Compare Singapore Curriculum International Schools in Canada

469 Merton Street, Toronto, Ontario M4S 1B4, Canada. The school is located at this address in Toronto.

Junior Kindergarten to Grade 6; IB Primary Years Programme (PYP).

Private IB elementary school.

Canada

The school opens at 8:00 am. Before Care begins at 7:45 am. After Care runs 4:00–6:00 pm. Homework Studio is available 3:50–4:30 pm on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays for students in After Care.

Uniforms are worn by students. House activities require wearing the House Colours, and a House T-shirt is given as a welcome gift by the Sunnybrook Parents' Association when students arrive.

The lunch program is provided daily at no extra cost and meals are prepared fresh daily on the premises by the SBS chef.

The school has five Houses: Birch (yellow), Willow (blue), Maple (red), Oak (purple) and Pine (green). Grade 6 students serve as House Heads, and House activities include House Games, Spirit Days, and eco-friendly initiatives; points are awarded for various achievements, including wearing the uniform properly and speaking French.

Sunnybrook School was founded in 1952 by Mrs. Irmingard Hoff. The Director is Irene Davy, Ph.D. (since 1984) and the Principal is Teralee Brunn (since 2018) with Vice Principals Michael Rossiter and Tanya Low. All parents are members of the Sunnybrook Parents' Association, a parent-run organization that supports the school through fundraising and activities.

The curriculum is written and refined by the Sunnybrook School faculty in accordance with the IB Primary Years Programme framework and with reference to the Ontario Ministry of Education guidelines. Sunnybrook School educates its students according to the IB principles of global competence and citizenship. The school uses the IB Learner Profile as a common vocabulary of values and behaviours that support the development of global citizenship. The curriculum emphasizes inquiry-based learning and learning through concepts. Literacy uses a phonics- and literature-based approach and is integrated across the Program of Inquiry in a truly transdisciplinary approach to literacy. Digital literacy and basic coding are embedded in the curriculum.

Social and Emotional Learning is integrated into the curriculum through the PYP enhancements. The school teaches students to understand and manage emotions, set positive goals, and maintain healthy relationships. Positive Discipline is used in the classroom to teach responsibility, self-discipline, problem-solving, and cooperation, and to build trust and self-esteem. Brain-based research shows students learn best when they feel safe and connected, guiding classroom practice. Younger students develop cooperation and independence skills, while older students are guided in managing group settings and relationships.

Many children are learning English as an additional language while attending Sunnybrook. The staff create goals for the children to work towards while they are learning a new language. The school takes care to establish these goals to help students become bilingual by the time they leave Sunnybrook. A speech pathologist works weekly with children who qualify.

The school embeds mental health and well-being into daily life. Recent teacher professional development in mindfulness and mental health allows staff to support students in various ways. Mental health breaks, mindfulness sessions, one-on-one teacher–student meetings, and community sharing circles are integrated into the curriculum and daily school life.

Admissions Process

1. Visit the school: See Sunnybrook School in action during an Open House or sign up for a tour. The Open House experience begins with a presentation by the Principal and Vice-Principal about the school philosophy, curriculum, IB PYP, and community, followed by a Grade 6 Ambassador Student-led tour and time to ask questions. The conclusion brings you back to the Arts Studio where admissions staff are available to discuss further.

2. Submit an application: Complete the application form (you will need to create an account) and include 2 of the most recent report cards and a birth certificate. After submission, you will receive email instructions about how to pay the application fee.

3. Pay the application fee: The application fee is $200.00 ($250.00 for students applying after March 1; $250 for international students).

4. Student Visit & Assessment: We invite students applying to SK through Grade 6 to visit the school and spend either a half or full day in their respective grades. This visit helps us understand the child and lets the child experience SBS. International applications can be accommodated through Zoom for the interview and assessment components.

5. Parent Interviews: During the admissions process parents will have a personal meeting with the Principal, Teralee Brunn, to discuss the family and to ask further questions about SBS.

6. Follow Up Meeting: The Vice Principal and Director of Admissions, Ms Tanya Low, will schedule a follow-up meeting after meeting your child to provide information about the assessment and next steps. The follow-up meeting can be held in person or via Zoom.