Hawthorn School for Girls

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Hawthorn School for Girls
Address
101 Scarsdale Road Toronto, Ontario, M3B 2R2, Canada
Information
Religious affiliation	Catholic
Funding type	Private
Motto	Veritatem Facientes in Caritate
Mascot	Hawthorn Bee
Colours	Navy blue
Established	1989
Enrollment	200
Homepage	http://www.hawthornschool.ca/

Hawthorn School for Girls is a private all girls school located in Toronto, Canada, that includes the spiritual guidance of Opus Dei. It was established in 1989 by a small group of parents looking to create a school that could help students become successful, virtuous and well rounded individuals. Hawthorn encourages the participation of parents within the school as well as leadership skills among the students. The founders dreamed of a school that would recognize parents as the first and most important educators in their children’s lives. They envisioned a school that would accept its responsibility to educate both the intellect and the will of each student—giving equal priority to the pursuit of academic excellence and personal development of character. The dream that became a reality born of these convictions is Hawthorn School for Girls.

Hawthorn's Mission Statement

"To assist parents in the integral education of their daughters to become free and responsible women who know and love the truth."

Hawthorn goes from preschool all the way up to grade 12. Hawthorn School for Girls is dedicated to character development of its students. Each student at Hawthorn has an advisor, who is a teacher or other staff member which helps the student in her social, academic and spiritual life.

Hawthorn's academics are challenging and engaging. Reach-ahead courses allow students to take more courses in the later grades. The small class sizes do not exceed a 20:1 student teacher ratio giving each student the attention she needs.

Hawthorn helps its students with their leadership and spirit of service by having them participate in service projects (i.e. a trip to a home for the elderly). These projects involve the students from the Lower and High Schools. Along with the service projects, the High School students must work towards achieving their Service Hours. 40 Service Hours are required to graduate from high school, but Hawthorn requires its High School students to achieve 20 hours per high school year.

Hawthorn School for Girls continues to grow. An addition to the front of the school was added recently and plans are being made for the remodelling of the back portion of the school.

Contents 1 Academics 2 Philosophy 3 Character Education 4 The Arts 5 Athletics 6 House System 7 External links

[edit] Academics

The Hawthorn curriculum is based on the classical liberal arts tradition—one that aims to balance and harmonize intellectual, cultural, spiritual, social and physical formation. Governing the academic focus at Hawthorn are the complementary characteristics of cultural literacy and critical thinking, inherent in the classical liberal arts tradition. Hawthorn believes academic success requires cultural literacy—foundational knowledge of the art, expression, history and experience of one’s heritage. An awareness of this reality leads to the development of critical thinking—the application of the intellect to discover the truth.

Hawthorn School for Girls currently offers Advanced Placement (AP) courses in Statistics, Calculus AB, Calculus BC, Physics, and American History.

Upper School

The Upper School, accommodates students from Grades 8 to 12. In the Upper School years, the skills of logic and analysis are developed as students work with greater independence at a more sophisticated level. Students take courses in a variety of subject areas beyond the requirements of the Ministry of Education to ensure they receive a balanced academic program. Emphasis is placed on the humanities, as well as on mathematics and the sciences. Mandatory courses in Latin, philosophy and history enable students to refine their powers of critical thinking, and to gain broad cultural knowledge. Technology is used as a tool to enhance learning and students integrate it into their work. A challenging and advanced curriculum prepares students for the world beyond Hawthorn’s walls.

Lower School

In the Lower School, grades 1-7, students develop a love for learning, and build solid study skills and work habits in each area of a well-rounded academic program. In the early grades the curriculum focuses on a systematic approach to cultivate phonetic, literacy and mathematics skills. As students mature and their reasoning capacities increase they are gradually presented with more complex ideas and concepts. The budding intellect is challenged through courses at an advanced level in the humanities and sciences. By the time they reach the Upper School, students have acquired knowledge of the main historical periods with an awareness of the corresponding developments in literature, science and philosophy.

Junior School

The Junior School, suitable for children ranging from Pre-School to Senior Kindergarten, is a full academic program for young learners. Students in the Junior School are exposed to a wide variety of subjects and their natural curiosity is encouraged to help them gain knowledge of the world and the truth of things. Preparation for later critical thinking is facilitated by emphasizing order and by providing a predictable and consistent learning environment.

The Junior School’s core subjects of mathematics and language are carefully structured to help young students develop their ability to think logically. A well-rounded education is provided through the other core subjects, including art, French, music, physical education and science. Students learn sound study skills and work habits in each area.

