Student life at Southridge is diverse, engaging, and fun! As we foster the spirit of being a lighthearted place of serious purpose, we ensure our students have a strong sense of community and connection.

At Southridge, we aim to ensure that every student feels seen and supported by the people around them. That our core values become more than just words – they become actions that lead to feelings of acceptance, belonging, freedom, and confidence. Because that’s when the real learning starts. That’s when students take the risks, have the adventures, and build the friendships that lifelong memories are made of.

We make sure that every student feels seen, heard, and known

At Southridge, we believe that school spirit starts by creating a place where everyone can thrive. From our House system, to our Student Life coordinators, to our Senior School Advisory System, we provide layers of support so that no one feels alone, and every student has a trusted adult they can turn to who believes in them.

Our Student Life staff coordinators get to know each student as an individual, and communicate with other faculty and parents on discipline and student life issues. They understand the social dynamics of their groups, and work to steer peer-to-peer relationships in a healthy direction.

At Southridge, trust, respect, and joy abound!

When you walk the halls of Southridge, the first thing you’ll notice is that our lockers have no locks on them. Since we first opened in 1995, our unlocked lockers have been a sign of the culture of trust and respect that our students enjoy.

The second thing you’ll notice is that although our school is known for its academic rigour, laughter and joy are an integral part of our learning environment.

Alan Brown, our founding headmaster, described us as being a “lighthearted place of serious purpose” and that holds true to this day. Smiles are everywhere and the school hums with the energy of exploration, discovery, and connection.

Students are encouraged to join the many clubs, teams, and activities at Southridge – from academic clubs and arts groups, to sports teams, outdoor field trips, student exchanges, and travel. 

Through co-curricular activities, our students explore their interests, discover new passions, and gain new skills. The experience of performing, playing on a team, hiking in the wilderness, or competing against other budding academics and engineers, broadens their education, builds their confidence and leadership skills, and expands their sense of possibility. 

Service is another positive focus of student life at Southridge – our students participate in a range of service initiatives within the school, and with local and international organizations. 

We also provide leadership opportunities throughout Junior and Senior school in programs such as the Board of Stewards. We know that great leadership skills are learned, and our students are taught how to be accountable, build strong teams, listen, collaborate, and lead by example.

Every day, everywhere, Southridge students are encouraged to discover themselves and grow.

Our House system builds friendships across the school

Every member of the Southridge community – students, faculty, staff, alumni, and parents – belongs to one of four Houses: Blizzard, Hurricane, Lightning, and Thunder. Students sit with their Houses at full-school assemblies and, when we have a Sports or Spirit Day, team up for some friendly competition, dressing in House colours, and bonding with the friends they’ve made across grades for some friendly competition.

The House system at Southridge helps our students develop a network of friends across the school. The Houses compete for points throughout the year and, at the end of the year, the House with the most points is awarded the coveted Golden Boots Award!