The Linden School
Encyclopedia
The Linden School is an all girls private school
located in central Toronto
, Ontario
. Linden believes in a feminist pedagogy and focuses on female-centric leaning.
and Wellesley College.They also spent time with Peggy MacIntosh, the head of Wellseley College's Centre for Research on Women.
The Linden school offers Grades 1-12 at 10 Rosehill Avenue, near the corner of St. Clair and Yonge. When Linden first opened in 1993 the school only utilized the 3rd floor of the puilding. In 2001, Linden purchased the entire building
to ensure that teaching and course content respond to developmental patterns of girls. The principles based their pedagogy on research that shows that learning improves when girls construct their own understanding of concepts through discussion and experience rather than by memorizing rules or definitions. At Linden, faculty believe that an understanding of girls' psycho-social-physiological development, their learning styles, the role of power and relationships within the classroom, and the importance of equity and inclusivity within an education
al setting are essential for girls to find and develop the sense of competence
necessary for lifelong success.
While collaborative and experiential learning are the hallmarks of Linden's pedagogical practice, infusing the curriculum with an anti-racist, inclusive philosophy is an integral part of the school's mission to foster diversity
in its student body and faculty. The learning process at Linden includes developing an awareness of issues related to systems of oppression
, promoting a sense of responsibility towards the community we live in, and learning to understand how knowledge can effect social change
.
s, which allow even the least skilled students to join. Sports teams are coached primarily by Elizabeth Forbes and Deidre Macpherson, Linden's Junior and Senior Physical Education teachers.
Sports:
The twelve families are:
The linden birthday is the first day of every school year. The morning starts with students eating a pot-luck breakfast in their home room, while getting to know the rest of their grade. The festivities are then taken to the gym, for a presentation featuring faculty speeches and candles. The youngest member of the school lights the first candle.
Greetings- The Linden school does not have a PA system, so announcements are given in the gym Tuesday mornings. Greetings is a debriefing for the whole school on what will be happening for the rest of the week. At the end of greetings one of the teachers gives a brief presentation on something that has happened on that particular day in the past, or something significant happening around the world at that moment.
All School- An hour is taken out of school every week on Friday morning for All School. Students meet in their designated families for theme-driven games and activities.
Festival of Lights- The school holds a non-denominational winter celebration at the end of first term, on the last day before a two week break. The performance features faculty addresses, musical acts, skits and steel pans.
Spirit Week-
Spirit Week is the week before the march break. The grade 12 class organizes the theme-driven activities. Throughout the week the different teams are given merit and spirit points for their performance in the lunchtime activities, such as; cheer making, tableaux, and lip-syncs. In addition. each day the students are encouraged to dress up in accordance to a daily theme. At the end of the week the team who has accumulated the most points wins.
Celebration to Greet the Summer-
The Celebration to Greet the Summer wraps up the school year, and is a farewell ceremony for the graduating class.
Drama Nights- The school also has individual drama nights for each grade, in addition to the school play put on by the junior and senior drama clubs. Every student performs in an English drama night, usually featuring the works of Shakespeare, and a French drama night. While the grade drama nights are part of the course work, the school play is the endeavor of the drama club. The play is rehearsed from late September all the way to when it is performed in early May. The play features more elaborate staging and runs two performances. Anyone who joins drama club is cast in a role. Parents and friends comprise the audience.
Science Fair- Once a year, science students in grades 1 through 10 hold a science fair
. The fair is to show the students' families what they are learning in class and how thorough their researching skill are. It's mostly a marketing affair for prospective parents.
Festival of Lights- The school holds a non-denominational winter celebration at the end of first term, on the last day before a two week break. The performance features faculty addresses, musical acts, skits and steel pans.
Celebration to Greet the Summer- Celebration to Greet the Summer is a yearly Linden concert which wraps up the school year, and is also a farewell ceremony to the graduating grade 12 class.
Private school
Private schools, also known as independent schools or nonstate schools, are not administered by local, state or national governments; thus, they retain the right to select their students and are funded in whole or in part by charging their students' tuition, rather than relying on mandatory...
located in central Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
. Linden believes in a feminist pedagogy and focuses on female-centric leaning.
History
Linden was co-founded by Diane Goodie and Eleanor Moore in September 1993. Prior to this they conudcted extensive research on girl-centered learning. As part of this research they visited various other girl-centered schools such as The Emma Willard SchoolEmma Willard School
The Emma Willard School, originally called Troy Female Seminary and often referred to simply as "Emma," is an independent university-preparatory day and boarding school for young women, located in Troy, New York on Mount Ida, offering grades 9-12 and postgraduate coursework...
and Wellesley College.They also spent time with Peggy MacIntosh, the head of Wellseley College's Centre for Research on Women.
