Building Series #4: The Learning Stairs

In the results of our Parent and Student surveys last spring, both constituent groups resoundingly identified our talented and connected faculty and staff as a key strength at The Country Day School. Following best practices in education, this engagement routinely takes the educational experience outside the classroom in order to enrich activities and deepen the learning experience.
 
While our faculty have whole-heartedly embraced this model, parts of our existing physical plant have made finding ideal work spaces outside of the classroom challenging. Our new building has been specifically designed to provide amply for such spaces.
 
One of these spaces is shaping up to be truly unique – we’ve called it the Learning Stairs.

At the end of the main corridor in the new Senior School, you will see a spectacular connection between the first and second floors. The Stairs not only serve as a way up and down, but more importantly as a place intentionally designed to linger. The Stairs are at different heights to allow for students to sit (some portions are padded) and discuss, write, listen or contemplate. With the ability to accommodate a class, a choir, a group or a number of individuals, the space will be  flexible and able to meet the demands of a variety of learning experiences our teachers have designed for our students.
 
A regular use for the Learning Stairs will be for Thursday morning Senior School assemblies. In our current building, the Senior Students sit on the foyer floor for this gathering. The Learning Stairs, which are extremely spacious and versatile, will serve as the assembly’s new home in our new building.
 
Next week, I will focus on our much anticipated Dining Hall, as well as provide a schedule update.
 
John Liggett
Head of School
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Land Acknowledgment

The Country Day School wishes to recognize and acknowledge the land on which the school operates. Our nearest Indigenous Nations are now the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and the Chippewas of Georgina Island. The Dish with One Spoon Wampum covenant is often cited as an example of the shared responsibility for caring for these lands among the Huron-Wendat, Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee peoples who would call these their traditional territories. CDS respects the relationship with these lands and recognizes that our connection to this land can be strengthened by our continued relationship with all First Nations, by acknowledging our shared responsibility to respect and care for the land and waters for future generations.

School Information

13415 Dufferin Street King, Ontario L7B 1K5 
(905) 833-1220 

communications@cds.on.ca
admissions@cds.on.ca

Founded in 1972, The Country Day School is a co-educational private school offering programs in JK-12 and located on 100 acres north of Toronto in King.