2016-17 Annual Report and Donor Tribute

ANNUAL REPORT

2016-17& D O N O R T R I B U T E

MESSAGE “It is my privilege to brag about the success

2016-17 ANNUAL REPORT & DONOR TRIBUTE of our school and our students, and share
how our students’ ideas are taking flight.

FROM THE CHAIR

For those of you who were able to join us at the KCS Spring
Concert in May, you heard our Head of School Derek Logan
say “we don’t like to brag around here, but…” and then he
proceeded to brag about some of the wonderful things the
KCS music program had accomplished in the past year. As
1 the Chair of the Board of Governors, it is my privilege to brag
about the successes of our school and our students, and share
how our students’ ideas are taking flight.

I think the best example of our students’ incredible initiative,
follow-through and display of the KCS Habits of Mind, Body
and Action is the JUST GIVE Cram-A-Cruiser food drive the
school participated in back in May. This Ontario-Wide initiative
organized by the Pinball Clemons Foundation and police
departments across Ontario encouraged schools to collect
food for the hungry and compete to collect the most in order
to “Cram-A-Cruiser.” When the police van arrived to collect our
donation they had to make three trips! In fact, our small school
of 400 students made the largest contribution of any school
in Ontario. I say “we,” but credit must go where it is due. This
initiative was not run by parents or teachers, it was an idea from
four grade 8 students that took flight in the best way possible.

This story is a great example of our children’s
accomplishments, but it is just one of many wonderful things
our students have done this past year in each of the Four
Doors to Learning. Our daughters and sons have tried out for
sports teams, signed up to try new and different clubs and
been involved in so many different school activities. They have
won robotics competitions, choir competitions, championship
banners and ribbons. They even fed the hungry better than
anyone else in Ontario.

STEP 1 Message from 1 CONTENT
the Chair
Every day our children are making the world a better Message from 3 2
place. As a community, we continue to be as committed the Head
and passionate as we always have been. Our Founders Stories 5 2016-17 ANNUAL REPORT & DONOR TRIBUTE
were a small but dedicated group who, with a lot of hard
work and their own money, got this school off the ground. Donor Profile – 6
Our parents, alumni, grandparents and alumni parents Paul Vessey
continue to be actively involved in our community by Donor Profile – 7
volunteering their time, making a financial contribution to Brian Burlacoff 9
the Annual Giving Campaign or even making a major gift. 11
On May 27, 2017, nearly 400 members of our dedicated The Class of ‘97
community came together at the ROM to Invest in Play as 13
we kicked off our $1M campaign to renovate Humbertown Yearly events 15
Park. I want to thank all our families for contributing to an 17
exceptional community that is ready to offer anything they Play for the Park Gala 19
can to make it possible for KCS to become greater every 21
year and let initiative soar. Four Doors Highlights 23
25
It has been my great privilege to serve as the Chair of Academics 27
the Board of Governors for this past year. I invite you to 29
continue reading our Annual Report and Donor Tribute Arts 31
with the theme of “Ideas Taking Flight” to see more of the
great accomplishments from our students and community. Athletics 33

Citizenship

School Life

Graduating Class

Financials

Fundraising

KCS Parent Network

Board of Governors
and Committees
Donor Listing

“Increasingly, we are being recognized as an

innovator and a leader in Canadian education.

MESSAGE FROM THE HEAD
It was 30 years ago that twelve families came together with the
idea to build an independent school in Toronto’s West End.
It was the dedication and financial support of these founding
families that made Kingsway College School a reality, and it

continues to be the hard work of our faculty, staff, students and

3 families that has helped KCS grow into the thriving community
and example of educational excellence that it is today.

2016-17 ANNUAL REPORT & DONOR TRIBUTE Since our doors opened in 1989, the school has undergone
three new additions to accommodate the growth of our
student body and merged with the St. George’s Nursery
School to expand our Early Learning Program. Twenty years
ago we installed a new play structure in Humbertown Park
for the benefit of all students and members of the Kingsway
community. Today, we’re raising $1 Million to Invest in Play and
rejuvenate Humbertown Park to make it a great place to play
and learn for our next generation of students. Our community
comes up with great ideas, but what makes our school so
special is when those ideas take flight and come to fruition.

Last year, KCS participated in a nation-wide employee
satisfaction survey run by the Globe and Mail and Morneau
Shepell. From all across Canada, KCS was recognized as
one of the top finalists for the award. We were also the only
independent school to be recognized. We are proud to be
named as an employee recommended workplace; as a place
where our employees can grow and thrive and where their
ideas can be fulfilled and valued. As I like to say during our
Open Houses, “KCS enables our staff to be the professionals
we were trained to be.”

Increasingly, we are being recognized as an innovator and a
leader in Canadian education. A number of other independent
schools visited KCS this past year to learn from the way we do
things. One school came to see the changes we’ve been making
in the Early Learning Program and our move to the Reggio Emilia
curriculum style. An impressive 25 visitors joined the grade 7
classes as they participated in the High Resolves Global Citizens
and Leaders program. We are the first school outside of Australia
to offer this social justice education program.

MESSAGE

4

In spite of all our successes, we continue to self-evaluate 2016-17 ANNUAL REPORT & DONOR TRIBUTE
and find room for improvement. The whole school has
been hard at work for the last year in preparation for
our upcoming CAIS re-accreditation. Membership in
the Canadian Accredited Independent Schools is only
available to independent schools who engage in the most
comprehensive education accreditation process in the
country and who demonstrate through that process that
they strive for and successfully achieve an exemplary
commitment to excellence in all areas. We have a huge
story to tell and we look forward to sharing it with the CAIS
Visiting Committee in November.

I invite you to read our Annual Report to learn more about
the unique experiences and opportunities available to KCS
students and see how ideas are taking flight across the
school every day.

STEP 2

DONOR
PROFILES

STORIES “...we felt it was PAUL VESSEY

our turn to Paving The Path For The Future

Past Chair of the Board of Governors Paul Vessey knows that a
quality education sets the path for the future.

