TFS - Canada's International School THE OUR KIDS REVIEW

When you pull up to the TFS campus, a series of stately red brick buildings stretched out along Lawrence Avenue in midtown Toronto, the first thing you might notice is the J'TFS sign, which stands tall at nearly eight feet and resembles the famous I NY signs scattered across the state. The sign was erected as a memento of the school’s 60th anniversary celebration which took place in 2022. It is adored by TFS families, admired by visitors, and represents the sentiment echoed by parents, students, and teachers alike—a love for this school community and the values it upholds.

On the day we visit the school, it’s unusually warm for May, and the sun-soaked campus is filled with activity. A visiting independent school is on the sports pitch challenging TFS to an ultimate frisbee match, a coach bus in the roundabout announces the arrival of students from Seville, Spain, there for a 10-day exchange, and the Senior School is abuzz with end-of-year activities leading to the upcoming graduation.

Kids are laughing and interacting in a mix of French and English and teachers smile approvingly as the little ones eagerly express themselves in the language they’re working to master. On the walls of La p’tite école are beautifully depicted travelogues of a recent Grade 1 trip to France and in the schoolyard there’s a sandwich board advertising “La Guinguette,” an annual spring festival where families will come together to celebrate the end of another school year.

In the Senior School, posters promote a variety of clubs and student associations. A bulletin board proudly declares the area an ‘espace positif’ (safe space), adorned with messages encouraging kindness, diversity of thought, and open-mindedness. The students are friendly, welcoming, mature, and articulate, fostering an atmosphere of respect and professionalism. Diversity is part of the fabric of the school’s community, which is close-knit, despite its large size, and based upon the shared commitment to raising articulate and engaged global citizens.

“Every year on the first day of school we line the edge of the campus with all the flags that represent the countries our staff and students come from—and it ends up stretching all the way down Lawrence Avenue,” says one of the school’s guidance counsellors. This helps someone new to the school understand just how diverse the TFS population is. While many independent schools might have to work to achieve, or attempt to achieve, this sort of diversity, for TFS it comes naturally.

With more than 60 languages spoken among the school’s students and staff, TFS is able to provide a rich tapestry of backgrounds, beliefs, and cultures. This environment allows students access to broad perspectives and ensures they learn from the histories, values, and traditions of cultures worldwide.

“At TFS there’s always someone who has a story about where their family is from or where they’ve lived before coming to Toronto,” says Cathy Piedra-McKenzie, a parent of both a Senior School student and a recent TFS grad. “This has allowed our kids to always feel proud of their background and open to learning about other cultures and beliefs. It’s a community where you’re learning French, but so many other languages are spoken and you’re drawn to those as well.”

The school believes strongly in community building and works closely with its active Parents’ Association to plan events and celebrations. “You can be involved as much or as little as you’re able, but we are all part of the community and everyone is made to feel welcome,” says TFS parent Azin Tabrizi. “We know it takes a village to raise a child and TFS is our village. Friends become like family and our daughter sees her friends’ parents as honorary aunts and uncles. We know people who have moved just to be closer to the school, that’s the kind of importance this place holds to families.”

TFS - Canada’s International School is an esteemed independent, coeducational institution that offers a bilingual immersion program for students from age 2 to Grade 12. Established as the Toronto French School in 1962, it was the first French immersion school in all of Canada. It started modestly with six students in its founders’ basement and today stands as the largest independent school in the country, educating more than 1,500 students across four branches and two campuses.

“Our students do not only learn French, but they learn in French and that’s not an easy thing to do,” says Alexandre Ferrand, principal of the Junior School. “That being said, they do it very well.”

TFS attracts families looking for a reputable and challenging academic program that promotes diversity and internationalism, offers a breadth of curricular and co-curricular opportunities, and employs specialized French educators who bring their global experience to the classrooms. TFS students master French and English while balancing rigorous arts, science, and humanities programs.

More than 25 years ago, TFS was authorized to teach the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Program and became the first school in Toronto in which the program was mandatory. Today, TFS is the only full-continuum IB world school for French and English in Canada. Students who graduate from the Senior School are qualified to obtain a bilingual or advanced bilingual IB Diploma, as well as the French National Brevet diploma and the Ontario Secondary School Diploma. While many come to TFS for its renowned language education, others are drawn to the school because of its affiliation with the IB program, which begins in La p’tite école with the Primary Years Programme (PYP) and continues through graduation.

The school has two campuses. The Toronto location resides in the city’s affluent Bayview and Lawrence neighbourhood and accommodates students from two years old through to the end of high school. The West Campus is located just east of the prestigious Port Credit neighbourhood of Mississauga and welcomes students from Pre-Kindergarten to Grade 7, after which the students are bused into Toronto beginning in Grade 8. The school’s total population is divided between the two campuses with approximately 200 students enrolled each year in the West Campus and 1,300 enrolled in Toronto.

TFS begins welcoming families when their children are toddlers, and there’s always a waitlist to access these coveted spots. The majority of students come to TFS from English-speaking homes, without any prior exposure to the French language. These little ones quickly adapt, however, and along with learning values such as respect and integrity and skills such as responsibility, decision-making, leadership, and community building, they also quite seamlessly become French speakers. “The child is at the centre of everything we do,” says Ann François, principal of La p’tite école, which encompasses the early years programming through completion of Grade 1. “And, while the kids often use English to express themselves at first, they very quickly come to understand everything in French. By Senior Kindergarten they’re fluent.”

The school’s founders, Anna and Harry Giles, recognized the inherent value of bilingual education. While TFS has always focused on French language education, it has evolved into so much more. With a strong commitment to pedagogical innovation, internationalism, academic excellence, and educating the whole child, TFS is recognized and respected globally.

Students join the school at various entry points throughout their academic career, and any time a space opens up, it’s almost always filled immediately. Some come from local public schools, other independent schools, or from having lived and studied abroad. Up to and including Grade 7, any student can join TFS without prior knowledge of French, if space permits. These students participate in a unique Introductory French program that spans one year before being integrated into regular classes.

The school has recently intensified its focus on promoting social-emotional well-being alongside academic achievement. While a TFS diploma is recognized for opening numerous post-secondary opportunities both in Canada and internationally, the school is equally dedicated to providing the necessary support and tools to ensure this success is sustainable and meaningful. “We are committed to the holistic development of our students, not just in academics, but also in nurturing their passions, learning abilities, social-emotional skills, and more,” says Daniel Cohen, executive director of the Learning Forum. “By the time they graduate, our students are well-rounded individuals and global citizens.”

