Private Elementary School

Inspiring young minds to achieve excellence, we offer elementary classes from grades 1 to 8 an International Baccalaureate Programme. The Elementary IB Programme (grades 1 – 5 Primary Years Programme and grades 6 – 8 Middle Years Programme) has an enriched and accelerated curriculum. While many of our students may have come from a Montessori program, it is not a pre-requisite for enrollment in our Elementary IB school. The Elementary program offers a well-rounded, academic program preparing and guiding students towards university placement.

Each summer students may join our fun filled Summer Camp which runs during the months of July and August. Weekly registration is available. TCPS accepts new students throughout the school year and during Summer Camp provided space is available.

Two Teachers Per Class and Specialized Subject Teachers

Town Centre Private Schools’ philosophy is to create an educational environment that provides the greatest benefit to all our students. With 2 teachers present per class, students receive the attention they need to achieve success in their academic endeavours.

TCPS does not combine different grade levels into 1 class.
The School offers multiple classes for each grade level.
In grades 1 through 5, the core subjects, English, Mathematics, Science, History and Geography are taught by their regular classroom teachers.
Students in in all Elementary classes are taught French, Computer Studies, Music and Band, and Physical Education by specialized teachers.

Students in grades 6, 7 and 8 have the benefit of a rotary teaching schedule. Specialist teachers for Mathematics, Language, Science, History and Geography, provide students with their expertise and knowledge in their respective subject areas. Teachers move from class to class eliminating the need for students to relocate to different rooms. Grade 6, 7 and 8 students have the advantage of qualified core subject specialists while also preparing for high school life, where a full rotary schedule is in place.

Extracurricular Elementary Competitions

Each year the Elementary students participate in internal and interschool competitions in the fields:

Mathematics – Mathematica
Science – STEM Fair and York Region Science and Technology Fair
Public Speaking – TED Talks
Competitive Sports – SSAF

Town Centre students have traditionally performed very well in these competitions. Visit our Competitions page or scroll down to learn more about these competitions.

TCPS Before and After School Program Highlights:

Hours Included in Tuition:
- Before School: 7:00 – 9:00 a.m.
- After School: 3:30 – 6:30 p.m.
Familiar Environment:
- Students stay with same-age peers and known teachers.
Activities Offered:
- Study hall
- Organized games and activities
- Competitive sports league
- After School Courses (see Beyond the Classroom page for details)

Study Hall

Study Hall Overview:

Included in tuition – no additional cost to parents.
Quiet homework time to complete assignments efficiently.
Support available from regular teachers for extra help.
Reduces homework load at home.

Communication

TCPS regularly and consistently communicates with parents about the academic, social and physical contributions made by their child(ren), both inside and outside of the classroom.

Each year Elementary students are provided with an Academic Planner. The planner is an excellent tool to help students organize their daily workloads, for planning ahead and in communicating important information to parents.

Important Dates: Lists key school events such as parent-teacher interviews, holidays, photo days, and concerts.
Student Entries: Students log daily homework, upcoming tests, projects, trips, and other important notices for parents.
Daily Review: The planner is taken home each day with homework for parents to review and stay informed.

TCPS also offers a custom Parent App where we publish our newsletters, memos and reminders.

Parent App Features:

Keeps parents informed about school activities, themed events, goals, and student achievements.
Timely notifications for updates and safety advisories (e.g., inclement weather).
Homework posts by teachers for each class.
Photo sharing of school events to keep parents connected.

Three Report Cards are issued each year detailing the various accomplishments. This written communication is followed up by interviews between parents and teachers.

Hot Meal Program

Elementary students have an optional Hot Meal program catered through Kid’s Kitchen. Kid’s Kitchen is a renowned catering company for schools, and is located right here in Markham.

A La Carte menu with daily specials, entrees, sides, snacks, desserts, and drinks.
Freshly prepared daily and delivered to the school.
Easy online ordering at www.kidskitchen.ca.
Optional program – students may still bring lunch from home.

Parent Resources

Visit our Parent Resource page for links to the Parent Portal, Parent App downloads, Dell Laptop Information, Kid’s Kitchen, School Calendars, Uniforms, LRC Destiny Discover and Elementary School Supply List.

The IB Advantage – PYP and MYP Elementary School

Building Futures: The Academic Journey at Town Centre Private Schools

As of December 2024, there are 5,928 IB schools all over the world in 156 countries. In Canada alone, there are 376 authorized IB schools.

Town Centre Private Schools (TCPS) is an officially authorized International Baccalaureate (IB) Continuum World School. We are currently the only IB Continuum World School in York Region offering the IB Primary Years Programme (Preparatory – Grade 5), IB Middle Years Programme (Grades 6 – 8) and optional IB Diploma Programme (Grades 11 and 12). By completing the IB DP, Town Centre graduates obtain the IB Diploma Programme Certificate in addition to their Ontario Secondary School Diploma.

The PYP and MYP at Town Centre Private Schools offers several benefits:

Holistic Education: Both programs emphasize a well-rounded education that includes academic, social, and emotional development. This approach with a focus on the IB Learner Profile which includes Inquirers, Caring, Balanced, Knowledgeable, Principled, Reflective, Thinkers, Communicators, Open-Minded, and Risk-Takers, helps students become balanced and reflective individuals.

Inquiry-Based Learning: The PYP and MYP encourage students to be curious and ask questions, fostering a love for learning and critical thinking skills.

Global Perspective: The IB curriculum promotes international mindedness, helping students understand and appreciate different cultures and perspectives.