5 make an impact After moving to Etobicoke in 2004, it was the recommendation of

2016-17 ANNUAL REPORT & DONOR TRIBUTE and allow KCS many friends and neighbours that Paul and his wife Kathleen send
to continue their two-year-old daughter Brigid to Kingsway College School. “The
young student that gave us our first tour sold us on the spot,” recounts

its mission of Paul. “We both felt that if KCS could give that young lady the self-
becoming greater confidence and enthusiasm she so confidently demonstrated then
KCS had to be the best choice for our daughter.” Brigid graduated from
every year.
KCS in 2016, but Paul and Kathleen continue to be avid supporters of

the school that set their daughter on the path to success.

“Independent education is a needed component of our society’s
educational landscape,” says Paul. It was this belief that led Paul
and Kathleen to make a generous major gift in support of the
Capital Campaign in 2009 and again towards the Humbertown Park
Renovation Project. “KCS has made a significant positive impact on
our daughter,” says Paul. “Kathleen and I are so appreciative of the
contributions made by those that preceded our daughter’s time at
KCS that we felt it was our turn to make an impact and allow KCS to
continue its mission of becoming greater every year.”

Not only does Paul believe in making KCS greater today, but
the Vessey family also believes in supporting the generations of
students to come. A legacy gift in their estate plans will ensure that
future generations of KCS students will receive the same unique
opportunities that KCS had to offer Brigid.

“The demands on our educators grow in complexity every year,”
says Paul. “Their needs grow in number and in cost, so it is our
hope that our financial contributions will allow KCS to remain on the
leading edge of education and continue to develop students that
will make significant contributions to our society.”

More than just the Past Chair of the Board, Paul Vessey and his family
are the true embodiment of a passionate and engaged KCS community.

BRIAN BURLACOFF “It’s a culture of STORIES

Building A Culture Of Giving giving that makes 6
a good school
For Brian and Lisa Burlacoff, KCS is a place of promise. become great. 2016-17 ANNUAL REPORT & DONOR TRIBUTE
Whether it’s giving
“From the moment we walked in the doors of KCS, we felt a warmth of time or funds, it
from the students and the teachers that just wasn’t there with other all makes the school
schools,” recalls Brian. It was this feeling of warmth coupled with the a better place.”
polite eloquence of the student tour guides that convinced Brian and
Lisa that KCS would be the perfect school for their sons, Aaron ’16 STEP 3
and Noah ’18. Nine years later, Brian is a long-standing member of
the KCS Board of Governors and is currently serving as Vice Chair.

“It’s a culture of giving that makes a good school become great,”
says Brian. “Whether it’s giving of time or funds, it all makes the
school a better place.” Through his efforts to support KCS on the
Board of Governors, by making a major gift towards the Capital
Campaign in 2009 and another recent gift directed towards
Learning Strategies, Brian and Lisa are leading by example.

“KCS has done so much for our children and their development
in the Four Doors to Learning,” says Brian, “this is just a way to
give back and say thank you.” By directing their gift to Learning
Strategies, Brian and Lisa are hoping to lay a foundation of support
today that will help students in the years to come. “The hope is that
you’re leaving something that will help other children because the
school has helped ours,” says Brian.

As a financial planner, Brian knows that a major gift may not be
possible for everyone but creating a culture of giving isn’t just
about making a financial donation, it’s about coming together as a
community to make something great.

STORIES

2016-17 ANNUAL REPORT & DONOR TRIBUTE7 THE CLASS OF ‘97

20 YEARS BEYOND KCS

On Friday, May 26, 2017, KCS was
proud to celebrate the 20-year
reunion of the graduating class of
1997. More than 20 former students,
faculty, staff, alumni parents
and former Head of School, Hal
Hannaford came together at the
Crooked Cue. It’s truly a mark of our
passionate and engaged community
that 20 years later, so many people
want to celebrate their time at KCS.

STORIES

8

The night would not be possible without the efforts of co-planners “KCS impacted all 2016-17 ANNUAL REPORT & DONOR TRIBUTE
Lindsey HELSTON de Breyne and Laura TOMULKA Powadiuk,
graduates of the Class of 97. our lives in a very
positive way and
“KCS has always meant a lot to me,” says de Breyne. “I wanted to it’s amazing to see
be able to reconnect with my former classmates.” how much we’ve
evolved, but also
As the younger daughter of one of the founding families, de Breyne how much has
holds a special place for KCS in her heart and has even taken her stayed the same.
KCS experiences forward into her adult life as a teacher. “I often
reflected on what I liked best about my teachers at KCS,” says de
Breyne. “I have tried to incorporate those traits into my teaching
career, such as having high expectations, patience, a passion for
education and being supportive of students.”

It’s these same qualities that led Powadiuk, also from a founding
family, to choose to send her two children, Jackson ’23 and Hannah
’26 to KCS. “I wanted my children to experience a school that cares
about them,” says Powadiuk. “A school that will adapt with them
and help them learn in the best way for them. I wanted them to
learn the same values I did: Respect, Manners and Try Your Best.”

For Powadiuk, alumni events like the Class of ‘97 reunion are an
important way to grow the KCS community. “We all have something
special in common,” she says. “KCS impacted all our lives in a very
positive way and it’s amazing to see how much we’ve evolved, but
also how much has stayed the same.”

The highlight of the reunion evening was opening the Class of 1997
time capsule, sealed tight these past 20 years. Alumni reveled in
the memories of old photographs, the height of 90s fashion and
sentimental keepsakes. But more importantly, it was a chance for
KCS grads to catch up. “It was great to see my former classmates
and teachers,” says de Breyne. “It was interesting to see what
everyone had been doing for the last 20 years.”

STORIES SPECIAL
EVENTS
2016-17 ANNUAL REPORT & DONOR TRIBUTE
GRANDPARENTS DAY
This festive morning began with a performance by the senior band
and the primary singers. Over 300 Grandparents and Special
Friends Day visitors were then treated to a tour around the school
led by the students, a commemorative photograph and a special
9 handmade gift.
This perennial event is a favourite of both students and guests alike.
Working hard in art class, students made special individualized
buttons to celebrate their loved ones, whether they be
grandparents, godparents, aunts, uncles or an old family friend.
A huge thank you to the Parent Network for their support. Our
parent volunteers help make this event a continued success.

