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.
By Michael Jansen, Upper School Faculty, Director Summer Academic Program
If you’re a history buff, you know that the Rubicon River played an important role in ancient Rome. Julius Caesar led his troops across the Rubicon in 49 BC, on his way to invade someplace.
This was a decisive move—once he was over, he couldn’t turn back.
More recently, "Crossing the Rubicon" has come to mean passing a point of no return.
Stay with me; this is going somewhere.
In spite of my best efforts, chemistry still gets a bad rap when it comes to memorizing. I remember, years ago, when a parent told me, quite sincerely, that her son couldn’t memorize everything. I pinched my leg under the table to quell my rage, before I gave her my spiel about concepts rather than facts… yada yada yada.
I give each student a 3” x 5” recipe card a week or so before a test. He can write whatever he wants on the card, provided that it was in his own handwriting – no computers.
At first, in spite of my best efforts, some boys chose to not take this seriously, either by not using the card at all, or by bringing it to the test with a only a few random facts.
It takes several months of almost daily epistles on the value of distilling one’s notes several times until an entire unit of study can be summarized on both sides of a card – in a micro-font, complete with colour-coding. Students come to realize the value of honest-to-goodness revision of notes – on a class-by-class basis – not at the 11th hour. And they see this is a pen-and-paper task.
I compose this piece as my AP students are writing a test on Organic Chemistry. Everyone brought his densely written card; no one is looking at it. They don’t need to. The learning is in their heads – the card is simply a security blanket, a chemical teddy bear, if you will.
My students have crossed the Rubicon. There’s no going back to their old ways of studying.