TFS - Canada's International School

ere's something special about working at TFS, and it's not just the rich academic environment or the unique blend of the French, Ontario and IB curricula. What stands out to many teachers is the sense of purpose and connection that comes from being part of a communi that cares deeply about learning and about each other. FOSTERING COMMUNITY AND NURTURING SUCCESS Beyond the supportive teaching environment, Plourde's true fondness for TFS stems from the fact that it feels like home. It's that warmth of home she is personally committed to replicating for her students. "A library is typically a quiet place where you're encouraged not to talk," she says. "But my library is a place where students can express themselves and share ideas. I really want them to feel like they're being heard." Plourde knows all 310 students from La p'tite école by name and when she visits the Junior and Senior Schools, former students rush over to catch up. "I love watching them grow up and I feel honoured when they remember me, when they invite me to celebrate their graduations and other milestones." During a recent Open House at La p'tite école, teacher-librarian Nancy Plourde ran into a former student. "He asked me if I recognized him and of course I did," she recalls. The student, now an adult with a child of his own at TFS, had been in Plourde's class when he was in Junior Kindergarten. "He explained that he was sending his daughter to TFS because of the great experience he'd had as a child. 'It was because of you,' he told me." Stories like this are not uncommon at TFS and they speak to the lasting impact teachers can have. "I came to TFS after completing university in Sherbrooke, Quebec, with the intention of staying for one year," Plourde recalls. "I've been here for 32 years." Fostering a sense of belonging among students, well beyond the early years, is what keeps the TFS community close and the alumni network even closer. It's that spirit of continuity and community that drew TFS alumna Margaux Fraser back to the school as a teacher. "I began my TFS journey as a student at the West Campus, graduated from the Senior School and then was recruited to St. Francis Xavier University for soccer, before studying to become a teacher," she recalls. "The fact that I'm back here now, working, is a bit surreal." What makes Fraser's story notable is that her mom is also a TFS faculty member, having worked as a teacher, Vice-Principal, and currently teacher- librarian at the West Campus. "As a kid, I spent my whole life here, from 6 am to 6 pm every day. I played every sport and I lived and breathed TFS spirit," she says. Fraser taught French at two other GTA independent schools, prior to a job opening up at the West Campus. When she found out about the opening, she leapt at the opportunity. "I knew I ultimately wanted to teach at a French school rather than just teaching French as a subject," she explains. Having worked at both an all-boys and all-girls school prior to returning to TFS, Fraser says she's so thankful for the experiences those jobs afforded her. "I'm just so happy to be back at a co-ed school, teaching phys ed and STEM and coaching teams," she says. "I want to be a role model for my students, to show them what I accomplished when I was in school here and what's available to them as well." Margaux Fraser '14, West Campus Teacher 19 TFS

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