ENCOURAGING DIALOGUE “What can five STORIES

What can five minutes do? It can help change the world. This minutes do? It 10
was the main message that went home with members of the KCS can help change
community in January after the Encouraging Dialogue Speaker the world.
Series presented in partnership with the KCS Parent Network.
2016-17 ANNUAL REPORT & DONOR TRIBUTE
Thanks to the tireless efforts of two members of the KCS Parent
Network, Volunteerism: Choices That Make a Difference featured a
panel of non-profit leaders sharing their experiences and engaging
in lively discussion with the audience. Alex Robertson, CEO of Camp
Oochigeas, Kristine Gaston, Executive Director of The Leacock
Foundation, Martha McClew, Provincial Director for The Terry Fox
Foundation, James Noronha, Program Director for Special Olympics
Ontario and Gohulan Rajalingham, Special Olympian were joined
by keynote speaker and host of the evening, Canadian football
legend Michael “Pinball” Clemons.

With a focus on instilling the habits of volunteerism in our children
early to follow them through life, panelists encouraged the audience
to help children find their passion and to teach by example.

STORIES SPECIAL
EVENTS
2016-17 ANNUAL REPORT & DONOR TRIBUTE
PLAY FOR THE PARK GALA
Since KCS opened its doors in 1989, Humbertown Park has been home to KCS students for 11,600
recesses, 29 Sports Days and 13 years of Terry Fox Runs. In the 2016-17 school year the park was
unusable for approximately 20 days because of ice and mud.

Humbertown Park is a well-used, well-loved, park in the heart of the Kingsway community with a rich
history. It was the home of the Toronto Argonauts’ practices from 1993-1995. Extensive daily use has
11 caused the park to get worn down and is in need of renovations. The City of Toronto isn’t scheduled
to upgrade Humbertown Park for another decade, so KCS has led the charge to restore this park to
its former glory and make it a fun place to play that also supports all our school athletics, spirit days,
citizenship events and recesses.

On May 27, 2017, nearly 400 guests gathered at The ROM for The KCS SPEAKEASY: PLAY FOR
THE PARK GALA to launch the campaign for Humbertown Park. Together, we raised $210,000
towards our $1 Million Campaign goal so that we can invest in play. Two new playground
structures are designed with children’s needs in mind. A natural material structure for younger
children and a second structure focused on older youth will replace the existing playground. An
outdoor classroom and seating area, a walking loop and a renovated field with new irrigation will
make Humbertown Park a great place to play games, show team spirit and make memories.

AUCTION DONORS Cirillo’s Culinary Academy Rob & Kit Fraser
Michael “Pinball” Clemons Rebecca Freeman
10tation Catering Cobs Bread Humbertown Gibson’s Cleaners
AGO Crooked Cue Goodmans LLP
Aaron, Noah, Lisa and Brian Burlacoff Ms. Kendra Cutting Rahul Gopal
Azarias Keri Davis Alison Hamilton
BANG! creative - David O’Connell Devil’s Glen Country Club Hands on Wellness
The Beauty Studio Pat & Jennifer DiCapo Bob Hayes
Bill Miles for Men Drive Products Peter Helston
The Boulevard Club Driveteq High Point Wellness Centre
Diana Bowes Edmonds Family Honda Canada
Butterfield & Robinson Dan Elder Honda Canada
Gregory Charlton Embu Hair Motorcycle Division
Julie Coombs Paula Engeeser – Natasha Hughes-Germain
California Sun Spa Image Consultancy Humbertown Village Spa
Caroline Cameron Exclusive Affairs Rentals Innovative Rhythm
Capucci Salon & Spa Family Bliss Islington Golf Club
Caruk Hall Homes & CAR Design Lise Filippelli-Russo Jacobs & Co. Steakhouse
Causal Affairs Clothing Flight Centre Summerhill Greg Johnson
Chain Reaction The Flower Room Cori Kalinowski &
Cineplex Entertainment Footloose Dancewear Eugene Mazzuca

Thank you to all our dedicated Gala Committee, generous donors and sponsors for making STORIES
this event a spectacular success and for investing in play.

Gold Sponsor: Roadsport Auto Group Games Sponsor: Ernst & Young 12

Bronze Sponsor: The Baseball Zone and Evening Sponsors: Motria Dzulynsky, Borden 2016-17 ANNUAL REPORT & DONOR TRIBUTE
Terriers Baseball Ladner Gervais, ReMax West Reality – Luisa
Piccirilli, Sun Life Financial – The Burlacoff
Auction Sponsor: Scotia Wealth Management Family, ArtBox, Goodmans LLP, Doris and
Lachlan MacLachlan, Walter and Maria
Décor Sponsor: Turner & Porter Schneider, The Bell Family

Red Wine Sponsor: Le Calvane – Pat and Table Sponsors: The Iantorno Family,
Jennifer Di Capo TheKCS Parent Network, Doris and Lachlan
MacLachlan
DJ Sponsor: Kingsway Dermatology
& Cosmetic Care

Photo Booth Sponsor: The Children’s Place
Dental Centre

KAOS Music Group Dr. Stelios Nikolakakis Sleep Country Canada
KCS Family The Oban Inn, Spa & Restaurant St. Georges on the Hill
Trish Keogh, SALTBOX PARTNERS Oleander Floral Design Brian Stemmle
Kingsway College School Johanne Pelletier Karen Stemmle
Kingsway Conservatory of Music PhysioPlus Health Group Strathbridge Asset Management
Jane Kristoffy Nicolas Poulos Stratus Vineyards
LatsOn Training Jonathan & Amber Prothero Taz Hair Co.
Derek Logan Rakuten Kobo Inc. ThinkLink Graphics
Biljana & Tony Lourakis The Real O’Neals Toronto Argonauts Football Club
Andre Lucas Retrofit Pilates Toronto Blue Jays
Mad River Golf Club Roadsport Auto Group TSN OVERDRIVE
Mastermind Toys Lara Root Twiga
Medcan Royal Ontario Museum David van der Poel
Elissa Meleca Ruben Riley Vanderfleet Flowers
Molson Coors Scotiabank Kate Wallace
Monte Design Group Sanelli’s Cookery Weston Golf & Country Club
Montgomery Alterations & Dry Rob Sawyer Jonathan Wong
Cleaners Robins Appleby LLP Lisa Woon
Mooney-Pelletier Family Saxon for Men Zest for Living
Musical Arts Academy – Ellen Schwartz, Leyitsky & Feldman LLP
Annor-Adjelli Sigma Promotions Anonymous

