In our second year of Week Without Walls programming, Middle School students continued to create creative solutions for our community partners. This program has been curated specifically for Middle School students and integrates multiple aspects of our academic curriculum and core values. This work supports experiential and interdisciplinary learning beyond traditional classroom settings to create authentic, real-world learning experiences for our students. It fosters personal growth, teamwork, and practical skills. 
This year, all students worked with The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in November to help them develop solutions related to their sustainability as an institution, their educational program, and the future of The Royal. In April, students had the opportunity to choose between 5 incredible opportunities:
- The STEAM Project needed our help to create new and innovative camp projects that would teach students parts of their science curriculum.
- We supported Famous People Players in improving their marketing and outreach initiatives.
- Some students participated in SRHacks, a middle school challenge organized by the Science and Engineering departments at the University of Toronto.
- Mr. Praveen Muruganandan, Executive Director, Admissions and Enrolment Management, challenged our students to improve the HTS tour experience.
- Ms Jacinth Tracey-Kovacs, Executive Director, Organizational Culture, Equity and Belonging tasked students with creating real-life strategies we can use to make a difference at our school and show everyone what true HTS character looks like.
Regardless of which challenge students participated in, our Week Without Walls program allowed them to apply classroom knowledge to real-world situations, enhancing their learning and personal growth. It encourages students to step out of their comfort zone, engage with different communities, and develop critical skills like teamwork and leadership. It prepares them to gain a deeper understanding, be informed, and become active members of society.
One Grade 8 Student stated "It was amazing to have access to so many interesting innovative tools and resources that we wouldn't normally have access to. It was way better than regular school and it challenged our brain in so many different ways." Another student mentioned, "We proved to ourselves that we can overcome challenges when we apply teamwork and perseverance."
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Regardless of which challenge students participated in, our Week Without Walls program allowed them to apply classroom knowledge to real-world situations, enhancing their learning and personal growth. It encourages students to step out of their comfort zone, engage with different communities, and develop their growth in the HTS six competencies for life (Collaboration, Communication, Critical Thinking, Creativity, Citizenship and Character). It prepares them to gain a deeper understanding, be informed, and become active members of society.
If you are interested in partnering with us for next year’s Week Without Walls experiences, please do not hesitate to reach out.
Marisa Tassone, Assistant Head of Middle School