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.
Guiding Our Boys to Learn, Lead and Leave a Legacy
Michael Fellin, Headmaster of Crescent School
I have spoken frequently over the past year about our Portrait of a Crescent Graduate. The Portrait describes the knowledge, skills and character strengths our boys require to be successful men in the world. It answers three questions: who am I, how do I lead, and what is my legacy? It distills the answers to those questions into six essential qualities. In its simplest form, it can be expressed this way: we want our graduates to have received a strong foundation to learn, lead, and leave a legacy.
A specific area of interest for me in our Portrait of a Crescent Graduate is student leadership – the belief that all boys have the capacity to lead, not simply those who hold elected positions. Canadian social visionary Jean Vanier argues that leaders lead at the point of their gifts. This mindset is consistent with what I have observed across our alumni network. Rarely are any of these men leading in elected positions of authority; instead they are leading through their unique giftedness. And so too, it is critical that Crescent boys explore and locate their unique passion and promise as part of their Crescent education.
Like most people, my own leadership style is rooted in my personal experience as a youth. Throughout my childhood, teenage and young adult years, I was fortunate to be surrounded by people who called forth my vocation to serve – teachers, coaches, mentors, and bosses who saw in me something that I may not have seen in myself. In many instances, these experiences were grounded in service toward other people, especially those less fortunate.
Two particular experiences hold a deep significance for my life today. First, in the summer of Grade 10, I participated in a youth street patrol program which had us prepare and share food and clothing packages with homeless people in downtown Toronto. I recall vividly how many of my own biases and stereotypes broke down when I encountered people living on the street. In some cases, they were people who grew up just like me but met with misfortune or life crisis.
Second, as a young adult and teacher, I participated in a Teachers Crossing Borders trip to Jamaica. My wife Heather and I volunteered at an orphanage, taught at a school located in a city landfill, visited children with physical and intellectual disabilities, and cared for the elderly at a seniors’ home. I recall deeply how alive I felt as I assisted those with far greater need than myself.
In retrospect, both of these encounters taught me that to lead is an immense privilege because it involves bringing people together often who are worlds apart – physically, intellectually, emotionally and spiritually.
When I think about our boys, I think of them as having the capacity to leave their school and their world better than they found it. I do not think of leadership as for the select few but for all boys who have promise to become Men of Character.