As the only all-girls' Catholic independent school in Toronto, Hawthorn provides a unique and very specific program, one that focusses on the needs of girls while providing instruction through a Catholic lens. Celebrating its 35th anniversary in 2024, the school was founded through the instigation of a group of parents who wanted the kind of academic specificity that the school continues to promote today. And, truly, there's no other school like it: girls are challenged to pursue passions in the full range of academic pursuit, STEM primary among them. Character, too, is a primary focus, including an expression of self. The ideal student is one who thrives within a supportive yet academically challenging environment.
We questioned the school adminstration
1. Who are you, as a school?
"Hawthorn’s mission is to partner with parents to educate well-rounded young women who know and love the Truth. We provide formation in the timeless wisdom and virtues of how to be a human being who can think, communicate, appreciate Beauty, and choose the Good. With a 100% acceptance rate at the university of their first choice, students receive a personalized and holistic education. Our students are guided to become the sculptors of their own best possible selves, and use their gifts for the betterment of society."
100% university acceptance rate
Catholic-inspired education
Partnership with parents - the primary educators
Virtue development and character formation
Mentoring through example and one-on-one conversations
Leadership though community service
All girls education tailored to the ways girls thrive
Understanding why - not just what
Holistic and personalized education - mind, will and heart
Grammar, logic, and rhetoric; arithmetic, geometry, music, and astronomy
2. What do you do differently and uniquely well?
"Some families who knew little about Hawthorn attended our Upper School Closing Ceremony, and commented how confident our students are. These families remarked how loud the...(more)
"Some families who knew little about Hawthorn attended our Upper School Closing Ceremony, and commented how confident our students are. These families remarked how loud the cheering and applause were as students were going on stage to receive their awards. The Hawthorn guests said, “Only confident girls cheer for others. The insecure are jealous of others’ achievements.” Another parent said, “Hawthorn doesn’t just reward academic success. Students are accepted for who they are because they are also recognized for different virtues.” Hawthorn's school play was entirely student-led. Students bought the script, held auditions, fundraised, directed, made the costumes, etc. The play was not just great entertainment. It was also an opportunity to reach out to lonely seniors because one student had the idea to invite seniors from a residence to watch the play for free. Our younger students greeted the seniors and served them coffee and pastries. The seniors said, "We felt like royalty.""
3. What tradeoffs has your school made to serve families in this way?
Information not yet available.
4. What key junctures in your school's history have most shaped its present?
Information not yet available.
5. What type of student is a good fit for your school?
Information not yet available.
6. Under what conditions would you advise a family against choosing your school?
Information not yet available.
7. To your knowledge, why do families choose your school over others?
"Visitors to Hawthorn are often struck by the maturity, eloquence, and generosity of Hawthorn students. When a 15-year-old student was asked to name one good thing that she had...(more)
"Visitors to Hawthorn are often struck by the maturity, eloquence, and generosity of Hawthorn students. When a 15-year-old student was asked to name one good thing that she had done recently, she said, "Put school work behind my family. For the past few years, I was so caught up with trying to balance my school work and family time. Now I realize that one will be there forever if I want it to be and the other will not." This same student also mentioned how her faith has grown since attending Hawthorn: "When I was little, I would see my parents and the people around me being very consistent with their faith. But as a little girl, I always thought that Sunday Mass was the only way for me to grow in my faith. Attending Hawthorn has changed my whole perspective on faith. For example, something that I have known for a really long time but I just realized is that serving and loving others really shows that we are loving God above all else.""
8. How would you characterize your school's image amongst the public?
"At Hawthorn's Closing Ceremony we stop for a moment and honour students for something more than academics, more than sports, more than scholarships. Recognition is given to...(more)
"At Hawthorn's Closing Ceremony we stop for a moment and honour students for something more than academics, more than sports, more than scholarships. Recognition is given to students for displaying virtue at various times during the school year. Because we believe that a true education goes beyond grades. It’s about who one is as a person. Parents have commented that the best part of Hawthorn's ceremonies is not the recitation of names for the Honour Roll and other awards but the explanation of how students have lived various virtues. One student was recognized for the virtue of fortitude as follows: "This young lady is unstoppable. She got hit in the head while performing on stage but stitches and lack of sleep from waiting hours in the Emergency Department didn’t stop her from performing in the play the following afternoon. She may be small but she’s a powerhouse.""
