Principal: Julie Darroch
Superintendent: Paul da Silva
Trustee(s): Sue Lawton; Susan Benjamin
Tomken Road Middle School is a large, multicultural school with over 800 students in grades 6, 7 and 8, housed in two buildings - Tomken North and Tomken South. We are comprised of three learning programs, including SciTech, French immersion and English. In addition, we also have two ASD classes. Our SciTech inquiry demonstration classroom welcomes teachers and students from all over Peel to participate in an inquiry-based science experience with our science resource teacher.
Our staff believes in developing adolescent minds by engaging them in a learning journey that offers many opportunities for growth and leadership in areas such as academics, athletics, arts and the community. We challenge our students to be involved in all three areas and set a goal of earning one hundred points which earns them a prestigious Tomken “T” by the end of grade 8.
The SciTech program is in its 9th year and is in great demand in Peel. Students apply to be one of the 56 students accepted each year into the three-year program, with the goal of this program to develop ethical, critical thinking through hands-on and minds-on inquiry. Students from the program participate in a variety of competitions, including Canada Science Fair, PEO Bridge Building and the First Lego League (hosted by Tomken over the past two years).
The French immersion program offers students an extension to the learning they began in grade 1. Fifty percent of the program is taught in French, including French language, history, geography, science, drama, visual arts and computers.
Outside of academics, Tomken offers a wide variety of extracurricular programs for students in athletics, arts and community. Our athletic program is well known throughout Peel and has consistently won provincial awards over the last 11 years (CIRA, PHE Diamond). We believe that increased physical activity promotes healthier minds and bodies. Our focus is on intermural involvement for all students through clubs, games and leagues offered in the morning, at lunch and after school. Because of our dedication to physical activity, Tomken was selected to carry the torch for the 2010 Winter Olympics.
Students interested in the arts also have extracurricular opportunities. Tomken has four choirs: grade 6, 7, 8 and Take Two. The grade 8 music teacher also conducts the Peel honour choir, an audition choir for which many Tomken students have been selected. Tomken students have sung at a variety of special board events, such as a Trustee’s retirement and the Director’s Address in August. Tomken also has an art council that organizes and promotes a yearly art exhibition, drummazing (percussion ensemble) and a musical production each spring.
There are other opportunities to excel within our Tomken Community. The librarian runs two book fairs, four reading programs (e.g., Tomken Reads Jeopardy Challenge) and multiple clubs, in addition to the numerous contests throughout the year. The guidance department runs multiple programs through which students can get involved with the betterment of our school. One such program is the ambassadors, who greet visitors to our school such as parents, trustees, and education delegations from around the world.
We believe that technology is an equalizer for learning because it makes learning fun and engaging as well as leveling the product output. We have been very active in raising money to support the use of technology in the school. Through fundraising, we have ensured that our three computer labs are up-to-date and each classroom has document cameras and LCD projectors to support student learning. We continue to move forward with technology through the purchase of a media wall, a mobile class set of netbooks in Tomken North, and various other technologies. Our goal is to continue to be at the forefront of technology use in education.
We attract a very, professional staff that is diverse, knowledgeable, dedicated and passionate about the adolescent learner in the middle school setting. Their energy and drive fires our purpose and helps us to reach our goals. Their dedication and introspection allows us to build a strong professional learning environment. Together, we create a safe and caring learning environment that guides students to become independent, responsible citizens in our global community.