Many families come to TFS because of its reputation. Those moving to Toronto often seek it out as a credible international school. Because many students have lived and studied abroad, or have families from elsewhere, they often speak languages other than English when they join TFS. These students bring a diversity of experiences, beliefs, and backgrounds, contributing to the unique fabric of the school. “This is a truly inclusive school, and while the kids definitely work hard, the school has a fulfilling, whole-child approach to education that promotes values, work ethic, and balance,” says Piedra-McKenzie. “They have fun, they grow into lifelong learners, and they develop into good humans who will do well in the world.”

Having recently celebrated its 60th anniversary, TFS has a well-documented account of its history, complete with timelines, archival photos, and interviews with alumni and former parents. It’s a school that is quite obviously proud of its history, and for good reason. The school’s founders, Anna and Harry Giles, were seen as visionaries, pushing the envelope when it came to language education and building a school that the community responded very well to. Within 10 years, the school grew from six kids in the basement of the founders’ home to 600 kids in various branches across the city and province.

Within the walls of TFS, there are many spaces which bring the school’s vibrant history to life. The formal foyer in the Senior School features a painted portrait of Harry Giles, who passed away in 2021, and an oversized plaque honouring the recipients of the Anna Giles Medal, the school’s highest honour given to a graduating student. “Anna Giles fled communism in Hungary and when she arrived in Toronto she spoke at least five languages,” explains Maryann Shemansky, the school’s manager of communications. “Anna was perplexed by the approach to language learning in Ontario at the time, where everyone learned English with only a little bit of French thrown in. Back then, a child could only attend a French school if they came from a French family,” she continues. “Anna and Harry wanted comprehensive language education for their children and when they couldn’t find what they were looking for, they decided to start a school of their own.”

In 1962, the Toronto French School was born in the basement of the Giles’ home in midtown Toronto. Mrs. Giles was the school’s first teacher and Mr. Giles, the headmaster. Toronto French School was the first bilingual, coeducational, non-denominational school in Canada. Because many parents shared similar values and desires as the Giles, the school grew quickly. Over the next eight years they scrambled to keep up, finding spaces and classrooms to accommodate all of the interest. They occupied churches, synagogues, community centres, office space, and even locker rooms in local arenas.

Mr. Giles remained the headmaster of the school as it continued to grow. “I’m really proud of this part of our history,” says Shemansky. “They were scrappy and they had grit, which allowed them to get creative and innovative and grow and thrive despite the lack of a physical building. Many parents were involved, and these were visionaries who saw that a different type of education was possible and they wanted that for their children.”

In the early 1970s, TFS finally secured a building of its own. The structure at 101 Mildenhall Road, now home to La p’tite école, was constructed through fundraising and donations from the TFS community. It opened as the high school and was inaugurated by Ontario’s Premier Bill Davis. Growth continued, and the school purchased three properties along Lawrence Ave East, once part of the estate of Sir Clifford Sifton, a Canadian lawyer and longtime politician. This secured TFS’s presence at Lawrence Avenue and Bayview, creating a 34-acre campus. Unlike other urban schools, the campus included access to 26 acres in the Don Valley ravine, which became an integral part of TFS and its approach to educating young people.

In 1973, Harry Giles was awarded the Order of Canada for his initiative in co-founding and directing the first private school in Toronto offering instruction in the French language. The accolades continued. In 1980, the school became the first in Canada to receive royal patronage from Queen Elizabeth II. In 1985, the school was recognized by the French Ministry of Education as “Établissement Français de l’étranger,” adding it to the list of officially endorsed schools outside of France that met its high quality standards for teaching the French national curriculum.

When Giles stepped down in 1984, the school welcomed Alexis Troubetzkoy as the new headmaster, who joined TFS from Appleby College. He was succeeded by Bill Boyer in 1990. Around this time, TFS began implementing the IB Diploma Programme in the last two years of high school. By 1995, it became a mandatory requirement for all students in those grades, an unprecedented move in Canada at the time.

As the Toronto campus continued to expand, TFS also operated a branch in Mississauga, making these the school’s two primary campuses. In 1995, after 24 years at 1293 Meredith Avenue, the school purchased the building, a former public school, from the City of Mississauga. Renovations and expansions began and continue to this day.

In 1996, longtime teacher and Principal Jean Brugniau, who originally came to the school from France, became TFS’s fourth headmaster and served for 13 years. From 2008 to 2014, the headmaster was the Honourable John Godfrey, former MP for Don Valley West and member of parliament under Prime Ministers Jean Chrétien and Paul Martin.

As the school continued to grow, the need for newer and bigger spaces arose. In 2001, TFS broke ground on a new Senior School addition, which would include a competition-sized indoor pool, double gym, dance studio, classrooms, and a full-service cafeteria. In 2008, the field behind the Senior School was transformed into a state-of-the-art artificial turf Play & Sports field. In 2011, the school was renamed TFS—Canada’s International School, to better reflect its program and global community.

In terms of leadership, Godfrey was followed by Dr. Josep Medina-Gonzáles from 2015 to 2021. In 2021, the school appointed Norman Gaudet to the role, after first arriving at TFS in 2016 as the Senior School’s principal. Prior to TFS, Gaudet spent 30 years in elementary and secondary schools in Canada and around the world, almost 20 of which were in senior leadership roles, including as head of school and principal.

From September 2022 to June 2023, TFS brought its community together to mark the school’s 60th anniversary. Events included diving into the school’s past and looking toward its future. TFS remains proud of its history and committed to furthering innovation and growth as it moves into the next 60 years. Change is on the horizon again as plans for a huge building addition and renovation take shape. “No matter how much we have evolved and continue to do so, we remain very proud of our origins and we share these stories eagerly with our students,” says Shemansky.

TFS enjoys the unique privilege of being situated in the heart of midtown Toronto while preserving the atmosphere of a school set in nature. Sitting on 34 acres, 26 of which are in the Don Valley ravine, outdoor education is woven into a variety of subjects at TFS. Well-lit classrooms look out onto stunning green space and thoughtfully designed outdoor classrooms are available for all grades to access. The meticulously maintained campus is a combination of old converted mansions and new buildings, seamlessly integrated to create a stately feel.

