Bethune has a reputation for academic excellence. Students are offered the opportunity to excel in Math, Science, the Arts, Business, Computer Science and Technology. Courses in the Social Sciences and English give students a solid background in the liberal arts and prepare them for post-secondary education. Newcomers are supported in ESL classes and in programs outside the classroom that ensure they are involved in the school community. Bethune maintains close relationships with elementary schools through mentoring programs in Music, Robotics, Drama, Visual Art, Technology and Bethune's Eco-club. Bethune also offers a Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) in Business.
Taking Care of the Environment
Bethune is committed to protecting the environment both locally and globally. As one of the TDSB's first platinum certified Ecoschool, Bethune is a leader in reducing waste and energy usage, naturalizing the grounds and promoting a passion for the environment. Be Excited About Reading (B.E.A.R.) The school-wide reading program promotes the love of reading in every classroom, every Friday, with every member of the Bethune community enjoying 20 minutes of reading.
ESL
Bethune's ESL program features field trips that promote Canadian culture and experiential learning. The semestered program has 5 levels in addition to ESL sensitive courses in Geography and Science. Bilingual classroom helpers, settlement workers, peer mentor programs, the Chinese Association, and the Newcomer Orientation Week in August help to ease the transition to Canada and to Bethune. In addition to after-school literacy classes, OSSLT preparation classes and a peer-tutoring program help to support ESL students throughout the year. Bethune also offers our ESL learners a wide variety of cultural field trips and leadership opportunities.
More Information about Dr Norman Bethune Collegiate Institute
Modern Languages
Students taking Modern Language classes are offered many enrichment opportunities, including outings to French and Spanish movies, theatre productions and restaurants. Bethune students receive excellent results in French and Spanish Contests as well as as the Concours D'Art Oratiore (French Public Speaking).
The Arts
Students have many opportunities to explore their love of the arts. Students can choose from visual art, photography, computer art, dramatic arts, vocal music, and repertoire instrumental music. Outside the classroom, students can enrich their experience by joining the art club, the drama club, or the music council.
Student Leadership
Students can be elected as a member of the Student Council, Music Council, Athletic Council, or Arts Council or can volunteer to be a leader through the REPS, the ESL Mentors, the yearbook, the Environmental Action Team (BEAT), Healthy Schools, DECA, WE, Debating, Blaze, and many more clubs.
Technology Across the Curriculum
Bethune has 9 refurbished computer labs including a technology lab, a MAC lab, and 3 business and computer science labs. In addition, Bethune has 8 mobile computer carts, with each one storing a class set of ChromeBooks for class use. Students have Wifi access throughout the entire building and are encouraged to use their personal devices for educational purposes.
Student Life - Where You Belong
In addition to various leadership groups, students may participate in the Yearbook Club, the Bethune Journal (the newspaper), the Chinese Association, the Chess Club, Christian Fellowship, Healthy Schools, , Library Club, Robotics, Drama Club, Design at Bethune, Badminton, and many more clubs and activities. Bethune offers students opportunities to compete in most sports, including Cross-Country, Field Hockey, Rugby, Tennis, Volleyball, Basketball, Hockey, Slo-Pitch, Track and Field, and even Ultimate Frisbee, Archery, Wrestling, and Cheerleading. Finally, Bethune students may choose to compete in subject-related competitions including The American Math Competition, Canadian National Math League, Cayley, Euclid, Fermat, Pascal, Fryer, Hypatia, Galois, the Canadian Open Math Challenge, the Great Canadian Geography Challenge, and Physics competitions.
What Sets Us Apart
Bethune students consistently rank as one of the top school teams nationally in Mathematics, Science, Physics and Skills competitions. The DECA team is consistently one of the top teams in international competitions. Bethune's band is well-known in the TDSB and is among the best in the Province! Bethune students stand out as athletes as well. Every year several Bethune students stand out as champions at OFSAA for badminton, track and field, volleyball and wrestling. Bethune's environmental club (BEAT) has over 150 members and 4 executives. In addition, our Healthy Schools Team puts together an outstanding Wellness week in April and promotes student and staff wellness throughout the year. We are in our sixth year of providing Mindfulness training all our grade 9's and students have commented that this training has given them valuable strategies to understand their emotions and manage their stress.
Parent and Community Engagement
Bethune is a school that continues to support other causes. Students have created a WE Take Action group to promote awareness and support local and global causes. Every year a number of students participate in the 30 Hour Famine as well as clothing and food drives. Our student groups often work with our local elementary schools as a way to build ties and support the community. Bethune's School Council is a vibrant group of parents, students, teachers and administration who meet on the first Monday of each month to dialogue and discuss school policies and current educational issues. Each month, we welcome approximate 50 parents to our meetings!