The Linden school offers Grades 1-12 at 10 Rosehill Avenue, near the corner of St. Clair and Yonge. When Linden first opened in 1993 the school only utilized the 3rd floor of the puilding. In 2001, Linden purchased the entire building
Philosophy
The Linden School supplements the Ministry of Education prescribed curriculumCurriculum
See also Syllabus.In formal education, a curriculum is the set of courses, and their content, offered at a school or university. As an idea, curriculum stems from the Latin word for race course, referring to the course of deeds and experiences through which children grow to become mature adults...
to ensure that teaching and course content respond to developmental patterns of girls. The principles based their pedagogy on research that shows that learning improves when girls construct their own understanding of concepts through discussion and experience rather than by memorizing rules or definitions. At Linden, faculty believe that an understanding of girls' psycho-social-physiological development, their learning styles, the role of power and relationships within the classroom, and the importance of equity and inclusivity within an education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
al setting are essential for girls to find and develop the sense of competence
Competence
Competence may refer to:*Competence , the ability of a cell to take up DNA*Competence , the resistance of a rock against either erosion or deformation...
necessary for lifelong success.
While collaborative and experiential learning are the hallmarks of Linden's pedagogical practice, infusing the curriculum with an anti-racist, inclusive philosophy is an integral part of the school's mission to foster diversity
Diversity
-Science and technology:*Biodiversity, the degree of variation of life forms within a given ecosystem, biome, or an entire planet.*Diversity Index, a statistic intended to assess the diversity of any population in which each member belongs to a unique group, type or species.*Diversity scheme, a...
in its student body and faculty. The learning process at Linden includes developing an awareness of issues related to systems of oppression
Oppression
Oppression is the exercise of authority or power in a burdensome, cruel, or unjust manner. It can also be defined as an act or instance of oppressing, the state of being oppressed, and the feeling of being heavily burdened, mentally or physically, by troubles, adverse conditions, and...
, promoting a sense of responsibility towards the community we live in, and learning to understand how knowledge can effect social change
Social change
Social change refers to an alteration in the social order of a society. It may refer to the notion of social progress or sociocultural evolution, the philosophical idea that society moves forward by dialectical or evolutionary means. It may refer to a paradigmatic change in the socio-economic...
.
Athletics
Linden participates in a variety of team sportTeam sport
A team sport includes any sport which involves players working together towards a shared objective. A team sport is an activity in which a group of individuals, on the same team, work together to accomplish an ultimate goal which is usually to win. This can be done in a number of ways such as...
s, which allow even the least skilled students to join. Sports teams are coached primarily by Elizabeth Forbes and Deidre Macpherson, Linden's Junior and Senior Physical Education teachers.
Sports:
- Junior Indoor Soccer
- Junior and Senior Ball Hockey
- Junior and Senior Basketball
- Junior and Senior Cross Country
- Junior and Senior Outdoor Soccer
- Junior and Senior Track and Field
- Junior and Senior Volleyball
- Senior Ultimate Frisbee
Extra-cirriculars
Linden has many different clubs which include:- Animal Rights Club
- Art Show Committee
- Basketball
- Boxing Club
- Chess Club
- Choir
- Classics Club
- Cross Country
- Dodgeball
- Drama Club
- EdGE (Education for Girls Everywhere)
- Guitar Club
- Junior Makers
- Junior French Club
- Library Club
- Math Club
- Scrap-Booking Club
- Senior Geek
- Senior Makers
- Senior Writers
- Social Justice Club
- SOMA (Southern Ontario Model Assembly)
- Steel Pans Club
- The Linden Band
- Yearbook Club
- Yoga Club
Families
The Linden School has twelve "families" which each student belongs to. In their families, they participate together in all-school events.The twelve families are:
- NuwaNuwaNuwa or NUWA may refer to:*Nüwa, a Chinese creator goddess.*150 Nuwa, an asteroid.*National Workers' Union of Afghanistan.*Nuwa , Marvel Comics character....
- Is an ancient goddess in Chinese mythologyChinese mythologyChinese mythology is a collection of cultural history, folktales, and religions that have been passed down in oral or written tradition. These include creation myths and legends and myths concerning the founding of Chinese culture and the Chinese state...
. She is best known for creating mankind and fixing the wall of heaven. She is depicted as a dragon. - HestiaHestiaIn Greek mythology Hestia , first daughter of Cronus and Rhea , is the virgin goddess of the hearth, architecture, and of the right ordering of domesticity and the family. She received the first offering at every sacrifice in the household. In the public domain, the hearth of the prytaneum...
- Hestia is a goddess in Greek mythologyGreek mythologyGreek mythology is the body of myths and legends belonging to the ancient Greeks, concerning their gods and heroes, the nature of the world, and the origins and significance of their own cult and ritual practices. They were a part of religion in ancient Greece...
who is the virgin goddess of the hearth, architecture and of the right ordering of domesticity and the family. - AthenaAthenaIn Greek mythology, Athena, Athenê, or Athene , also referred to as Pallas Athena/Athene , is the goddess of wisdom, courage, inspiration, civilization, warfare, strength, strategy, the arts, crafts, justice, and skill. Minerva, Athena's Roman incarnation, embodies similar attributes. Athena is...
-LibraLibra-Science and technology:* Libra , a star constellation in the sky* Libra , an ancient Roman unit of weight* Libra , a public search engine for academic papers and literature* Libra , a media cataloguing software...