The 236,443-square-foot property includes several academic and administrative buildings interconnected with walkways and shared outdoor space. Behind the school is a FIFA regulation-sized sports field with a 90 x 50 metre turf playing area. La p’tite école and the Junior School have their own enclosed schoolyards and play structures with a huge outdoor area for learning and gathering.

Inside, classrooms are modern and well-equipped, adorned with student art and projects. The libraries in all branches are impressive, boasting extensive collections of books in both French and English. These spaces emphasize learning skills and collaboration. Hallways are vibrant, and all buildings buzz with activity. Students are respectful and friendly, making it feel like a truly pleasant place to go to school. The Senior School has a special space dedicated to Grade 12 students. Their lockers and a collaborative workspace are set aside from others, giving them access to something uniquely theirs in their last year at the school.

It’s clear that visual arts is emphasized at TFS, with impressive, detailed works on display in the Senior School art hallway, as well as tons of student art across the other two branches. The full-service cafeteria in the Senior School provides healthy lunch options with an international flair for students who choose to buy their meals there. There’s plenty of seating in the lunchroom which overlooks the ravine. The other branches have an opt-in lunch program that involves prepared meals being delivered to the students directly.

The school’s competition-sized indoor pool gets a ton of use by students of all ages as do the outdoor sports facilities. There’s definitely a focus on athletics that’s apparent just by the facilities alone.

The ravine is gated off and locked for safety, but is used by classroom teachers of all grades for outdoor and eco education. As we walk down the steep wood steps into the ravine, it’s clear that this access to undisturbed green space is extremely special and something the school doesn’t take for granted. From snowshoeing in the winter to studying environmental systems in biology class, to Indigenous education, to building using nature’s loose parts, to climate literacy and art, so much of the TFS curriculum can be extended into the outdoors thanks to this property. There’s space to walk, fresh air to breathe, and so much to explore. Students and faculty are quick to reference the ravine and how much it adds to the program. It’s a space they’re equally proud of and thankful for.

While both the Toronto campus and the West Campus have been upgraded over the years, with new additions and expansions mirroring the school’s population growth, a huge transformation project is now in the works. Between the Toronto and West campuses, a total of 50,137 sq. ft. will be added with spaces dedicated to academics, athletics, arts, sciences, new technologies, and innovation. Some of the highlights of the expansion will include a 350-seat multipurpose auditorium, a green lab and green roof, a makerspace, music studio, and multimedia room. The expansion to the West Campus building in Mississauga will include a new multi-purpose gym, a makerspace, design lab, and new classroom space. Innovation is constant at TFS, and the school is always evolving to meet the needs of its student population.

Three of TFS’s branches are located on the Toronto campus, enabling students to start and complete their educational journey in one place. Students celebrate graduation milestones as they transition from one building to the next, and at each stage, they have the opportunity to be leaders and mentors to younger students across the campus.

For TFS’s youngest students, learning begins in La p’tite école. Children as young as two years old may join TFS in the French-language program called Jardin d’éveil, which follows the Reggio Emilia approach. Kindergarten is a three-year cycle that starts with Pre-Kindergarten. “This allows students to fully grasp all components and contents of the French curriculum,” explains Ann François, principal of La p’tite école. “Our focus is on creating a nurturing, safe environment where these little ones feel cared for and supported. The IB’s Primary Years Program (PYP) is also integrated into everything we do.” Instruction is entirely in French, and although most TFS students do not come from French-speaking homes, they quickly pick up the language. Students transition to the Junior School from La p’tite école at the end of Grade 1.

The Junior School starts in Grade 2 and continues through Grade 5. This marks the formal introduction of English into the curriculum, with the PYP serving as the framework for learning. These formative years are crucial in a child’s development, and the Junior School fosters students’ interests and passions while exploring a diverse range of subjects including mathematics, science, languages, coding and robotics, environmental education, poetry, arts, music, and more. Classroom learning is guided by student inquiry.

The Senior School welcomes students in Grade 6 from the Junior School and elsewhere and guides them through the middle school and high school years in an academically enriching environment, filled with unique learning and co-curricular opportunities. Beginning in Grade 6, students rotate between classrooms and learn from subject-specialist teachers. This is also the year when students have the opportunity to choose a third language. These students are then joined in Level I (Grade 8) by their peers from the West Campus.

The Collège years, framed by the IB’s Middle Years Programme (MYP), go from Grade 6 through Level II (Grade 9), correspond to the French national education system and culminate in the Brevet exams. “These are the exact same set of exams that students take in France at this grade level, and the exams are marked by examiners from France,” says Shemansky. “The following fall, students are presented with Diplôme National du Brevet des Collèges, their very first diploma, usually by the consul général of France in Toronto.” Students then progress through the Lycée years, which include Levels III through V (the equivalent of Grades 10 through 12) and lead to both an Ontario Secondary School Diploma and an IB Diploma, often the Bilingual or rarely granted Advanced Bilingual IB Diploma, of which TFS students receive a significant number.

At the TFS West Campus in Mississauga, students begin in PK and continue through the end of Grade 7, before continuing Grades 8 through 12 at the Senior School in Toronto. This branch is known for its close-knit nature and collaborative environment. “We live near High Park in Toronto and we chose the TFS West Campus for our kids because it was a bit closer to where we live. We wanted a French immersion school because we wanted our kids to speak both of Canada’s languages fluently,” says Kristen B., mom to Grade 4 student Elias. “Neither my husband nor I are from Canada, and we don’t have family here. At TFS we’ve found many other international families who are part of the school and with them we have become a very strong community. We do a lot of things together and we rely on these TFS friendships. In a way we’ve built our own international family.”

With a focus on academics, athletics, co-curriculars, arts, and global citizenship, the West campus lives and breathes the same TFS values, just in a different location. The two branches do have opportunities to come together for shared events and even some trips, before all students join together in Grade 8 at the Senior School in Toronto. The school runs a shuttle bus for these students with two return times to allow students the chance to participate in co-curricular sports and activities. Though Kristen says her kids are young and not ready to think about high school yet, she looks forward to them continuing at the Toronto campus when the time comes. “There’s an obvious benefit of not having to change schools and our kids have already made so many incredible friendships, I think it will be nice for them to stay together all the way through.”

