Talk:Branksome Hall

Prod August 2010

I've removed the prod tag. Mainly because the claim that "no substantive sources" can be found is just plain silly, especially since Branksome Hall has recently been making news headlines in Korea and Canada with the announcement of "Branksome Hall Asia" (see here:[1] and [2]) Here are some additional sources that help further prove notability (including entries in published books): [3], [4], [5], [6], [7]. Additionally the school has published their own book titled "The Road Well Kept" (see here [8]).

I'm very aware that the article is a mess and requires substaintial cleanup, with particular attention needing to be given to citing. That being said it still does make it valid for deletion. -France3470 (talk) 21:46, 25 August 2010 (UTC)

External links modified

Hello fellow Wikipedians,

I have just modified one external link on Branksome Hall. Please take a moment to review my edit. If you have any questions, or need the bot to ignore the links, or the page altogether, please visit this simple FaQ for additional information. I made the following changes:

• Added archive https://web.archive.org/web/20100103085750/http://www.branksome.on.ca:80/admissions/tuitionandfees/ to http://www.branksome.on.ca/admissions/tuitionandfees/

When you have finished reviewing my changes, please set the checked parameter below to true or failed to let others know (documentation at {{Sourcecheck}}).

This message was posted before February 2018. After February 2018, "External links modified" talk page sections are no longer generated or monitored by InternetArchiveBot. No special action is required regarding these talk page notices, other than regular verification using the archive tool instructions below. Editors have permission to delete these "External links modified" talk page sections if they want to de-clutter talk pages, but see the RfC before doing mass systematic removals. This message is updated dynamically through the template {{source check}} (last update: 5 June 2024).

• If you have discovered URLs which were erroneously considered dead by the bot, you can report them with this tool.
• If you found an error with any archives or the URLs themselves, you can fix them with this tool.

Cheers.—InternetArchiveBot (Report bug) 12:01, 7 November 2016 (UTC)

COI Edit Request: Updating infobox and sections

Hi, I work for Branksome Hall's communications department and would like to make some significant edits to the page. Please view my user page for the full disclosure. Thank you in advance for any help you can provide me with this!

The school's Wikipedia article is quite sparse, and we hope to add some additional information as well as update existing info.

• What I think should be changed (include citations):

Please update the following information in the infobox from:

Enrollment 909 (2020) 

to:

Enrollment Approximately 900 (2023)

Replace current infobox photo with:

File:Logo circle.png

The edits below both update the existing sections of the article and add a few others for further info. Please see my drafts below:

Introductory section updates

Branksome Hall is an independent day and boarding school for girls in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is Toronto's only all-years International Baccalaureate (IB) World School for girls. Branksome Hall is located on a 13-acre campus in the Toronto neighbourhood of Rosedale and educates more than 900 students from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12. Branksome Hall's main building Branksome Hall's Athletics and Wellness Centre Branksome Hall Asia Campus Branksome Hall’s campus blends together historic homes and state-of-the-art facilities, including an Athletics and Wellness Centre, Innovation Hub, indoor rock-climbing wall, tennis courts and flexible learning environments. The school offers a Boarding Program for Grades 7 to 12 and an immersive Study Abroad Program with its sister school, Branksome Hall Asia, on Jeju Island, South Korea. More than $1.5 million is available in financial assistance for new and returning students in Grades 7 to 12. The curriculum offers all three IB programs: the Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP) and International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (DP). The inquiry-based Liberal Arts curriculum is centered on the school’s four core values: Sense of Community, Inclusiveness, Creativity and Making a Difference. Branksome Hall's mission is to challenge and inspire girls to love learning and to shape a better world, which is supported by the six strategic priorities adopted in 2023: IB curriculum, employees, student support, innovation, diversity, equity and inclusion, and communities. Branksome Hall is led by Principal Karen L. Jurjevich, who has been Principal since 1998. Jurjevich announced in October 2022 her plans to retire in June 2024.

