Mission, Vision, and Focus

Our FocusLearning for Service in the Light of God's Word

Photo of a school assembly showing the crowd of students cheering and smiling

Toronto District Christian High School is a place of learning for service in the light of God’s Word and has been since its inception in 1963.

Mission

To be a community of learners who serve God and others through authentic and relevant Christ-centred education.

Vision

For God’s glory, we will be a school:

where each student feels known and cared for as they learn more about God’s world and one’s place in it.
where staff members, who care deeply for our students, model and inspire lifelong learning and a growing love for Jesus.
where parents and guardians willingly and actively support Christ-centred education.
where supporters and alumni can feel deeply connected and contribute to the school and its mission.
which is an integral part of and joyfully serves local and global communities.

Our Commitment

Learning at TDChristian takes place by enfolding, engaging, and empowering students.

Enfolding

Why? As God’s image bearers, students matter. To live a life of service, students need to know themselves and be known. When students are accepted and accepting, and their talents, passions and gifts are recognized, they become important members of the school community. Such enfolding provides a firm foundation for learning.

How? We work diligently with students in uncovering and developing their God-given talents for service. We welcome them into our school and help them discover ways that they can contribute, celebrate, and grow. During the first week of Grade 9, students are brought into our learning community through orientation days which include service. TDChristian students learn through rich experiences in academics, video, art, drama, music, athletics, and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics). We challenge our students to cultivate their passions and develop their abilities while sharing their learning, especially through presentations.

Engaging

Why? Learning at TDChristian is for today, with an eye to tomorrow. A love of learning is fostered by piquing students’ interests and taking into account their gifts. Creating room for students to have voice and choice in their learning produces determination, allows for healthy risk-taking, and brings about a rigorous depth of understanding. Additionally, engaged students develop grit, perseverance, and a strong work ethic.

How? Learning is stimulated and nurtured in our inviting and up-to-date physical and virtual learning spaces. It flourishes through our student-teacher relationship which we emphasize and foster. Our teachers are engaged in, passionate about and dedicated to their craft. They assist students to share their learning in significant and relevant ways. Projects that emphasize skills such as creativity, collaboration, initiative, adaptability, information analysis, entrepreneurship, and effective oral and written communication are essential to learning at TDChristian. Students are pushed to become wisely discerning, to think and learn about how to conduct themselves and how to serve effectively in an ever-changing world.

Empowering

Why? For learning to be relevant and service-driven, TDChristian’s walls must be permeable. Our desire is to connect our students authentically to life outside the classroom by partnering with groups and organizations to grow the kingdom of God. We want our students to work actively with others, from getting their hands dirty to giving leadership willingly, so that they are a blessing to their communities and they are blessed in the process.

How? Students are empowered when they contribute to our vibrant community through student leadership opportunities and assemblies. Service trips, projects, mentorship, and internship immerse students in learning outside the building. Daily, we stretch students creatively, intellectually, and practically to impact all of God’s creation. Our aim is to provide students with opportunities in which they can serve with their hearts and minds.

Identity Statement

**WHY SHOULD TDCHRISTIAN BE A PLACE OF Learning for Service in the Light of God’s Word?**

Toronto District Christian High School is founded on a vision of Christian education with a particular emphasis and character. It is encapsulated in the Identity Statement adopted by the Board of TDChristian on September 1, 2004. The full version of our Identity Statement is found in the Family & Student Handbook.

Below is a snapshot of that vision where Articles 1 to 5 describe something of the Christian worldview which informs TDChristian’s educational practice, while Articles 6 to 10 describe how it is carried out.

1. God rules over all creation and all areas of life. Christian education points to God in all learning areas, as well as in attitudes and behaviour toward other human beings and the rest of creation. It is not confined to Bible class, assemblies, and daily homeroom devotions.
2. Jesus is the Redeemer of all that is broken, not only the Saviour of individuals. The whole world has fallen, and so the whole world needs to be redeemed and restored: every person, place, organization, and program.
3. The Bible is God’s Word and serves as the “spectacles” through which we view reality. We attempt to examine all of life and creation through a biblical worldview. In doing so, we read the Bible as a continuous whole, contextually rather than in a proof-texting way.
4. Creation is the other “book” in which God shows us who he is. We see God’s fingerprints all over creation; its fundamental goodness shines through in spite of sin. The visible universe is like a beautiful book in which all creatures are like letters making us ponder the love, wisdom, and power of the invisible God.
5. Our responsibility for its care is a fundamental part of God’s plan for creation. God created humankind to be caretakers of this world. He wired this purpose into our very beings and into the plan of creation itself. God will renew this world rather than destroy it; hence all actions to improve life on earth are worthwhile and God-honouring.
6. Christian education is not just about absorbing information; God requires us to respond. We are “Learning for Service in the Light of God’s Word,” not merely passing on information; we hope to nurture in our students a love and awe for God and all he has created and a desire to express this in action. We recognize that students are on a lifelong journey; we look for authenticity and growth, not mere conformity to rules.
7. Our world belongs to God, not the evil one. We aim to engage culture, not shy away from it, confident that God is in control. Students are being prepared “on the job” to develop discernment and take up their place as aware, informed shapers of God’s world in a wide range of endeavours.
8. The line dividing good and evil runs through people and organizations rather than around them. All human beings fall short of God’s glory, and all reflect something of his image; good and bad, truth and falsehood, are found in the work of both Christians and non-Christians. Students are encouraged to critically examine books, media, political systems, scientific theories, and other aspects of culture for their worth and underlying values.
9. We believe in and foster community. We seek to reflect a commitment to community in all our relationships. We work together to carry out the shared task of educating children through trust, dialogue, cooperation, giving, and service. In our sports, music, and other programs we aim to maximize participation rather than showcase only the most talented.
10. We celebrate the unique giftedness of each person by God for his purposes. Students come with diverse gifts and learning styles and are called to different tasks in God’s world. In designing our teaching and learning activities, as well as in all our interaction with students, we strive to help all of them develop their talents and abilities so they can serve and glorify God.

Teachers that Really Care

The teachers at TDCH were the kindest I had ever encountered. No matter the subject, they would always take the time to help and instruct whenever they were needed. They really care about the students and actually focus on helping the kids learn individually.

— Dayna Pitcher, Alum