[edit] Philosophy

The philosophy inspiring the curriculum, the formation, the activities and the life of the school is based on the teachings of the Catholic Church. The school is open to non-Catholics; their needs, beliefs, and sensitivities are respected. The prelature of Opus Dei provides a priest to give spiritual assistance to the school.

[edit] Character Education

At Hawthorn Character Education means the development of virtue, which is fundamental to the happiness of the individual. Our students learn to understand and appreciate virtue, and to build it in their own lives. Character education is an essential and distinctive feature of the school.

Advising Program

The Advising Program serves as the cornerstone of Hawthorn’s character education program. Each student from grades 2 to 12 is assigned an advisor who meets with her regularly throughout the school year to provide personal guidance.

Virtue of the Month Program

Hawthorn School believes that education in character requires focusing on each virtue, offering convincing reasons to practice it, and providing good examples of what it looks like. Each month, the school emphasizes a specific virtue and the students and faculty strive to live it in their daily lives. Teachers discuss each virtue in the classroom, advisors help the students to live the virtues, and parents are encouraged to foster the virtues at home.

Virtues for 2007-2008

Friendship / Loyalty Orderliness / Responsibility Obedience / Justice Generosity / Gratitude Industriousness / Diligence Fortitude / Patience Prudence / Discretion Cheerfulness / Joy Temperance / Modesty Sincerity / Humility

Service Projects

Several “Generosity Projects” are organized each year to foster a spirit of service and generosity in the students. An awareness of the needs of others gives students an opportunity to share their talents and material resources with those less fortunate.

[edit] The Arts

An appreciation for the arts is an important part of a Hawthorn education. A comprehensive program covering visual art, music and drama has been developed to enable students to become culturally literate, and to give them opportunities to flourish artistically. Whether it is taking part in workshops at the Gardiner Museum of Ceramic Art, participating in Hawthorn’s annual dramatic production, or sketching on the Spanish Steps during the Hawthorn trip to Rome, Italy, students in Hawthorn’s Upper School are guided to hold a great understanding and love of the arts.

Visual Arts

The visual arts program in the Upper School develops students who are culturally literate (in terms of art history), aesthetically aware, and able to express themselves in a way that combines imagination and highly developed technique.

The visual arts program focuses on theory and studio technique in drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture and design units. Each grade level includes art history sections.

Gallery visits are scheduled to compliment the study of art history and art technique.

Drama

The dramatic arts play an important role in Hawthorn’s arts curriculum, and the Drama Club and annual drama production provide an excellent outlet for students to develop their acting talents and technical skills.

Music

In the Upper School students work with enthusiastic and talented music faculty developing music literacy and appreciation. All our students are involved in performances throughout the year at assemblies, concerts and during our annual Fine Arts Week each spring. Students also participate in the highly acclaimed CIS Music Festival each year.

Music courses offered to students in the Upper School strike a balance between challenge and skill. Students are required to develop a thorough understanding of the language of music, including the elements, terminology and history. There is an emphasis on appreciation, analysis and performance of various kinds of music, including baroque and classical music, popular music, and Canadian and non-Western music. Students increase their understanding of the elements of music while developing their technical and imaginative abilities.

In the Upper School students’ talent takes flight as they participate in Choir, drama productions, Woodwind Ensemble and various chamber and instrumental groups. Lessons in violin and piano are offered at the extra-curricular level.

[edit] Athletics

Athletics is a big part of life at Hawthorn School, and an important area for the development of character. The Upper School Health and Physical Education Program is geared towards fostering a love of physical activity and health that will continue beyond a student’s years at Hawthorn.

The main goal of the Lower School Health and Physical Education Program is to foster a love of wellness and physical activity that will continue beyond a student’s years at Hawthorn.

Students are introduced to and participate in a wide variety of team and individual activities spanning beyond the common team sports. They are also provided with the tools to make healthy choices in terms of nutrition and personal wellness.

The curriculum is enhanced with activities such as skating, swimming, gymnastics and dance, that give students opportunities to use facilities outside of the school and to have the benefit of learning from specialized instructors.

Teams

• Basketball
• Volleyball
• Softball
• Soccer
• Gymnastics
• Track and Field
• Cross Country
• Badminton

[edit] House System

Hawthorn School has recently adapted the House System to the Upper School. Students are members of the houses and compete for the house cup and prizes.

Houses:

• Amelia Earhart (Blue)
• Fa Mulan (Red)
• Florence Nightingale (Purple)
• Harper Lee (Green)

[edit] External links

• School website