9. What aspect of your school is underappreciated?
"We respect the shared goals of our students and their families. We pride ourselves not only on preparing the girls for a postsecondary education, with a 100% university acceptance...(more)
"We respect the shared goals of our students and their families. We pride ourselves not only on preparing the girls for a postsecondary education, with a 100% university acceptance rate, but also on helping them to succeed in their life’s path – no matter what it may be. Our curriculum provides cultural literacy, critical reasoning skills, and aid in the growth of virtue, in a smaller school environment that allows teachers and mentors to know every girl, their personal interests and abilities."
10. What might families find surprising about your school?
"One of the ways that we keep making a difference is by listening and changing, but not only the requirements of an increasingly competitive and complex world – but by listening...(more)
"One of the ways that we keep making a difference is by listening and changing, but not only the requirements of an increasingly competitive and complex world – but by listening to and working together with parents. Hawthorn was founded upon the principal belief that parents are the primary educators of their children, and our commitment to educate together in partnership with them, is part of what continues to make Hawthorn different."
11. What improvements or changes has your school made recently?
"Hawthorn is implementing the REAL (Real Excellence and Attitude for Life) Character Education program which promotes an engaging and compelling case for young people to live a...(more)
"Hawthorn is implementing the REAL (Real Excellence and Attitude for Life) Character Education program which promotes an engaging and compelling case for young people to live a life of virtue, grow in character strength, improve their well-being, and ultimately live happier and more balanced lives. Katrina Alvir, the creator of REAL, says: "Excellent students need a strong character, and likewise strong characters are forged through effort in academic endeavours, creativity, sports, social life and service to the community." Through engaging, meaningful, and practical workshops, journaling, and discussions, we will continue to lead girls towards discovering the truth in Aristotle's timeless conviction: 'Happiness is the reward of virtue.'"
12. How will your school change in the next 5 years?
Gr. 7 (current) — Hawthorn School has provided an environment for my daughter to blossom and for us to be part of a community of amazing families who look to fully develop their kids academically while fostering humanistic values. During the pandemic, we realized our daughter was not learning enough to satisfy her thirst for knowledge and meaningful social interaction. We made the change to Hawthorn, not because it was an independent school but because it reflects in all senses its values. What we read, what we heard, and what we noticed about them were coherent. At Hawthorn, our daughter is surrounded by amazing teachers and mentors, people we admire, and great role models. They not only appreciate each child’s talents but also guide them to develop their civic and leadership skills. After almost two years we notice our daughter went from superficially content to happy at her core, from timid and quiet to a very confident young lady who engages in dialogue and debate with well-thought-through arguments, and even more importantly, cares much more for her family, her school and her community. A village is needed to raise a child. Hawthorn has become our village because the entire community strives for excellence and goodness.
Gr. 10 (current) — Hawthorn is a good school. The students are inclusive and the teachers are great at teaching. The only thing I wish I could maybe change is the school gym. It would be nicer if the ceiling was just a little higher and the gym space a little wider. When playing sports like volleyball the ball hits the ceiling very often, but I'm sure if the team was to go play a tournament at another school, the ball would go over the net. What I like about this school is the fact that the structure of the school is small. It fits all the students who come to Hawthorn perfectly. The study space, the atrium, the hallways, the lunchroom, and the classrooms all have roomy layouts.
Nursery/Toddler (current) — Hawthorn School is wonderful. My two favorite things about Hawthorn are the teachers and the environment. You can tell the teachers are so passionate about their subject, so much so that their classes are exciting to attend. They guide you through your struggles and are so helpful and kind that we students are never uncomfortable or hesitant to ask for help. Secondly, I love the environment. As it is a smaller school, there are more leadership opportunities that give a great experience. As well as this, everybody can get involved in whatever club, sport, class, or team they are interested in. The environment in a smaller school like Hawthorn is so welcoming and you get to know everyone. Also, your teachers are able to help and understand you individually, and they help you excel in specific areas but also in school in general.
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