Counterpoint Academy actually has 2 locations, one in Overbrook (near Vanier) - Ottawa location and one in Kanata. I visited the Ottawa location. This school is located in a quiet neighbourhood in Overbrook, and is actually in what was once the Overbrook Public School. There is a community centre across the street, which is currently under renovation; but the teachers say that the kids usually go to swim and play in the park there. It starts with pre-school (2.5 years) and goes up to grade 6. Some things I observed:
Price:
Pre-school is very reasonably priced at $900 a month. No food or snacks are provided, so it gives parents an early start on the lunch packing! The daycare centre consists of two rooms that where kids play in certain themed areas. I do have a friend who sends his son to the pre-school and says that his son has enjoyed his time there. They advertise that it is a bilingual school, although I did not meet with the teachers so I personally can't testify to the level of French the teachers actually do have. (I speak French fluently, and it is actually a pet peeve of mine when schools don't take language instruction seriously. I have personally known 2 Anglophone teachers who were sent for French training at Algonquin college so that they can offer French classes at their school. They were only at the intermediate level in French. Considering the number of Francophone teachers we have in the area, I find that rather shocking. ) The pre-schoolers here get the added bonus of getting to take advantage of some of the activities happening at the school. They get to watch the in-school concerts and get to take advantage of the school facilities that other daycares may not have.
Grades JK-6 the tuition fees are roughly $14,000 which is the city average. There are no bursaries offered, and there is a different rate for International students.
Uniforms: The uniforms look quite smart with gray and navy blue being the main colours. Looking at their uniform list, it does seem rather excessive to me however. There is a spring uniform and a fall uniform, the winter one is basically the fall uniform, but with an added sweater. The spring uniform is worn from May-June, which seems like a rather short amount of time to me. The gym uniform consists of shorts, T-shirt, track pants and sweatshirt. A lot of items which will end up costing quite a bit, however, in the grand scheme of things...not a big deal.
School grounds: One thing I did notice was the lack of grass. There is not one single patch of grass in the playground. The playground is next to the parking lot and its all cement with one sand pit where the structure is located. Its a large enough space for a city school, but I can't imagine too many kids fitting into the playground.
Staff: My appointment was with the principal and I did meet some of the staff. She was friendly enough, but I had the impression that she ruled her school with an iron fist. There was no doubt who the boss was in this setting. I personally, don't react well in situations where I feel as if I'm being talked down to - particularly if I'm the client. I personally think the key to leadership is making people want to follow you - not forcefully making people follow you. Subtle difference, but a difference to me. So, because of my personal reaction to her style of communication, I would worry about any interaction I would have to have with her should my child have any problems at school. The trust and comfort factor weren't there for me. I think a lot of it also had to do with the sales pitch, and the fact that it actually felt like a sales pitch.
When I decide on a school for my child, I want to make sure its one that I can keep her in for the long-haul. So, to me, this is like entering into a long-term relationship. I need to make sure the staff and I share similar goals and similar approaches to education; and that should there be differences, we can communicate and work the issues out together. I didn't quite feel like this was a good fit for me in that sense.
Board: This is a private school period. There is no parent board, no board of directors, nothing. The principal owns the school and what she says goes. She was not shy about that fact. She actually said she didn't want to deal with the hassle of consulting because people can't agree, so whatever decision she makes, the community will have to deal with. Its easier and simpler this way she claims. Personally, I'm not sure if this is a soup kitchen and the single chef analogy works. I'm more of the 'it takes a village to raise a child' mindset (although, arguably, some people hold more significant impact in a child's life than others, but still. All interactions matter); so again, not a good fit for me.
Curriculum: They advertise an enriched curriculum, as all private schools do. They follow the Ontario curriculum and are beginning to roll-out French immersion. One thing I did like about this school was their student-teacher ratio. Larger classes have a primary teacher and an assistant teacher who stays with the class throughout the day. Having the assistant really keeps the ratios low, which I really appreciate. However, there is a very high occurrence of combined classes at Counterpoint (two grades in one class). Their enrollment seems rather low and the school rather small. Some grades have as few as 4 students it seems. So if you are not a fan of combined classes, this may not be the school for you, as judging by the numbers; combined classes seem to be a probable reality.
