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The Linden School is an independent, all-girls school located near the intersection of Yonge and St. Clair in Toronto, Ontario. Founded in 1993, The Linden School offers a rigorous academic program and employs the Ontario Curriculum, while specifically encouraging students to think critically and advocate for positive social change.[1] A Linden education inspires girls to develop confidence through innovative teaching methods, empowering learning experiences, and focusing on making meaningful connections, with their peers and with the larger local and global community. With an enrollment of 125 students in grades 1 to 12, the average class size at Linden is 11 students.[2] Advanced placement courses are available.
| The Linden School | |
|---|---|
| Address | |
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10 Rosehill Avenue , , M4T 1G5 | |
| Information | |
| Website | Official website |
History
The Linden School was co-founded by Diane Goudie and Eleanor Moore and opened its doors to 37 students in 1993. At the core of Diane and Eleanor’s vision for The Linden School was feminist pedagogy, an approach to learning rooted in equity, diversity, and empowerment for girls.[3] Their goal was to create a school environment that promoted and developed all voices, those easily heard, and those often less audible. Because of their leadership, Linden remains at leading edge of girls’ education and is the first school in Canada to integrate feminist pedagogical approaches to teaching and learning.[4] Diane and Eleanor were recognized for their groundbreaking work in girls’ education with an honorary doctorate from York University in 2007.[4]
Under the guidance of current principal, Dr. Mary Ladky, Linden continues to be a leader in girls education.
Athletics
Linden Athletics offers a unique programme, where all girls are welcome to participate on a variety of teams. Linden’s approach ensures that all girls have the opportunity to take part in competitive sports and, therefore, coaches do not make ‘cuts’ or select only the top athletes but, rather, encourage all athletes of varying skill levels to participate on teams.[5] Linden sports teams are part of the Small Schools Athletics Federation (S.S.A.F.).[6] Additionally, Linden also has monthly health initiatives which challenge students and faculty to improve their cardiovascular health, nutrition and mental health.
The unique qualities of Linden’s athletic programmes were recently presented at the National Coalition of Girls’ Schools Annual Conference in Boston, MA.[7]
Fall Sports
- Ultimate Frisbee
- Indoor Soccer
- Cross Country
- Basketball
Winter Sports
- Volleyball
Spring Sport
- Ball Hockey
- Outdoor Soccer
- Track and Field
Co-Curricular Activities
There are currently 32 co-curricular activities offered at The Linden School.[8] Linden students cite their participation in co-curricular activities as one of the key reasons a Linden education has developed their confidence and increased their level of engagement.[9] Students are encouraged to organize clubs and activities based around their own interests, and as a result, many of the co-curricular activities at Linden are student-led.
- Animal Rights Club
- Dodgeball Club
- Library Club
- Social Justice Club
- Spectrum
- Art Show Committee
- Drama Club
- Math & Puzzle Club
- SOMA
- Strings
- Boxing Club
- EdGE
- Scrapbooking Club
- The Linden Band
- Rhythms of Resistance
- Chess Club
- Guitar Club
- Senior Geek Club
- Yearbook Club
- NADA Art Club
- Choir
- Junior Makers Club
- Senior Makers Club
- Yoga Club
- Intramurals
- Classics Club
- Junior French Club
- Senior Writers Club
- Science Club
- Cooking Club
- Girls Helping Girls
- Environment Club
References
- ^ http://www.lindenschool.ca/principals-message/
- ^ http://www.ourkids.net/school/school-profile.php?id=146
- ^ Feminist Pedagogy: Identifying Basic Principles, Academic Exchange Quarterly, 2002. M. Allen, K. Walker & L. M. Webb.
- ^ a b http://www.yorku.ca/yfile/archive/index.asp?Article=8635
- ^ http://www.lindenschool.ca/what-activities-can-i-join/athletics/
- ^ http://ssaf.ca/About-SSAF.php
- ^ http://www.ncgs.org/Pdfs/AnnualConference/2013/Program_FINAL.pdf
- ^ http://www.lindenschool.ca/what-activities-can-i-join/
- ^ http://www.thestar.com/life/privateschools/2012/09/22/girls_helping_girls.html
Acknowledgement
Where the boys aren't Eva Salinas From Monday's Globe and Mail Published Monday, Oct. 22, 2007 10:57AM EDT "These same characteristics easily define the state of the all-girl educational system in Canada. In contrast to some all-boys schools that have gone co-ed in the past, especially in their secondary component, all-girls private schools remain steadfastly popular, with no decline in sight.
Proof of the growing interest in female learning styles is in the success of the Linden School, a non-traditional, all-girls school that opened to 37 students in Toronto in 1993. Today the school has a population of 140 students, in grades 1 through 12, and boasts a student-teacher ratio of 10 to 1.
Learning at Linden differs from other schools, not only in its girl-centred philosophy but also in the close relationships between students and staff and even the physical setup of the school, says co-principal Dawn Chan.
For example, students call teachers by their first names, and hands-on science labs are set up in "pods," with the students facing each other.
Linden administrator Alana Bell says parents are actively seeking this kind of learning environment for their daughters.
"We're still living in a world where it's not a level playing field with girls and boys," she says. "Women have made all kinds of progress over the century but there's still progress to be made and I think parents are conscious of that."
Linden officials predict that unless their school expands, they will have to put potential students on a waiting list.
"We're in a position where we're going to have to keep expanding and change our physical space because we are just about to burst," says Ina Szekely, another co-principal.
Judging by its growth, and the enthusiasm of its students whether at play in a gym class or deep in concentration in an art class, the Linden School is meeting a demand for an alternative to both the public system and the single-sex system based on the British private school model"