Add section: History

History Founded in 1903, Branksome Hall is located on a 13-acre campus in Toronto. The school was founded by Miss Margaret Scott, who served as the school’s first principal from 1903 to 1910. It is named for Sir Walter Scott’s poem, “The Lay of the Last Minstrel,” which references Scotland’s Branxholme Castle. Branksome Hall was originally located in a rental property at 102 Bloor Street East, with an enrolment of 70 girls. Seven years later, that property was purchased by the province and Branksome relocated to 592 Sherbourne Street. In 1912, the school purchased Hollydene, the elegant property at 10 Elm Avenue. The house, built in 1880, was purchased for the then princely sum of $48,000. Included in the deal was a coach house, which soon contained classrooms and a gymnasium. Hollydene’s spacious lawns were perfect for outdoor games and garden parties. A book published in 2002 to mark Branksome’s centennial, The Road Well Kept, examines and celebrates the school’s first 100 years. The book is an informative synopsis of the history of Branksome Hall, including a century’s worth of archival photographs and accounts of how the school provided education and a home to English girls from Sherborne Girls school in Dorset, England during World War II, how it gave singer Portia White a platform to develop her international music career, and how it has welcomed important foreign dignitaries, including former U.S. President Jimmy Carter. Over the years, both the campus and student enrollment have expanded. Branksome’s campus now includes more than a dozen buildings, ranging from heritage mansions to modern structures, all connected through state-of-the-art technology. While today’s Branksome Hall is a globally-minded IB World School with a diverse student body, the school has retained many of its early Scottish traditions, such as its eight school Clans. Timeline 1903 - Branksome Hall founded by Miss Margaret Scott, housed in the historic mansion on Sherbourne Street that is now the restaurant Maison Selby. Margaret Taylor Scott, Branksome Hall's first principal 1912 - Campus expands to include property at 10 Elm Avenue. 1958 - Edith Read retires after 45 years as Principal. 1998 - Karen Jurjevich becomes the seventh Principal of Branksome Hall. 2004 - Branksome Hall becomes a fully authorized IB World School. 2012 - Branksome Hall Asia opens on Jeju Island, South Korea. 2015 - Athletics and Wellness Centre opens. 2016 - The Chandaria Research Centre is established, making Branksome Hall one of only a handful of schools to have its own research centre. 2017 - Gloria Steinem, feminist activist, is Branksome’s Rachel Phillips Belash Speaker. Branksome Principal Karen Jurjevich and Gloria Steinem at Branksome Hall 2019 - Branksome hosts the World Individual Debating and Public Speaking Championship, the first Canadian school to do so. 2020 - Diversity, equity and inclusion is established as a strategic priority and the school’s first Head, Research and DEI is hired. 2021 - Branksome Hall Asia is named ‘International School of the Year.’ 2022 - Demolition, groundbreaking and construction begins on the new Innovation Centre and Studio Theatre building (iCAST). 2023 - On June 7, Branksome Hall announced the appointment of its 8th Principal, Grace McCallum, who will take up the position on July 1, 2024. Branksome Hall Principals Margaret Taylor Scott (1903–1910) Margaret was born in Dundas, Ontario. After attending the University of Toronto she served as principal of multiple Toronto independent schools before founding Branksome Hall.While women at the time were expected to become home-makers, Margaret was determined to educate girls beyond domestic work to allow them the chance to be independent trailblazers. Edith MacGregor Read (1910–1958) Edith was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia. After receiving degrees in Mathematics from Dalhousie University and Radcliffe College, she came to Branksome as a mathematics teacher, and four years later became Principal. She began a program of school expansion, making Branksome Hall the largest girls’ school in Canada. Dr. Jennie Elizabeth MacNeill (1958–1968) Born in Orwell, Prince Edward Island, Jennie attended Mount Allison University and the University of Toronto. She began her career at Branksome Hall as an English teacher and 20 years later was promoted to Assistant Principal. In 1958, she became Principal and worked to uphold the traditions and ideals of her predecessors. She encouraged students to explore political and societal topics such as civil rights, feminism and individuality. Margaret R. Sime (1968–1974) After graduating from Victoria College, Margaret took her first teaching role at Branksome Hall as a French teacher. When elected Principal in 1968, she strived to create a disciplined environment for the rebellious students of the late 60’s and early 70’s. Margaret retired from Branksome Hall in 1974, leaving behind a newly introduced democratic policy where students could campaign for leadership positions and vote their peers in. Allison Roach (1974–1993) As a Branksome alum with a Master’s degree in Education from the University of Toronto and comprehensive knowledge of the public school system, Allison brought a fresh perspective to her role as Principal. Her goal was for Branksome to grow as a result of student involvement and community building. She encouraged students to run their own Clubs and committees and to get involved with as many initiatives as they could. She also spearheaded the construction of many new buildings and spaces such as updated residence quarters, a double gym and science wing in the Senior School, and an entirely new Junior School. Dr. Rachel Phillips Belash (1993–1998) Born in Wales, Rachel obtained her undergraduate degree in modern languages from Oxford University and her Ph.D in Latin American literature from the University of Kentucky. Committed to excellence in girls’ education, Rachel was widely recognized as an outstanding educator. She challenged traditions at the school that seemed outdated, and encouraged all students, teachers and staff to speak out on topics they found important. Karen L. Jurjevich (1998–present) Karen is a graduate of the Stanford Graduate School of Business where she completed the Stanford Executive Program, and has received diplomas in Integrative Thinking and Financial Literacy from the Rotman School of Management. Karen holds a Master of Education degree from the University of British Columbia and both a B.A. and B.Ed. from Western University. During her time as Principal, she successfully transitioned Branksome to become Toronto’s only all-years, International Baccalaureate World School for girls; co-founded Branksome Hall Asia on Jeju Island, South Korea; led redevelopment of the Toronto campus, including the completion of the Athletics and Wellness Centre; and championed the creation of the Chandaria Research Centre. Karen currently serves on the Board of the International Coalition of Girls’ Schools and is a Director on the Board of Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd. Branksome Hall's 7th principal Karen Jurjevich

