201- 1085 Homer Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6B 1J4, Canada
2323 Bloor Street West, Units 209 and 216, Toronto, Ontario, M6S 4W1, Canada
2017
2015
80
40
K to 7
JK to 8
Coed
Coed
Day
Day
English
English
Academic
Academic
Progressive
Traditional
9 to 11
6 to 8
$19,855
$15,540
Yes
No
0%
0%
K to 8
None
$9,000
$0
10
4
0%
0%
75%
0%
K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Rolling
Rolling
Not available
Not available
Yes: grades K - 6
No
No
No
information not available
information not available
Claren Academy is one of those places that, in every way, was clearly created with the the learner foremost in mind. The teaching environment is bright, clean, and inviting, with lots of colour and natural light. It’s just a very comfortable place for young people to spend their days. Instruction is student-centred, building on the skills, interests, and needs that the students bring with them into the room. The intention is to deliver the attributes and knowledge they will need in the future as they move on to secondary and post-secondary education, and life. Administration references future-focused skills, though it says something about the school that creativity, empathy and kindness make that list. The school leadership is accessible, and assessment and progress reporting is consistent and detailed. So, yes, the school looks charming, and indeed it is, in all kinds of ways. Founded in 2017, Claren Academy has quickly become an important and valued educational offering within the city.
View full reportThis small school located in Bloor West Village, Toronto offers programs for JK to Grade 8 students. The school’s mission is to develop knowledge, creativity, and the skillset to lead children towards a successful career and personal satisfaction. From Grades 1 to 8, children receive subject instruction by teachers who are specialists in their particular fields, providing students with the unique opportunity to be taught by someone with a passion and expertise for a chosen subject. Erudite offers before- and after-school care from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
information not available
information not available
"Claren Academy is a future-focused independent school located in downtown Vancouver. Claren Academy has a brand new campus and a vibrant middle years program for students in grades 7, 8, and 9. With individualized learning plans, dedicated educators, strong fundamentals, and real, hands-on learning, Claren Academy gives students the tools to be creative, competent, and happy in their changing world."
"Erudite is a small school with big aspirations - and a huge heart. Our school was established in 2015 in Bloor West Village, Toronto, ON. The mission of Erudite School is to lay the foundation for a strong educational background to enrich knowledge, creativity and skill sets that will lead our children toward a successful careers and personal satisfaction. Respect is the core value of our school. It encompasses self-respect, respect for others and respect for the environment."
"What sets Claren Academy apart from other schools?
---
Our dedicated staff, our school-wide focus on kindness, and our unique approach to levelled literacy and math.
- Our dedicated, passionate teachers focus on individualized learning to help each student achieve their best work, and be excited about the results.
- The most important focus to set our students apart from robots, which can never be automated, is kindness. Mindfulness, community, and service to each other are fundamental to the Claren Academy model, and it is a joy to see our students grow into individuals we are proud to care for and learn from in return.
- For the core foundational subjects of literacy and math, Claren uses a levelled program that fits students into their ‘just-right’ group, regardless of grade. This approach allows students to have more support as needed, and to advance to the next lesson only when mastery of previous lessons has been demonstrated."
"Erudite School prides itself on providing a differentiated curriculum delivered by teachers who are specialized in their specific fields.
After initial assessments and each child receives a learning map created for him/her . This is to ensure that the student progresses with confidence. Engineering, Computer Science. Drama, Music and Arts safe learning environment, community-based learning - Summer Olympics with other schools"
Information not available
Information not available
Information not available
Information not available
"When Claren Academy was founded in 2017, our goal was to prepare our students for the future as it will actually be when they graduate around 2030. We boiled it down to skills that robots do not have, such as collaboration, creativity, critical thinking, and empathy. Along with strong academic foundations and access to the best resources and educators, these are the skills and tools that will help our children succeed and be happy in their future."
