Ursula Franklin Academy

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Ursula Franklin Academy
Address
146 Glendonwynne Road
High Park, Toronto, Ontario, M6P 3E3, Canada
Information
School number 5604 / 949027
School board Toronto District School Board
(Toronto Board of Education)
Superintendent Curtis Ennis
Area trustee Irene Atkinson
Principal Georgia Gallagher
Vice principal Barbara Wagner-Heim
Administrator Fotini Critselas
School type Public High school
Grades 9-12
Language English
Team name UFA Flames
Colours Navy Blue, Hunter Green, Burgundy, Snow White                 
Founded 1995
Enrollment 474 (2013-14)
Homepage Ursula Franklin Academy

Ursula Franklin Academy (UFA) is a high school located in the High Park neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario, Canada owned by the Toronto Board of Education until its merger into the Toronto District School Board. In 2010, the school was considered to have the highest academic rating in the TDSB.[1] Originally located in the Dufferin-Bloor area at 90 Croatia Street, UFA moved in 2002 to share a building with Western Technical-Commercial School and The Student School. Students can attend UFA from anywhere in the TDSB. Founded in 1995, Ursula Franklin Academy's style of teaching is a doctrine of Dr. Ursula Franklin's work in the field of education.

History

A think tank created the concept of the school.[2]

Franklin was scheduled to open in the fall of 1995 in the former Brockton High School. The Toronto Board of Education (TBE) planned it as a traditional academic school that had focus on languages, mathematics, science, and technology. John Doherty, a trustee in the TBE, said that "We're not trying to create a magnet school or an elite school that has waiting lists and so on. We want it serving the local community."[3]

Franklin Academy was scheduled to move into a new campus by September 2002.[4]

Overview

School Values

UFA's school values are closely tied to the mindset and societal perception of its namesake, Dr. Ursula Franklin.

Ursula Franklin Academy is a small community of learners which offers integrated liberal arts packages, in addition to the general fundamental courses of T.D.S.B curriculum, preparing students for academic programs at the post-secondary level.

Uniform

Students generally wear a navy blue uniform, although variations of uniform style do exist. The existing variations include white and navy blue polo, Oxford shirts and T shirts, and rugby shirts sporting the school colours. Students alter their uniform to improve the already existing requirements. Initiatives are currently going on in order to reform the uniform.[citation needed]

When the school was in the planning stages, students were to wear school uniforms. At the time no other school in the Toronto Board of Education required uniforms.[3]

School Colors

When the school opened in 1995, Dr. Ursula Franklin chose the official school colours as navy blue, hunter green and burgundy. These colours were chosen because in combination, they do not represent the flag of any nation-state. This was intended to create an atmosphere of global citizenship for students at UFA. Students, Teachers and the Administration are working on adding different colour combinations to the uniform. The uniform will still not represent the flag of any nation-state.[citation needed]

Schedule

At Ursula Franklin Academy students go through a four day rotation. Unique to the school is the Enriched Wednesday program. Through Wednesdays students get to explore interests that may not be offered as part of the regular curriculum. Each month, students sign up for sessions that can include anything from skiing all day to beach volleyball to rock climbing to exploring neuro-science. Some typical Wednesday sessions that are offered almost every block are: student council, guitar jam sessions, fashion class, study halls, remedial tutorials, yearbook preparation, jazz appreciation, films of nature, etc. Students are encouraged to run their own Wednesday sessions with a supervising teacher or staff member.

Extracurricular Activities

UFA offers a range of clubs and organizations for students ranging from co-curricular endeavours like the science club, The Franklin (newspaper), economics club, radio club, and Model UN to a student council, improv team, and S.A.S.S (Students Against Stereotyping Sexuality). UFA Robotics club won a silver medal in City wide high school robotics competition.[5]

Sports

Although UFA is a rather small school, many of its students and teachers participate in UFA's sports teams. Aside from the usual High School teams (boy's soccer, baseball, swim team), UFA offers some unusual sports. The Dragonboat Team and the Ultimate Team (a.k.a. the Ultimate Frisbee Team) are exemplary highlights. Although many teams are coached by teachers and/or "community coaches", some teams are coached and managed by UFA students (e.g. the Ultimate Team).

Virtual UFA (VUFA)

Virtual UFA is an internal BBS powered by First Class. It allows students, parents, and staff to communicate with one another via the Internet. For example, it allows students to post their ideas, questions, or concerns in a variety of online conferences including Student Issues, Student Lounge, and Student Council; ask teachers for help through instant messaging, or read important announcements. New students are given an account of their own at the beginning of the school year.

See also

References

  1. ↑ , Fraser Institute, Report Card on Ontario’s Secondary Schools 2011
  2. ↑ Brown, Louise. "Special schools finding they're 'empty' ; Funding formula punishes facilities with few students." Toronto Star. May 22, 2000. News p. B02. Retrieved on October 1, 2013. "Dreamed up by a think-tank six years ago as a high-octane blend of academics and athletics, the Ursula Franklin Academy was founded before schools had to worry about paying for floor space." and "These are just three of the unusual Toronto schools in danger of being[...]" and "But under the province's new formula, its home in the former Brockton high[...]"
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Daly, Rita. "'School of the future' to put math, science first Toronto board's only academy to open next year." Toronto Star. May 11, 1994. News p. A5. Retrieved on September 30, 2013. "The Ursula Franklin Academy - named after the renowned experimental physicist" and ""We're not trying to create a magnet school or an elite school that has waiting lists and so on. We want it serving the local community," Toronto Trustee John Doherty said." and "The academy will be set up in Brockton High School on Croatia St., in the" and "Students will wear uniforms, selected by them with the help of parents. No other Toronto public school requires students to wear uniforms."
  4. ↑ Rushowy, Kristin. "Board sticks with plan to shut school ; Another to move, but be designated as science facility." Toronto Star. February 8, 2001. News p. B03. Retrieved on September 30, 2013. "Meanwhile, Ursula Franklin Academy will be moved by September, 2002, after the trustees quashed a proposal to keep the school at its current site."
  5. ↑ Ursula Franklin Academy. "Clubs". Clubs. Retrieved 2011-09-14. 

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