Activities and Trips

Orientation Week

All new boarding students, Canadian and international, attend our week-long orientation program in late August. Orientation Week is an essential time for students to get settled into life at Branksome Hall and helps our Boarding students become familiar with the school, the Boarding houses, Toronto and the Boarding Team.

Program highlights:

Individual meetings with each girl’s School Counsellor, language coordinator and the school nurse
Assessments of each girl’s speaking, listening and writing skills
Strategies to prepare each girl for academic success at Branksome Hall
Immersion in an English-language environment and Canadian culture
Appointments at the Uniform Shop for a personalized uniform fitting
Excursions with Boarding Advisors to introduce students to their new home away from home and help them feel comfortable in Toronto
Shopping trips to buy necessities such as a local cell phone, toiletries, cold-weather clothes and school supplies
The opportunity to create strong friendships and great memories!

Learn More About Boarding

Weekends

On Saturday afternoons, Boarding Advisors lead excursions off-campus to help students explore Toronto and their own interests while also connecting students to each other, our local community and Canadian culture. Students and staff experience local attractions such as museums, art galleries, nature trails or sporting events, and participate in community service activities.

On Sunday afternoons, Boarding Advisors offer on-campus activities to encourage students to take a break from their homework and try something new and fun such as hula dancing, origami or yoga. Creative pursuits help to calm busy minds and give perspective as we come to the end of a busy weekend.

On long weekends, Boarding Advisors partner with our University Counsellors to offer university campus visits to post-secondary institutions such as the University of Toronto, McGill University in Montreal and Queen’s University in Kingston. These day-trips are an invaluable way to experience university life and gain a better understanding of the best match when making post-secondary choices.

During the winter months, Branksome Hall partners with Snowhawks Ski and Snowboard School to offer fun on the slopes of Blue Mountain, one hour north of Toronto, every Saturday or Sunday. Depending on age and ability level, students participate in lessons and free time with students from other local schools. Transportation to and from the mountain is included in this additional program.

Service Opportunities & Extra Support

Boarding Advisors coordinate with local and international community service organizations to provide service opportunities both on- and off-campus. Past partnerships include the New Circles clothing bank, Canadian Breast Cancer Society pink ribbon campaign, Toronto Humane Society dog toy drive and the Children’s Peace Monument origami crane project.

Our youngest students in Grades 7 and 8 require additional support and programming. A dedicated Boarding Advisor is available every day to help with homework, organize activities on and off campus, and provide structure and guidance as they learn the skills to grow their independence.

A Typical Week in Boarding

List of 1 items.

Monday to Friday +

For current parents wishing to view your child’s daily class schedule, please visit MyBranksome Portal.

7:30–8:15 a.m.
Breakfast in the Athletics and Wellness Centre.

8:25 a.m.–3:35 p.m.
Classes, Boarding is closed to students.

3:35–5:30 p.m.
Free time to participate in sports teams, clubs, musical ensembles, theatre rehearsals and international language classes. Grades 7-8 students may leave campus with a member of the Boarding staff; Grades 9-12 students may sign out and leave campus with a buddy.

5:45–6:45 p.m.
Dinner in the Athletics and Wellness Centre, including special dinners.

7:00–9:00 p.m.
Study time.

9:00–10:00 p.m.
Quiet time and getting ready for bed (laundry, showers, etc.).

10:00 p.m.
Bedtime for Grades 7 and 8.

10:30 p.m.
Bedtime for Grade 9.

11:00 p.m.
Bedtime for Grade 10.

11:30 p.m.
Bedtime for Grade 11.

Grade 12 bedtime at the discretion of the Boarding Team.

List of 1 items.

Friday Evening +

For all two-, three- and four-day weekends, Boarding is open and students have time to relax and participate in a variety of recreational, cultural and leisure activities.

Boarding students always have the option to spend a weekend off-campus with their family, a guardian or a classmate's family. Boarding staff will confirm weekend plans in advance with the student's parents and the host family to ensure supervision and safety.

3:35–5:30 p.m.
Classes finish, free time. Students may sign out and leave campus.

5:30–6:30 p.m.
Dinner in the Athletics and Wellness Centre (not mandatory).

6:30–9:00 p.m.
Free time.

9:00 p.m.
Grades 7–9 curfew.

10:00 p.m.
Grade 10 curfew.

11:00 p.m.
Grade 11 curfew, bedtime for Grades 7 and 8.

11:30 p.m
Bedtime for Grade 9.

12:00 a.m.
Grade 12 curfew, bedtime for Grades 10 and 11.

List of 1 items.

Saturday +

8:00–11:00 a.m.
Cold breakfast available in the house kitchens.

10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
Fitness Centre open to students.

11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
Hot brunch available in the Athletics and Wellness Centre.

1:00–5:30 p.m.
Free time and AWC Pool open. Off-campus event organized and chaperoned by a Boarding Advisor.

6:00–7:00 p.m.
Dinner in the Athletics and Wellness Centre (not mandatory).

7:00–9:00 p.m.
Free time.

9:00 p.m.
Grades 7–9 curfew.

10:00 p.m.
Grade 10 curfew.

11:00 p.m.
Grade 11 curfew, bedtime for Grades 7 and 8.

11:30 p.m
Bedtime for Grade 9.

12:00 a.m.
Grade 12 curfew, bedtime for Grades 10 and 11.

List of 1 items.

Sunday +

8:00–11:00 a.m.
Cold breakfast available in the house kitchens.

10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
Fitness Centre open to students.

11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
Hot brunch available in the Athletics and Wellness Centre.

1:00–5:30 p.m.
Free time and AWC Pool open. On-campus event organized by a Boarding Advisor.

6:00–7:00 p.m.
Dinner in the Athletics and Wellness Centre (mandatory for students not on Weekend Leave).

6:30–9:00 p.m.
Free time on campus.

8:00 p.m.
Students return from Weekend Leave.

9:00 p.m.
Bedroom checks (weekly clean and tidy).

9:00–10:00 p.m.
Quiet time and getting ready for bed (laundry, showers, etc.).

10:00 p.m.
Bedtime for Grades 7 and 8.

10:30 p.m.
Bedtime for Grade 9.

11:00 p.m.
Bedtime for Grade 10.

11:30 p.m.
Bedtime for Grade 11.

Grade 12 bedtime at the discretion of the Boarding Team.

Learn More

Our IB Advantage
As Toronto’s leading independent International Baccalaureate (IB) World School for girls, Branksome Hall is uniquely positioned to equip learners from JK to Grade 12 with the skills to unlock their potential and change the world. Learn more.
Heading to University
With today’s exponential pace of change and the complexities of our current global context, tomorrow’s leaders will need to think differently and navigate uncertainty. Branksome Hall is preparing leaders who will not only meet this need, but are already shaping that future. Learn more.
Scholarships
Branksome offers a variety of entrance merit scholarships for new day or Boarding students in Grades 7–11. Learn more.

LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT

We wish to acknowledge this land on which Branksome operates. For thousands of years, it has been the traditional land of the Huron-Wendat, the Seneca, and most recently, the Mississaugas of the Credit River. Today, this meeting place is still the home to many Indigenous peoples from across Turtle Island and we are grateful to have the opportunity to work and go to school on this land.

Contact
Admissions
Privacy Policy
Accessibility
Community Guidelines

Branksome Hall
10 Elm Ave, Toronto, ON, Canada
M4W 1N4

1-416-920-9741 
admissions@branksome.on.ca 

Apply Request Info