Riverdale Colleigate Institute, Toronto, Ontario

After working for the TDSB, the Toronto District School Board for over thirty years,- the 4th largest school board in North America, inevitably whenever I meet parents, I am often asked this question:

Riverdale Collegiate Institute, Toronto, Ontario

Principal Harvey received the visiting educators warmly   

" Our family live in this area and there are a number of schools where my child can go for his/ her secondary school education, which school should my child choose?"

Wall mural outside one of the classrooms at Riverdale C.I.

Visitors learn a lot about the school on this tour

In Ontario, ( probably the rest of Canada), where children go to school depends solely on their addresses.

Students are required to attend their neighbourhood school. Sometimes a parent may like his/ her child to attend a particular school, however, if that school is outside the area of their residence,  the child would not be admitted.

Parents can apply for optional attendance should they really want their child to attend that school.

Time and time again, some schools would be recommended by parents due to the school's excellent reputation and academic tradition.

Riverdale Collegiate Institute in Toronto is one such school. I heard a lot about Riverdale, but did not have a chance to visit until a week or so ago.

Racial background of Riverdale Collegiate 

Principal Kenn Harvey received the visiting educators warmly into his school and shared with us some interesting facts about Riverdale.

Canada is a multicultural country and Ontario schools often reflect our racial diversity.  This is no exception at Riverdale.

We were impressed by the school. Three things really stood out for me from this tour:

Riverdale students have achieved excellent scores at provincial assessments  

1.  Riverdale students' outstanding academic achievement

When comparing students in Ontario, students from Riverdale scored consistently higher than their counterparts from Toronto schools  and across the province from 2001 - 2014.

2. An unparalleled rich and diverse extra curricular program for students.

Currently,there are about one hundred clubs and activities for students!!!

Our visit tp the school started at 1:00pm and were still there after three p.m. when the school was over. A beehive of after school activities were starting and students were participating in activities from lion dance, table tennis to floor hockey, basketball to band practices. What a busy place!




Many of of the activities run by students / staff members and coordinated by the student council's president and student leaders.

3. A lot of support for students to ensure their success.

In Ontario, Reach All Students is the belief held by the Ministry of Education. Ontario schools along with their principals and staff work hard to implement this vision.

To support students' literacy skills at Riverdale Collegiate , the whole school takes part tn D.E.A.R. - Drop Everything And Read program daily as indicated by the sign posted on the library door.

Chinese educators with Principal Harvey

I am glad the visiting educators had the opportunity to see what schools are doing to achieve this goal.

R.T.
Riverdale Collegiate Institute
Toronto, Ontario