East Alternative School of Toronto (E.A.S.T.) is an alternative school located near Jones and Gerrard Avenues. The school started its first year of operation in 1996-97. E.A.S.T. specializes in integrating arts throughout the curriculum, promotes the ideas of social justice, equity and compassion, supports an enriched curriculum and promotes critical thinking, provides learning opportunities for 34 students in grade 7 and 34 students in grade 8 with a staff of 3 dedicated teachers, and is based on parent involvement and commitment.
Mission Statement
At EAST, we strive to create an educational environment that fosters personal growth and development, academic excellence, artistic creativity, and independence. Our goal is to nurture critical thinking skills as well as a sense of justice and citizenship in students regarding their communities, both local and global. Parents/guardians, students and school staff work together to achieve these goals.
Our mission statement is made possible through the following Guiding Principles, explained in further detail in the following sections: Kids First Policy, Enriched Curriculum, Independent Learning, Social Justice, Integrated Arts-Based Curriculum and Parent Involvement.
More Information about East Alternative School of Toronto
Kids First Policy
At EAST, the emotional, educational, physical health and well-being of the students is our main priority, responsibility and focus. This guiding principal is the cornerstone of our school decision-making at all times. Each student is valued for his/her own unique abilities, strengths and weaknesses.
Enriched Curriculum
At EAST, we have high expectations of students and believe that adolescents are regularly underestimated by society as a whole. We offer a demanding curriculum that incorporates depth and breadth in learning beyond the Ontario Ministry guidelines and is implemented through traditional and alternative teaching as well as assessment methodologies.
Social Justice, Citizenship and Sustainability
At EAST, we nurture a sense of local and global citizenship by exploring issues of social justice including race, gender, class, sexual orientation and globalization. A strong commitment to equity, diversity and critical thinking propels all aspects of curriculum design and planning.
Integrated Arts-Based Curriculum
Based on the premise that all students are creative and learn through an exploration of their creativity, students engage in variety of art activities utilizing drama, music and visual arts. The arts, rather than being isolated, are integrated throughout a variety of subject areas and are utilized to explore diverse concepts and issues.
Additional Features
● Heroes/Heroines
● Carlton Street Car Project
● Mask Workshop
● Montreal trip
● Extra-Curricular Activities
● Environment Day
● Career Day
● Wonderland Trip
Student Life - Where You Belong
Everyone has a place in this school.
Academics are creative, challenging and fun.
Social justice and respect guide our actions.
Travelling is our way of building a community.
(a collaboration by EAST students)
What Sets Us Apart
EAST is a small school that houses many exceptional programs in addition to the regular instruction:
*Projects: Model United Nations, Carleton Street Car, Mask workshops
*Workshops: Anti-racism, Anti-semitism, Heterosexism/Homophobia, Learning Disabilities
*Guitar & Band lessons
*Theme Days: Colonization Simulation, Examining sexism and violence against women, Human Rights Day, Enviro Day, Earth Hour
*Trips: Hero Museum, Metro Reference Library, Ste. Marie Among the Hurons, Montreal trip
*Sports: indoor rock climbing, soccer tournament, volleyball, basketball
*Eco-school certified
*Drama productions
*Career Days for students
*Art Days and High School information night and potluck supper.
Parent and Community Engagement
EAST was founded in 1996 by a group of parents/guardians interested in creating an alternative school for their children in east Toronto. Since that time, parents/guardians have worked successfully in partnership with school staff to make EAST a viable and vibrant learning environment. In fact, being a small school community, parents/guardians are essential to the running of many school activities, programs and services. Research further demonstrates that student success in school increases when parents/guardian are involved and active in their child's school and learning processes. Given these factors, EAST not only encourages, but has mandated, parental involvement. We need constant parent/guardian help in order to function as a school!