Add section: Academics

Academics International Baccalaureate (IB) Program Nearly 5,000 schools in more than 150 countries have adopted the IB World School program. Branksome Hall is the only independent school for girls in Toronto to offer the International Baccalaureate exclusively. Every student at Branksome Hall, from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12, is enrolled in the IB programs. These programs promote curiosity and critical thinking, provide for regular assessments and feedback against standardized criteria, and have been shown to improve students’ performance and provide preparation for university studies. IB Program students study English, Mathematics, Sciences, Technology, Physical Education, the Arts (Drama, Music, Visual Art), humanities and a foreign language every year. Faculty Branksome Hall is a continuum school, which began offering the IB Diploma Program in 2003. Approximately 50 per cent of the school’s faculty are involved in IB leadership roles, ranging from examiners/moderators to workshop leaders/site visitors, exam writers/editors and program and curriculum reviewers. Of the school’s Senior & Middle School faculty, 45 hold Master’s degrees and five hold PhD degrees. Branksome Hall Graduates Branksome Hall’s graduates represent the cultural diversity of Toronto. During the 2022–23 school year, its Boarding students represented 13 countries. The school’s graduates are welcomed by post-secondary institutions in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, and around the world. In 2022, Branksome Hall graduates were offered entrance scholarships totaling more than $4.4 million, and 100 per cent of its graduates were Ontario Scholars. Financial Assistance & Scholarships Branksome Hall supports Grades 7–12 families with needs-based Financial Assistance (bursaries) and merit-based Scholarships, including Entrance Merit Scholarships, Arts and Innovation Scholarships, IB Learner Profile Scholarships and scholarships specifically for students entering the Boarding Program. Travel Assistance, through endowed bursaries, is also available to students by application.

