Vision Statement

Educating Teens for Service in the Light of God's Word.

Identity Statement

Toronto District Christian High School is founded on a vision of Christian education with a particular emphasis and character. Below is a brief articulation of that vision; Articles 1 to 5 describe something of the Christian worldview which informs TDChristian’s educational practice, while Articles 6 to 10 describe how it is carried out.

1. God rules over all creation and all areas of life.

We believe that all aspects of life and human existence have religious significance. Christian education at TDChristian points to God not only through biblical studies, prayer, devotional reflections, and songs of worship, but in all subjects, as well as in attitudes and behaviour toward other human beings and the rest of creation.

2. Jesus is the Redeemer of all that is broken, not only the Saviour of individuals.

Christ is reconciling the world to God (Colossians 1). Having given us his own Spirit and his own new life, he is using us as his hands and feet to restore what has been broken by sin. The whole world has fallen, and so the whole world needs to be redeemed and restored: every person, place, organization, and program.

3. The Bible is God’s Word and serves as the “spectacles” through which we view reality.

We attempt to examine all of life and creation through a biblical worldview. In doing so, we read the Bible as a continuous whole, contextually rather than in a proof-texting way.

4. Creation is the other “book” in which God shows us who he is.

We see God’s fingerprints all over creation. The visible universe is like a beautiful book in which all creatures are like letters making us ponder the love, wisdom, and power of the invisible God (Romans 1:20). In spite of the fall into sin, we affirm that the original goodness of creation still shines through the character, structure, and connectedness of all things.

5. This is not a throwaway world. Our responsibility for its care was and is a fundamental part of God’s plan for creation.

God created humankind to be caretakers of this world. He wired this purpose into our very beings and into the plan of creation itself. God will renew this world rather than destroy it. This makes all actions to improve life on earth worthwhile and God-honouring.

6. Christian education is not just about absorbing information. God’s revelation of himself calls for a response.

Although the task of TDChristian is not evangelism, the school joins parents and church in encouraging commitment to Christ. We are “educating teens for service in the light of God’s Word,” not merely passing on information; we hope to nurture in our students a love and awe for God and all he has created. We want to help teens understand and live out their calling to be caretakers of God’s creation as well as dispensers of his grace and love in a hurting world; there is no field of work to which this calling does not apply. Students have numerous opportunities to practise this in and out of school, such as peer counselling and tutoring, trips into the inner city to serve the poor, campaigns to raise awareness of world hunger, and everyday classroom interaction. We also recognize that students are on a lifelong spiritual journey; we look for growth and authenticity, not perfection, while giving leadership, encouragement, and restorative discipline. Our dress code offers teens freedom within boundaries, not a uniform.

7. Our world belongs to God, not the evil one.

We aim to engage culture, not shy away from it, confident that God is in control of the world. We strive to develop curriculum that teaches students discernment regarding the culture in which they live; they are being prepared not for life in a Christian bubble, after all, but to take up their place as shapers of God’s world in a wide range of endeavours. From reality TV to political scandal to genetically modified food, our world belongs to God, and as such, every square inch is up for scrutiny. This scrutiny takes place at TDChristian in developmentally appropriate ways.

8. No person or thing is absolutely evil or absolutely good. The line dividing good and evil runs through people and organizations rather than around them.

The world is not divided neatly into “good guys” and “bad guys”; the line between good and evil runs down the middle of all our hearts. Christians do some things badly while non-Christians do some things well, and vice versa. All human beings fall short of God’s glory, and all reflect something of his image. Students are encouraged to critically examine books, films, political systems, scientific theories, and other aspects of culture created by both Christians and non-Christians, for their worth and underlying values.

9. We believe in and foster community.

We seek to reflect a commitment to community in all our relationships. Parents, staff, and supporters from different cultural, social, and denominational backgrounds covenant together to carry out the shared task of educating children; our efforts are to be characterized by trust, cooperation, and service rather than self-interest or individualism. We nurture interpersonal skills and strive to ensure that all may feel valued, find their place, make their contribution, and experience measures of success. Tuition is structured so as to accommodate families of all sizes, and our sports programs focus not on showcasing our star athletes, but on encouraging everyone to develop their skills and join the fun. Nor is our choir only for virtuosos. The weak and the strong work together, and in carrying one another’s burdens, all are blessed.

10. We celebrate the unique giftedness of each person by God for his purposes.

In our teaching we strive to recognize that students come with diverse gifts and learning styles and are called to different tasks in God’s world. A family may have one child for whom academics comes easily and another for whom it does not; we welcome and serve both. We are proud of our many graduates who attend and succeed at university, as well as those who succeed in community college or in the workplace directly after high school. Our goal is to  help all students develop their gifts and abilities to the utmost so they can serve and glorify God.