HIGHLIGHTS ACADEMICS

2016-17 ANNUAL REPORT & DONOR TRIBUTE13
SESAME E-PORTFOLIO
• In 2015-16, KCS launched Sesame, a secure e-portfolio that
captured the detailed learning journey of our PK, JK and SK
students through photos, videos and captions and allows
parents to follow their children’s growth from home
• K CS expanded this program in 2016-17 to include all students
from PK to Grade 3
• As we continue to roll out this new tool, the e-portfolio will
follow students from their first day at KCS until the day of their
graduation, capturing their full growth and development on
their KCS education journey

ROBOTICS AT KCS
• S ixteen students created two teams to participate in the
Regional FIRST LEGO Robotics competition
• One KCS team, “The SWARM” won both the regional
championships and “The Champions Award,” recognizing
them as the team that “embodied the FIRST LEGO League
experience, by fully embracing our Core Values while
achieving excellence and innovation in both the Robot Game
and Project”
• While the FIRST LEGO Robotics competitions were reserved
for students in grade 7 and 8, LEGO Robotics was introduced
to grades 5 and 6 through a new robotics club to increase
interest in the program
• G rade 4 students were also introduced to the LEGO WeDo
Robotics Kids as part of their science program
• T he Robotics Program continues to expand to our youngest
students with the addition of Dash and Dot Robotics learning
for students in SK to Grade 2

HIGHLIGHTS

“Sixteen students 14

TEACHING GARDENS created two teams 2016-17 ANNUAL REPORT & DONOR TRIBUTE
to participate in
• With the assistance of Master Gardener Alexis Yankany, the Regional FIRST
outdoor learning is expanding at KCS with the new LEGO Robotics
Teaching Gardens competition.

• Five raised bed planter boxes each follow a theme chosen
by students and teachers: The PK/JK Harvest Garden,
the SK Butterfly/Pollinator Garden, The Grade 1 Love
Garden, The Grade 2 Diversity Garden and The Grade 3
Indigenous Garden

• D onations to the Annual Giving Campaign covered the cost
of construction and the plants were generously donated by
Plant World

STEP 4

HIGHLIGHTS ARTS

2016-17 ANNUAL REPORT & DONOR TRIBUTE“15 MUSICAL PRODUCTION OF THE LION KING JR.
Over 100 students • M any members of the KCS community took part in this full-blown

in the KCS Junior stage production of the popular Disney-movie-turned-broadway-
and Senior Choirs show, The Lion King, modified for younger performers
were Gold Medal
• From Primary Singers in grades 1 to 3 opening the show, to
graduating students in lead roles, 200 students took on a

winners in the choral number of roles, both on stage and behind the scenes, and
category at the Peel worked together to focus their collective artistic energy to
create something magical

Music Festival • In addition, 30 staff members and over 20 parents were

directly involved in the production

• F ormer Head-of-School-turned-art-reviewer, Dave Richards,
gave the student production a rave review on his website
torontoconcertreviews.ca calling the production a “triumph of
teamwork and dedication”

ARTIST IN RESIDENCE PROGRAM

• The 2016-17 KCS Artist-in-Residence was Canadian performer
and educator Kathy Armstrong, who specializes in Ghanaian
drumming, music and dance

• S tudents from JK through to grade 8 worked with Kathy
to learn different styles of African drums and percussion
instruments as well as traditional Ghanaian dances

• S tudents learned the “language” of drums and the significance
of dance in Ghanaian culture

• K athy lent a further air of authenticity to the African set of the
Lion King production by assisting the chorus

HIGHLIGHTS

16

• S tudents shared their learning in a 2016-17 ANNUAL REPORT & DONOR TRIBUTE
full school assembly with our older
students providing the musical tempo
for the younger students performing a
traditional Ghanaian dance for fellow
students, staff and parents

MUSIC AT KCS

• Over 100 students in the KCS Junior and
Senior Choirs were Gold Medal winners
in the choral category at the Peel Music
Festival

• The Senior Choir impressed the judges
so much they were invited to a select
secondary performance called “The Stars of the Festival
Concert” held at the Rose Theatre in Brampton

• Nearly 100 students participated in the Conference of
Independent Schools Music Festival (CISMF), a prestigious
instrumental and choral music festival held annually at Roy
Thomson Hall

• The Breezin’ Through Theory CIS Winter Classic was a one
week long competition held in the spring for students to
complete increasingly challenging music theory questions.
KCS students competed against High School students
in fellow CIS schools and placed third overall in the
competition, showcasing their musical theory prowess

• W ake up With the Arts continued to be a monthly favourite
for KCS students, parents, faculty and staff with an average
of 15 performers each month. Primarily singing or playing
instruments, students have also performed dance numbers
and prepared videos for presentation

HIGHLIGHTS ATHLETICS

17

2016-17 ANNUAL REPORT & DONOR TRIBUTE “More than 100 KCS IN MOTION

• A new program was launched for Grade 7 and 8 students
to help meet our goal to graduate students who understand
the importance of fitness and have the skills, knowledge and

different clubs and attitudes necessary to participate in a wide range of athletic
teams were offered activities
to SK to Grade 8
• Three field trip opportunities are offered to Grade 7 and 8
students to meet this goal

students. • N injaz Obstacle Course creates a one-of-a-kind

experience and an amazing workout for students

involving running, jumping, vaulting, climbing and

balancing

• C urling at High Park Curing Club gives students an up
close opportunity to learn the game from experts

• Indoor Rock climbing at Boulderz offers a tailored
program for youth in Toronto’s first rock climbing facility

• KCS in Motion is part of our intermediate students’ journey to
be physically active for life by building confidence and staying
committed to maintaining healthy lives in high school and
beyond

SPORTS, EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES AND OUTDOOR
EDUCATION

• More than 100 different clubs and teams were offered to SK to
Grade 8 students

• Twenty-two competitive sports teams were offered with
remarkable participation rates in the individual sports of Cross
Country and Track and Field, where KCS boasted the largest
teams in the CISAA with nearly 100 students on each

HIGHLIGHTS

18

• K CS students came second at the CISAA Co-Ed Cross 2016-17 ANNUAL REPORT & DONOR TRIBUTE
Country Championship, placing in the top two for the
seventh year in a row

• Thanks to a grant from the Tevlin Fund for Athletics
and Outdoor Education, the U13 Boys Basketball team
represented KCS in Hamilton at the CAIS National
Basketball Tournament

• T he team was chosen by the sixteen judges for the
Statham Award for Team Sportsmanship, given to the
team that best exemplifies the true athletic spirit and
character of the game of basketball

• A dditionally, a student from each team is awarded the
Jeff Trickett Award for his Sportsmanship, heart and
hard work. Congratulations to Rocky for receiving this
honour!