Information not available
Information not available
Information not available
Information not available
"providing unique learning opportunity
strong programme
supporting language, reading and learning
culturally safe environment - family
location - Bloor West Village
small classroom sizes"
Information not available
Information not available
"Backwards Design Approach
The Claren Academy Learner Profile is a framework that guides our students towards becoming independent, reflective, and curious learners.
We start by identifying the core attributes that we want our students to develop, such as creativity, critical thinking, empathy, and resilience. From there, we design learning experiences that help students develop and practice these skills.
This backwards design approach ensures that everything we do at Claren Academy is aligned with our ultimate goal of developing well-rounded learners. It's not just about memorizing facts and figures - it's about developing the transferrable skills and growth mindset that will enable students to succeed in all areas of life.
The Claren Academy Learner Profile is an integral part of our approach to education. It's a roadmap that guides our students towards becoming the best version of themselves, and it helps us ensure that every learning experience is purposeful and meaningful."
Information not available
Information not available
Information not available
Information not available
Information not available
Information not available
Information not available
information not available
information not available
Traditional
Information not available
Progressive (sometimes called "in- quiry-based") curricula attempt to place children's interests and ideas at the heart of the learning experience. Instead of lessons being driven by predetermined pathways, progressive curricula are often "emergent", with learning activities shaped by students' questions about the world. Instead of starting with academic concepts and then tying it to everyday experience, progressive methods begin with everyday experience and work back to an academic lesson. Teachers provide materials, experiences, tools and resources to help students investigate a topic or issue. Students are encouraged to explore, reflect on their findings, and discuss answers or solutions.
Traditional curricula tend to be very content-based and rooted in the core disciplines. It is a structured approach that involves the teacher delivering a unified curriculum through direct instruction. Students usually learn by observing and listening to their teacher, studying facts and concepts in textbooks, and completing both tests and written assignments - which challenge students to not only demonstrate their mastery of content but their ability to analyze and deconstruct it critically. Class discussions are also used to create critical dialogue around the content of the curriculum.
Not applicable
Claren Academy prepares students for the world of the future, with strong academic foundations and creative use of technology. We strive to develop critical thinkers who are caring, confident, lifelong learners in a diverse community. We foster creativity, joy, and passion for learning through our personal connections with each student and their family. We provide opportunities, encouragement, inspiration, and mentoring for each child. We use the B.C. curriculum to provide strong fundamentals using developmentally appropriate practices and materials, while also exposing students to forward-looking areas of study such as programming, virtual reality, robotics, and much more. Our technology-enhanced personalized learning takes place in a school environment that emphasizes creativity, independence, entrepreneurial skills, and academics. There is an equal emphasis on acceleration and enrichment. All students are immersed in a creative learning process through exploration, critical thinking, and reflection. Together the students think, work, and create in a way that demonstrates their new understanding.
Information not available
Equal Balance
These math programs feature an equal balance of “Traditional” and “Discovery” methods.
These math programs feature an equal balance of “Traditional” and “Discovery” methods.
For the core foundational subjects of literacy and math we used a levelled program that fits students into their just-right group, regardless of grade. That allows students to have more support as needed, and to advance with mastery.
Information not available
Jump Math, The Art of Problem Solving, math contest materials (Kangaroo, Spirit of Math)
Calculators are not allowed during classes or homework.
Phonics-intensive
Balanced reading programs are typically Whole Language programs with supplementary phonics training. This training might be incidental, or it might take the form of mini-lessons.
Systematic-phonics programs teach young children to read by helping them to recognize and sound out the letters and syllables of words. Students are then led to blend these sounds together to sound out and recognize the whole word. While other reading programs might touch on phonetics (either incidentally or on a “when needed” basis), systematic phonics teaches phonics in a specific sequence, and uses extensive repetition and direct instruction to help readers associate specific letter patterns with their associated sounds.
For the core foundational subjects of literacy and math we used a levelled program that fits students into their just-right group, regardless of grade. That allows students to have more support as needed, and to advance with mastery.
