W. L. Mackenzie C. I. offers a longstanding tradition of academic excellence, co-curricular activity and community involvement, along with a focus on student success and equity. A caring and professional staff co-ordinate programs that respond to a diversity of student needs and interests in a safe, challenging and welcoming environment. Vibrant student, athletic, music, and leadership councils ensure that a variety of activities provide opportunities for student involvement and leadership. Our MaCS Program offers Enriched courses in Mathematics, Science, Computer Technology, English and Geography. Our goal is to ensure that all students acquire the skills needed to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing world.
MaCS Program & Advanced Placement
The MaCS Program began in 1985 with the purpose of offering outstanding learning opportunities for talented students with a high interest in Math, Science and Computers. MaCS students are allowed to pursue their interests in an environment that stimulates and encourages curiosity, enthusiasm and success. It is our aim to prepare students for life long learning as they head to university and ultimately professional careers. Advanced Placement courses in Computer Studies, Functions, and Economics are available as well as AP exams.
Interesting Feature
All of our specialized programs are complemented with a dynamic co-curricular program including athletics, the arts and school clubs. We are a school where students of different programs interact positively to attain academic and personal goals. Our pillars of success revolve around the following tenets: Culture of Discipline & Respect, Culture of Kindness and Nurturing, Culture of Excellence in the Classroom, Culture of Innovation, Enhancement of the MaCS/ Gifted Program, Student Leadership and Community Outreach. We always strive to go from good to great to awesome!
More Information about William Lyon Mackenzie Collegiate Institute
Gifted Program
Our gifted program fosters intellectual and personal growth for exceptional students through the development of higher-level thinking skills and the promotion of exciting leadership opportunities. The core curriculum is delivered through self-contained, enriched classes in a diverse manner with field trips and guest lecturers to augment the students’ progress.
Student Success
Our unique student success room supports at-risk pupils with credit rescue and credit recovery programs every period. Special education students receive supports and learning strategies courses in our resource room. Newcomers to Canada who are ELL students are offered a full complement of ESL courses.
Technological Education
Mackenzie has a very diverse Technological Education program. We have computer programming, computer engineering, communications technology, and broad-based technology. Students design, build and program components to solve real world problems. Many of our graduates go on to pursue engineering and computer science programs at prestigious universities.
Co-Curricular Activities
Our dynamic co-curricular programs enhance the student experience. With over 60 different clubs and over 25 sports teams, there is an activity to meet every interest. The Leadership and Athletics Councils bring added dimensions to student life, while our Arts Council provide venues for our students to showcase their extraordinary talents and abilities.
Additional Features
- Partnership with Baycrest Centre
- Partnership with U of T and OISE
- Seven Pillars of Excellence
- Partnership with ICTC
- FIT Certification (Focus on IT)
Student Life - Where You Belong
We have a great selection of clubs, including Student Council, Forces of Nature (Environmental Club), Chess, Anime, Computer Science, Culturama, Debate Team, Engineering, the Lyon Newspaper, Advocate Yearbook, Computer Science Club, Model United Nations, DECA, Harmony Movement, Rainbow Club, Free the Children, Math Club, Science Club and Olympics, Robotics Club & many more clubs representing the diversity of the school. Our Music program includes concert and jazz band. Join or cheer on one of our sports teams, including badminton, baseball, basketball, volleyball, cross-country running, floor hockey, golf, ice hockey, skiing, soccer, softball, tennis, track & field, ultimate frisbee, and wrestling. As well, our intra-mural programs during the lunch hour and after school is vibrant and inclusive. Our students have multiple opportunities to participate in many outstanding field trips to art galleries, theatres, hospitals, the Ontario Science Centre, the ROM, Historical Sites and international excursions.
What Sets Us Apart
Many of our graduating students receive entrance scholarships to leading universities, including University of Toronto, York University, Ryerson University, Waterloo University, McGill University, Queen's University and McMaster University.Our students have won the Loran Award, Canadian Merit and the Miller Thomson Scholarship. Some of our students are FIT graduates (Focus on IT). FIT is a Canadian certification from the Information and Communication Technology Council recognizing a student's commitment to the Information Technology field. Students must complete industry standard certification in CISCO Java and CISCO IT Essentials along with a business component to meet the FIT requirements. All mathematics students have the opportunity to compete in Canadian mathematics competitions. Our science and physics students have competed in and won numerous prizes at University competitions. Our students love DECA, a business club that involves the analysis of real life business cases in regional and provincial competitions. Here too, Mackenzie students excel.
Parent and Community Engagement
Mackenzie is very proud of the strong relations it has developed with our community. We work closely with Toronto Police Service-32 division and we have a Mackenzie safety hotline. Our unique partnership with Baycrest provides students with meaningful opportunities to enhance their community. We also have student-centred partnerships with Pathways. Students fundraise continuously on behalf of various charitable organisations and our co-op students are placed in community businesses. We have many vehicles of communication with our parents: six report cards, Synrevoice, our updated website, our bi-annual newsletter, parent/teacher interviews and several information evenings, as well as our special event evenings. Mackenzie's School Council meets throughout the year to stay informed about the educational opportunities for their children and to communicate directly with the administration.