• U14 Girls Basketball won their second CISAA championship
in a row with an undefeated season

• Undefeated U12 Boys Soccer team won the PSAA
championship

• A total of 50 students comprised the KCS Swim Team and
came fourth overall in the PSAA Co-Ed Championships. The
girls came second and the boys came fourth

• KCS appeared on the front page of the National Post Private
School Feature in October 2016 for our award-winning
Outdoor Classroom and extensive Outdoor Education
Program for JK through to Grade 8

HIGHLIGHTS CITIZENSHIP

19

2016-17 ANNUAL REPORT & DONOR TRIBUTE “Our commitment • L eadership education begins as young as Pre-K with our
youngest students learning from the oldest
to the Terry Fox
Foundation for the • A t the invitation of the Special Olympics, our grade 8 students
past 13 years has once again had the rewarding experience of volunteering
at this remarkable event. One student even had the chance
to participate in the competition when an integrated Bocce
Ball team was down a player and came one game away from
winning the championship

resulted in over • O ur commitment to the Terry Fox Foundation for the past
$250,000 13 years has resulted in over $250,000 in donations, with a
in donations... remarkable $18,798 raised in 2016-17. As a result, KCS was
recognized as the 8th top elementary school fundraiser in
Ontario

• O rganized and led by four grade 8 students, the JUST GIVE
Cram-a-Cruiser Food Drive was a resounding success for KCS
students who collected over 300 bags bursting full of non-
perishable food items to support local food banks. The police
van collecting the food donations needed to make three trips
to collect all the food KCS collected. As a result, we were
recognized for collecting the most food of any school in Ontario

• T hirteen grade 7 students attended the WE Day Conference
at the Rogers Centre. WE Day brings together an unmatched
line-up of global leaders, social activists, cultural icons, and
entertainers to inspire young people to take action

• F ollowing a very special KCS #TalkThatMatters Speaker
Presentation on the power of volunteerism from Michael “Pinball”
Clemons and organized by the KCS Parent Network, grade 1 and
7 Mindfulness Buddies were prompted to work to make a positive
impact on the KCS community

STEP 3

HIGHLIGHTS

20

• C ommunity giving is strong at KCS with the Grade 3 Out 2016-17 ANNUAL REPORT & DONOR TRIBUTE
of the Cold lunch program and their support of Youth
Without Shelter, the Grade 4 sock drive for the homeless,
the Grade 7 Winter Coat Drive and charity sporting
events in support of Spread the Net and Help Us Help
the Children

• O ur dedication to the Get Ahead Project School through
KCS Spirit Days has resulted in over $28,000 in donations
since 2004 to support the technology budget to purchase
projectors, laptops and screens for classrooms in the
South African school

HIGH RESOLVES GLOBAL CITIZENS AND LEADERS
PROGRAM

• T hanks to funding from the Pickard/Bulger Citizenship
Fund, KCS is the first school outside of Australia to
embrace this award-winning program that helps build
students’ motivation, skills and confidence to make a
difference in their community

• A ll grade 7 students participated in three workshops:
Collective identity, Independent Thinking and Social Justice

• W e welcomed over 25 teachers, administrators, parents,
board members and social justice champions from across
the GTA to learn more about High Resolves

HIGHLIGHTS SCHOOL LIFE

Health and Wellness Update

• T he focus on integrating movement in the classroom continued
to expand and each classroom from Pre-Kindergarten to Grade
8 is now equipped with three to four movement pieces to let
students customize their learning environment

21 • We have expanded faculty knowledge around kinesthetic
learning in the classroom through the acquisition of new

educational resources in the form of videos, programs for staff

2016-17 ANNUAL REPORT & DONOR TRIBUTE and students and new reading and articles.

• Continued upgrades for the benefit of students continue to
grow throughout the school. The purchase of ambient lighting
for classrooms and potted trees and plants give classrooms
a calming feeling and helps students to focus as they work
independently

Soundproofing Project

• A $100,000 investment in new soundproofing is an investment
into the health and wellness of faculty, staff and students

• S tage one of the project was completed over March break and
included the installation of soundproofing material in the front
lobby, the band room and the Multi-Purpose Room

• S tage two of the project was completed over the summer
of 2017 and involved extensive soundproofing materials
being installed in Canada Hall. Stage three of the project will
continue through the 2017-18 school year

STEP 3

Special Guests HIGHLIGHTS

• Thanks to the support of the KCS Parent Network, students 22
have the opportunity to see a variety of special speakers
through #TTM KCS_Talk That Matters Speaker Series, a 2016-17 ANNUAL REPORT & DONOR TRIBUTE
KCS initiative to bring in speakers to engage our students in
topics that inspire us to reach our ultimate potential

• R CMP Constable Terry Russel spoke to all students
from SK through to grade 8 about his role as a
Mountie, the RCMP, his international work and
imparted some important messages about personal
development and citizenship

• M r. Angus Murray spoke to students from SK to Grade
8 about his experience as the 50th Canadian to scale
the summit of Mount Everest and the determination
required to achieve such an ambitious goal

• R io 2016 Olympic Bronze Medalist in the 100m
backstroke, World Record Holder and KCS cousin, Kylie
Masse, spoke to the entire school about her path to the
Olympics and the lessons she’s learned along the way

• S tudents had the transformational opportunity to
hear Canadian legend, Michael “Pinball” Clemons
along with James Noronha of Special Olympics
Ontario and Special Olympian Gohulan Rajlingam
speak about volunteerism and making a difference,
five minutes at a time

• S tudents and staff alike were left in stunned awe
and appreciation following an extra special visit from
Canada’s Got Talent finalist, Aygul Memet. Along with
breath-taking acrobatic and contortion performances,
Aygul tearfully shared her painful story of being taken
from her family at just four years old and forced to
practice her circus skills for 8 hours a day. Fourteen
years ago, during a trip to Canada, Aygul was able
to defect from the circus and from China and seek
asylum in Canada

GRADUATING CLASS

2016-17 ANNUAL REPORT & DONOR TRIBUTE23 THE CLASS OF 2017

KCS continues to offer enriched
programming encompassing all Four
Doors to Learning to help prepare our
student leaders for the next stage of the
educational journey. As our graduates
enter high school, they will need to be
critical thinkers and responsible risk-
takers who will be socially responsible
leaders and engaged citizens.

