Bayview Glen School
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Bayview Glen School | |
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| Address | |
| 275 Duncan Mill Road Toronto, Ontario, M3B 3H9, Canada |
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| Information | |
| Religious affiliation | None -- multicultural |
| School type | Private Elementary school and high school |
| Grades | K-12 |
| Language | English |
| Founded | 1962 |
| Homepage | Bayview Glen |
Bayview Glen School is a private and independent day school in Toronto. Established and Founded in 1962, Bayview Glen bills itself as a co-educational, multicultural, university preparatory day school."
The school is located on Duncan Mills Road near the intersection of Don Mills Road and York Mills Road. The school was previously located next to York University's Glendon College on Bayview Avenue at Lawrence Avenue East and near Crescent School.
Unlike most private schools, Bayview Glen accepts students from the age of 2 to Grade 12. The lower school, a 3 story complex, is for students from age 2 to Grade 8. The upper school, a 3 story complex, is for Grades 9 to 12. Bayview Glen is also a member of the Round Square Program and CISAA.
Bayview Glen sports 2 fully equipped gymnasiums, 4 science labs, 2 libraries complemented with computer and encyclopedia resources, 4 computer labs, 2 fully staffed cafeterias providing a wide selection of adequate meals to the students. Bayview Glen upper school houses a fully functional Theatre designed to host events ranging from music festivals to plays. 2 accessible fields allow Bayview Glen to host a multitude of out door activities and sports matches.
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[edit] Capital Campaign
Bayview Glen in 2005/2006 launched the Footprints and Blueprints Capital Campaign in order to raise the necessary funds for the much anticipated expansion of the school. To date $2.3 million(Canadian) have been donated to the endeavour with a goal of reaching a total of $8 Million. Construction is anticipated to go ahead when half that amount has been reached, however there is growing fear that if the school proceeds with expansion without the necessary funds they could risk sinking further into financial debt. With the current donation trends by parents and alumni it seems highly unlikely that the necessary capital will be reached. As it stands the Baker family have donated roughly (not exact) 45% of the current $2.3 million representing the majority of the funds source. If parents continue to be slow in their donations the school might face the possibility of being unable to continue with the project. Many parents have grown weary of the constant pressure from the school to donate, this pressure from the school could also prove costly in the long run when parents are asked again to donate.
Many stay optimistic, however, that the project will proceed without any major issues. There is a general consensus that these changes are necessary and will bring Bayview Glen up to par with other Private Schools across Ontario. The plans of expansion include:
- The design expands the school premises northwards along the face of the existing auditorium. A new main entrance for the school located at this new intersection will improve circulation within the existing buildings and ease the connection with the new space. (From Capital Campaign Newsletter page 2)
Other discussed additions include, expanded sports facilities sporting a new gymnasium, squash courts and a track located on the roof of the new facility. Other additions include expanded science labs, music centres, and a redesigned library. No doubt whatever additions made to the school will only work to improve the school atmosphere and provide a much more enjoyable experience for the students attending during the new years.
Nonetheless, it is improbable that the $8 Million campaign mark be reached. One must consider that after the peak of the fundraiser, only $2.3 Million had been raised. It is very unlikely that there will be more donations of significant quantity. Some feel there is a lack of charitable support, as the school does not have the overall prestige and respectability of alternative GTA private schools.
[edit] Controversy
There has been a fair share of criticism about the school's campus due to its close proximity with other commercial buildings. The location of the school outwardly is seen to be controversial as a location for a prestigious private school. Three separate locations force students for the time being to travel between the facilities. This however will change with the opening and expansion of the school into new facilities and campus locations. The current buildings are considered mediocre in quality compared to other private schools in the Greater Toronto Area. Many students often comment on the lower school gym which is located in a bubble. Students often make reference to this gym in order to discredit the school and its facilities. However, it has served it's purpose quite well and continues to be used as an adequate sports facility. Parents and students show concern over the current lower school playground located on the south west corner. At the moment, it is unable house the current number of Bayview Glen students during recess periods, it proves to be a less than desirable play environment for young children. To compensate for this, the school has two more playground located around the back of the school. No doubt the existing concrete location will be revised once appropriate funds become available.
Bayview Glen is often home to sports events attended by multiple CISAA schools across Ontario. In order to accommodated the extra sports teams, the school must rent a field in order to host a soccer game. Many students feel this is yet another sign that the school is inadequate, however, this is common practice among schools who do not have the appropriate facilities to house vast amounts of students at one given time. As it stands, Bayview Glen officers a wide array of facilities that meet the students needs. Students in the upper school seldom use a dated workout facility, and a gymnasium complimented with a rock climbing wall. Also available for students use is a field located in front of the upper school building. Although regularly flooded due to rain and other natural events, during spring and early fall, it is used quite regularly without issue. These facilities have proved themselves as more than capable at housing and training the schools' sports teams, many of which have gone on to win various CISAA championships.
