2023–24 BH Handbook
Who to Contact in the Senior & Middle School |
TOPIC | FIRST POINT OF CONTACT | I NEED MORE HELP |
ATTENDANCE | ||
Daily Reporting | Email attendance@branksome.on.ca or call 416-920-9741 to be connected with the attendance line. If your child is in Boarding, contact: Jill Strimas, Director, Boarding | Assistant Head, Student Experience: Grades 7–8 Aparna Singhal Grades 9–10 Siamak Boroomand Grades 11–12 Melanie van de Water |
Day-to-Day Logistical School Operations | Assistant Head, Student Experience: Grades 7–8 Aparna Singhal Grades 9–10 Siamak Boroomand Grades 11–12 Melanie van de Water | Deputy Principal |
Extended/Pre-Arranged Absence (including those before and after vacation periods) | Assistant Head, Student Experience: Grades 7–8 Aparna Singhal Grades 9–10 Siamak Boroomand Grades 11–12 Melanie van de Water and your child’s School Counsellor If your child is in Boarding, also contact: Jill Strimas, Director, Boarding | |
Code of Conduct Issues | Assistant Head, Student Experience: Grades 7–8 Aparna Singhal Grades 9–10 Siamak Boroomand Grades 11–12 Melanie van de Water and your child’s School Counsellor | |
SCHOOL COUNSELLING | ||
School Counsellors liaise with teachers and are available to assist students with social issues, as well as academic, post-secondary and personal planning. Parents may contact their child’s Counsellor if they have any questions about their progress, courses of study or future plans. Counsellors also assist with well-being, attendance and how to keep up with work if a student has been or will be away from school for an extended period of time.
Counsellors work closely with teachers, learning strategies, social work and the school nurse. | Grade 7, A–K Grade 8, A–F Grade 7, L–Z; Grade 8, G–Z Grades 9–10, A–L Grades 9–10, M–Z Diploma Programme School Counsellors DP1 & DP2, A–L DP1 & DP2, M–Z University Counsellors DP1 and DP2 Determined Individually | Director, Well-Being and School Counselling Co-Director, University Counselling Co-Director, University Counselling |
SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKERS | ||
Our School Social Workers use evidence-based interventions and approaches to promote student mental health and well-being. These can include assessment, counselling, consultation and coaching, crisis intervention and liaison with and referral to community professionals. Students and parents may request a confidential social work consultation at any time. | Senior & Middle School Social Worker (Grades 7-9) Senior School Social Worker (Grades 10-12) | Director, Well-Being and School Counselling |
ADVISOR | ||
The Advisor is an adult mentor who supports, guides and assists students to remain accountable to their individual goals. Advisors help students balance their co-curricular and academic commitments. | Your Child’s Advisor | Assistant Head, Student Experience: Grades 7–8 Aparna Singhal Grades 9–10 Siamak Boroomand Grades 11–12 Melanie van de Water |
LEARNING STRATEGIES AND HEALTH CENTRE | ||
Learning Strategies support work with students, their families, School Counsellors and teachers to support the academic success of each student. Students with learning needs have individual Learning Strategies plans developed collaboratively with the student’s family. Each plan is updated annually, and students are provided with an additional level of support through regularly scheduled meetings with Learning Strategies teachers as required. | Grades 7–8 Grades 9–10 Grades 11–12 Hannah Clark School Nurse | Director, Learning Strategies and Health Centre |
ATHLETICS | ||
Tryouts, practices, game schedules and general concerns and questions | Coach of the team | Director of Athletics |
BOARDING | ||
Evening/weekend schedules, activities, supporting your child | For daily matters: Boarding Advisor For ongoing matters: Assistant Director, Boarding | Director, Boarding |
TECHNOLOGY | ||
Student laptops, school technology, Portal technical support, student email | Branksome IT Support | Associate Director, Information Technology |
ACADEMICS | ||
Course changes (may be made until Sept. 16) | Your child’s School Counsellor | Assistant Head, Academics, Grades 7-12 |
Questions about a specific subject area | Subject Teacher | |
General questions about a subject area | Instructional Leaders: Integrated Arts English, ESL and Mandarin Individuals and Societies Mathematics Modern and Classical Languages Physical and Health Education Science Design & Technology | |
Diploma Program Elite Athletes and Artists DP2 Midterms or Final Exams | IB Diploma Program Coordinator | |
Middle Years Program | Middle Years Program Coordinator | |
Extended Essay or Theory of Knowledge | Diploma Program Core Coordinator | |
Personal Project | Grade 10 Core Coordinator | |
Grades 8–11 June Exams and Report Cards | Academics Coordinator | |
Senior School Resource Centre | ||
STUDENT LIFE | ||
Ceremonies | Installation Graduation Green Carpet | Deputy Principal |
CAS (Creativity, Activity, Service) including Principal’s Award and Duke of Edinburgh | CAS Coordinator | |
Debating | Head Debate Coaches | |
Fit Friday | Physical and Health Education | |
Service Learning | Service Learning Coordinator | |
Student Exchanges (including Costa Rica and South Africa trips) and Slogan | Exchanges Coordinator Slogan Faculty Advisor | |
Spirit Week, Family Formal, Grade 12 Formal, Senior School COSSOT events | ||
Week Without Halls (WWH) | Scott Fleming, Tory Bowers, Catherine Abuja (WWH Coordinators), or | |
Middle School COSSOT events | ||
Model UN | ||
Field Trips | Faculty Trip Organizer | |
Partnership with Branksome Hall Asia | ||
ADVANCEMENT AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT | ||
The Advancement and Community Engagement (ACE) Department helps to nurture Branksome’s special relationship with parents, alums, grandparents, past parents, employees and other partners. This may include fostering community involvement and building greater ties between members through unique events, raising philanthropic support from our community for all school programs and promoting Branksome and its mission broadly with the general public and potential families. | Administrative Assistant Director, Communications Director, Campaign and Development, Advancement and Community Engagement Donna MacMullin Associate Director, Community Engagement and The Shop | Executive Director, Advancement and Community Engagement |
Updated: March 2024