For her son Elias, TFS is a place where he can thrive academically and play all of the sports he loves. “You’ll be welcomed here if you come to TFS,” he says. “And everything is in French, so you’ll be bilingual too. I’ve done Python coding, dance, art, and Mad Science. And floor hockey, swimming, track and field, cross country, soccer and we’re doing softball right now,” he says. “I usually sign up for all of the sports.”

The TFS mission is to develop multilingual critical thinkers who celebrate difference, transcend borders, and strive for the betterment of humankind and the planet. Language education is obviously a major part of this school’s raison d’être and something that differentiates it from the majority of independent schools in the city. TFS follows the curriculum set out by the Ministry of Education of France and blends it with the Ontario curriculum, delivered within the framework of the IB to create what they call a multi-layered educational experience. The students are not only engaged in learning and eventually mastering the French language, but they also learn about French culture and traditions.

Students who join TFS from a young age can expect everything to be taught in French until Grade 2, when English is introduced into the curriculum. What TFS seems to be able to do successfully is teach French as a first language rather than as a second or foreign language. They do this by using immersion tactics while also successfully promoting French in all aspects of school life. It helps that most TFS teachers are francophone.

“One thing families always ask when they’re considering TFS is ‘How will I support my child in French if I don’t speak the language?’,” says Alexandre Ferrand, Junior School principal. And that’s something the school is more than prepared to answer, because most families who send their children to TFS are not French speaking. The simple answer is that for those learning French, almost all of the school work is done in class and there’s more than enough help and support to go around. “Homework is not for parents, it’s for the children, and it must always be given at the level the child is at,” Ferrand explains. “Teachers assign homework in advance so students can ask for help at school if they need it. At TFS independence develops very quickly when it comes to homework.”

Parent-teacher communication is paramount and all TFS teachers are able to speak French in the classroom while also communicating with parents in English. “Our teachers are bilingual and if you send an email in English you’ll get a response in English,” Ferrand continues. “Plus, our parents are often pleasantly surprised by how much French they themselves learn alongside their kids.”

Reading at TFS is taught in French and then the same skills are integrated into learning to read English. “We know, through the science of reading, that when you learn to read in one language you learn the skills for the other language as well,” says Ferrand. “It’s not uncommon for teachers to co-teach and coordinate their teaching in French and English. By Grade 5 students are no longer learning to read, but reading to learn, and that’s when they really comprehend the whole language, including figures of speech, and they can conduct research, summarize it, and present it back to the class.” While many TFS students say they prefer to read in English, they’re often encouraged to read in both languages. “We have an extensive library of French books they borrow and take home, and we host French book sales regularly,” Ferrand continues. “We usually recommend students read one French book for every two English books, because as we know, a successful student is a student who reads.”

“When I came to TFS in Grade 1, I didn’t speak any French,” says Claire Z., a Grade 5 student in the Junior School. When asked about her first year learning French, Claire replied confidently, “It was fantastic!” Recently, Claire’s family went on a March break trip to France, where she realized the true extent of her French abilities. “I acted as the translator for our family and could understand everything and have conversations with everyone, and that felt awesome!” As she prepares to enter Grade 6, Claire says she is most excited to pick another language to learn. “I already speak Mandarin and English, so I chose Spanish because I’m really excited to speak a fourth language. I think that’s going to be really cool.”

TFS promotes language education beyond French as well. By Grade 6, students are given the option to learn a third language, and other languages are available in the form of clubs and co-curriculars. Like Claire, many TFS students come to the school speaking more than one language at home, so the diversity is abundant and the connection to language learning is strong. “For us, language is the gateway to diversity and open mindedness,” says Susan Markle, the school’s executive director of community engagement and enrolment. “Language is more than learning vocabulary and grammar; it’s learning about culture, traditions, history, and how people use language to express their experiences.”

Many TFS students express the belief that once they’ve learned French, other languages and the ability to learn a new language become more accessible to them. For Piedra-McKenzie, the Parents’ Association Senior School Branch Coordinator, language education and diversity were among the reasons she chose the school when her kids were very young. “My son who is in Grade 10 has shown a strong interest in languages, so he’s pursuing Spanish as well as French. Currently we’re hosting a student from Spain at our house who is here for an exchange program, and then he’s planning to go to New Mexico with TFS to write the international Spanish test, the DELE,” she explains. “That will provide him with a certificate in Spanish proficiency.” TFS helps students solidify their language learning with things like external exams, exchange opportunities, language-based travel, arts and culture, among other things.

During our visit to TFS we sit down with a pair of teens from the Senior School in the student common, a spacious room speckled with cozy leather couches and coffee tables. It’s a cross between a living room and a university library and there’s plenty of space for collaborative work and quiet reading. The young people chosen to share their TFS experiences with us have both been elected as First Citizens, which are the school’s two top student leadership positions. In 2022, the student council introduced a change stating that the First Citizen positions, traditionally held by one girl and one boy, would now be filled based on the most votes, regardless of gender.

Andrea P. is the first to share her story. She has high praise for TFS and speaks eloquently about her experience at the school and all that it’s afforded her. She joined TFS in Grade 6 and says she has dreamed of holding this elected position ever since, getting deeply involved in school life, leadership, athletics, and the arts. From the annual student run fashion show, which is a major event for students at TFS, to joining volleyball, soccer, and basketball teams, to serving as a House Head and much more, she says the opportunities are there if you’re willing to embrace them.

“TFS provides you with a lot of opportunities to develop your personal and academic interests,” she tells us. “There is definitely a lot of work and it’s a very rigorous school, but if you put in the work and you stay organized, then it’s possible to be really successful.” Andrea has one more year at TFS and then she’s already laid out a series of ambitious goals for her future. “I want to study law and will be applying to direct entry law programs in the UK at schools like Oxford and LSE (London School of Economics),” she explains. “There was a TFS alumni who went to Oxford last year for the same program, who I connected with to learn more, and seeing others go to these great schools and be successful is really inspiring. If they can do it, there’s no reason I can’t.”

For new students thinking about TFS, Andrea has some advice: “I would say, don’t worry so much about the perceived challenge. You’ll be in amazing hands here; the teachers are supportive and there is plenty of opportunity for balance.”

