HISTORY
In 1987, a school for boys was founded. It was called The Sterling Hall School and began with 16 students from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 3. Founder Darlene Ferris believed that SHS could inspire young boys to enjoy school, provide them with a strong base of knowledge and help them to develop the confidence necessary for the achievement of future success.
These goals were and are still accomplished by following very specific educational principles that have enabled SHS to grow as a distinct community. These principles, which do differentiate SHS from other schools, include:
- That SHS be a small school for boys
- That each class be small
- That the teachers be competent, caring and nurturing
- That the students be recognized as individual learners in an intimate and relaxed atmosphere
The founding philosophies remained at its core as The Sterling Hall School prospered, grew and moved to its present home on Cartwright Avenue. Having expanded to include classes from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 8, SHS is recognized today as Toronto's premier preparatory school dedicated to educating young boys. This school, which began with the vision of one individual, enters the new millennium as a vibrant and welcoming environment for inquisitive, talented and eager learners and their families.
PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE
The most recent SHS Strategic Report was published in 2001 following a comprehensive survey of the entire community which was aimed at further refining the development of the school. The answers confirmed three major components of the SHS experience: the number of students, the SHS program and the atmosphere.
STUDENT POPULATION
SHS families like the small, intimate atmosphere of the school. They believe strongly that small classes are important, allowing for extensive individual attention, nurture or challenge and building a close relationship between the family and the school.
As SHS has grown, the facilities and the program have developed and responded to the varying needs of the students. Such growth, however, has not been at the expense of the warm and caring community atmosphere, which has been retained.
PROGRAM
Our families respond to the challenging academic curriculum which is offered at SHS. In addition, they express appreciation for the balanced focus on culture, athletics, character education, the environment and community service.
SHS families find that regular communication between home and school keeps them informed about their sons' progress. In addition, our community and the schools that our graduates attend endorse the wide-ranging SHS program and the continued encouragement our students receive to participate in the many activities offered at school. This exposure enhances the boys' character and leadership abilities and we are proud of how well our graduates have done in gaining admission to the secondary schools of their choice. Over 90% of our students have been accepted at their school of first choice and the feedback from the admissions personnel at these schools is encouraging indeed.
ATMOSPHERE
The SHS environment has been described in the following way: caring, nurturing, positive and encouraging. These qualities are espoused and supported by the school and are greatly appreciated by our community.
The teachers are welcoming, approachable and friendly. They are enthusiastic, involved and dedicated to the school and its philosophy. In addition, SHS is committed to consistent and regular professional development for the Faculty and Staff, keeping them current with developments in education.
The community does feel that SHS truly operates in the spirit of a strong partnership between the family and the school. The teachers are able to focus on the wide-ranging program and on the whole child. SHS recognizes that boys have differing learning styles. The students' confidence increases as their strengths are recognized and enhanced while work continues on their targeted areas for growth.
It is a primary focus of SHS to ensure that the boys are encouraged to succeed through positive reinforcement and that they feel secure in their environment. Many leadership opportunities are available as the boys are offered the chance to participate in teamwork - whether it be academic, artistic, athletic or in the house system. In a warm and safe atmosphere, the school emphasizes the importance of these elements to an SHS education.
BOARD CONCLUSIONS
The conclusions reached by the members of the SHS Board of Governors in 1997 and reaffirmed by them in 2001 were as follows:
1. The Sterling Hall School Mandate
- SHS is a small school for boys
- SHS provides an educational program from Junior Kindergarten through Grade 8
- SHS is independent of any particular religious denomination
- SHS values a sense of community
- SHS has small classes
2. The Objectives of The Sterling Hall School
The Primary Objectives are:
- To provide each student with a strong grounding in the core academic areas
- To engender a positive, nurturing environment which builds confidence and self-esteem
- To cultivate the students' interest and abilities in a wide variety of cultural and athletic pursuits
The Secondary Objectives are:
- To encourage the leadership skills of each student
- To develop responsible individuals who respect the rights of others
- To foster an awareness of manners and good behaviour
- To teach good study and organizational skills to each student
- To instill an appreciation for the importance of community service
- To create an awareness of the importance of our environment
3. Optimal School Size
The school will remain small and retain its warm and caring community atmosphere. These characteristics attract families to SHS. Once their sons are students at SHS, it is believed that these qualities are among the school's greatest strengths.
Adopting a recommendation of the 1997 Strategic Report, SHS has successfully incorporated two classes per year from Grade 1-8 resulting in an optimal size for the school of 300 students and an enviable student:teacher ratio of 8:1. A maximum of 16 students per class in JK and Grade 1-3 has been maintained: all others are capped at 18.
4. A Profile of the Student Body
The Sterling Hall School's student body should include a diverse and varied cross-section of boys.
- Students with a range of abilities should be admitted. These students however, must exhibit the potential necessary to complete the academic curriculum successfully.
- The cultural makeup of the student body should, in general terms, be representative of the diversity of our community.
- Students should be eager and optimistic and their behaviour should not be disruptive to others.
- The attitude, support and commitment of the students' families are important to The Sterling Hall School's continued success.
SHS : BEYOND THE YEAR 2000
The following initiatives are currently being pursued by The Sterling Hall School:
- A Discovery Centre is under construction that will offer more opportunities in Science, Art and Technology enabling more cross-curricular connections. (completion January 2006)
- The Music Centre
- Mentorship Program
- Stewardship and Character Education
- Grade 8 Leadership
- Ongoing professional development for the Faculty and the Staff
- Continual reassessment and updating of the annually published Academic Program and Skills Continuum
- Improved technological opportunities for the students and careful integration of Information Technology into the SHS curriculum
- The combining of library reference and research possibilities with superior technology
- The development of the Academic Resource program aimed at supporting students who need help and stretching students who need a challenge
- A focus on the Environment allowing the students to understand its crucial importance for the future of our world. The creation and sustaining of an ecogarden will be an integral component of the SHS environment program
The core beliefs and values upon which The Sterling Hall School was built continue to guide its strategies and actions. In this way, SHS provides a quality and comprehensive education for young boys.
At The Sterling Hall School we are proud of our past and eagerly anticipate our future.