Add section: Campus

Campus The school’s state-of-the-art facilities include an Athletics and Wellness Centre, STEAM Studio, Innovation Hub, indoor rock-climbing wall, playgrounds, tennis courts, Makerspaces and flexible learning environments.The campus is also home to a number of Rosedale’s Class A and B heritage buildings. Branksome Hall offers a Boarding Program for Grades 7 to 12 and a Study Abroad Program with its sister school, Branksome Hall Asia in South Korea. In 2015, Branksome Hall opened its Athletics and Wellness Centre — a 64,000-square foot, two-storey facility that includes two saltwater pools, a gymnasium, a fitness centre, yoga and dance studios, an erg rowing room, a dining hall with kitchen, and rooftop terraces. To celebrate the opening of the AWC, Branksome Hall participated in 2015’s Doors Open Toronto. Branksome Hall is currently in the construction phase of a new Innovation Centre and Studio Theatre (iCAST) building on the East campus that will enhance its current facilities. iCAST will be a world-class education facility allowing students from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12, teachers and staff to come together under one roof with scholars, industry leaders, artists and entrepreneurs. Boarding More than 50 students from 13 countries join the Branksome community as Boarding students each year. The program strives to connect Boarding students with the broader school community and combines creativity and experiential learning. Weekend events allow students to discover the diversity of Toronto, participate in service activities and try new things such as cooking, ice skating and yoga. Chandaria Research Centre In 2016, Branksome Hall opened the doors of the Chandaria Research Centre (CRC) joining the ranks of the few school-based research centres in Canada and internationally. The Centre’s goal is to conduct applied research in teaching and learning, well-being and international mindedness to support a culture of evidence-based practice at the school. The centre's current research projects focus on technology and innovation, school climate and student well-being. Centre for Strategic Leadership Established in 2021, Branksome’s Centre for Strategic Leadership (CSL) provides Branksome employees with a range of opportunities for leadership development, both professional and personal. Grounded in values-driven practices, and a commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, the Centre for Strategic Leadership promotes and strengthens school-wide leadership capacity in Branksome Hall’s leaders. With the goal to support Branksome employees, the CSL also promotes individual and team well-being, resilience and personal leadership development, through individual coaching and mentoring sessions as well as workshops informed by research and created and delivered for specific teams to build their leadership toolkit.

