High School at TWS offers a challenging, rigorous curriculum that includes an integration of sciences, mathematics, humanities and the arts.  Academics are balanced with physical activity, work experience, wilderness trips and a healthy social life.  Education from a deeper perspective™ aims to develop clear thinking, active participation and a feeling of moral responsibility.

Accreditation

• Accredited by Ontario Ministry of Education to issue Ontario Secondary School Diploma

• Curriculum meets diploma requirements as well as additional elements of education from a deeper perspective™.

• Main Lesson: a two hour lesson that starts each day for large academic topics such as organic chemistry, similarity and trigonometry or history of drama.  Each main lesson block lasts 3-4 weeks, taught by teachers specializing in the subject and has an artistic or movement component that enhances the learning experience.

• Skills lesson: 45 minute periods after Main Lesson for subjects requiring on-going practise and skills development such as French or German, math and sciences.  

• Artistic or movement lessons: for fine arts, physical education and crafts such as metalwork, woodwork or bookbinding.  Offered in single or double 45 minute periods, ideally after lunch.

• 2 High School Advisors support each class from Grades 9 through 12. The female and male pair of teachers work with students through their 4 years of high school, liaising with parents regularly and as needed. They contribute anecdotal information to report cards and participate in end of year trips. 
  

• Each high school student selects 2 performance arts courses each year.

• Options include: orchestra, choral music, drama, dance, stage technology, guitar, circus arts and eurythmy (a movement art)

• All students in grades 9 to 11 participate in a two or three week work practicum each spring.

• Grade 9: 3 weeks overnight stay at an organic or biodynamic farm, participating in the daily rhythm and chores of the farm

• Grade 10: 2 weeks working full time in a business or industrial setting.

• Grade 11: 2 weeks working full time in a social services environment such as a childcare, kindergarten or home for the disabled or aged.

• Grade 12 students use this time to prepare and perform a full-length drama production, with responsibility for acting, costumes, sets, props, lighting, sound, program, ticket sales and clean up.  This is a highlight of the high school experience, performed for students, staff and community.

• The High School is an entity within the larger TWS community.  Students get to know others in all grades, facilitated by the High School Initiation camping trip in September each year.  As well, performance arts courses include students from grades 9 through 12, providing further opportunities to socialize with students of other grades.

• The High School year includes dances, the Prom, the Just Desserts drama evening, the Wooden Ship (intimate coffee houses for student performances), fundraisers such as supporting the Third World, as well as opportunities for winter camping and annual class wilderness trips

• The competitive sports program is open to all (from Grades 7 – 12), and includes practices, local games and out of town tournaments. Sports include volleyball, basketball, badminton, Nordic skiing, mountain biking and Cross-country running.  

• TWS welcomes a number of International students each year to study with us; most students come from France, Germany, Switzerland or Korea.

• The TWS Exchange program enables our students to travel to Europe (a French or German speaking country) to study for 4 months, and welcome a student into their home in Canada as well.  

• Those who choose not to do an exchange benefit from the presence of the International students who study at TWS, resulting in friendships and cultural exposure to students from afar.