York School News

Alumni Spotlight: Alexis Charest-Descomme ‘13

Alexis Charest-Descomme ‘13 was a prospective student touring the Middle School when he learned that York was among the first schools in Canada to offer a one-to-one laptop program. “At the time, we had one shared computer in our home,” explains Alexis, “so the idea that I would have my own laptop was a real game changer for me.”
As a leader in tech-enabled education, The York School has long embraced innovation and technology as important tools for students as they develop their problem-solving and critical-thinking skills. Alexis remembers being impressed by the integration of tech he hadn’t seen in other schools, as well as the teachers who enriched the curriculum through digital literacy. “I joined the sound crew for the hands-on opportunity to learn,” recalls Alexis. “And by Grade 9, I had taught myself how to make my own website with embedded video games.” 
 
Today, Alexis works as an Analytical Lead at Google. He credits The York School with helping him find his passion. “In my daily work, I’m still using the skills I developed during my time at York to analyze complex data to tell compelling stories,” says Alexis. He also points to the nurturing relationships he developed with his teachers. “For me, the one thing that truly differentiated The York School was the personal relationships you could build with your teachers,” says Alexis, “I saw them less as authority figures and more as people I could learn alongside who could guide me.” 
 
This supportive environment gave Alexis the confidence to try new things and discover his passions. “While I didn’t know it at the time, it all brought me to exactly where I am today.”
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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.

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Junior School (Grades JK-5) 1639 Yonge Street Toronto, Ontario M4T 2W6 
 
Middle School (Grades 6-8) & Senior School (Grades 9-12) 1320 Yonge Street Toronto, Ontario M4T 1X2 | Tel: 416.926.1325
 
Mailing address: 1320 Yonge Street, Toronto, Ontario M4T 1X2
Attendance:
Junior School: 1639attendance@yorkschool.com
Middle & Senior School:

1320attendance@yorkschool.com

Admission:
admission@yorkschool.com

General Questions:
reception@yorkschool.com