Crescent School, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Crescent School, established in 1913, is an independent boys' school located on a sprawling 30 acre campus on the edge of the Don Valley in mid-town Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The school's facilities include air-conditioned classrooms, a library, a design/technology laboratory, computer laboratories, art studios, music studios and a 24-track recording studio. The school's theatre, the Centre for Creative Learning, has state-of-the-art equipment and can seat up to 350 people. It was built in 2004. Image File history File links Newspaper_nicu_buculei_01. ... For information on Wikipedia press releases, see Wikipedia:Press releases. ... Motto: Ut Incepit Fidelis Sic Permanet (Latin: Loyal she began, loyal she remains) Capital Toronto Largest city Toronto Official languages English (de facto) Government Lieutenant-Governor David C. Onley Premier Dalton McGuinty (Liberal) Federal representation in Canadian Parliament House seats 107 Senate seats 24 Confederation July 1, 1867 (1st) Area...

Crescent's athletic facilities include two gymnasiums, four squash courts, two large playing fields and an all-weather track. The Field House contains an indoor track, weight training area, pole vaulting pit, a classroom and a large centre space configured to three tennis, basketball, volleyball or badminton courts.

In its 2001 report on Ontario schools, the Fraser Institute [1] ranked Crescent number one out of 568 in academic performance, an honour shared with 17 other schools. The student body consists of approximately 660 students. The school is divided into three different schools: the Lower School, the Middle School and the Upper School. These schools share facilities and Crescent's overall mission (Men of Character from Boys of Promise), yet maintain their own identities tailored to the needs of their students. Each school is governed by a Head and an Assistant Head, but all are overseen by the Headmaster, Mr. Geoff Roberts, and Deputy Head, Mr. Colin Lowndes. The Fraser Institute is a libertarian think tank based in Canada. ...

Lower school

The Lower School accommodates students from grades 3 to 6, grade 3 being the entry year into the school. The student:teacher ratio is 18:1 for students in grade 3, and 22:1 for students in grade 4 to 6. There are two classes per grade, with eight total classes for 168 Lower School students. The Head of Lower School is Mr. Ross MacDonald; the Assistant Head of the Lower School is Dr. Sandra Boyes.

Middle school

The Middle School, for students in grade 7 and 8, has a student:teacher ratio of 23:1. There are three classes per grade, with six total classes in the Middle School for approximately 140 students. The Head of Middle School is Mr. Mark Hord; the Assistant Head of Middle School is Mr. Michael Ruscitti.

Upper school

The Upper School, for students from grade 9 to 12, has a student-teacher ratio that varies from course to course. However, the maximum number of students per class is 24. The Head of the Upper School is Mr. Colin Lowndes, and the Assistant Head (as well as the Head of Admissions) is Mr. David Budden. Upper School students have the opportunity to become House Captains (see The House System below) in grade 11, and Prefects in grade 12. Prefects make up the student body government and the Head Boy, elected by Upper School students and Crescent staff and faculty, is considered to be the face of the student body.

Staff

Crescent's teachers come from schools and businesses around the world to share their expertise with their students. Many have taught at colleges and universities or have experience in the field of professional business, athletics and academics. They bring a passion for the subjects they teach along with a broad understanding of the world into their classrooms.

House system

Every Crescent student and staff is a member of one of the school's six Houses: Cartier (grey), Hudson (yellow), Mackenzie (light blue), Massey (navy blue), Simcoe (purple) or Wolfe (red). Each house is named after a prominent figure in Canadian history. A student's membership in a House is determined at the time of his admission to Crescent, and he is a member of that House for his entire life. While at the school, a student represents his House in everything that he does. With every contribution he makes in the classroom, on the athletic fields, on the stage or in any other co-curricular activity, students generate House Points. As students build House Points, they collect House Awards that recognize his contributions to the school. Special House Days and House activities are planned throughout the year.

Academics

At Crescent School, the academic program is rigorous and students are expected to challenge themselves to go beyond satisfying graduation requirements.

Crescent focuses on intellectual, social, ethical, emotional and physical education and the curriculum tries to develop youth who are confident, caring and committed; who exhibit self assurance and self respect; who are able to creatively and critically express themselves; who are technologically literate and artistically alert; who are well prepared for further educational and life experiences and who function as valuable and contributing members of their communities.

Crescent School currently offers Advanced Placement (AP) courses in Human Geography, Computer Science A, Statistics, Calculus AB, English Literature, Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Microeconomics and Macroeconomics.

Athletics

Crescent fosters fitness through many opportunities to participate in sports and physical activities both curricular and co-curricular.

Crescent offers teams such as basketball, hockey, baseball, track and field, rugby, volleyball, badminton, tennis, swimming, soccer, skiing, table tennis, snowboarding and cross country.

The school has a longstanding record of success in both CISAA and OFSAA. During the 2006-2007 school year, Crescent's athletes won 12 CISAA Championships and was a finalist in 20 Championship games.

