JK-2 wear a tunic, and those in grades 3-12 wear a kilt - a nod to Miss Margaret Scott's heritage.
In 1940 a small group of girls and staff from Sherborne Girls’ School in England was evacuated to Branksome Hall.[8] The relationship between the two schools continues; every year, students from each school participate in an exchange where they stay with host families in each country, sharing school and family life.
Edith Read retired after 48 years as principal in 1958. Five principals have led the school since: Dr. Jennie MacNeill (1958–68), Miss Margaret Sime (1968–74), Miss Alison Roach (1974–93), Dr. Rachel Phillips Belash (1993–98) and Karen L. Jurjevich (1998–present).[9]
The school became a fully authorized IB World School in 2003,[10] opened Branksome Hall Asia in 2012[11] and the athletics and wellness centre in 2015,[12] and hosted feminist icon Gloria Steinem in 2017.[13] In 2022, ground was broken on the school’s new Innovation Centre and Studio Theatre. [14] The school was recognized as an Apple Distinguished School in 2023.
The Road Well Kept by Heather Robertson was published in 2002 to mark Branksome’s centennial. The book provides a synopsis of the history of the school, including archival photographs.[15]
Branksome Hall follows the IB’s experiential learning framework of creativity, activity and service.[16] IB Diploma students are required to complete approximately three to five hours per week of Creativity, Activity and Service (CAS) during their final two years of high school.[17]
Service learning activities for students include Reading Buddies and JUMP Math at Rose Avenue Public School, Kapapamahchakwew (Wandering Spirit School) Reading Program, engaging with students at Sunny View Public School, and volunteering at Let’s Grow Learning and Living Hub for medically complex, physically disabled adults.[18]
Branksome’s Athletics teams are called the Highlanders. The school is a member of the Conference of Independent Schools of Ontario Athletic Association. Fall teams include basketball, flag football, cross country running, field hockey, rowing, soccer and swimming. Winter teams include alpine skiing, badminton, ice hockey, rowing, squash, swimming and volleyball. Spring teams include golf, rowing, softball, tennis, track and field, and ultimate frisbee.[19]
Community
Branksome Hall is administered by an 18-member Board of Governors. The current chair is Mona Malone,[20] Chief Human Resources Officer and Head of People & Culture for BMO Financial Group.
The Branksome Hall Foundation, a registered charity in Ontario since 2005, is overseen by an independent board of trustees chaired by Scot Martin, and manages the school's endowment.
Notable Alumnae
This article's list of alumni may not follow Wikipedia's verifiability policy. Please improve this article by removing names that do not have independent reliable sources showing they merit inclusion in this article AND are alumni, or by incorporating the relevant publications into the body of the article through appropriate citations. (January 2023)
