REVIEW OF Greenwood College School BY Alum, Hannah Chong Chong

Overall Experience 3.5

I joined Greenwood in Grade 7 after switching from another Toronto independent school. A part of what made Greenwood appealing to me was how the programming embodied character and personal growth. Outdoor education really fostered us and showed us a different way to connect and to learn. The OE program allowed us to breathe, be people and learn about ourselves. Prospective students should expect to set a routine for themselves and stick to it, and find people to help them do that. No one is there telling you what to do or to get to class. You have to get yourself from point A to point B. It’s a big change, leaving Greenwood and going to post-secondary. However, it’s OK if it takes time to adjust. It’s OK to not love it in the first few weeks. Give it a chance and give it time.

School Leadership 4.5

The school leaders put in place a shared vision for their school, established a positive and secure learning culture within the school, developed the commitment and capacity of their staff and managed and allocated resources effectively to improve student learning outcomes. The students and leadership respected each other mutually. In senior classes, I was elected as prefect. I had to make a line of children during the school assembly and escort guests during annual functions. I also needed to present speeches in the morning assembly and avoid the chaos during break time. These were some of my responsibilities that I had to perform as a prefect. In all, I felt really happy whenever I was assigned a duty. I was able to show that I can perform well in other fields apart from being good in my studies.

Teaching 4.5

Nobody likes being kept in the dark. I really appreciated being told why we were supposed to do something. Specifically, what the benefit for me was to learn what I was being asked to do. If I can understand how lessons are related to real-world situations the more I seem to be willing to put in the effort. The same is true about why we were expected to behave like quality students in the classroom, and why there needs to be consequences for violating the norms that the school, like society at large, expected of us. Those expectations (not rules) were ours to be respectful, be responsible, be safe, and be kind. Indeed we did reach their expectations. The most effective way to communicate in my opinion is always face-to-face. Face-to-face communication minimizes misunderstandings; encourages engagement; builds trust; promotes collaboration; improves feedback; increases productivity and enhances emotional intelligence. They always held Parent to teacher conferences at least twice a semester

Academics 4.5

At Greenwood, students were allowed to venture further together. Venturing further meant embracing challenges and persevering in overcoming them. It also meant thinking independently in a complex global landscape. It meant doing what was right, even when it was not easy. It meant building connections with the broader world. For me, the skill and character-building experiences we had during Outdoor Education trips prepared me well for life's next steps. It was a high-challenge, high-support environment that encouraged growth, engagement and competition. Teachers were dedicated to knowing their students not only as learners but as people. We had opportunities to work with and learn from our peers. We always received clear and visible next steps in our learning and feedback was timely, specific and actionable. In addition to fostering high academic achievement and important critical thinking skills, this model also helped students develop soft skills that would be invaluable in post-secondary education.

Extracurriculars 5

There were abundant opportunities for students to pursue their passions through high-calibre athletics, arts and other extracurricular programs. I was in the android club which I believe led to my passion and possibly career in the near future. For me, it started off as fun but I took it serious and decided it would be one of my life paths. Some people even took their sporting activities serious such that they got college scholarships.

Students 4.5

Greenwood is small but not tiny. I felt respected and that I could be open about my thoughts with the people in my class. Most of the people were really nice, and I enjoyed meeting them. They reciprocated the same respect and openness as I did, and I really appreciated that. That being said, I managed to create lasting friendships with students across many different grades, nurtured by vibrant school life and our abundant social spaces. The concept of the building plan of the school was pretty open so as to increase interaction among students. I would say the whole group of students was cooperative, open-minded and curious. If I were to give advice to incoming students, I would definitely tell them to make friends with some upperclassmen who can help them with learning and things like how to get around.

School Life 4.5

Greenwood treated me pretty well so I loved going there. I remember the Bible Quiz. It wasn't really a piety thing; the game was a contest of rote learning mixed with a bit of rules lawyering (there was an obscure and fascinating rule about appealing decisions which allowed for lawyer-like features). What I remember was that it was like Boy Scouts to me; it was a focus of lively and gave me something to belong to and some very good friendships. The school’s culture was very focused on taking AP classes, scoring high in different curricula, getting into Ivy League schools, STEM, etc. and I found that this caused most students to focus more on academics than social life and it would be a bit stressful. My advice to prospective families is to make sure their child engages in all aspects of school that are social and academic so as not to regret later on.

Community 5

The broader community at Greenwood is united. Wendy Herod, Director of Student Success and Guidance Counsellor, organized events where we had Greenwood alumni come back to share their experiences. Last year I was invited back to Greenwood along with 3 other alum and shared information about how to stay connected with Greenwood and what it means to be an alum. Parents were welcome to be involved in the school life and part of the curriculum required them to. Parents made sure homework was done, listened to them read, and discussed concepts and ideas with their children. We also had PTA and volunteering opportunities for the parents with the school. I found few parents seemed to either work with the school or pay a lot of attention to their kids' education. If more would work with their children, making sure they do their homework and have their children read to them, show the children the importance of education, and support the teachers rather than go in and rail at teachers because their little darling was called out for something, the kids would do a lot better.

School Location 5

Greenwood College School is located in Ontario, Canada. The closest major city is Toronto, which is about 3 miles away from school but we never ventured beyond the grounds, it was mostly on campus unless it was a field trip. The Bishop Strachan School and Branksome Hall are some of the schools that are close by so it wasn't really an island.

Admissions 4.5

My advice to someone applying would be not to worry and let nature take its course. Of course, you have to apply early. Just like most private schools, Greenwood College School’s typical admission requirements include a school transcript, recommendation letter, application essay, and interview (often optional, but highly recommended). For me, it was quite effortless though I was anxious if I was going to get in. However, the admissions officers were working with me and my family to ensure a flawless process and I would get the fitting classes.

University placement and counselling 4.5

The university placement and counselling at Greenwood are quite elaborate and resourceful. I was looking at several different schools and wondering how to best present my credentials, and our admissions counsellor (again, Ms. Herod) was invaluable. She has worked extensively in admissions and has experience on the “other side of the fence.’ This experience allowed her to give me insights into the process, how admissions officers think, and about my application quality that family and friends just don’t have. The counsellor provided an objective voice regarding my overall package, how to sell myself and how to overcome my perceived weaknesses. She also helped me prepare for interviews, edit essays, and evaluate the “fit” of a school based on my credentials. Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it. Therefore students must be well prepared but to do this alone is difficult. This next step was a life-changing opportunity, therefore I needed to make a well-informed decision which I believe I did with the help of the placement program