GRADUATING CLASS

The accomplishments of our Class of ‘17 are truly 24
remarkable, including but not limited to the organization of
the Cram-A-Cruiser food drive for which KCS was named the 2016-17 ANNUAL REPORT & DONOR TRIBUTE
provincial leader. Grade 8 students act as House Captains,
Open House Tour Guides, run the annual Café Couguar STEP 5
and act as role models to their grade 1 buddies and all the
younger students in the school. The graduates of the Class
of 17 have become strong leaders who know what matters
in life and who are ready for the next challenge.

We continue to maintain strong relationships with
independent schools and Toronto District Public and
Catholic Schools that offer high school programs for
our students to enter the next stage of their educational
journey. All 34 graduates were accepted into one of their
top three choices of independent or public high schools,
including: Appleby College, Bishop Allen Academy, Bishop
Strachan School, Etobicoke Collegiate Institute, Etobicoke
School of the Arts, Father John Redmond Catholic
Secondary School and Regional Arts Centre, Greenwood
College, Havergal College, Holy Name of Mary School,
Humberside Collegiate Institute, Richview Collegiate
Institute, Royal St. George’s College, Runnymede Collegiate
Institute, St. Michael’s College and Upper Canada College.

Starting with our youngest students, KCS spends every day
preparing students to face the next challenge. The Road to
Grade 9 Program is a progressive pro-active program that
prepares students for high school and for the next chapter
of their lives. For more information on our Road to Grade
9 program, or our relationships with high schools, please
contact Head of School, Derek Logan.

FINANCIALS

2016-17 ANNUAL REPORT & DONOR TRIBUTE25

The school’s financial performance showed great
improvement for the 2017 fiscal year, driven by
improved results from academic activities and the
ever-generous support of our community of donors.

The charts provide a breakdown of the school’s academic
revenues and expenses for the 2017 fiscal year. These financial
results allowed KCS to weather any financial challenges
that may have arisen (for example, the need to replace a
brown down boiler) and enabled us to pursue educational
opportunities that improved the academic experience for all
our students.

Unrestricted financial support to the school remains similarly
strong. This includes the generous donations and support of
KCS families to our fundraising initiatives, including the Play
for the Park Gala, the Annual Giving Campaign and many
other ways that benefit the school. This support, along with
the infrastructure fees collected from new students, provide
the financial resources to support projects like Humbertown
Park Renovation Project and the ability to pursue other
strategic initiatives.

We encourage you to review the audited financial statements
for the 2017-2018 fiscal year, which provide more detail on the
financial affairs of the school.

School management, the Finance Committee and the Board FINANCIALS
of Governors continue to monitor expenditures through
budgeting and financial planning that are focused on financial 26
sustainability. Our full audited financial statements are
available at www.kcs.on.ca/annualreport. 2016-17 ANNUAL REPORT & DONOR TRIBUTE

ACADEMIC
REVENUES BY

SOURCE

Tuition Fees – 96%
Ancillary School Programs – 2%
Investment Income – 1%
Miscellaneous – 1%

ACADEMIC
EXPENSES BY

TYPE

Salaries and Benefits – 72% STEP 6
Occupancy – 9%

Amortization – 6%

Education – 6%

Administration – 4%
Ancillary School Programs – 2%
Marketing – 1%

FUNDRAISING

2016-17 ANNUAL REPORT & DONOR TRIBUTE27

KCS IS ALL ABOUT LETTING STUDENTS
DISCOVER WHO THEY REALLY ARE.

Our school mission is to be the defining force
in developing lifelong learners by stewarding a
learning environment that inspires us to reach our
ultimate potential.

That means letting students explore everything
that KCS has to offer in all the Four Doors to
Learning and finding new talents and interests
along the way.

In 2016-17, our generous KCS community of faculty,
staff, parents, grandparents, alumni parents and
alumni helped us to raise over $550,000 to make
KCS an extra-special place to grow and learn today
and in the future.

Your generous gifts to KCS have helped shape
learning environments, offer unique trips, welcome
guest speakers, provide new tools, resources and
PD opportunities for faculty and staff and helped
invest in play by supporting the Humbertown Park
Renovation Project.

STEP 7 FUNDRAISING

Our generous KCS community 28
helped us to raise over

$550,000

Thanks to our generous donors, KCS students Philanthropic investments to the Learning 2016-17 ANNUAL REPORT & DONOR TRIBUTE
have rich and diverse experiences that expand Strategies program from the Burlacoff and
their horizons in ways they never could have Freybe/Connell families send a strong message
imagined. about the importance of student success. We
look forward to sharing more information soon
At KCS, outdoor learning is blossoming with about the impact this donation will make for
five new raised bed garden boxes in the KCS students receiving Learning Strategies support.
Teaching Garden. More than just pretty flowers
and fresh produce, the new teaching garden is We continue to look ahead to the future, and a
cultivating rich opportunities for learning. transformational gift from the Friesema Family
to update the Art Studio will give our students
Grade 7 and 8 students are building confidence a better place to continually explore and create
and physical fitness with the brand new KCS in beautiful pieces of art, now and in the future.
Motion program. Three unique field trips to Ninjaz
Obstacle Course, High Park Curling Club and These amazing opportunities are just a small
Boulderz Climbing Centre indoor rock climbing sample of the many things made possible at KCS
course are helping intermediate students stay by our generous donors.
committed to maintaining healthy lives as they
move on to high school and beyond. We invite you to visit www.kcs.on.ca/ourdonors
to view the Community Impact Report in its
Thanks to the Health and Wellness Fund, new entirety and see the full impact of your gifts on
yoga cushions in the grade 1 reading area give KCS students and our community.
students the freedom of movement while focusing
on their learning. New standing desks let students
customize their learning environment.