Add section: Student Life

Student Life Branksome Hall follows the experiential learning framework of creativity, physical activity and service. Students engage in opportunities that develop their passions and complement their learning. This process of active engagement and reflection provides an opportunity to extend what is learned in the classroom. IB Diploma students are required to complete approximately three to five hours per week of Creativity, Activity and Service (CAS) during their final two years of high school. They use an online system of recording and reflecting to log their experiences over the course of the Diploma Program. Clubs Branksome’s more than 70 student Clubs include Anime Club, Debating and Public Speaking, Knitting Club, Model United Nations, Podcast Club, World Affairs Club, and Woodworking. Students lead such publications as The Elm Editor school newspaper, Perennial literary and art magazine,(15) and Slogan yearbook.(16) Performing Arts students can participate in Concert Choir, Concert Band, Jazz Band, Orchestra, Wind Symphony and student-directed plays. Leadership Branksome Hall Clan Chieftains in 1946 Students participate in leadership roles across the school, as part of Councils such as the Diversity Council, STEM Council, and Sustainability Council, as Grade Representatives, Clan Leaders and in Grade 12 as Prefects. Athletics Branksome Hall's senior Hockey team in 1921 Branksome Hall's Rowing Team at a regatta in 2018 The Athletics Program provides a high-quality athletic experience by offering a range of opportunities. The goal of the program is to develop well-balanced individuals who exhibit integrity, discipline, athletic principle, teamwork, commitment and an appreciation for lifelong, active living. Branksome’s Athletics teams are called the Highlanders. Fall teams include basketball, cross country, field hockey, rowing, soccer and swimming. Winter teams include alpine skiing, badminton, ice hockey, rowing, squash, swimming and volleyball. Spring teams include golf, rowing, softball, tennis, track and field, and ultimate frisbee. Service Part of Branksome’s mission is to “shape a better world” and students live this through service to others. Students commit to caring for others, challenging themselves to support a person or a community. Service activities students may participate in include reading and tutoring younger students and volunteering at organizations around the city. Study Abroad, Global Exchange & Engagement Opportunities Through global engagement students explore their lifelong roles in, and responsibilities to, their school, local, national and international communities. They understand that they have a shared duty to act in a way that promotes equitable and sustainable societies. Grade 9 students study abroad at Branksome Hall Asia, undertaking a week-long unit of study focused on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). The opportunity also includes excursions to Jeju Island’s UNESCO World Heritage sites, historic and cultural attractions of the island, as well as a three-day visit to Seoul to experience the city’s unique contemporary culture and history. Grades 8–10 students can take part in the school’s Exchange Program, an exciting opportunity for students to go on exchange to partner schools throughout the world (including Edinburgh, Sydney, Madrid and Cape Town), and then, in turn, to host their exchange partner when they attend Branksome. Grades 10–11 students may participate in a Global Engagement trip to Costa Rica, giving students the chance to learn about issues related to environmental sustainability and live with local families and learn about their customs and culture. Clans There are eight clans in both the Junior and the Senior & Middle Schools, named for Branksome Hall’s Scottish roots. Clans provide a forum for friendly sporting competition, charitable work, spirit-building and the transmission of traditions. Noodle In 2019–20, Branksome Hall launched Noodle,(14) a business accelerator program that helps students develop and harness their powers of imagination. The program allows students to bring their most inventive ideas to life with the support of faculty, expert advisors and entrepreneurs. The Noodle accelerator is a 38-week intensive entrepreneurial education program that runs from October to April. At the end of the program, students pitch their innovations to a panel of expert judges for the chance to win one of three Mary Lesslie Halloward’74 Innovation Awards. The top student or team of students wins $10,000 in additional seed funding for their venture, while the first and second runners-up receive seed funding valued at $1,000 and $400, respectively. In the 2022–23 school year, Branksome launched the Noodle Junior program, which welcomed a cohort of 32 Grades 5 and 6 students in its inaugural year. The program's outcomes were showcased at the Noodle Junior Tradeshow, where ten businesses presented their learning and innovative business ideas.