This sentiment is echoed by Head of School, Norman Gaudet, who explains that while rigour and French language education are the “two big selling points of the school,” there is also a great emphasis on social-emotional support and academic support which have become more of a focus in the last decade. “It’s not something people talk about as much, but rigour without support can lead to high anxiety, and our mission is to ensure every child succeeds. We do so by focusing on this balance.”

Shukun H., the other elected First Citizen, has also managed to find balance in his TFS experience and achieved a high level of success. He came to TFS in Grade 1 from a local public school and before that emigrated from China with his family. Robotics, debate, and student leadership are just some of the co-curricular opportunities that Shukun has taken advantage of during his time at TFS. But not only is he an academic success story, he was also a competitive swimmer outside of school.

“This is actually a myth-busting statement that tends to surprise people about TFS,” says Kimberly English, the school’s director of university counselling, “we have recruited athletes graduating from our school every year. People think of TFS as an academic institution where it wouldn’t be possible to achieve athletically at such a high level, but each year we have students who go on to awesome places and who do fantastic things in sports.”

Student involvement in co-curriculars is high at TFS. Despite the rigorous academic schedule students maintain, there’s still plenty of opportunity to nurture passions, discover new ones, while getting involved in all kinds of interesting clubs, teams, committees, and special events. “Almost every student, I would say 99 percent, participates in at least one athletic activity each year,” says Ferrand. “We have clubs that go until 5 p.m. and while it’s a long day, students love it, teachers all get involved and lend their expertise to sports, committees, and clubs, and it’s a big part of the school’s culture.”

Recent TFS graduate Martin Thaw, who is pursuing a management and technology dual degree in economics from the Wharton School of Business and engineering from the School of Engineering and Applied Science at the University of Pennsylvania, speaks enthusiastically about his time at TFS. Not only was he the editor-in-chief of the school paper, but he was also part of the robotics team, ran the school’s morning announcements, served as a prefect, and played on the tennis team. “Many of the activities I started at TFS I’m now continuing in college, which is amazing,” Thaw says.

Speaking highly about the school seems to come quite naturally to TFS students of all ages. While many alumni, like Thaw, continue to maintain strong connections with the school after graduation, young students also feel that sense of connection early on. “TFS is just fantastic,” gushes Grade 5 student Claire Z. “We have a huge ravine behind the school that we get to spend time learning in, and all of the teachers are nice, and my classmates are kind and amazing and we all get along really well.”

The school places great emphasis on fostering healthy social dynamics and supporting students throughout their time at the school to ensure a strong and vibrant community. “They are very supportive in all aspects of the child’s life, and I would say in terms of friendship building and transitions, they’ve really been able to help my children in various ways,” says Adele Vellathottam, a TFS parent of three students in Grades 4, 5, and 7. “Kids end up in three buildings during their time at TFS, so there are many opportunities to work through transitions. First from Grade 1 into the Junior School, which can be daunting, and then from the Junior School to the Senior School in Grade 6, which is also a really challenging transition. But the school does an excellent job emotionally supporting the kids through all of these,” she says.

Vellathottam explains that through community circles, inspired by Indigenous tradition, students are encouraged to talk about their feelings and emotions and are guided through challenges. “Through that practice, our children have learned how to express themselves, how to tell us when something isn’t going well academically or emotionally, and how to ask for help when they need it. The school gave them that confidence and ability to express themselves.”

Student life at TFS is busy. There’s a lot going on, a lot to get involved with, and tons of learning and growth that happens, no matter what grade you’re in. “TFS students demonstrate high-average to excellent academics and have an internationally minded perspective,” says Markle. “Our kids understand the value of being open minded, of holding different perspectives, and being culturally cognizant. During the admission process, we look for students who are motivated, who want to learn French, and are committed to engaging in activities outside of the classroom.”

Students looking for this type of experience will do best at TFS. And they’ll find teachers and staff eager to help them along the way. “While it’s not a small school, they make it feel like a small school, ensuring every student is seen and supported,” says Azin Tabrizi-Holder, an alumna of the school and parent of a graduating student. “As a parent you feel like you need to advocate for your child, but by Grade 7 my daughter was comfortable advocating for herself. The school creates young adults who are very independent and confident in themselves, and I see that across the board.”

When it comes to academics, the word you’ll hear most when discussing TFS is “rigour.” There is no question that the students here work hard. But beyond hard work, TFS is committed to promoting what they call “academic ambition.” The best way to understand this is to look at the types of learning that are commonplace at TFS: critical thinking, inquiry, and deep understanding. The school teaches students to ask questions and dig deeper, while maintaining respect and open-mindedness. Students are taught to have a growth mindset and to realize their own potential in a safe environment.

Beginning with the early years, a structured learning program is implemented to support children as they learn a new language alongside all of the other age- and stage-appropriate skills they need to be successful. “We work as a team to create units of inquiry based on the IB Programme and we integrate both the French and Ontario curricula into those,” explains Manon Dauphas, a Junior Kindergarten teacher. “We incorporate nature and time in the ravine into our learning, and we spend a lot of time on phonetic awareness and syllables as they begin to learn French.” The key, in the early years, is to work at the children’s pace and ensure true learning happens. “We don’t rush because we want to ensure learning is really integrated every step of the way.”

The IB Programme is designed to cultivate inquiring, knowledgeable, and compassionate young individuals who contribute to a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect. At TFS, this program is woven into the entire curriculum, from the early years through to the Senior School, significantly shaping the student experience. In the Primary Years Programme (PYP), which runs until Grade 5, students explore six transdisciplinary themes: who we are, where we are in place and time, how we express ourselves, how the world works, how we organize ourselves, and sharing the planet. This program culminates with a Grade 5 Exhibition, which is a milestone inquiry project that allows students to explore real-world issues and topics of personal interest.

The Middle Years Program (MYP) takes an interdisciplinary approach, reflecting a more advanced level of study. During their final two years of high school, TFS students pursue the IB Diploma Programme, with the option to earn a bilingual IB Diploma. Over these two years, students study various subjects, culminating in a final set of exams assessed by external examiners under the IB organization’s guidance. Additionally, during this period, students undertake an extended essay, a 4,000-word independently researched paper on a topic of their choice, supported by a faculty supervisor.