KCS PARENT NETWORK The Parent Network (PN) is proud to be a part of the KCS community and to have the opportunity
to directly contribute to the growth and development of KCS students and their families. The PN
delivered a number of initiatives this academic school year in direct support of our key mandate
including but not limited to:

• School Store • Faculty and Staff • PN Ambassador Program

• Milk Program Appreciation • Class Parent Coordinator

29 • Special Lunches • Grade 6-8 Dances • Support from our

2016-17 ANNUAL REPORT & DONOR TRIBUTE • Holiday Décor • Coordinating special past Co-chairs
guests for the KCS_Talk
• Early Learning Program that Matters (#TTM) • Primary student Lip Sync
“Coffee House” Student Speaker Series Show and Acting Out
Talent Show
• Early Learning • Reason For the Season
Program Directory • Athletics Support • Kick-off of the Host
Family Program for
• Library Support
• Mabel’s Fables 2017-2018

• Christmas Craft Program Library Event • Uniform Fittings

• Welcome Back BBQ / • The Birthday Book • Welcome Initiatives
Cake Walk Program for the New Families

• 80’s Themed BINGO • The Diversity Program – • Year End and Christmas
night for the PK – Grade Map Project Volunteer Luncheons
5 Students and their
families • Open Houses • Finalization of the
2017-2018 PN Portfolio
• Encouraging Dialogue • PK to Grade 3 Welcome Managers and on-
Speaker Series Featuring Event boarding in-coming
Michael “Pinball” members to ensure a
Clemons for both the • Volunteer Recruitment & smooth transition
student and Parent Coordination
Community
• Volunteer Appreciation
Week

The Parent Network updated and further developed our best practice content to better support
our community. Our primary goals were to ensure the continued support of our operations, a
more efficient communication protocol, the development of a process for more efficient volunteer
acquisition and retention, and finally a process for smoother successions.

From a financial standpoint, the PN achieved net proceeds of $4,121 via key programs. The Legacy
Fund supports various programs over the full school year, including: funding half the speaker fee
for Michael “Pinball” Clemons and all the #TalkThatMatters speakers, covering the cost of the PK to
Grade 5 Bingo Night, supporting schools dances and covering deficits in the cost recovery for the
Welcome Back BBQ. The Legacy Fund had a closing balance of $102,671, effective June 30, 2017.

PARENT NETWORK POSITIONS 2016-17 KCS PARENT NETWORK

Co-Chairs: Kit Fraser & Sanyo Lue-Kim 30
Core Services: Melanie Alexson
Social & Community: Hao Nguyen
Four Doors and Student Experience: Alison Bell
New Families: Jenn McLaughlin
Volunteerism: Priyanka Gupta
Communications, Class Parents and Strategic Development: Jenn Butters
Parent Network Consultants: Jenn Butters and Sarah Renaud

School Store: Kit Fraser & Melanie Alexson The Reason for the Season: Tracy Russell & 2016-17 ANNUAL REPORT & DONOR TRIBUTE
Special Lunches: Dagmar Radwan & Maria Michell Doig
McCauley
Milk & Cookie Program: Ramona Dico Open Houses: Melanie Alexson & Alison Hamilton
Decor: Leila MacDonald & Paul Reeves
Special Sales: Renata Zychla Host Families: Anouchka Freybe & Priyana Gupta
Welcome Back BBQ: Marcella Conte, Hao
Nguyen, Vanessa von Eiken & Amber Prothero PK to gr 3 New Families Welcome Event: Karen
BBQ Volunteer Recruitment: Tiffany Jay, Tanyo Gautam & Sarah Garvie
Antosik & Sarah Henderson
Acting Out: Dinah Farah & Priyanka Gupta Late Arriving Family Liaison: Maiko Reikers
Bingo: Michelle Macdonald, Lisa-Marie Pitrun
Dances: Alix Sharmin & Alison Bell New Parent Orientation/Curriculum Night: Jenn
Grandparents Day: Elena Poulos & Nataliya Patriki McLaughlin
Encouraging Dialogue: Christina Semler
Faculty and Staff Appreciation: Christine Kittel Volunteer Recruitment: Tiffany Jay
Grandbuddy Program/Student Leadership:
Leesa Daymond Volunteer Appreciation Week: Marcella Conte
Terry Fox Run & Ooch Walk: Andrea Pearson
Musical: Josette Degiorgio & Tracy Cairns PN Website Coordinator: Jenn Butters
Athletics: Allison Sinclair
#TTM & End of Year Student Event: Alison Bell Interguild Representative: Kimberley Brooks
Mabel’s Fables Book Fair: Christine Sumarah
Stay Connected Communications
& Secretary: Claire Shen

KCS New Additions to the Family &
Swag Coordinator: Maiko Reikers

ELP Liaison & Directory Coordinator:

Thul Miles, Sarah Garvie, Kate
Fidani & Deanna Lorusso

Diversity Coordinator: STEP 8

Amy Benson &
Natasha Lenton

BOARD OF GOVERNORS

“ 2016-17 ACADEMIC YEAR
31 The KCS Board of Governors continued to focus its work on the

Together we are four key strategic areas identified in the 2016-18 Strategic Plan,

2016-17 ANNUAL REPORT & DONOR TRIBUTE working to leverage Developing Lifelong Learners, Build and Live our Brand, Ensure
Corporate and Financial Sustainability and Create a Passionate

our community Community. Together we are working to:

to create inspired • Leverage our community to create inspired citizens for life
citizens for life.
• Value and support the KCS community

• Leverage, promote and advocate the unique KCS community –
internally and externally

• Enhance community outreach

As we address the needs of our changing and diverse community,
the Board of Governors continues to work through a two-year
strategic plan for 2016-18. Highlights include:

• The creation of a Financial Assistance Sub-Committee to examine
whether financial assistance is viable from both a financial and
community perspective given our current and future school structure
- This sub-committee will align with our strategic imperative of
“Ensuring Corporate and Financial Sustainability”

• The creation of a Road to Grade Nine Sub-Committee to further
examine ways to best engage KCS families during their children’s
time in the school from PK to grade 8
- T his sub-committee will align with our strategic imperative to
“Build and Live our Brand”

• The creation of an Alumni Sub-Committee to research the
viability and timeline of an alumni engagement program
- T his sub-committee will align with our strategic imperative to
“Create a Passionate Community”

