The Toronto Heschel School

what a great school

hechel

i have no relation to this school

A great place for children to get a good art-based education with dedicated teachers, an integrated curriculum and a community-based approach to learning.

What an amazing place! The management, administrative staff, and teachers are so on the ball and so organized. They are constantly making an extra effort to ensure every student's needs are met

This establishment is not adequate for students to learn. They cannot use their brains when they are surrounded by this incompetence. I do not recommend this school to anyone.

Incompetent, unethical, unprofessional and hypocrite management. I am a single mother, immigrant and don’t have a family in Toronto. In November 2019 when my son was just 4 y.o I received an email (not even a phone call) from Heidi Friedman (Director of Early years). I was informed that my 4 yo son had a self-regulation problem and she suggested a private therapist which was $120 per hour. I couldn't afford it. Heidi provided me with alternatives. I raised these concerns with our pediatrician and was advised that as my son is still little, we need to wait until he is older. In March 2020 the Covid-19 mess started. It was extremely hard as a single mom to do on-line school and taking care of us. As the school was on-line I witnessed myself how hard for small kids to study at this age. My son was participating and I didn’t see any major problems so I started questioned Heidi’s assessment. Nevertheless, I was working hard with suggested sources to assist my child. Then SK started (September 2020) and I just was following up on everything suggested. Then in February 2021 another lockdown happened. Out of the blue in March 2021 I received an email from Heidi right in the evening before Pesach break! that my son will not be enrolled in the Grade 1 until there is a clear plan as how to help him. So inconsidarate and ruined the holiday! I was shocked. So I asked to discuss it with the Head of the School - Greg Beiles. To my surprise Greg didn't help. As the school left me only one option I asked for a reasonably priced therapist and fortunately my ex-partner agreed to pay. I did have in place government funded agency and Occupational therapist scheduled but Heidi and Greg didn’t accept any of it. “Play base” therapy started working with my son right after on-line school finished in June. So all kids were having summer fun and my child had to meet with therapist 3 times per week. As therapy was at home and it was going great I again questioned Heidi’s assessment and was wondering what’s the point torturing my son and myself? Our therapist just confirmed my thoughts. She said that my son needed this help in the school setting not at home. It was in the middle of August. Really?!! So therapy was stopped and resumed in September at the school. By the end of October my ex started showing me bills , two last bill was $1200 for a week! He told me he can’t afford it any more. From the therapist communication I saw my son was doing ok. So we contacted the management (Greg Beiles - Principal and Heidi Friedman- Director of Early Years and Child Study) and told that can’t afford private therapy and as government funding serviced was available asking to use the last. I scheduled a zoom meeting with both of them to find a solution. So the meeting was going for 20 min and I couldn’t finish as both of them needed to go. I needed another one. As I was in the middle of a job search I asked (in the email) for another meeting and was begging to keep my son out of compassion in school just for a week so I can organize a school for him. To my horror I received an email saying “We need in writing that you will continue behavioral therapy starting coming Monday. We will de-enroll your son unless we receive this commitment. And the most ridiculous sentence: WE CAN SCHEDULE A TIME TO MEET BASED ON A WRITTEN RECEIPT CONFIRMING SUPPORT FROM “PLAY BASE” SERVICES RESUMING THIS MONDAY!! In the meantime I started receiving emails from Heidy stating what my child did wrong: push someone, pull someone, threw something. I was asking – who saw it and why it was happening – I never had a clear answer. The last drop was when my son woke up in the morning crying and saying that he was so sad! It was the only time when he woke up that hurt. Of course after all the harassment and pressure! So the school has a beautiful name of Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel who was standing for justice, compassion, integrity but management doesn’t practice it. The idea of the school is amazing but I would not send my child there as long as there is current management.

I switched my child into Heschel after a bad year in our local public school. Both my ex husband and I have been extremely happy with our choice to enrol our child in This school. The teachers are incredible. Small classes and a schedule that works for kids. The community of parents and children has been so welcoming. I feel grateful to have my child involved in this community. The staff takes extra time to ensure the kids feel welcomed.