Leo Baeck's
Proud History Leads to a Bright Future
Exciting New Facilities
We are thrilled to share exciting renovation plans that will provide a superior school experience for current and future generations of Leo Baeck students.
We are committed to providing the best possible experience for our students and feel that this is a great time for our building to reflect that vision. It’s important for us to have dedicated spaces for technology and innovation, a modernized Library, an enlarged Art Studio, a contemporary Student Resource Centre, a Junior Gym, a Dining Hall and flexible multi-purpose spaces to support student growth and learning.
Why We Need More Space
Leo Baeck opened its Arlington Avenue campus in 2012 with 450 students in a building designed to accommodate 500 students in 25 classrooms. Within ten years, our school population increased to over 600 in 29 classrooms, exceeding the building’s optimal capacity by more than 20%. Today, our student population is nearing the maximum possible complement of 30 classes and 650 students from JK to Grade 8.
Over the years, we have utilized every possible space to accommodate the school’s growth. To create additional classrooms, we repurposed the lunchroom resulting in students having to eat in their classrooms, reduced the size of the library and relocated the art studio to a smaller space. We also divided the gym in half for most classes to accommodate the increase in students using the gym. We no longer have room to spare and these important spaces must be recaptured to optimize the student experience.
Most important, there is a need for dedicated private spaces to accommodate increased demand for social-emotional and mental health support services. Remediation and enrichment, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology and social work support require private areas that are often overbooked due to our space restrictions.
What Changes Are We Making?
The proposed plan includes a 12,000 square foot two-storey addition to the north side of the building as well as renovations being done to certain spaces throughout the school. We are anticipating for construction to begin next fall and to be completed by September 2027.
This plan will:
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Provide specially designed space for an upgraded student experience, including a new Wellness Centre, Student Resource Centre, modernized Library, enlarged Art Studio and Technology and Innovation space, among other features.
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Complete our Athletic Centre with a dedicated Junior Gym, freeing up the full-size gym for higher-level athletics for Middle School students. This work on the new Junior Gym was completed in September 2024.
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Allow for the return to a proper lunchroom and multi-purpose spaces for group work, school clubs and other activities.
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Make space for an additional classroom to accommodate the required 30th classroom for our students.
- Realize our commitment to improve accessibility, including adding an accessibility ramp at the north end of the building and a new elevator providing access to all floors.
This renovation is being made possible, in part, through an extraordinarily generous contribution from the Wynn Family. We are deeply grateful to the Wynn family for their unwavering commitment to Jewish education and the future of the Jewish community. To honour their leadership, the school building at 501 Arlington Avenue will be referred to as the Phil and Cees Wynn Centre for Jewish Education, a lasting legacy that will enhance the educational experience for generations of Leo Baeck students. We will continue to be known as The Leo Baeck Day School.
Visualize the Future of Leo Baeck
Planning with our Community in Mind
The Proud History, Bright Future project has been carefully planned to ensure maximum safety and minimal disruption to our students and families while school is in session. The construction area will be entirely separate from indoor learning and no heavy material deliveries will take place during student drop-off and pick-up. We do not expect student drop-off and pick-up procedures to be affected. Similarly, we anticipate that the renovation will have very limited impact on student activities, including classes, recess and events. The most significant impact will be that the main gym will be unavailable for a number of months. Rest assured, however, that the curriculum will be adjusted to maintain a focus on skill-building, fitness and fun. The new Junior Gym will continue to be available for the younger students.
Construction plans have also undergone a thorough review by the Jewish Security Network to ensure that security enhancements are a focus of the project. Their recommendations are being integrated into our project plans to increase the safety and security of our school. We will have dedicated security to ensure that construction operations do not interfere with our students.
Have Questions?
When is the construction taking place?
Construction is slated to begin in the fall of 2025 and is expected to be completed by September 2027. School will continue to run in the building while school is in session.
Have the plans for the addition been approved by the city?
No. Our application has been made to the City of Toronto Committee of Adjustment and we are waiting for approval. Once approval is obtained, an application will be made to the City of Toronto for the building permit.