Character education

Crescent's Core Values of Respect, Responsibility, Honesty and Compassion form the cornerstone of all our endeavours.

Our students are taught that respect - of oneself, of one's peers, of teachers, family, our community, our environment - is at the heart of everything we do at the school. From that foundation emerges the importance of taking personal responsibility for one's actions. Combined with honesty and compassion for those around us these values support and promote our mission: Men of Character from Boys of Promise.

Co-curricular programs

Robotics Since 1999, Crescent has been involved with the FIRST Robotics Competition, an exciting, North America-wide competition in which professionals and young people are teamed together to solve an engineering design problem in an intense yet cooperative way. Crescent has also been instrumental in bringing the competition into Canada. In 2003, the Crescent FIRST Robotics Team won the prestigious regional Chairman's Award in recognition of the contribution it has made to the field of Robotics. Crescent continues to lead and mentor other schools through its work in robotics.

Global Outreach Crescent's Global Outreach initiative emphasizes local, national and global opportunities that take an experiential learning and community service approach. Crescent School has many growing global outreach projects in Toronto and around the world. In Toronto, Crescent students participate in a tutoring program set up with two at-risk schools, Willow Park PS and Firgrove PS, where Upper and Middle School students tutor the elementary school children. Other local projects students work on range from planting trees, collecting food for food banks and making quilts for disaster victims.

Internationally, Crescent's Upper School students travel to areas in need to help dig wells, build libraries and tutor children in English. In addition to the cultural and language exchanges gained from these experiences, students have the chance to develop their leadership skills while helping them become men of character and global citizens.

During the 2006-2007 school year, students had the opportunity to participate in outreach projects going to South Africa, Honduras, Tanzania, Madagascar and India.

Duke of Edinburgh's Award Last year, Crescent students were awarded 16 bronze, five silver and three gold level awards in this prestigious international program that fosters self-discipline, enterprise and perseverance in young people. The award involves comprehensive individual development, self-training and personal achievement, and is based upon individual effort and improvement.

Outdoor Education Crescent's Outdoor Education program is run through the Health and Physical Education Department. There is a nature-based leadership camp introductory trip for boys in grade 9, a base camp adventure trip in grade 10 and two eco-challenge trips in grade 11. Each year the program builds on the skills learned in the previous year and progressively gets more challenging. The underlying theme of the adventure is to develop character and build leadership.

Scholarships and bursaries

Crescent offers a variety of scholarships and bursaries, some based on financial need and others strictly merit-based.

Admission

• Grade 3: 36 new students are accepted.
• Grade 4: eight new students are accepted.
• Grade 7: 26 new students are accepted.
• Grade 9: approximately 26 new students are accepted.

Students may be admitted to other grades should spaces become available due to attrition.

Notable alumni

• Christophe Beck (1987), composer
• David Harlock (1989), NHL and Olympic hockey player
• George Hees (1922), Member of Canadian Parliament
• Evan Solomon (1987), Writer, author and television personality
• Rob Coleman (1983), Animation Director, Industrial Light and Magic
• Trumbull Warren (1924), aide-de-camp to Field Marshall Sir Bernard Montgomery
• Ian Strachan Johnston (1919), one of the most decorated Canadians of World War II
• Peter O'Brian (1928), served for two years as aide-de-camp to Queen Elizabeth II
• Brad Crombie (1988), gold medal at the Commonwealth Games and an alternate for Canada at the 1996 Olympic Games
• J.R. Brickman, Founder of Brick Brewery
• Neil Lumsden (1971), professional football player
• Rob Stewart, Director of Sharkwater
• Kevin Abrams, Assistant General Manager of Super Bowl Champion New York Giants

Christophe Beck interviewed on a Buffy The Vampire Slayer DVD featurette Christophe Beck (born 1972 in Montreal, Canada), also credited as Chris Beck, is a Canadian film and television composer. ... David A. Harlock (born March 16, 1971 in Toronto, Ontario) is a retired Canadian ice hockey defenseman. ... Hees visiting Eskimos in Frobisher Bay, Northwest Territories, 1958 George Harris Hees, PC , OC (June 17, 1910 - June 11, 1996) was a Canadian politician. ... For other uses of the word Solomon, see Solomon (Disambiguation) Evan Solomon (born 1968 in Toronto, Ontario) is a Canadian writer, magazine publisher and television host. ... Peter OBrian (born 1947 in Toronto, Ontario) is a Canadian film producer and broadcast executive. ... Located in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. ... Neil Lumsden, born December 19, 1952 in London, Ontario, is a former Canadian Football League. ... Sharkwater is a 2007 Canadian documentary film directed, written, and starred in, by Rob Stewart. ...

References

• Fraser Institute
• Frank P Wood Estate
• Crescent School Profile By TopPrivateSchools.ca

External links

• Crescent School's Website
• Crescent School Alumni