The Afghan Women’s Organization Newcomer Homework Club supports newcomer children in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) with their homework every Thursday night over Zoom. Our student volunteers fill a need that newcomer parents find helpful, specifically supporting their children with homework in English-medium schools and new understandings of the Ontario school system. In addition to academic support, participants find it helpful to connect with others and learn more about what it is like to live and attend school in the GTA.

2026–27 program description coming.

Branksome Hall is a proud chapter of the international Best Buddies program, which has the goal of fostering friendships between individuals with and without an intellectual or developmental disability (IDD). We partner with Rosedale Heights and welcome their students to our campus for fun and games once a month. This partnership creates opportunities for Branksome students to develop empathy and understanding, and practice planning and creating inclusive activities. 

Breakfast Buddies provides vegan breakfast options to the Christie Ossington Community Centre on a bi-weekly basis. Every day, about 450 people rely on the Christie Ossington Community Centre for food, and the centre now receives over 9,000 referrals each year. This shows how quickly the need for food support is growing. Many individuals in the community depend on this service, and the centre is struggling to keep up. Students from Branksome, in collaboration with other COSSOT schools, organize a bi-weekly school food-donation drive to meet the rising demand for food needs and support the people who rely on this community centre.

This community engagement initiative partners with the Rekai Centre, a long-term care facility about a 20-minute walk from school, to build meaningful connections between students and residents. Students in Grades 9–12 will meet bi-monthly to participate in activities such as arts and crafts, performances and other collaborative events that foster a sense of community. Through this partnership, students will have the opportunity to build mutually beneficial relationships while making a positive impact. 

Branksome Hall students work alongside a group of peers and faculty from Heydon Park Secondary School to plan a prom for the Heydon Park students. Heydon Park Secondary School is the TDSB's only small, student-centred public high school for young women, transgender and non-binary students. Throughout the year, Branksome students have the chance to visit Heydon Park and meet with their graduating students and support the planning and facilitation of their prom, which is hosted in the AWC. BH students work alongside the Branksome Events team to make the Heydon Park students' vision truly come to life. Branksome students are involved in several stages throughout the school year, such as prom planning, formal wear clothing drives, and facilitating the event to ensure it runs smoothly for all students and their guests.

Junior Undiscovered Math Prodigies (JUMP) is a program at Rose Avenue Junior Public School, our Triangle of Hope partner school, available to Senior students who wish to support younger students in acquiring Math skills. Branksome students also practise and further develop their own skills, such as patience, organization, creativity and empathy.

The Junior Undiscovered Math Prodigies (JUMP) program runs in partnership with the Junior School at Branksome Hall. This opportunity is available to Senior School students who wish to support younger students in developing and strengthening their Math skills. Each Senior School student will partner with one Junior School student and will commit to this partnership for the full school year to build positive relationships and provide consistent mentorship. This partnership allows Senior School students to also practise and cultivate their own skills, such as patience, organization, creativity and empathy.

Each week, students from the Senior School meet with students in the Junior School to support students with their literacy skills and to help foster a love of reading. Branksome students also practise and further develop their own skills, such as patience, creativity, empathy and time management.

The Junior School Student Well-Being Activity Program (SWAP) is looking for Grades 7 and 8 volunteers to support this program during Wednesday Late Starts. SWAP provides Junior School students with morning supervision and fun well-being programming. The activities range from guided play (JK/ SK), mindfulness and cooperative games (Grades 1 to 3), Study Hall (Grades 4 to 6) and Free Swim (Grades 4 to 6). Each volunteer will be assigned an age group to support for the Fall, Winter or Spring term, where they will build ongoing relationships with students and support the specific needs of each group. This partnership allows Middle School students to support our younger students in a range of well-being activities, both in small groups and one-on-one.

Senior School students travel to Kapapamahchakwew (Wandering Spirit School) to support Kindergarten students with their literacy skills and to help foster a love of reading. Branksome students also practise and further develop their own skills, such as patience, intercultural understanding, creativity, empathy and time management.

Let’s Grow Hub is an accessible recreation and leisure program that aims to build community for young adults living with developmental, intellectual and physical disabilities. Located just across the street at Rosedale Presbyterian Church, Let's Grow welcomes everyone in the community with respect, kindness and fun! As volunteers, you will come to Let's Grow on Wednesday mornings or afternoons to engage with team members, play games and sports, do crafts, learn about accessibility and support the implementation of barrier-free recreation. You will also have the opportunity to go on field trips, attend social events, receive training from professionals in the disability community and more. Further information can be found here.

Peer Support is a peer-led, skills-based program that empowers students to support each other and foster resiliency and well-being. Circle Facilitators lead monthly Peer Circles for students in Grades 6, 7 and 8 with a focus on small group activity and discussion, while Peer Promoters plan and facilitate school-wide initiatives in support of community values of care, inclusion and belonging.

Peer Tutoring aims to support all Branksome students in their academic pursuits by providing help in the form of academic support/tutoring from other Branksome students. Tutors and tutees coordinate their schedule directly with one another, depending on their availability. 

Project Sunshine Canada is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing educational, creative and social programming to children facing medical challenges. Students in Grades 7–12 participate in various activities that support the organization's mission, such as compiling craft kits, creating care packages and organizing fundraising events, such as bake sales and sports tournaments. Through these efforts, students gain valuable experience in leadership, teamwork and social responsibility while making a positive impact on the lives of children and their families.

In partnership with the Stephen Leacock Foundation, students in Grades 9–12 from Branksome Hall are paired with a Rose Avenue Public School buddy in elementary school. Branksome students demonstrate a sense of responsibility for a younger person, modelling empathy, patience and encouragement with buddies who are developing their literacy skills. For Branksome students, being a Rose Avenue student's buddy means learning to manage time, honing their interpersonal and communication skills, and becoming a creative and compassionate literacy advocate. Most importantly, Rose Avenue students and Branksome students learn from one another, forming meaningful bonds and memories over a shared love of reading.

Re-Bloom is a financial literacy initiative that delivers workshops to women and youth at organizations like Afghan Women's Organization and Juliette's Place. Some topics include budgeting, credit card debt, student loans and investing. Branksome Hall students engaged in this partnership meet weekly to develop and refine workshop content, coordinate logistics with partner organizations, and debrief after each session. We welcome students in Grades 9–12 who are interested in community advocacy, finance, or public speaking. No experience is required. We will provide training sessions.

Every Wednesday morning, Senior School students meet at Sunny View Junior and Senior Public School, a congregated special education setting for students with complex physical, developmental and health needs, to engage with students in their classrooms. The program is an opportunity for Sunny View students and Branksome students to connect in the spirit of fun and friendship. Through this commitment, Branksome students develop their understanding and appreciation for the diversity of experience.