Add section: School Achievements

School Achievements Events The World Affairs Conference is the longest running student-led conference in Canada, co-hosted each year by Branksome Hall and Upper Canada College. The 40th annual conference took place February 9, 2023 with the theme “Hybrid Thinking,” welcoming more than 800 students to hear from distinguished local, national and global leaders including opening keynote speaker and Branksome alum Tricia “CK” PURKS Hoffler'80. The conference closed with an address by Martin Luther King III, human rights activist and son of civil rights hero Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Tricia Purks-Hoffler and Martin Luther King III at WAC 2023 In 2019, Branksome became the first Canadian school in the history of the World Individual Debating and Public Speaking Championships to host the event. The week-long tournament welcomed more than 150 competitors and coaches from 11 countries, and began with a keynote address by former Toronto and Canadian Poet Laureate George Elliott Clarke at the Opening Ceremony. Two Branksome students represented the school in the competition. Following the finals, guests were invited to the Closing Ceremony with keynote speaker Chrystia Freeland, then Minister of Foreign Affairs and Member of Parliament. Former Minister of Public Affairs, Chrystia Freeland speaks at World Public Speaking and Debate championships at Branksome Hall in 2019. Debate Branksome Hall and the Munk Debates have partnered to initiate Re:Solved, a worldwide public speaking and debate competition. Open to students aged 13–18, this competition offers students engagement with stimulating ideas and judges from around the world. The first competition opened in November 2022, with the top 32 students moving on to the online debate phase. A final, in-person debate event took place in Toronto in May 2023. Model United Nations (MUN) Each year, Branksome’s MUN delegates participate in The Hague International Model United Nations (THIMUN), a four-day simulation of the United Nations for secondary school students. Branksome Hall has been participating in the conference since the mid 1990’s. Students participate in a range of local and provincial competitions as well. Athletics From the 2022 fall season to the 2023 spring season, Branksome athletes won 11 CISAA (Conference of Independent Schools Athletic Association) championships in cross country running, swimming, badminton, alpine skiing, softball, volleyball and tennis. In June 2023, Branksome rowers took part in the Canadian Secondary Schools Rowing Association Regatta in St. Catharines. In the finals, gold medals were awarded to Branksome’s Junior 63kg 4+, Senior LTWT 63kg 4+ and Junior LTWT 63 kg 8+. Faculty Math Instructional Leader and teacher Edith Louie was recognized with a province-wide honour: the René Descartes Medal. She has taught mathematics at Branksome Hall for 25 years. The Society of Descartes Medallists was founded in 1968 and meets annually to honour Ontario mathematics and computer science teachers who deserve special recognition. Jill Strimas, Director of Boarding and Instructional Leader, Language A, ESL & International Languages, and Jordan Small, former Branksome Hall English teacher, had their professional partnership and friendship recognized with the 2022 Prime Minister’s Award for Teaching Excellence. They were honoured for their innovative teaching approaches and uncompromising focus on student leadership, agency and success. Heather Friesen, Head, Curriculum Innovation & Professional Learning, was awarded the 2022 Continuing and Professional Learning (CPL) Award of Excellence from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) of the University of Toronto. This award was established to recognize an outstanding OISE CPL Sessional Facilitator who consistently demonstrates excellence in instructional practice and inspires the OISE CPL Community to engage in meaningful professional learning experiences.

Replace "Alumnae" section with:

Add section: Branksome Community

Branksome Hall is administered by an 18-member Board of Governors with the current chair of the board being Mona Malone, Chief Human Resources Officer and Head of People & Culture for BMO Financial Group. The board includes business and community leaders who are alums, current parents or past parents who set the strategic direction for the school and, in partnership with Principal Karen L. Jurjevich, help to ensure Branksome’s financial well-being and overall success. There are also a number of other committees for audit, governance and property, with others being formed at the board’s discretion. Additionally, the Branksome Hall Foundation, a registered charity in Ontario since 2005, ensures perpetual support for important program areas and priority projects at the school. These have included the Athletics and Wellness Centre and other campus improvements, student financial aid, professional development, music, the arts, athletics, research and year-end prizes. Overseen by an independent board of trustees chaired by Scot Martin, the Foundation manages the school's endowment. The READ Magazine Branksome Hall's The READ Magazine Winter 2023 issue The READ is Branksome’s award-winning alum magazine. Published twice a year, it keeps the Branksome community up-to-date on all the latest news from the school and its graduates. The magazine is named for the school’s second Principal, Edith MacGregor Read. Notable Alums Budge ARCHIBALD Wilson’45 - Award-winning Canadian author and Member of the Order of Canada. Cailli BECKERMAN and Sam BECKERMAN’99 - Also known as the Beckerman twins, fashion bloggers and prominent social media influencers. Jackie BURROUGHS’58 - Gemini-winning actress, received a Governor General's Performing Arts Award for Lifetime Artistic Achievement. Carmen BUSQUETS’84 - Entrepreneur in the fashion and luxury industries, co-founder and investor of Net-A-Porter. Joan CHALMERS’44 - Arts patron, philanthropist and member of the Order of Canada. Stacey FARBER’05 - Actress known for her role on TV show Degrassi: The Next Generation. Amy FOSTER’92 - Author and songwriter for musicians such as Michael Bublé, Diana Krall and Andrea Bocelli. Erica GOODMAN’67 - One of the world’s most accomplished solo harpists. Marjorie GROSS’74 - Television writer and producer who wrote for numerous shows including Seinfeld. Mary Pat JONES Armstrong’63 - Member of Order of Canada and community advocate who founded Camp Oochigeas and helped establish Ronald McDonald House Toronto. Andrea LENCZNER’90 and Christie SMYTHE’90 - Smythe fashion duo, co-founders and designers. Sarah LEVY’04 - Actress known for her role on the TV show Schitt's Creek. Trish MAGWOOD’89 - Host of Food Network Canada’s Party Dish. Linda McQUAIG’70 - Journalist, columnist, non-fiction author and social critic. Marilyn MICHENER Baillie'61 - Award-winning children’s book author and a former editor of ChickaDEE magazine and member of the Order of Canada. Miranda de PENCIER’87 - Award-winning film producer. Dr. Sarah PSUTKA’99 - Pioneering cancer surgeon, associate professor of urology at the University of Washington and first female associate editor of the prestigious journal European Urology. Tricia “CK” PURKS Hoffler'80 - Accomplished attorney, CEO of The CK Hoffler Firm, civil rights and children’s rights advocate. Ann ROHMER’74 - Lead TV anchor of CP24, Toronto. Rebecca ROBERTSON’68 - Urban planner who has served as President and Executive Producer of Park Avenue Armory in New York City since 2006. Evany ROSEN’05 - Actress, standup comic, writer and a founding member of the sketch comedy troupe, Picnicface. Nancy RUTH’60 - Social activist, philanthropist and Canadian Senator. Meredith SHAW’00 - Radio and television personality, model, body positivity activist, style expert and singer-songwriter. Dr. Frances SHEPHERD’64 - Senior Staff Physician at Princess Margaret Hospital and member of the Order of Canada. Barbara ZIMMERMAN Rios’73 - Conservationist and director of the Kayapo Project, appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2022.(32) Notable Faculty and Staff Portrait of Canadian contralto opera singer, Portia White. Taken in 1946 by Yousuf Karsh. Dr. Vaira Vike-Freiberga - a Latvian politician who served as the sixth President of Latvia from 1999 to 2007. She is the first woman to hold the post. Portia White - Canadian contralto, known for becoming the first Black Canadian concert singer to achieve international fame. Affiliations The Association of Boarding Schools Branksome Hall Asia Canadian Accredited Independent Schools Coalition of Single Sex Schools of Toronto Conference of Independent Schools Conference of Independent Schools Athletic Association G30 Group of Schools Global Connections International Baccalaureate International Coalition of Girls’ Schools National Association of Independent Schools Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations

Edit request notes/response

• Why it should be changed:

This article is missing a lot of information pertaining to the campus, history, alums and other info that may be useful to those who would like to learn more. I am hoping these changes allow the article to reflect other Toronto independent schools' articles like Upper Canada College. Thank you from a new editor for taking the time to review this edit request! Warmly, Kdlromeo (talk) 20:14, 16 August 2023 (UTC)

References

Kdlromeo, there might be some usable material here, but overall I'm afraid this is a "no". First, is it actually the organization's intent to release the logo above under the CC-BY-SA license, and do you actually have the authority to do that? You stated it's your "own work", which would mean you personally designed it, but even then it probably now belongs to the organization. Similarly, you listed a photograph from 1921 as your "Own work", which leads me to question the accuracy of that assertion for all the other photos you proposed using which you made that claim for. "Own work" means that you, personally, were the photographer. (Of course, an image from 1921 is in the public domain anyway, so that can easily be corrected—but many of the images look newer, and we need to clear up the actual licensing status and whether that's really valid before we consider using them.) But once that's clarified, it's certainly possible some of the images could indeed be useful in the article.

