The Boys Leadership Academy has been created to explore ways that teachers can make use of the Ontario Curriculum and change the delivery methods in order to better engage your child in his learning. Boys have been under-performing Girls across the TDSB and this academy is focused on finding ways to reverse this alarming trend. It is a work in progress; however, as the team continues to work together with your sons, we are rapidly learning how best to achieve this.
What Makes Us Different?
We follow the Ontario Curriculum just as other Ontario Schools do. Our difference comes in how we deliver these subjects and the Active Learning Environment that you find in each classroom. Students explore concepts and ideas and participate regularly in discussions with other learners. Rather than talking 'at' your child, we simply get the conversation going and then circulate to ensure that students are on-task and engaged. Your child is expected to 'become the teacher' when explaining his thinking to the rest of his peers.
Culinary Arts Program
At the Boys Leadership Academy, we are mindful not to buy into stereotypes. Boys in the Leadership Academy will learn how to prepare healthy snacks and simple meals. We feel there is much more to being a man than excelling in sports.
Fitness Room
We have a fully functional fitness room for students to make use of. It consists of a host of fitness apparatus to allow students to exercise their core and build muscle and build their fitness from an aerobic standpoint. Yoga mats also allow students to work on remaining focused and learning to center their mind a well as their bodies.
Music Program and The Drama / Dance Studio
We offer opportunities for students to learn how to play Steel Pan, African Drums, and may elect to learn a band or strings instrument. Music is an excellent way for students to express themselves and create meaning in a unique way.
The Recording Studio / Technology
The Recording Studio provides another avenue for students in the Boys Leadership Academy to create a musical or spoken text. It is fully functional and contains all the equipment needed from the recording booth to the control room (complete with glass, mics, and recording software, amp etc.)
Additional Features
● Sports Teams
● Late Dismissal Option Every Evening
● Weekly Teacher TLCPs
● Rotman / U of T - I-Think Program
● Cutting Edge Technology Available
● Field Trips to Enhance Learning
Student Life - Where You Belong
Students enrolled in the Boys Leadership Academy can expect to enjoy a dynamic educational experience filled with Leadership opportunities . . .
• Student Council
• Class Website Day-to-Day Updates
• Sports Teams - Basketball, Floor Hockey, Volleyball, Cross Country, Soccer, Football, and Track and Field
• Culinary Arts Program
• Music - Band, Strings, Steel Pan, African Drums, and Vocal Music
• Wordsmith - Geared to enhancing each student's vocabulary
• Technology - Use of Laptops sand Software such as Excel, Word, Powerpoint, Google Docs, I Pads, Recording Studio Equipment etc.
• Fitness Equipment - Students learn to effectively use fitness equipment to build personal fitness levels
Each student has the opportunities listed above and much more in the form of clubs, committees (connected to student council and additional committees), and can take advantage of outside programs such as the Braeburn Neighbourhood Homework Program, and a multitude of after school programs such as chess club, and numerous offerings through the Parks and Rec. Community School on site Monday to Friday evenings.
What Sets Us Apart
In the Boys Leadership Academy expectations are high and all the teachers and students work together to help each young man be all they can be. We recognize the incredible strengths each young man brings to the Academy and help them build on those and improve in the areas they are not as confident in. As mentioned earlier, we cover the Ontario Curriculum; however, we do so in a manner designed to engage and empower each student to take control of their learning. Lessons are shorter and involve ample time for discussion and exploration of the concepts being discussed. We truly are a learning community, in which, each student helps other students get a little better each day. We harness the competitive nature of the young men in our care and help them compete to be all they can be. Our focus is to help them learn to improve their ability to communicate their thinking in written form. Much of the deep thinking and rich ideas we are seeking is there, it is only a matter of getting students to better present these ideas in written form.
Parent and Community Engagement
Our Parents have been part of the process from the very beginning. They were there during the formative stages and helped us select a uniform, logo, name, and shared through the Place Mat format what they were seeking from a Boys Leadership Academy. They feel that the BLA also belongs to them and we have been extremely fortunate to have very committed and helpful parents. We look forward to their continued involvement as we work together to find out how to best engage their sons in their learning. Boys have been under-performing - this is a fact; however, there is no doubt they can succeed and we will continue to work with parents and the young men we are privileged to work with to help them be the best they can be. The good news is our students rise to the expectations set and here at the BLA the sky truly is the limit.
