Dr. Norman Bethune Collegiate Institute is a high school in Toronto, located in the northwest part of Scarborough. It was founded in 1979 and named after Norman Bethune. The school is attended by over 1000 students, most of whom speak a primary language other than English, the language of instruction. Bethune is also partners with the neighboring senior's homes: Mon Sheong and Tendercare, and with Beijing#15 High School in Beijing, People's Republic of China.
School Information
Students taking Modern Language classes are offered opportunities, including outings to French and Spanish movies, theatre productions and restaurants. Senior students may travel abroad to France and Spain. Bethune students receive excellent results in French and Spanish Contests as well as the Concours D'Art Oratiore.
Math: General Math 9-11, Data Management, Advanced Functions, and Calculus and Vectors
Students can choose from visual art, photography, computer art, dramatic arts vocal music, and repertoire instrumental music and strings. Outside the classroom, students can join the art club, the drama club, or the music council. The school's T-Wing features a woodshop, an autoshop, and an electronics lab. The school also has several computer labs. Students may participate by choosing technology courses or by joining the many clubs involving the technology department. These clubs include Programming Club, or Electronics Club.
Stellar Program
The Stellar Program is an enrichment program for grade 9 and 10 in Math and Science. This program is no longer offered at the school starting in the 2019-2020 school year.
School Programs
English as a Second Language
Bethune's ESL program features field trips that promote Canadian culture and experiential learning. The semestered program has 5 levels in addition to ESL sensitive courses in Geography and History. Bilingual classroom helpers, full-time settlement workers, peer mentor programs, the Chinese Association, and the Newcomer Orientation Week in August help to ease the transition to Canada and to Bethune. In addition to after-school and week-end support classes, OSSLT preparation classes and peer-tutoring support ESL students throughout the year.
Individual Education Plan
A variety of special education programs and services are offered to meet the needs of all students, including students with exceptionalities, such as behavioural, communication, intellectual, physical and multiple learning disabilities. Students' exceptionalities are identified through a formal review process undertaken by an Identification, Placement and Review Committee .
Co-curricular activities
More information about Bethune's co-curricular activities can be found on
Student Leadership Groups
The Student Administrative Council coordinates extra-curricular activities within the school.
Bethune Blaze is the technology team at Bethune and is in charge of audio-visual productions.
The Bethune ESL Mentor program helps newcomers with English and adaptation to Canada and provides mentorship in academic studies.
Bethune REPs are the representatives of Bethune and help set up and run events such as parent nights.
The Athletic Bears Council organizes all athletic events within the school.
Bethune Journal is the school newspaper that delivers current news and opinion columns every few months.
The Bethune Music Council is responsible for organizing events related to the music program at Bethune, such as retreats, banquets and various music trips.
The Bethune Creative Arts Council organizes and brings awareness to events related to the visual and dramatic arts.
The Bethune Environmental Action Team works to spread awareness about pro-environmental ideas and has helped Bethune become a Platinum Certified Eco-school.
* The Bethune Environmental Action Team will not apply for 2013 Platinum Eco-Schools Certification because of Bill 115 that has now been passed.
Healthy Schools is a committee that educates students and staff about healthy living though events promoting nutrition, mindfulness and exercise.
Bethune Yearbook is the team responsible for designing and preparing the yearbook.
