Location: Fisher Ave. (Experimental Farm). A little bit of a hike in the wrong direction if you live and work downtown, but for those parents who are coming from the south or west of the city; I think its worth considering the minor detour.
Facilities: Amazing! The school was constructed under the direction of Mrs. Turnbull, the owner on former farmland and I have to say; she is quite the visionary. It doesn't look like much when you first drive into the school parking lot, but then you realize that the school is built on a hill and actually extends down the hill to a rather long expansion. Enough to comfortably house the junior and senior schools. There is one section, I believe it was the middle school where it was a little dark due to lack of windows in the hallways, but it didn't seem to bother the students much.
Uniforms: There were none!There are school T-shirts for important functions, but no uniforms on a daily basis. The registrar explained that it was Mrs. Turnbull's vision to have students learn how to dress appropriately and to respect their own bodies and to develop a healthy image from a young age. While I can respect that point of view and understand the logic behind it, I personally would love to keep my child in a uniform for as long as I possibly can. I simply prefer to minimize the importance of physical appearances for as long as I humanly can. I believe we live in such a superficial society and the longer I can defer that particular issue in my household, the better!
Curriculum: Enhanced Ontario curriculum. There is no French immersion, but core French. I didn't have too much of chance to look at their course material or to speak to individual teachers to get their perspectives, but judging from the work displayed on the walls the students seemed bright and engaged in their work.
Classrooms: Classrooms were a nice size, many with large windows which helped create a welcoming feel, and most were equipped with advanced technology such as smartboards. There is a large library that is quite welcoming.
Class sizes: Class sizes ranged but it seemed 16 was the average. There is no issue of split classes here as many grades have multiple classes. This is definitely a perk for socializing your child. Many private schools offer the bonus of small class sizes, however it also limits your child's ability to socialize with a diverse set of peers. This structure offers the benefits of smaller class sizes while still enabling your child to meet a more diverse range of peers their age.
Staff: As mentioned, I didn't have a chance to talk to teachers beyond a few quick introductions with a question here or there. The teachers came across as engaged and hard working. The teachers in the senior school did appear to have a more no-nonsense attitude which I personally see as a bonus, while the teachers in the elementary years came across as very warm and nurturing. A good mix. One thing I did specifically notice was that Turnbull has quite a few male teachers. More than the statistical norm, which is quite intriguing. The reason I noticed this is because I personally see it as a plus for my particular situation. Being a single parent, I often feel that my child may not get as much of that "male influence" as other children would. So to me, I found this rather interesting and a potential bonus. I consider myself a strong figure in my child's life by any definition, but that being said, its not necessarily an issue of having a "strong" influence, its really about the way a person interacts with a child. I find men and women interact with children differently. One way is not necessarily better than the other, its just different.
Tuition: They don't advertise their prices on their website. You have to go in for a tour to get the full information package. Its quite clever on their part because they do offer quite the package. You really have to go in to visit the school to really get that impression of what a good environment it is for the children. Tuition comes in at a whopping $18,000.
Board: There is a parent group that is involved in some of the student activities, but decision making at large is done by the principal and ultimately is the decision of Mrs. Turnbull who oversees the direction of the school. The school is privately owned by Mrs. Turnbull.
My overall rating: "I love it, but its out of my comfort zone - budget and distance."
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.
Monday, June 18, 2012
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