Families choose TFS because they know their children will be challenged academically, but also because they’ll be supported along the way. Students who graduate TFS after Grade 12 have a world of opportunities available to them and almost always get into the post-secondary program of their choice. Many students even describe first year at university as straightforward, because they’ve already developed and honed the academic and time management skills to be successful. TFS has a robust university support and career counselling team that helps students consider various careers, explore post-secondary options, and apply to schools both in Canada and around the world. “Our goal is to develop independence and help students understand what their life after TFS will look like,” says English, who leads this program. “We have many alumni who come back to the school to share their career experiences with the students, and they often talk about how TFS prepared them for post-secondary and beyond. The key things most alumni refer to are the Extended Essay project and language education. Many alumni who don’t use French in university still maintain that their bilingualism is a difference-maker when it comes to getting jobs and communicating in their workplace. They often tell students that much more of the world has been available to them because of their language skills.”

When asked to describe TFS, teachers, administrators, parents and students all echo a similar sentiment. “We are diverse and embrace multiculturalism in a big way,” says Markle.

Citizenship is something you’ll hear repeatedly when speaking with TFS staff and administration. The school’s motto: “Individuals who reflect, citizens who act,” demonstrates the balance between thinking and doing and the focus on raising global citizens who take what they learn at TFS into the world. “A person cannot be an effective citizen without interpersonal and intercultural competencies. Learning to respect and embrace others’ differences are vital skills that lead to understanding one another and working together toward a common goal,” says Markle.

TFS parent Piedra-McKenzie, notes, “Our children have always had a diverse set of classmates and we are a diverse group of parents. Yet, we are united in our efforts to build a community where our kids can thrive.” As noted earlier, TFS’s families come from more than 40 different countries worldwide and many students have studied elsewhere before arriving at TFS.

Since its inception, the school has attracted top educators from around the world, including Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, among others. A quick LinkedIn search of any of the school’s administrators reveals educational experience in various countries and schools globally. “It’s almost an exception to have a teacher from Toronto teaching our kids,” says Johnathan Mott-Trille, an alumnus, teacher, and current parent at TFS.

“Our mission is to create citizens of the world who appreciate diverse perspectives and can engage in meaningful conversations respectfully,” says Aurélie Lossouarn, the school’s executive director of global education and citizenship. “Exchanges—both sending TFS students abroad and welcoming international students to Toronto—are just one of the many ways we achieve this goal.” There are a number of formal exchange opportunities that TFS students have the chance to participate in during their Senior School years. The school has long taken part in reciprocal exchange programs with high schools in Paris, France. Another exchange program has recently been added with a school in Seville, Spain. During exchange programs, students stay with host families and attend classes at these schools for two weeks. Then, students from these schools come to Toronto and have a similar experience.

Many other trips also augment the TFS curriculum. There are two types: those that are whole-grade or -level are directly aligned with the curriculum and take place during the term, and a second category that typically takes place near or during TFS’s November and March breaks. These are optional and come at an additional fee. In addition to the exchanges mentioned above, the trips can range from a language immersion trip to Switzerland and service projects around the globe, to arts and music trips to Italy, Model UN conferences, and robotics world championships. “We just had a group of students in Morocco for a Model UN, and we were the only North American school invited to that conference,” says Lossouarn. Piedra-McKenzie adds, “my son chose to join TFS on that trip to Morocco and it proved to be an incredibly eye-opening experience and a chance to meet and learn from students from around the world.”

One very unique trip is the annual visit of a group of Grade 1 students and their parents to Paris. Students toured the city with their teachers during the day and stayed in hotel rooms with their parents at night. It provided a really great opportunity to solidify all the French language learning they’d been doing in class and a chance to show their parents just how fluent they already were.

Beyond international travel, TFS has a variety of trips that students participate in annually as a grade. These trips are memory-making experiences that help forge strong friendships and merge learning with adventure. Overnight trips begin in Grade 3 and include outdoor education and leadership camps and travel to Canadian cities of cultural and historical significance. “Each trip is specifically designed to thoroughly engage students in an environment and experience that promotes personal growth, deepens the ability to connect with others from different backgrounds and cultures, and, in some cases, contributes to the community visited through service activities,” explains Shemansky. Overnight trips range from a sleepover at the Toronto Zoo in Grade 3 to trips to Ottawa, Quebec City, the Laurentians, and outdoor education experiences at sleepover camps throughout Ontario and Quebec.

When it comes to diversity, the school goes beyond internationalism to ensure all students feel welcome, included, and heard. The EDIJ (equity, diversity, inclusion, and justice) student council has played a large role in advocating for inclusion from updating the language used when referring to the student leadership positions, to supporting the creation of gender-neutral washrooms in the Senior School. In 2023, they hosted the first EDIJ conference at TFS exploring topics such as racism, religion, physical accessibility, mental health, and truth and reconciliation with Indigenous peoples.

Through co-curriculars, the school has a variety of clubs and groups that focus on diversity as well, including the Black Excellence club and the Gender and Sexuality Alliance. Teachers are always updating their skills and taking courses to ensure they’re on top of best practice strategies to prepare for and respond well to the needs of a diverse community. “What’s really important to us is that we remain informed and we are able to address students in the way they want to be addressed,” says one of the school’s guidance counsellors. “We have guidance classes where we have the opportunity to gather with students and discuss these timely topics in a safe and community-focused way. Our topics of discussion include identity, mental health, human rights, and sexual education, among others.”

As mentioned throughout, TFS has no shortage of co-curricular and leadership opportunities available to students of all ages. The school is committed to educating the whole child, and despite the busy schedule, the focus on language education, and the academic rigour, there is plenty of time for students to explore interests and try their hand at a variety of co-curriculars. Raising well-rounded individuals means giving students the chance to try things they may not have any experience with, push themselves in areas that may seem challenging, and explore a variety of subjects both within and outside the classroom.

With more than 60 clubs, associations, societies, and co-curricular activities available to Senior School students, there’s always something for everyone to get involved in. And, if the club you want doesn’t exist, students are encouraged to start their own. “My daughter’s love of science was fostered through a very supportive group of educators who encouraged her to take on leadership roles in that space,” says Piedra-McKenzie. “She started her own marine biology club and this was a really big deal for her. She’s now found younger students who share her passion and will take over the club when she graduates.”