Activities: Their calendar is shock full of activities. There are camps, field trips, ski trips, concerts, off-site phys-ed and much more. These activities are not included in the tuition, so parents need to budget accordingly for these. However, no fees are specified when you sign on, so you don't actually know how much to budget. Also, if your child is sick and misses the trip or activity, their contract clearly says that you still have to pay for these activities even if your child does not attend.
Overall rating: "I'm not sure I share the same philosophy as the school, and I'm not sure about the structure of the school. I fear that there may be a conflict of interest when the principal owns the school. Not for my family."
**Addendum: I just spoke to my friend who has their son at the school. He is friends with the mother of a little girl in a different class. The girl was just pulled out of the school because of a disagreement that occurred with the principal which is now escalating to a lawsuit. The details surround the little getting hurt at the school, twice over the span of a month, both instances resulting in the girl being hospitalized. The mother claims that when she requested details of the incidents to report to the doctors, instead of being cooperative, the principal yelled at her for disrespecting her teachers by questioning the level of care that was given to her child. The lawsuit concerns the refund in tuition for the withdrawal of the child. I don't know the full details of the situation, and this information was obtained through a 3rd party source so there may be some inaccuracies.**
A mother's quest to find a good school. The ups and downs, pros and cons, public vs. private, and my personal dilemma in a world of choice.
The Quest
I am the mother of one school-aged child. Education has always been a priority to me, so much so that I am willing to scrimp and save to invest in my child's education. Whether that investment is in private schools, in RESPs or in time spent with my child; I invest my heart, soul and money in my daughter's education - formal or informal. I'm just not quite sure what mix is the best for us yet. And perhaps that mix will constantly change as my child changes.
I went to both private and public schools myself, and had some incredible experiences. I look back on my journey through the education system, and there were some clear highs and lows. If anything, my own journey has taught me the importance of a good school, with good solid foundations, and a clear philosophy on education. As a mother, I want to assure that my daughter has more highs than lows. I want her to thrive in the environment she is in, and I want her experiences to shape her into a strong, confident and capable woman. I realize that nothing is perfect, no matter how much you pay for it. The trick is finding the right fit for your child, and for your family.
In my searches, I found that there were very few reviews or comments on schools in Ottawa. So if you don't know anyone with children at the school, you were rather strapped for sources of information. Throw in the fact that the Ministry of Education does not oversee the operation of private (by private I am referring to all school structures that are not public) schools beyond issuing a license to operate, parents who choose to go down this path are pretty much on their own. This is why making a educated choice is even more important. You are effectively taking your child's education in your own hands, and throwing a whole whack of money into this decision too - so do it right!
I am, in all honesty, what you would call an uptight mother. I don't like making decisions without doing my due diligence. So I'm hoping that my quest to find a good school for my daughter will lead to more parents vocalizing their views on their childrens' schools so that all Ottawa parents can make better informed decisions. So Ottawa parents, please comment and share your views!
I plan on visiting many of the Ottawa area private schools, as well as some of the public schools which I qualify to register my daughter in. I will share my impressions of the school as well as any background knowledge I have managed to obtain through other parents.
I went to both private and public schools myself, and had some incredible experiences. I look back on my journey through the education system, and there were some clear highs and lows. If anything, my own journey has taught me the importance of a good school, with good solid foundations, and a clear philosophy on education. As a mother, I want to assure that my daughter has more highs than lows. I want her to thrive in the environment she is in, and I want her experiences to shape her into a strong, confident and capable woman. I realize that nothing is perfect, no matter how much you pay for it. The trick is finding the right fit for your child, and for your family.
In my searches, I found that there were very few reviews or comments on schools in Ottawa. So if you don't know anyone with children at the school, you were rather strapped for sources of information. Throw in the fact that the Ministry of Education does not oversee the operation of private (by private I am referring to all school structures that are not public) schools beyond issuing a license to operate, parents who choose to go down this path are pretty much on their own. This is why making a educated choice is even more important. You are effectively taking your child's education in your own hands, and throwing a whole whack of money into this decision too - so do it right!
I am, in all honesty, what you would call an uptight mother. I don't like making decisions without doing my due diligence. So I'm hoping that my quest to find a good school for my daughter will lead to more parents vocalizing their views on their childrens' schools so that all Ottawa parents can make better informed decisions. So Ottawa parents, please comment and share your views!
I plan on visiting many of the Ottawa area private schools, as well as some of the public schools which I qualify to register my daughter in. I will share my impressions of the school as well as any background knowledge I have managed to obtain through other parents.
Saturday, January 7, 2012
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