Why I Love TFS

It’s a unique perspective – being able to see something from more than one view. In the 2011-2012 school year, a remarkable seven students returned to TFS after attending schools elsewhere, ranging from a few weeks to three years. La poste de TFS recently sat down with three of them, to discuss why they left, what their experiences were outside of TFS and why they returned.

Ethan H.: Started TFS in Pre-Kindergarten (PK), left to attend Upper Canada College from Grades 4 through 6, returned to TFS in the fall of 2011 at the start of Grade 7.

Ethan is athletic. So when he finished Grade 3 and saw what was on offer for Grade 4 (the start of competitive sports at TFS), he thought there wasn’t enough for him. “There weren’t a lot of athletics then at that age, but now at that level there are a lot more,” Ethan says.

After spending seven years at TFS, though, Ethan found UCC very different. He found the environment socially unrewarding. As well, the athletic program was emphasized to the degree that made it difficult for students with other commitments.

Now that Ethan has returned, he says he is much happier. In addition to friends and robust social opportunities, he is enjoying his favourite subject – art – and being on the fall soccer team and winter hockey team (he’s the goalie).

Says Ethan: “This is where I started out. It’s my home away from home and part of my life.”

Logan M.: Started TFS in PK, left to attend Havergal College for Grades 9 and 10, returned to TFS in the fall of 2011 at the start of Grade 11/Level IV.

It was Logan’s desire for new experiences that led her to Havergal College: “I wanted to get out of my comfort zone, to see how other schools function and make new friends.” As the only girl in her family (she has two brothers), Logan enjoyed Havergal and felt very supported, though she found the social dynamics a change  – “it was a big deal when they saw or hung out with boys,” she says.

But seeing her brother, Sean, graduate from TFS in 2011 led Logan to rethink her choice of school: “He was so close to his friends, thought the IB (Diploma) was the right way to go and really appreciated what he got out of TFS. I thought ‘that’s what I want’.”

On being back Logan says, “At Havergal I didn’t know everyone in my grade. Here there is much more of a family feeling. If I go back to the Junior School, the teachers all know me, they never forget their students, and I think that’s rare.”

Aaron C.: Started TFS in PK, left at the beginning of Grade 9 to attend Lawrence Park Collegiate Institute, returned to TFS three months later.

Though Aaron knew a number of students at Lawrence Park Collegiate Institute and was eager to try something new, it was just over three months before he was back at TFS. “I was a year ahead and they were teaching exactly the same things I learned last year, so I was getting bored in class,” Aaron says.

He also began to consider what he might lose by not continuing at TFS: “I thought, ‘am I just going to throw it all away, not do the Brevet [a set of exams marking the end of the French National curriculum leading to a French diploma] or the IB [Diploma program]?’” Having come back, he is happy to be in a more challenging academic environment and intends to sit the exams for the Brevet this year. Aaron is satisfied knowing he “will be better prepared for what is to come” and is also looking forward to being on the tennis team again – he’s been a member since Grade 6 and was captain of the team last year.

We are delighted to welcome the seven students back! Like the students we spoke to for this story, each student at TFS has an individual attachment to their school based on their passions, aspirations and interests.