COMMITTEES

The following is the list GOVERNANCE STRATEGIC PLANNING 32
of Board of Governors COMMITTEE: COMMITTEE:
and Committee Laura Barker (Chair): 2016-17 ANNUAL REPORT & DONOR TRIBUTE
members from July 1, Ira Nishisato (Chair): Bronwen Evans
2016 to June 30, 2017. Vanessa Iarocci
AnneMarie Jarman Derek Logan
Chair Derek Logan Hallie McClelland
Alan Bowman Lachlan MacLachlan John McGraw
Susan Richardson Soni Rai
Vice Chair Susan Richardson
Brian Burlacoff FINANCE COMMITTEE:
SENIOR CAMPUS
Treasurer Allen Church (Chair): COMMITTEE:
Allen Church Greg Dunn (Chair):
Andrea Fanjoy Frank Bajt
Secretary Phillipa Flint Alan Bowman
Lachlan MacLachlan AnneMarie Jarman AnneMarie Jarman
Diane Kazarian Derek Logan
Laura Barker Derek Logan Hallie McClelland
Jenn Butters Hallie McClelland Paul Vessey
Jennifer Deschenes Mark Rogers
Karen Dockrill Paula Smith STEP 9
Greg Dunn
Bronwen Evans ADVANCEMENT
Aman Gupta COMMITTEE:
Diane Kazarian
Ira Nishisato Brian Burlacoff (Chair):
Susan Richardson
Paul Vessey Jenn Butters
Jamie Cameron
Jenn Deschenes
Karen Dockrill
AnneMarie Jarman
Derek Logan
Peggy McBean
Hallie McClelland

DONOR LISTING THANK YOU

33

2016-17 ANNUAL REPORT & DONOR TRIBUTE The generosity of our donors continues to expand horizons for KCS students in every grade
and in all our Four Doors to Learning. We are pleased to present our 2016-17 Donor Listing.

Thank you for knowing what matters in life.

Peter and Cathy Acs David Ceolin and Dan Elder and Jennifer
The Alexander Family Victoria Birkett Butters-Elder
Richard and Tanya Antosik Rajeev Chabra and Soni Rai AnnaMaria Esposito
The Atkin Family Gregory Charlton Andrea Fanjoy
Auburn Homes Inc. Michael and Melanie Chernyak Maroune and Dinah Farah
Sean and Poppy Bailey Anouchka and Scott Connell James and Kate Fidani
Dave and Laura Barker James Cumming Sherri Field
Greg Belbeck and Janice Kendra Cutting Foula Filipopoulos
Fukakusa Eloise and Ulrich Czekalla Philippa and Glen Flint
Doug and Alison Bell Dahlia Daley Robert and Kit Fraser
Gregory Betty and Karen Crich Kevin and Kelley Dalton Sharon Freeman
Nina Bombier The D’Ambrosio Family The Friesema Family
Trish Borg Keri Davis Isabel Garcia
Diana Bowes Tina Di Giovanni Stuart and Sarah Garvie
Alan Bowman and Jasmine Martin and Karen Dockrill Shelley Gaudet
Akbarali Tamara and Gary Drummond Andree Giguere
Jamie, Leah and RJ Bras Heather Dulmage Jill Whelan and Katy, Lily and
Brian and Lisa Burlacoff The Dunn Family Matthew Graves
Julia Catton Charles and Beata Dwight Justine Grosman

Christian Guay and Sorya Montgomery Alterations and Kate Silverberg and Kevin DONOR LISTING
Gaulin Dry Cleaners Ltd. Rachman
Bob Hayes Matina Mosun 34
Peter and Carol Helston Ali Murphy Ross Sinclair and Diane
Karin Hill Doug and Alexa Murphy Kazarian 2016-17 ANNUAL REPORT & DONOR TRIBUTE
Karrie Holyck The Navarro-Degiorgio Family
Lorna Hooper Michelle Nelson Shelley Smith
The Iantorno Family Bronwen Evans and
Vincent and Vanessa Iarocci Rob Nicol Scott and Jennifer Smith
The Osmond and Samantha Dugas and
Jeanneret Family Ira Nishisato Michael Smitiuch and
The Karkic Family The Noe Family Jennifer Hilb
Brian Kelsall and Ella Plotkin Lindsay Novak
The Kerton Family Stephen and Andrea Oddy Jason Squire and Anita Gandhi
David Kim Heather O’Doherty
Robert and Christine Kittel John and Elaine O’Flaherty Darren and Christine Sumarah
The Kolozetti Family Heather and Ian Palm
David Lachapelle & Tania Scott and Andrea Pearson Sun Life Financial Services
Da Fonseca David and Nina Piatek of Canada
Lise Lacroix Mr. Silvano Pin and
Paul and Elizabeth Langill Ms. Joeanne Bortolussi The Tan Family
Shanda Lee The Pollett Family
Benjamin and Natasha Lenton Ralph and Anh Profiti Kirsten Tenebaum
Derek and Heather Logan The Amaral and
Billy and Tony Lourakis Reeves Family Daniel and Alexandra Tosello
Andre and Brisette Lucas Rob and Sarah Renaud
The Lund Family Susan Richardson and Family Silvano Trinca and Janine
Jenn MacDonald Lucy Rizzuto Mulhall
Richard and Michelle Kerrie Robins
Macdonald Scott and Jennifer Rogers The Vessey and Flynn Family
Lachlan and Doris MacLachlan Lise Russo
The MacLellan and Jay Family Michael & Lisa Samoszewski Thomas Vesz and Jennifer
Sean and Jennifer MacLure The Sawyer Family Marks
Mark Magee Tom and Nancy Sawyer
Stacy Marcynuk Walter and Maria Schneider Robert and Linda Visser
The Mazzuca and Kalinowski Family Foundation
Family Don Schroder Jaya, Milan and Aahna
Hallie McClelland Peter Seccareccia and Viswanathan
Brian & Jenn McLaughlin Terri Bressi
Matthew and Lisa Melchior The Selland Family David and Kate Wallace
Beth Shiferaw
Philipp and Christina
Wassenberg

The Campbell and Wasylucha
Family

The WB Family Foundation

Anne White

Peter and Lindsay Wilcox

Jonathan Wong and Ingrid
Wimenta

Lisa Woon

Mike Xu and Claire Shen

Kevin Young and Kerstin Lack

Dennis and Talar Zander

Rosa Del Campo and Peter
Zissis

The Zissopoulos Family

Peter and Renata Zychla

19 Anonymous Donors

4600 Dundas Street West
Etobicoke, ON M9A 1A5
416 234 5073
www.kcs.on.ca