- Athena is the Greek goddess of wisdom and justice. Libra is a constellation of the Zodiac: it represents the scales. - Keresan - Keresan is a group of seven related languages spoken by Keres Pueblo peoples in New MexicoNew MexicoNew Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
in the United States. - SophiaSophia-Geography:* Sofia, the capital and largest city of the Republic of Bulgaria* Sofia Zoo, a zoo in Sofia, Bulgaria* Sofia Province, a province of Bulgaria* Sophia, West Virginia* Sophia, a former name of Niulakita, the southernmost island of Tuvalu...
- Sophia in ancient Greek means "wisdom". - Nungui - Nungui is the Jivaro goddess of vegetation.
- Amina - Amina Sukhera was a Muslim princess. The Arabic name, Amina, means honesty, trustworthiness and truthfulness.
- Hypatia - Hypatia was an Egyptian Neoplatonist philosopher who was also a very notable woman in mathematics.
- AtaksakAtaksakAtaksak is a goddess in Inuit mythology. She is the ruler of the sky, and represents the light in the world that brings joy and happiness to the people....
- Ataksak is a goddess in Inuit mythologyInuit mythologyInuit mythology has many similarities to the religions of other polar regions. Inuit traditional religious practices could be very briefly summarised as a form of shamanism based on animist principles....
. She rules the sky and represents the light in the world that brings joy and happiness to people. - Sarasvati - In HinduismHinduismHinduism is the predominant and indigenous religious tradition of the Indian Subcontinent. Hinduism is known to its followers as , amongst many other expressions...
, Sarasvati is the goddess of knowledge, music, arts, science and technology. - SojournerSojournerA sojourner is a person who resides temporarily in a place; Sojourner may also refer to:*Sojourners Magazine*Sojourner Truth , an abolitionist and women's rights activist...
- Sojourner is named after the name of an African-American abolitionist and women's rights activist, Sojourner TruthSojourner TruthSojourner Truth was the self-given name, from 1843 onward, of Isabella Baumfree, an African-American abolitionist and women's rights activist. Truth was born into slavery in Swartekill, New York, but escaped with her infant daughter to freedom in 1826. After going to court to recover her son, she...
. - Kwanyin - Kwanyin is the mother goddess of ChinaChinaChinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, who is also the goddess of compassion.
Traditions
Linden Birthday-The linden birthday is the first day of every school year. The morning starts with students eating a pot-luck breakfast in their home room, while getting to know the rest of their grade. The festivities are then taken to the gym, for a presentation featuring faculty speeches and candles. The youngest member of the school lights the first candle.
Greetings- The Linden school does not have a PA system, so announcements are given in the gym Tuesday mornings. Greetings is a debriefing for the whole school on what will be happening for the rest of the week. At the end of greetings one of the teachers gives a brief presentation on something that has happened on that particular day in the past, or something significant happening around the world at that moment.
All School- An hour is taken out of school every week on Friday morning for All School. Students meet in their designated families for theme-driven games and activities.
Festival of Lights- The school holds a non-denominational winter celebration at the end of first term, on the last day before a two week break. The performance features faculty addresses, musical acts, skits and steel pans.
Spirit Week-
Spirit Week is the week before the march break. The grade 12 class organizes the theme-driven activities. Throughout the week the different teams are given merit and spirit points for their performance in the lunchtime activities, such as; cheer making, tableaux, and lip-syncs. In addition. each day the students are encouraged to dress up in accordance to a daily theme. At the end of the week the team who has accumulated the most points wins.
Celebration to Greet the Summer-
The Celebration to Greet the Summer wraps up the school year, and is a farewell ceremony for the graduating class.
Events
Art Show-During third term the Linden school has an annual art show, featuring art from all art students in grades 1 through 12. Every year the show has a different theme to serve as inspiration. In past years,this theme has been water, energy, inspiration, and others.Drama Nights- The school also has individual drama nights for each grade, in addition to the school play put on by the junior and senior drama clubs. Every student performs in an English drama night, usually featuring the works of Shakespeare, and a French drama night. While the grade drama nights are part of the course work, the school play is the endeavor of the drama club. The play is rehearsed from late September all the way to when it is performed in early May. The play features more elaborate staging and runs two performances. Anyone who joins drama club is cast in a role. Parents and friends comprise the audience.
Science Fair- Once a year, science students in grades 1 through 10 hold a science fair
Science fair
A science fair is generally a competition where contestants present their science project results in the form of a report, display board, and models that they have created. Science fairs allow students in grade schools and high schools to compete in science and/or technology activities...
. The fair is to show the students' families what they are learning in class and how thorough their researching skill are. It's mostly a marketing affair for prospective parents.
Festival of Lights- The school holds a non-denominational winter celebration at the end of first term, on the last day before a two week break. The performance features faculty addresses, musical acts, skits and steel pans.
Celebration to Greet the Summer- Celebration to Greet the Summer is a yearly Linden concert which wraps up the school year, and is also a farewell ceremony to the graduating grade 12 class.