WoodlandCHS offers bus transferring.
Service options offered are regular rider, regular rider AM only, regular rider PM only.
The regions WoodlandCHS offers busing from are:
Waterloo
Kitchener
Cambridge
Guelph
Listowel
Drayton
Elmira
Elora
Fergus
Shakespeare
Brant
New Hamburg
Wellesley
Additional notes: Student may have to walk to a centralized bus stop. We try and keep the distance under 1 KM from the student home when possible. There are also later after-school busing shuttles to our supporting communities.
Our Perspective
How we see Woodland Christian High School
Our Kids Feature Review
The 50-page review of Woodland Christian High School is part of our series of in-depth accounts of Canada's leading private schools. It provides a unique and objective perspective on the school's academics, programs, culture, and community.
"Woodland is a vibrant community of learning where students are equipped for lives of Christian faith and service. Each student's abilities and interests are encouraged. Students come from Kitchener/Waterloo, Cambridge, Guelph, Drayton, Listowel and surrounding areas (including international students). Students receive an excellent education which prepares them well for university and/or college. Students receive opportunities in varsity sports, music, drama, and international service trips."
Competitive Sports Programs
Provincially Recognized Music Programs
International Robotics Participation
Choir and Drama Productions
International Student Programs including Course Integration and Multicultural Clubs
A variety of co-curricular activities
Transportation to and from school including After School Activity Busing
Strong Academic Support and Differential Learning Programs
Active Student Government and Student Leadership Programs
Experiential Learning Trips including Theatre, Outdoor Education, International & Service Trips
What do you do differently and uniquely well?
"At Woodland, we strive to enfold students into a learning community that engages the minds and hearts of young people, equipping them for lives of Christian faith and service. Our students graduate with competence, but also creativity, character, and compassion rooted in a Christian worldview."
What tradeoffs has your school made to serve families in this way?
"Woodland Christian High School successfully balances competing educational values and makes deliberate resource allocations. This approach ensures that the school remains true to its mission of equipping students for lives of Christian faith and service, fostering well-rounded individuals prepared for the complexities of the modern world. While the school has not invested in specific academic programs such as Advanced Placement (AP) or International Bachelorette (IB), the investment in teachers with advanced degrees and a commitment to spiritual/academic excellence is the choice Woodland has made for your children. Based on the words of Jesus in Mark 8:32, "For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?" the Woodland Board and Administration continue to make strategic decisions that educate for eternity rather than simply the temporal."
What type of student is a good fit for your school?
"Woodland Christian High School's ideal target market encompasses families and students who are looking for a comprehensive, Christ-centered education that balances academic rigour, personal development, and community involvement. These families seek a supportive and engaging environment where their children can thrive academically, grow spiritually, and become responsible, compassionate leaders."
Under what conditions would you advise a family against choosing your school?
"Families looking to escape from the publically funded school systems or who want to shelter their adolescent in an idealistic Christian environment may need to rethink their application to Woodland. The primary motivation for enrollment is not isolation or escapism but rather the understanding and equipping of students to engage with the world as Christian thinkers, leaders, and activists for positive change. The development of a Christian Worldview that embraces competence, character, creativity, and compassion ought to be the main motivator for application to Woodland."
To your knowledge, why do families choose your school over others?
"Students graduate with the essential components of the OSSD but are also granted the Woodland Diploma that ensures they have been trained and educated holistically. Rather than focusing on program-specific outcomes, (ex. an arts school, a math school, a science school, a tech school, a sports school, etc. ) a Woodland education offers a balanced and enriched course of study that ensures that students are equipped in all areas of life."
How would you characterize your school's image amongst the public?
"Woodland Christian High School enjoys a strong public reputation based on its academic excellence, Christian values, supportive community, and commitment to holistic development. Its dedicated faculty and active community engagement further solidify its status as a respected and desirable educational institution. Alumni and their families often return to the school to reminisce, support, and reconnect with their high school experiences and teachers. While not every student may have fond memories of their teenage years, alumni surveys generally reflect positive comments and experiences. In the local community, Woodland is seen as a place where students are actively engaged with the world and the issues that matter most."
What aspect of your school is underappreciated?
"Our graduate profile: although the outcomes of a Woodland education are clearly stated and demonstrated during the entrance interview, parents tend to under-appreciate that their students are intentionally taught and guided to become people of Competence, Character, Creativity, and Compassion with a Christian Worldview."
What might families find surprising about your school?
"At Woodland, families are often surprised to find a community of like-minded parents and students with a common faith but many denominations and perspectives."
What improvements or changes has your school made recently?
"The school is currently conducting a capital campaign to enhance its facilities, expand classroom spaces, and introduce new programs in Business, Technology, Agriculture, and Trades. The recent acquisition of surrounding land allows for the development of innovative and engaging programs for all students, from those excelling academically to those needing additional academic support. With the recent developments in the use of AI in education, Woodland teachers and students are on the innovative edge of proper adoption and use of helpful AI technology to enhance learning, thinking, and leadership."
How will your school change in the next 5 years?
"Woodland will expand programs by building a new dedicated shop space for manufacturing, agriculture, construction, and automotive technologies. The new Tech Center will be a centrepiece of the newly acquired Woodland Ag & Tech Center property. It will provide shop space designed and outfitted for additional experiential programs in fabrication, robotics, construction technologies, woodworking, green industries, small engines and automotive repair programs. The future purposeful usage of the land will also allow for expanded programming in physical education, environmental science, food studies, and biblical studies. The potential experiences for Woodland students are limitless, and community use will be encouraged and fostered during non-school hours. Woodland will also expand capacity by building additional classrooms and teacher space on the second level of the existing school building. Modern, spacious classrooms will facilitate student-centred learning and promote collaboration."
My son has found multiple and varied activities to get involved in. The opportunity to get involved...
School leadership
Top-down influence on the school’s direction and tone
Message from school leadership
John Van Pelt, Principal; COO BA, BEd, CSTC, CSPC, OCT, M.P.Ed
Welcome to Woodland Christian High School. For almost 50 years, Woodland has offered an excellent academic program that seeks to integrate learning and the Christian faith. As an alumnus of Woodland and now as the Principal, I have seen how an education that aims to equip our students for lives of Christian faith and service can benefit individuals, church communities, and the broader civic community. I encourage you to take a few minutes to explore our website to become familiar with the diverse curricular and co-curricular programs that we have developed to meet the needs of our students. If you have any questions about our school, don't hesitate to contact me.