For the most part, TFS students want to get involved and they’re eager to join as much as possible. “As we focus on creating citizens of the world and taking their lead, we sometimes find there are students who have interests that aren’t yet fully realized at the school,” explains Lossouarn. “For example if there’s a student who is really into astronomy, we’ll create an astronomy club and try to find the best person to guide this club. We find the students really surprise us with their capabilities and we love to nurture that leadership potential.” Lossouarn continues, “What the students put in, they get out 1000-fold. And unless they’re really busy outside of school, with athletics for example, almost all of our students take part in clubs, or join the band, or are elected into student leadership. In fact, our kids like to get so involved, that sometimes we have to encourage them to scale back just a bit so as not to overextend themselves.”

Many co-curriculars and other opportunities beyond the classroom begin for students at a young age. The arts are a big focus at TFS, and students are encouraged to find creative ways to express themselves. At the school’s West campus, teacher-librarian Louise Soucy-Fraser directs a school musical every year. She’s done The Wizard of Oz, The Sound of Music, and The Lion King, among others, all of which she has personally translated into French. “I believe the best way to pass along the French language is through culture—music, arts, cinema—and for me, that’s why it’s so important that I keep these musicals going.”

When it comes to arts co-curriculars, students have access to things such as violin lessons and LEGO story-building, origami and pottery, and book creation and stop-motion animation to name a few. In the Senior School, students can join the choir or opera club; the chamber wind, string, or jazz ensembles; the band, or orchestra, or try out for the biennial drama production. Students can also put their writing and photography talents to work on the yearbook or student newspaper. If organizing is their forte, students can apply to be a member of the arts council, the student body responsible for co-curricular arts activities.

Many students talk about their involvement in the annual student-run fashion show, something they all seem especially passionate about. This event is a fundraiser and an opportunity for students to really let their creativity shine. Another much-loved event is the annual IB art show, Vernissage, when the most senior art students present their collections of original artwork, developed and refined over a two-year period.

Design thinking and problem solving are emphasized across all grades and on both campuses, with robotics, math, and other STEAM-related clubs and events for students to participate in. At the time of our visit, the TFS robotics team was just returning from an international competition. Students also have the opportunity to participate in school-sponsored events like this year’s “La Nuit du Code,” a programming marathon for Grade 5 through Level II (Grade 8) students. “My son actually started robotics in Grade 1 at TFS and now that he’s in Grade 6 he’s on the robotics team,” says a TFS parent. “It all started with the LEGO robotics program, and it’s been an incredible experience for him. I’m so glad he had the opportunity to discover this passion at such a young age.”

Alumnus Martin Thaw also credits the TFS robotics team with teaching him life-skills like problem solving, critical thinking, and understanding the design cycle. He had the opportunity to familiarize himself with TFS’s tech resources and became proficient designing things using the 3D printer. “They have so many resources that are open and available to students for learning and exploration,” he recalls. All of this contributed to his desire to pursue a joint degree which includes engineering.

Student leadership is certainly emphasized at TFS. Opportunities range from serving as ambassadors of the school and PALs to younger students, to leading the athletics council, arts council, junior or senior council, or prefect council. Students also can apply to be house heads, club heads, or the most celebrated role, Premiers Citoyens, First Citizens —the co-heads—of the entire school. There are many ways to get involved and these roles are regarded highly at TFS. “Learning to lead is a core part of the TFS student experience,” says Jean-Bastien Urfels, principal of the Senior School. “We love to watch our student leaders develop responsibility and accountability in these roles. And the purpose of all these roles and responsibilities isn’t just for the students to have a bigger portfolio when they graduate,” he continues. “It’s for them to have real-life experiences, to know themselves a bit better, and to see their strengths and how they can contribute to the world at TFS and beyond.”

For younger students, leadership opportunities are also plentiful. At La p’tite école, leadership begins in Grade 1, with students participating in assemblies and mentoring their younger peers as book readers in their classrooms. Grade 5 students have the opportunity to serve as playground activity leaders (PALs), organizing recess activities for the other students and resolving conflicts, while on the West Campus, Grade 6 students read with Grade 1 students each week and Grade 7 students act as homework helpers for younger students after school.

Finally, athletics are huge at TFS. The stats speak for themselves. 80 percent of Grade 3 to 7 students play on at least one team and nearly 70 percent of senior students compete in at least one season of athletics. There are more than 80 competitive teams offered by the school and more than 40 teachers helped coach a team this past school year. Student athletes are nurtured by TFS, and those who have serious athletic commitments outside of school are given the support they need to be successful academically while competing in their sport. Physical activity is seen as the ideal balance to academic rigour and all students are given the chance to participate in swimming, ice skating, team sports, nature exploration, and tons of other movement opportunities and activities.

Student mental health and wellness are top of mind at TFS, with a school-wide emphasis on a holistic approach to academic, social, and emotional well-being and success. “Graduates of TFS possess not only a strong academic foundation for post-secondary education and beyond but also the resilience and readiness to face the challenges of the real world,” explains Maryann Shemansky. “TFS’s wellness program focuses on addressing students’ immediate concerns as well as building those habits of mind and body they can carry with them through school and into their adult lives.” The school offers an extensive support system, with guidance counsellors, learning specialists, social workers, and a university counselling team. Teachers, students, and parents collaborate closely to ensure each student’s success.

TFS fosters an environment where students feel safe, respected, and valued, encouraging open communication about mental health and academic struggles. Regular workshops, mindfulness activities, and stress-management sessions are integrated into the school experience to promote emotional resilience and well-being. The school’s commitment to mental health ensures that every student receives the support they need to thrive both personally and academically.

Guidance classes are part of the curriculum beginning in Grade 2 on both campuses and this continues through Level V (Grade 12). “In addition to academic skills such as organization and time management, at the Senior School they are taught about mindfulness, nutrition, and more,” says Rachel Pipher, a social worker on the school’s Health and Wellness team. “There are a lot of exciting things happening at TFS when it comes to student mental health and understanding how it impacts academic, social, and emotional well-being,” she continues. “We talk a lot about success and how that looks different for every student, and we work to normalize the fact that not every student will be able to perform in the same way and that’s okay.”