The text, I'm afraid, though, is more or less unsalvageable. We may be able to use some of the references from it, but the text itself is full of puffery and marketese language. As some examples (but by no means an exhaustive list): It is Toronto's only all-years International Baccalaureate (IB) World School for girls. (the "only" claim requires sourcing), Branksome Hall’s campus blends together historic homes and state-of-the-art facilities ("historic", "state-of-the-art", etc., are puff terms), The inquiry-based Liberal Arts curriculum is centered on the school’s four core values... (marketese), Branksome Hall's mission...six strategic priorities (marketese), the elegant property... ("elegant" is puffery), an entirely inappropriate external link to a page selling a book, and it goes on and on like that. I might suggest that, being newer, you first review what we mean by neutrality. Basically, articles shouldn't be about an organization's "mission" or "vision" or "values" or any such that they want to say about themselves. Rather, it should reflect what reliable and independent sources confirm it actually is and has done, and that should be written without any "talking up" or puff adjectives, just sticking to verified facts. I also might suggest starting out a lot smaller; maybe try suggesting a sentence or two, based on a good quality source, and get some feedback that way before you try to suggest major changes like the one you did here. Seraphimblade ^{Talk to me} 22:16, 16 August 2023 (UTC)

Suggested edits to article introduction

• What I think should be changed (include citations):

Branksome Hall is an independent day and boarding school for girls in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is Toronto's only all-years International Baccalaureate (IB) World School for girls. Branksome Hall is located on a 13-acre campus in the Toronto neighbourhood of Rosedale and educates more than 900 students from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12.

Branksome Hall’s campus includes an Athletics and Wellness Centre, Innovation Hub, indoor rock-climbing wall, tennis courts and flexible learning environments. The school offers a Boarding Program for Grades 7 to 12 and an immersive Study Abroad Program with its sister school, Branksome Hall Asia, on Jeju Island, South Korea. More than $1.4 million is available in financial assistance for new and returning students in Grades 7 to 12.

All three IB programs are offered: the Primary Years Program (PYP), Middle Years Program (MYP), and International Baccalaureate Diploma Program (DP).

Branksome Hall is led by Principal Karen L. Jurjevich, who has been Principal since 1998. Jurjevich announced in October 2022 her plans to retire in June 2024.

• Why it should be changed:

Hello! I am hoping to make a few edits again based on the feedback from my last COI submission. There are a few details and citations that need updating in this first introductory section, as well as some language that may be perceived as promotional that we would like to remove. Thank you for your consideration.

• References supporting the possible change (format using the "cite" button):

Kdlromeo (talk) 17:56, 4 January 2024 (UTC)

References

 Not done for now: Please specify the exact changes you would like to be made for ease of review. Additionally "immersive" isn't really a word the should be included. Thanks, ARandomName123 (talk)^{Ping me!} 15:05, 19 January 2024 (UTC)

Neutrality tag - can it be removed?

I am reviewing this article's tags and citations, hoping to improve its quality. I'd like to remove the Neutrality tag at the top (from Dec 2023) as from a glance at the editing history it does not appear that recent edits have been made by editors with a conflict of interest. As well I don't see a message from the tagging editor on the history of this talk page sharing why the tag was added or suggesting what could be done to improve the page. Chillforest (talk) 19:11, 21 October 2024 (UTC)

Agreed. Thanks for adding refs. I have removed the tag. Tacyarg (talk) 19:38, 21 October 2024 (UTC)

Thank you so much! Do we think the alum verifiability tag can also come down? I have added references and those with no citation seem to mention Branksome on their linked Wikipedia pages. I can hunt down some more sources if more are still needed. Chillforest (talk) 19:41, 21 October 2024 (UTC)

No need to thank me - you did all the work! Re the alumnae, the issue there is the number without Wikipedia articles, which means that they have not yet been demonstrated to be notable in Wiki terms. If you are happy that all would potentially be notable, though, that's fine with me. You might want to put a comment in the article though saying that you've considered this before removing that tag, to prevent other editors putting it back. Tacyarg (talk) 20:02, 21 October 2024 (UTC)