Pre-Kindergarten – Grade 5
TFS strives to ensure that each one of its students has an enriching and rewarding educational experience. Psychoeducational Consultants place strong emphasis on academic, behavioural, social and emotional growth. Teachers employ a variety of teaching strategies to accommodate different learning styles. Sometimes positive reinforcement or a very minor adjustment in how a student approaches a particular task is all the support needed. In order to assist teachers, our Psychoeducational Consultant or school psychologist work with the younger grades on both campuses, observing classes in action and partnering with teachers to develop strategies to support students.

The School-Based Support Team (SBST) includes the Principal, Vice Principal(s), Psychoeducational Consultant or school psychologist and teachers. It takes a more formal approach, appropriate when teachers identify a specific learning need. The child’s needs are discussed and followed, when appropriate, by classroom observation and the implementation of an individualized learning strategy; parents are involved throughout the process. In some cases testing is recommended and the School can provide some prescreening internally. If an external assessment is recommended, TFS helps parents by providing a list of specialists and their areas of expertise.

Grades 6 – 7
Formal guidance classes start at Grade 6 with a curriculum that includes peer relations; health and well-being; learning styles; and time management, organizational and study strategies, among other topics. Guidance counsellors meet formally with each class once per cycle, and individually or in small groups as needed. A key emphasis at this grade level is to help students make the transition to the Senior School so that they can begin to become independent learners. Further, counsellors support not only students’ academic needs, but also their changing social and emotional needs, particularly given the rapid growth and development that occurs during the middle years.

Levels I – V
Formal guidance classes at these levels focus on learning about individual interests, strengths and challenges; academic planning, and exploring future educational and career directions. Further, students in Levels II and III complete the 0.5 compulsory Ontario credit in Career Studies, Grade 10. Individual counselling support becomes increasingly important in the more senior grades to assist students and their families in becoming more knowledgeable about course options; IB configuration; experiential learning opportunities; scholarships; and university programs and decision-making.