One of the top independent schools for boys in Canada, Crescent School spans 37 acres in midtown Toronto. Now in our second century, we provide rich and diverse experiences and opportunities for boys in Grades 3–12 to learn, grow and thrive. Character has always been at the centre of a Crescent education supporting our mission, Men of Character from Boys of Promise.
Since 1913, Crescent School’s focus has been on character development. It is part of our DNA and involves a deep, uncompromising commitment to three essential areas we believe bring out the best in boys: relational learning, mentoring and character-in-action. A school that truly understands what makes boys tick, Crescent is here to meet your son’s development needs every step of the way.
Finding the right school for your son is one of the most important decisions you will ever make. Thank you for considering Crescent School. We invite you to apply through our online application form. Learn more about us by attending an Open House or taking a virtual tour. We look forward to welcoming you to our campus.
A Crescent education is exciting, fulfilling and broad. Our curriculum is taught by highly motivated, supportive teachers who understand that establishing a relationship with your son unlocks the door to learning and engages him in his character development. Your son will be celebrated for both his work and his work ethic as we guide him academically and emotionally on his journey to becoming a Man of Character.
Character-in-Action programs are Crescent's co-curricular activities that provide boys with ample opportunities to develop character outside the classroom. Through clubs and teams in the arts, business, robotics and athletics, your son will discover new interests and build his leadership skills. And our outreach programs will allow him to gain compassion for others both in our community and abroad.
The generosity of our Crescent community provides vital support for our campus development, signature academic and co-curricular programs, and Student Financial Assistance. Contributions, no matter what their size, allow us to deliver the best possible education for our boys and help ensure that we continue to fulfill our mission: Men of Character from Boys of Promise.
Crescent School doesn’t slow down when regular classes are out. We offer a Summer Academic Program available to all high school students, as well as summer camps for children 4 to 13 years old. Our Successful Start program is a special academic prep program exclusively available to Crescent students.
Employment at Crescent School is an opportunity to build a rewarding career and belong to a dynamic community where all are respected for their contributions. Our employees share a commitment to excellence that has made us one of the top schools for boys in the world. An equal-opportunity employer, we offer competitive compensation and benefits and believe strongly in workplace accessibility.
The December holiday is my favourite time of year. With the school shut down, both physically and digitally, I am gifted with the luxury of time to unwind, rest and relish the company of family and friends in a slightly more relaxed manner.
This year was the first December break in over 20 years that I did not live in a hockey rink. Instead, I traded my skates for skis and accompanied my three kids to the slopes. I’m happy to say they were introduced to the sport far better (and more safely) than I was as a teenager.
The month of January, however, is distinct in that we may attempt to restore or change some of the habits from our last year’s selves. Each new year affords a fresh start, a chance to leave things behind and begin anew with the hope that we will be just a little bit better. For students, January also often begins a new academic period – a crossroads moment when students have just enough feedback on what they need to improve and just enough time to make a change for the better. According to Angela Duckworth at the Character Lab, “The science of fresh starts is intuitive: landmarks like the New Year or a new semester spur us to set goals for improving our performance, no matter what it is we want to improve.”
Yet what type of change is worth our focus? There are the proverbial “low-hanging fruit” such as getting more sleep, starting a new diet or spending more quality time on studies. And yet these can seem fleeting when we revert to old habits and experience the “hangover of disappointment.” Perhaps other things deserve our fresh attention.
I recall learning from my now-distant high school experience that to pursue the right answers in life, one needs to ask the right questions. This habit was ingrained in my developing adolescent brain and has been with me ever since. Recently, while hosting a Crescent alumni reception in London, England, I spoke about our Portrait of the Graduate and newly minted Strategic Academic Plan, which we affectionately call The Crescent Way. I shared how helpful it was to gather our school’s thinking about the knowledge, skills, and character strengths that our boys will require for their future success. I described that after all of this feedback was compiled and tested against the best educational thinking of our time, three questions emerged as essential for our boys to confront during their time at Crescent: Who am I? How do I lead? What is my legacy? After my formal remarks, a very astute alumnus pulled me aside and said, “Mike, it strikes me that these questions aren’t just critical for the boys leading up to graduation, they are for a lifetime.” I replied with excited agreement, “Exactly!”
While I have already started honoring new commitments to myself in 2019, such as to become more physically flexible and spiritually rested, I have also returned to these aforementioned questions as a Crescent parent and educator, with even greater zeal. In doing so, I hope to model to myself and for others that change and growth are not just part of a new year’s ritual but central to the mission of building one’s character. Who are you? How will you lead? And what will be your legacy in 2019?