Community Engagement: Students engage in service-learning projects and various activities that connect them with their local and global communities, enhancing their social awareness and empathy that develop their sense of community and responsibility. These projects help students apply their learning in real-world contexts and develop important life skills.

Preparation for Future Studies: The PYP and MYP prepare students for the demands of the IB Diploma Programme (DP) in high school, which is highly regarded by universities worldwide.

Skill Development: The programs focus on developing key skills such as critical thinking, self-management, collaboration, communication and good research skills.

These benefits collectively contribute to creating confident, independent, and well-rounded students ready to face future academic and life challenges.

International Baccalaureate® (IB) Continuum World School

International Baccalaureate® (IB)

The IB is a global education that emphasizes critical and independent thinking and global understanding while encouraging student choice in an inquiry-based learning environment. Students at TCPS will continue to learn the Ontario curriculum but through different lenses including:

identities and relationships
dimensions of time and space
personal and cultural expression
scientific and technical innovation
globalization and sustainability
fairness and development

Some of the other key benefits of the IB programmes:

IB is the most highly regarded and accepted International Education Board in the world by virtue of its Child-Centred Approach to teaching and learning.
IB provides a very well-balanced approach that promotes international mindedness in its students.
IB programmes give space to both its teachers and students to continuously grow in their respective areas, while open mindedness towards parents’ participation in the process of child’s education, contributes to confident and well-balanced students.

Only schools authorized by the IB Organization can offer any of its three academic programmes: the Primary Years Programme (PYP), the Middle Years Programme (MYP), or the Diploma Programme (DP).

For further information about the IB and its programmes, visit www.ibo.org.

TCPS International Baccalaureate Projects and Events

Click on the images below to learn more!

Grade 3 PYP Students Explore Pioneer Life

Grade 4 Primary Years Programme Ancient Civilizations Exhibition

Grade 5 IB Primary Years Programme & Grade 8 Middle Years Programme Exhibition 2025

Grade 8 Winter Market for MYP Community Event

Competitions

Each year elementary students participate in a wide variety of academic challenges and competitions. Our students have traditionally performed very well in these competitions demonstrating the quality and strength of the TCPS program.

Mathematica

The Mathematics Contest Centre prepares some of the top mathematics competitions in North America. Over the past 29 years, more than a million students have participated in these contests. Contests include: Thales (grade 3), Byron Germain (grade 4), Fibonacci (grade 5), Pythagoras (grade 6), Euler (grade 7), Lagrange (grade 8) and Newton (grade 9), and are designed to challenge and promote problem solving skills.

TCPS Science Technology Engineering Mathematics (STEM) Fair

The annual Town Centre STEM Fair allows grade 6 and grade 8 students to express their creativity, originality and to explore areas of scientific interest. The top 2 students from each class advance to the final round demonstrating and explaining their experiments to Science Fair judges and fellow students. Certificates are awarded to the top 5 projects at each grade level and to all finalists who made it to the final round. The top five grade 8 finalists will be entered in the York Region STEM Fair.

York Region Science and Technology Fair

The York Region Science and Technology Fair is a regional Science Fair that showcases student research performed by students in grades 7-12. Participation in the fair is open to students currently attending a York Region public, catholic, or private school, are homeschooled, or who reside in York Region. Selected top projects from the York Region Science and Technology Fair are invited to represent York Region and compete at the Canada Wide Science Fair.

Canada Wide Science Fair

Since attending the York Region Science and Technology Fair, a TCPS student has advanced to the Canada Wide Science Fair each year.

Ted Talks

The grade 5 and 7 students write speeches in preparation for the Ted Talks contest which is held in early December. Public speaking is an invaluable skill which allows students to gain confidence speaking in front of an audience in addition to learning a great deal from their research. Class finalists are selected to present their speeches in front of their peers and a panel of judges. With the high caliber of the speeches and enthusiastic presenters, the judges certainly have a difficult time selecting the grade champions.

SSAF

The SSAF offers athletic competition for our elementary and high school students. This sports league offers the students a chance to try out and compete against other schools in inter-school competitions.

TCPS competes at the elementary level (grades 4 – 8) and at the high school level (grades 9 – 12) with boys, girls and co-educational sports teams. The SSAF provides our students the opportunity to demonstrate their school spirit and show sportsmanship in friendly competitions.

Admissions

Elementary students are accepted into the IB Programme throughout the year provided that space is available. To learn more about the entrance requirements and to register, click on the REGISTER button below to be linked to the Elementary Admissions page.

Elementary School Directory

If you have any questions regarding the Elementary School program, or would like to arrange for a private tour of Town Centre Private Schools of our Pre-School Montessori, Elementary or High School, please contact us and our administrative staff will be happy to assist you.

Mr. Rocco Lamanna Elementary School Principal Tel: (905) 470-1200 rocco.lamanna@tcmps.com	Mrs. Lorissa Gaber Elementary School Vice-Principal Tel: (905) 470-1200 lorissa.gaber@tcmps.com
Mrs. Rita Thadani Pre-School / Elementary Vice-Principal Tel: (905) 474-3434 rita.thadani@tcmps.com	Mr. Dennis Vanderlugt Vice-Principal Tel: (905) 474-3434 dennis.vanderlugt@tcmps.com
Ms. Dona Icayan Elementary Assistant Vice-Principal Tel: (905) 470-1200 dona.icayan@tcmps.com	Ms. Tharmithaa Tharumaraaj Elementary Student Life Coordinator Tel: (905) 470-1200 samantha.youill@tcmps.com