Academics

Our Junior School nurtures young students’ natural curiosity through a wide range of subjects, helping them explore and understand the world. With a structured focus on language and mathematics, along with a consistent learning environment, students build strong foundations in logical thinking, study skills, and well-rounded development.

MATHEMATICS PROGRAM

In the Junior School program, students are introduced to and begin applying the following key concepts:

• Patterning
• Counting
• Graphing
• Sequencing
• Ordering
• Sorting
• Measuring
• Designs using tangrams
• Currency use up to $1
• Comparison and matching

LANGUAGE ARTS PROGRAM

Graduates of our Junior School program can:

• Write using printing
• Spell common words
• Spell common irregular words
• Read short stories using the phonics method
• Read for comprehension
• Identify vowel and consonant sounds
• Construct proper sentences

In the Lower School, students cultivate a love of learning while developing social skills and strong work habits across a well-rounded academic program. Small class sizes and subject-specific teachers support enriched learning at every level.

In the early grades, the curriculum uses a systematic approach to build phonics, literacy, and numeracy skills. Copywork, narration, and dictation are prized. With the tools of learning, and as students mature and their reasoning abilities grow, they are introduced to increasingly complex ideas and concepts. Advanced humanities and science courses challenge their developing intellect. By the time students enter the Upper School, they have gained knowledge of major historical periods and an understanding of related developments in literature, science, and philosophy. Lower School students develop strong literacy and numeracy skills, typically performing about one year ahead of Ministry of Education expectations.

SINGAPORE DIMENSIONS MATH

The Singapore Dimensions Math program provides students with a strong and thoughtfully structured foundation in mathematical thinking. Rooted in the proven Singapore approach, Dimensions Math leads students through a progression from concrete exploration to pictorial representation and finally to abstract understanding. This method nurtures true mastery rather than rote memorization.

Dimensions Math harmonizes beautifully with a classical liberal arts education. Its emphasis on problem-solving, logical reasoning, and clear communication cultivates these habits of mind essential to classical learning: precision, intellectual discipline, and a delight in discovering truth. Through carefully sequenced lessons and rich practice, students grow not only in mathematical fluency but also in their capacity to think deeply and confidently across all areas of study.

INSTITUTE FOR EXCELLENCE IN WRITING (IEW)

The Institute for Excellence in Writing (IEW) program cultivates strong, confident writers through a clear, incremental, and structured approach. IEW teaches students how to organize their thoughts, expand their vocabulary, and express ideas with clarity and style, which are skills at the heart of effective communication.

IEW aligns naturally with a classical liberal arts education. Its focus on imitation, mastery of language, and thoughtful composition reflects the time-honoured tradition of learning by modeling excellence. Through guided practice, stylistic techniques, and opportunities for meaningful expression, students develop the reasoning, eloquence, and precision that classical learning seeks to form. The result is not only capable writers, but articulate thinkers prepared to engage with challenging ideas across every discipline.

Hawthorn’s Upper School delivers an ambitious liberal arts education, preparing the leaders of tomorrow for university, the workplace, family life and the world beyond. The requirements of the Ministry of Education for the Ontario Secondary School Diploma are surpassed through learning opportunities both inside and outside the classroom.

Hawthorn’s broad array of courses fine-tune students’ capacity for critical thinking, round out their cultural literacy, and serve to educate the whole person: body, mind, and soul.
Classroom instruction is reinforced with a wide range of extra-curricular opportunities including sports, debating, subject-specific clubs, and international travel. Technology is used as a tool to enhance learning and students integrate it into their work.

HAWTHORN COMPULSORY COURSES

The following Hawthorn Diploma requirements, which are core to Hawthorn’s Classical Liberal Arts education, are in addition to the Ministry of Education Ontario Secondary School Diploma requirements. These courses also follow the Ontario Curriculum Expectations provided by the Ministry of Education (except for grade 8 Religion).

• Latin (Grade 9)
• Health & Physical Education (Grade 8 – 11)
• Religion (Grade 8)
• Ethics/Philosophical Anthropology (Grade 9)
• Moral Theology (Grade 10)
• Philosophy (Grade 11 – 12)
• World History (Grade 12)
• Master Discourse Project (Toastmasters Training) (Grade 12)

INTERNATIONAL/EXCHANGE PROGRAMS (GRADES 8 TO 12)

Hawthorn welcomes international students throughout the academic year, including groups from schools around the world that share our educational philosophy and commitment to academic excellence, character development, and faith formation.
International students live with host families and attend Hawthorn as part of a fully immersive experience, with exchanges ranging from a few weeks to a full academic year.

In turn, Hawthorn students have opportunities to participate in similar international exchange programs, broadening their perspectives through exposure to different cultures, building meaningful global connections, and gaining valuable experiences that foster both personal and educational growth.