Crescent School
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Crescent School is an all-male private school located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, within walking distance of the highly acclaimed Bridle Path. In its 2001 report on Ontario schools, the Fraser Institute [1] ranked Crescent number one out of five hundred and sixty-eight in academic performance, an honour shared with seventeen other schools. The student body consists of approximately 650 students. The school is divided into three different schools: the Lower School, the Middle School and the Upper School.
The school was founded in 1913 and is affiliated with the Conference of Independent Schools. As of 2006, the headmaster is Geoff Roberts.
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[edit] The Lower School
The Lower School is from grades 3 to 6, grade 3 and 4 being the entry year into the school. The student:teacher ratio is 18:1 for grade 3 and 22:1 for grade 4 to 6. There are 2 classes per grade, with 8 total classes/classrooms in the Lower School which holds 168 students under the supervision of Ross MacDonald, the Headmaster of the Lower School. The Assistant Head of the Lower School is currently Dr. Sandra Boyes.
[edit] The Middle School
The Middle School is from grades 7 to 8, grade 7 being an entry year into the school. The student:teacher ratio is 23:1 for both grades 7 and 8. There is 3 classes per grade, with 6 total classes/classrooms in the Middle School which holds roughly 140 students, under supervision of Mark Hord, the Headmaster of the Middle School. The Assistant Head of the Middle School is currently David Young.
[edit] The Upper School
Also known as high school, the upper school is from grades 9-12, grade 9 being the entry year in the upper school. Student-teacher ratios vary from course to course. However, the maximum number of students per class is usually 22-23. The head of the Upper School is Colin Lowndes. Lowndes is also a former staff member of Upper Canada College. The school uses a "unique" system of classifying each member of the Upper School by associating the grades with Years, where Year 1 is grade 9 etc. Upper school students have the opportunity to become house captains (see below) in year 3, and also have the opportunity to become prefects in year 4. Students applying for either position are chosen based on a vote which includes both staff members and students. The head boy is also an elected member of the year 4 class.
[edit] The Toronto Student Film Festival
Run by Crescent School students, the Toronto Student Film Festival is a Toronto-based film festival that gives high school students the opportunity to screen their work, interact with industry professionals, and win awards and prizes to further their craft. The festival was started by three Year Four students: Gordie Steiner, Zachary Russell, and David Whyte guided by the Festival Advisory Board, with major contributions by staff members Jamie MacRae and Colin Lowndes. The next TSFF will be held in March 2007.
[edit] Prefects
The Prefect system consists of 16 Year 4 Students who are elected by the Upper School Students and Staff to carry out leadership duties throughout the year. One of the prefects is also elected Head Boy. The Prefects are allotted positions such as Community Service/Outreach, Arts, Middle School Liaison, Lower School Liaison, Social, and more.
[edit] Grade Representatives
There are two Grade Representatives from each year, except year 4. They are elected by members of the student body each fall.
[edit] House System
The school runs on a house system where every student, teacher and staff is placed in a house. Each house is named after a prominent figure in Canadian history. Each house is also given a color. The house names and colors are as following:
- Massey (Navy Blue)
- Simcoe (Purple)
- Mackenzie (Light Blue)
- Wolfe (Red)
- Cartier (Grey)
- Hudson (Yellow)
House Captains are elected every year and are members of the grade 11 class. There are 2 house captains for each house, these captains coordinate house events and preside over house meetings. House Points are earned and the houses battle for house points throughout the school year.
[edit] Uniform
The uniform is a dark green blazer bearing the Crescent School coat of arms, which can be swapped for a black fleece sweater bought from the guild shop (approx. $65.00 CND). In year 4 the dark green blazer is traditionally swapped with a navy blue blazer. Another option given to the lower and middle school students is wearing their "Golf Shirts", which are collared white shirts, with a crescent logo and green collar. The option of wearing the golf shirt is only available to the Lower and Middle Schools. Furthermore a white shirt, grey dress pants, black dress socks, house tie, a black belt and black dress shoes are also items in the uniform. There are grub days where students pay a certain amount of money (often 2 Dollars), or on the occasion of holidays such as Christmas/Hanukkah students may also be asked to donate food or toys, to wear casual clothes.
[edit] Notable alumni
- Christophe Beck (1987), pianist
- David Harlock (1989), NHL and Olympic hockey Player
- George Hees (1922), Member of Canadian Parliament
- Evan Solomon (1987), Writer, author and Television Personality
- Rob Coleman (1983), Animation Director, Industrial Light and Magic
- Trumbull Warren (1924), aide-de-camp to Field Marshall Sir Bernard Montgomery
- Ian Strachan Johnston (1919), one of the most decorated Canadians of the World War II
- Peter O'Brian (1928), served for two years as aide-de-camp to Queen Elizabeth III
- Brad Crombie (1988), gold medal at the Commonwealth Games, and an alternate for Canada at the 1996 Olympic Games.
- Neil Lumsden (1971), Professional football player
[edit] See also
- St. Michael's College School
- Upper Canada College
- St. Clement's School
- Bishop Strachan School
- Loretto Abbey School
- Havergal College
- Brebeuf College
- St. Augustine Seminary
- Jarvis Collegiate Institute
- CISAA
- Branksome Hall School