How will my child's learning be affected by the planned construction?
The wellbeing of our school community is always at the forefront of any decisions we make.
Although there will be ongoing work during the school year, the impact on students will be limited as we will be taking rigorous measures to minimize construction noise and disruptions including ensuring that the construction area will be entirely separate from indoor learning and that all heavy material deliveries will not be made during drop-off and pick-up. There will be a period of time that the main gym will not be available to students and alternate arrangements will be made. The new Junior Gym will continue to be available for our younger students.
The addition will positively affect the student experience in a variety of ways. The new space will:
- Provide students with specially designed spaces for an upgraded experience, including a new Wellness Centre, Student Resource Centre, modernized library, enlarged Art Studio and technology and innovation space, among other features. Students will also have private spaces in which to receive academic and social emotional support services.
- Enhance our Athletic Centre with the addition of a dedicated Junior Gym, allowing greater access to the full-size gym for higher-level athletics for Middle School students.
- Allow for the return to a proper lunchroom and multi-purpose spaces for group work, school clubs and other activities.
How will construction affect student pick-up and drop-off?
We anticipate that the current drop-off and pick-up procedures will remain unchanged.
Is there any additional security required with all the construction work taking place?
Our construction plans have undergone a thorough review by the Jewish Security Network, ensuring that security enhancements are a focus of the renovation project. Their expert recommendations are being integrated into our project plans, to increase the safety and security of our premises.
We will have dedicated security to ensure that construction operations do not interfere with the student population. The construction area will be entirely separate from indoor learning and no heavy material deliveries will take place during student drop-off and pick-up.
Are you increasing the number of students being accepted each year?
No, we are not planning to increase the overall student population. The construction will accommodate one extra classroom for our current population as we reach the maximum capacity of students in the building, but the majority of the work will be to add specialty spaces and enhance the areas that we currently have to support our students.
Is the name of the school changing?
We will continue to be known as The Leo Baeck Day School. The building on Arlington Avenue will be referred to as the Phil and Cees Wynn Centre for Jewish Education.
Can’t you just add portables in the back of the school for extra space?
No. The land surrounding our building is owned by the City of Toronto. The work being done is to enhance the overall student experience at school. Some of the areas that we are adding include dedicated spaces for technology and innovation, a modernized Library, an enlarged Art Studio, a contemporary Student Resource Centre, a Junior Gym, a Dining Hall, a flexible multi-purpose spaces as well as an additional classroom.
Are there any changes to protocol regarding fire and lock down drills during construction?
If any updates are required to any safety protocols, they will be adjusted and shared with plenty of time before the construction phase.
How will traffic be managed around the school during and after construction?
The flow of the traffic will remain the same during the construction phase. Since we are not blocking any exits to the building or allowing any heavy deliveries during drop-off and pick-up, the current protocols will remain the same. Upon completion of the project, the traffic flow will not change, but there will be security enhancements implemented to increase pedestrian safety in the area.
Will there be noise or dust in the building during construction throughout the school year?
The project is to add a 2-storey addition to the north side of the building which will be kept separate from the existing building until launch and there will not be any internal construction during the school year.
How much money is being raised for this project and will it divert funds from school programming?
As part of the Proud History, Bright Future campaign, we will be raising $16.5 million for this initiative. A remarkable $13.9 million in commitments has already been secured. The campaign will soon be expanded to engage the broader Leo Baeck community. The project will not divert funds from school programming and we will continue to raise money each year to support programs that enhance the student experience. It is our expectation that tuition fees would not be affected by this project.
If you wish to learn more about supporting the Proud History, Bright Future campaign, please contact Ayelet Bercovich at abercovich@leobaeck.ca.
How can I support the Proud History, Bright Future campaign?
Please reach out to Ayelet Bercovich at abercovich@leobaeck.ca to learn more about this exciting initiative and discuss different dedication opportunities.
How do I share my questions or comments?
If you would like to share any questions or comments, please click here to submit them.
We want to hear from you!
If you would like to submit any questions or comments, please email us at brightfuture@leobaeck.ca.
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