Under the leadership of Daniel Cohen, executive director of the Learning Forum, the school is changing the paradigm around learning support to ensure every student has access to what they need to be successful. The Learning Forum helps all students become better, stronger learners, and supports teachers in providing differentiated learning at all grades. Students who are particularly strong in an academic area may be able to learn at an accelerated rate, and may take on the challenge of additional coursework beyond their current level. Those who need extra support in certain subject areas have access to learning specialists who often work one-on-one with the student or join a class to ensure everyone is progressing as expected. “We find these resources not only benefit specific students, but the whole class,” Cohen explains.

“TFS embraces a variety of learning styles and ensures all of its students are successful,” says TFS parent Cathy Piedra- McKenzie, whose daughter was among the 2024 TFS graduates and whose son was completing Grade 10 when we spoke. “My daughter started at TFS in JK and my son started when he was two years old in the inaugural Jardin d’éveil program. If there was ever anything that our kids were challenged with academically, socially, or emotionally, we simply had to pick up the phone and there were individuals willing and able to support them.”

An ideal TFS candidate is one who demonstrates high-average to excellent academic performance, values bilingual education, wants to learn French and is committed to the process, is motivated, positive, and internationally minded. The school wants students who like to participate and get involved, who will contribute to their community, and will embrace everything the school has to offer. There’s a shared sentiment among students we speak with that TFS is home and they’re lucky to be here. They are willing to work hard because they love the school and they’re committed to the process. Students come to TFS’s Toronto and West campuses from all over the Greater Toronto Area.

One of the best ways to get a sense of the school community is to visit in person. A walk around campus will help prospective students see what TFS is all about. Open house events are scheduled every fall and include school tours and an opportunity to speak with members of the community including students and staff. Open house dates and application deadlines are posted on the school’s website, along with other important information about the admissions process. “To make the process easier for families, we share similar deadlines with other major independent schools in the city,” says Susan Markle.

While there are natural transition times, students can apply to TFS at any grade. Students with little to no previous knowledge of French can enter TFS up to and including Grade 7 as long as there is availability. “From JK to Grade 7 students who are not bilingual will enter our Intro French program, which brings students up to a bilingual standard in just one year, while still following their grade’s curriculum. The following year, the student moves up to the next grade level, joining their whole class,” says Markle. Students who are bilingual in French and English can join TFS in any grade. Each year the school welcomes approximately 180 to 185 new students across both campuses.

Part of the admissions process is an assessment, which is age- and stage-dependent. “With two-year-olds, we are looking for developmental markers, that they’re on track with language acquisition, cognition, gross and fine motor skills and socio-emotional development. For older students we’re looking at academic skills, math, English, French if they have it. For Grades 6 and up some formal testing is required,” Markle says.

TFS is a not-for-profit independent school and a registered charity. Tuition fees are determined annually, like other independent schools, based on forecasted operating costs. Tuition payments cover the operational costs of educating a student. They do not cover meals, trips, or other added expenses, both optional and mandatory. The school requires a non-refundable registration fee of $9,500 for the Toronto campus and $4,000 for the West campus at the time of registration. Tuition fees are posted annually to the school website and are comparable to other large independent schools in the city.

Optional and additional fees may include the Introductory French program for students in their first year at TFS. For students in Grade 1 and higher, the cost of this program is $4,000 applied in addition to tuition. Other fees include an optional hot lunch program or purchase of food from the cafeteria for Senior School students, before and after school care, athletic and co-curricular costs, uniform fees, textbooks, and mandatory day trips. “The school has a variety of day trips and experiences that are paid in a lump sum balance up to Grade 5. Fees range from $300 to $700 and are charged in September,” says Shyrose Janmohamed, the school’s CFO.

While TFS does offer a wide range of travel opportunities, all of them are optional with no pressure to attend. These range from overnight trips to camping trips to international travel and can range in price from a few hundred dollars to thousands of dollars. “Being able to take part in these trips or not doesn’t prevent anyone from coming to TFS or having the full TFS experience. They’re incredible opportunities but purely optional,” Janmohamed explains.

Scholarships

TFS has one entrance scholarship available to one student per year entering Grade 7 or above. The scholarship is based on a combination of factors including academic standing, involvement in school and/or community, and financial need. The scholarship is renewable every year until graduation if the student maintains an average of 80 percent and meets the conditions of the award. It is a full scholarship, meaning that it covers tuition and incidentals. The application and more details can be found on the school’s website.

TFS is a highly regarded international coed school that’s known for its unique blend of the French and Ontario curricula. TFS provides education from Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12, emphasizing fluency in both French and English. The school is hailed for its academic excellence, diverse community, and global outlook, with students benefiting from the International Baccalaureate (IB) programs and a wide range of extracurricular activities. TFS fosters a supportive environment, focused on holistic development and character building.

“It’s so important to get children speaking languages early and the fact that all students graduate perfectly bilingual is part of the magic of TFS,” says Jonathan Mott-Trille “Our students are exposed to different cultures and languages, which foster an openness that they can access for the rest of their lives. Both of my daughters are very different people and they each take advantage of different elements of the school; they excel in different areas, and they both thrive here. I love watching them blossom.”

Students and their families exude passion and commitment to the school and community. They speak highly of the teachers and leadership team, the opportunities, and the learning. They are eloquent and well-spoken, polite and inspiring. They are ambitious and driven. It’s a lot of work, but students also have fun and feel like they’re part of a big family. Language education is immersive and well-integrated into all aspects of school life.

An ideal TFS student is someone who thrives in a bilingual and academically rigorous environment. They are curious, adaptable, and open minded, embracing the challenges of learning in at least two languages. They are globally aware, culturally sensitive, and value diversity, reflecting the international ethos of the school. They’re also well-rounded and open to actively participating in extracurricular activities such as sports, arts, and community service. They are driven by a love of learning, demonstrate strong critical thinking skills, and are prepared to engage with complex global issues.

Students and educators come from around the world and just up the street. Diversity is celebrated and students are exposed to rich cultural learning. Teachers often bring a wealth of global experience to the classroom. They’re passionate about French and supportive in helping students master the language.

“Our strength lies not only in our excellent programming, but also the community we create,” says Jean-Bastien Urfels. “Students learn from each other and their teachers, they respect each other, they embrace new traditions and learn about each other’s cultures and backgrounds. They have important conversations; they learn to disagree respectfully and to question and dig deeper. And they grow into global citizens who care about community and take action to make the world a better place.”