Junior School students canoeing during a school trip.

York School News

IB Retreat at Centre for Social Innovation

10/28/2016

The York School recently hosted its second annual Diploma Programme retreat for all Grade 11 students and their parents. The retreat was held at the Centre for Social Innovation, where York School alumni, Adil Dhalla, is the Executive Director. The retreat devotes an entire day to reflecting on the IB Diploma experience, including both the advantages it offers as well as some of the more challenging aspects that students encounter as they move through the programme.

During the retreat, students and parents heard from current York School Grade 12 students and recent Diploma York School graduates who provided their own perspectives on how best to thrive in the programme. “I liked how there were actual people that went through our year. I enjoyed asking any questions I thought needed an answer,” said one Grade 11 student.

Subject teachers and other faculty, Grade 12 students, and our IB Diploma Coordinator spoke with Grade 11 students about the transition from the MYP to the Diploma, and discussed specific strategies to manage this transition with confidence. One student participant noted: “I liked that we all shared our fears and questions and felt like we are in the same boat.”Strategies relating to subject-specific learning skills, effective time management, and managing stress were also focal points for discussion and faciliated by The York School’s dedicated Director of Student Wellness.

Feedback from this retreat has been extremely positive from both students and parents. In the words of one parent: “I felt that there was a tremendous amount of encouragement and support being shared with our kids, which made me feel that they are in such great hands – less to worry about as a parent. I was left feeling less pressure on myself from having to be the motivator for my child's success.”

To learn morea about the IB Diploma programme at The York School, please visit our IB Curriculum page or contact us for more information.

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About the York School

The York School is a gender-inclusive JK to Grade 12 independent school located in the heart of Toronto. The York School was founded in 1965 and is the first English speaking school in Canada accredited to offer the International Baccalaureate (IB) from junior kindergarten (JK) to university entrance. As an IB World School, The York School's motto is Experience Teaches.