Pickering College

Pickering College is an independent day and boarding school for boys and girls from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12. Founded in 1842 as a Quaker school and established in our current Newmarket location in 1909, Pickering College's mission is to instill in each individual the ability and responsibility to make the world more excellent and more beautiful than they discovered it. Our vision is to develop innovative, courageous, and compassionate global citizens who take action, right to Quaker values.
As part of our Quaker values, we celebrate diversity in all aspects of the school. This is reflected both in our Global Leadership Program and our commitment to a co-educational environment. Our unique approach includes educating and developing the 'whole child' by focusing on academic excellence, co-curricular distinction, character, and leadership development. We pride ourselves on providing an individualized approach to learning.
This is an exceptional place with a vision that embraces each student as an emotional, physical, and spiritual being. Pickering offers a personalized and progressive learning environment with a faculty dedicated to preparing students for future challenges. Our school mission is to give each student the vision, courage, and skills to make their community more extraordinary, better, and more beautiful than discovered. We firmly believe each person has a capacity for goodness and has the responsibility to attain that goodness. By creating a vibrant, exciting, and challenging learning environment built on trust and respect, we encourage every student to reach beyond what they thought possible.
Our mission is to instill in each individual the ability and responsibility to make the world greater, better, and more beautiful than discovered. Our vision is to develop innovative, courageous, and compassionate global citizens who take action, right to Quaker values. Our Values Community is gathering interconnected individuals whose collective actions create a sense of belonging and encourage participation, who accept and take care of one another.
Compassion is being sensitive to others' thoughts and feelings and understanding and considering conflicting issues and ideas. It is to show concern and caring for all others in the community, no matter their differences, in a way that creates harmony and peace. Integrity is the courage to act honestly and truthfully in all actions. Respect is valuing yourself and others and the environment in which we exist, based on the principles of simplicity and equality, so that you treat others as you wish to be treated. Responsibility is being accountable for one's actions and behaviors by demonstrating sound judgment and fulfilling obligations.
A Pickering College education provides our students with an exceptional learning environment that prepares them for future success. We develop and instill in our students the attributes, values, knowledge, self-confidence, and courage to succeed in post-secondary studies and beyond. Our students develop strong academic skills, but they develop social consciousness and leadership skills to contribute to the world in a meaningful way.
Experiential learning opportunities deepen understanding and develop leadership capacity from a global perspective. Our learning community is enriched by bringing together students who represent diverse cultures and perspectives to study and live at our school. Our students work to develop into ethical, responsible, and active citizens who can make a difference in the local and global community.
The Global Leadership Program focuses on developing leadership skills and potential in each student from a global perspective, ensuring that our students understand and address complex global issues through the carefully planned curriculum, co-curricular opportunities, community service, authentic experiential learning opportunities, educational partnerships, and cross-disciplinary independent projects.
By working with others locally and globally through transformational partnerships, travel, exchanges, community service opportunities, and technological communication, our students experience and appreciate what it means to be an active and responsible global citizen. The Global Leadership Program equips our students to pursue their passions, post-secondary studies, and careers to be influential leaders in a globally competitive and rapidly changing, interconnected world.
Pickering College offers all students from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12 challenging and meaningful learning opportunities through its Co-curricular Program. If students are to be successful in leading a balanced and purposeful life, they must explore and develop their skills and talents beyond the classroom. This unique program encourages students to participate in various activities, including competitive athletics, recreational sports, fitness, diverse clubs, community outreach opportunities, and art, music, and drama.
Our newly expanded Outdoor Education Program (JK-12) engages students in activities that enrich their curricular understanding and present a multitude of benefits from exploring and enjoying our natural heritage to inspire them to be more active stewards of the environment. Through our convenient access to the Blue & Silver farm and a series of progressively more challenging off-campus trips and excursions, our program encourages intellectual, emotional, and social development, leadership as well as age-appropriate risk-taking within a safe learning environment.
The Junior School Global Leadership Program – The Foundation Years – focuses on inquiry, creativity, and collaboration. In each grade, students undertake an age-appropriate inquiry, and the school's faculty tie classroom lessons to outdoor education whenever possible.
Pickering College offers a dynamic, nurturing, and positive learning environment where a child's curiosity is stimulated, leadership skills are cultivated, and fun-filled interactive learning is meaningful and focused. A low teacher-student ratio and small class sizes (approximately 14-20 students per class) provide an ideal learning environment.
As children move through Junior Kindergarten to Grade 5, the emphasis is on building a foundation for lifelong learning and community service. Expectations for academic achievement are set high, balanced with a rich curriculum of competitive and recreational athletics, music and drama, visual arts, and exciting excursions.
We believe that each young person should become actively aware of the larger world. Students learn to be good stewards of the earth and its resources. They will respect and value the diverse ways people look, speak, think, and act. They will develop the interpersonal and social skills necessary to learn, work, and play with others harmoniously and confidently. They will learn to recognize, articulate, and make responsible, ethical decisions concerning their health and wellness. They will assume responsibility for their actions and look out for others. Through leadership opportunities, global education, and community service, our students understand local, national, and global civic responsibilities and demonstrate active citizenship through participation in endeavors that serve and benefit those larger communities.
Our educators value interdisciplinary studies and make decisions that reflect the students' needs, interests, and special abilities. Our team-oriented approach to teaching and learning creates exciting experiences for all students. Our educators have the professional commitment and passion for making a positive difference in the life of every young adolescent they teach.
Pickering College's Senior School program prepares students for the university while also encouraging them to make a difference in the world as ethical, compassionate, and values-based decision-makers. Using the latest technology, including tablet PCs and web-based learning tools, the academic curriculum focuses on excellence and innovation while ensuring students have a solid understanding of core subjects. Students also have countless opportunities to participate in developing leadership skills, community service, sports, and the arts.
With a focus on individualized attention, each Senior School student is assigned a faculty advisor, creating a four-year mentoring relationship that inspires students for years to come. The Advisor Program at Pickering College directly contributes to the school's mission to be a leader in education, inspiring individuals to become enlightened citizens who meet high standards for lifelong growth and learning.