The main focus of our English Reading Program in Junior Kindergarten is the alphabet. Students learn each letter's sounds. We use a variety of fun activities to achieve this goal, such as stories, songs, games, etc. In Senior Kindergarten, we focus on blending letter sounds into words. We start with short vowel sounds first and then move on to include long vowel sounds, sight words, words with silent -e, etc. The students also take part in our Reading Program. Students get a set of beginner reader books to read at home on a regular basis. By the end of Senior Kindergarten, students are able to read short stories with simple sentences.
DIBELS Testing: This school periodically uses DIBELS testing to assess reading progress.
We administer formal reading tests at the end of SK.
Equal balance
Programs that balance systematic and process approaches equally likely have an emphasis on giving young students ample opportunities to write, while providing supplementary class-wide instruction in grammar, parts of sentences, and various writing strategies.
Programs that balance systematic and process approaches equally likely have an emphasis on giving young students ample opportunities to write, while providing supplementary class-wide instruction in grammar, parts of sentences, and various writing strategies.
For the core foundational subjects of literacy and math we used a levelled program that fits students into their just-right group, regardless of grade. That allows students to have more support as needed, and to advance with mastery.
Information not available
Expository
Science programs that balance expository and inquiry learning equally will likely have an equal blend of tests and experiments; direct, textbook-based instruction and student-centred projects.
Expository science is the more traditional method of teaching science: students learn scientific facts, theories, and the relationships between them through direct instruction by the teacher. These programs still incorporate hands-on experimentation and “live science”; however, relative to inquiry-based programs, expository science tilts towards content mastery and knowledge acquisition. Direct instruction ensures this acquisition process is efficient. Textbooks are emphasized (starting in earlier grades than inquiry-based programs), as are knowledge tests: students are asked to demonstrate they have thoroughly learned the content of the course, and can apply that knowledge to novel and challenging problems or questions.
No matter how much the world changes, creativity and inventiveness are skills that will always be in demand. The Oxford study The Future of Employment states, “Specialist occupations involving the development of novel ideas and artifacts, are the least susceptible to computerisation.” This includes occupations in the fields of science and engineering, but it also includes work in the fields of entertainment, helping, and the arts. We foster creativity in our students by reducing emphasis on rote memorization, and by teaching them to find answers for themselves, critically assessing the information available.
Our Science curriculum goals create a strong interest in this discipline and form a strong foundation of knowledge. Students acquire knowledge about the fundamental scientific laws and principles that underlie the modern picture of the world. They learn how to apply knowledge of Science to explain the world around us. Hands-on experiments are an integral part of our Science programme.
Evolution as consensus theory
Evolution as one of many equally viable theories
Evolution is not taught
Evolution as consensus theory
Evolution as one of many equally viable theories
Evolution is not taught
Zoology
Equal Balance
These literature programs draw in equal measure from “Traditional” and “Social Justice” programs.
Exposing children to events that they may have not experienced in literature opens up a world of communication, curiousity and creativity. Learning about the feelings, thoughts and attitudes of characters aids students in fostering empathy, establishing values, and understanding the world around them. Throughout poetry, short stories and novels, the children establish a foundation of analytical skills, descriptive writing, interpretation of the text and identification of themes as well as others.
Ancient lit
English lit
World (non-Western) lit
European (continental) lit
American lit
Canadian lit
Ancient lit
English lit
World (non-Western) lit
European (continental) lit
American lit
Canadian lit
Not applicable
Not applicable
Information not available
Not applicable
Not applicable
Information not available
Information not available
Equal Balance
These programs feature an equal blend of the audio-lingual and communicative styles of language instruction.
French is a regular part of the Erudite School curriculum starting from JK. Students develop a solid foundation in grammar, build a rich and broad vocabulary, and acquire written and oral communication and comprehension skills. Erudite School offers an optional Russian language program for students with Russian-speaking backgrounds. The programme is oriented toward fluent speakers but support and diverse instructions are provided for RSL students. The Russian Academic Curriculum for JK-SK includes Language, Math and Science. At the end of SK, students are expected to read short sentences and write simple words. From Grades 1 to 8, the language curricula relevant to an official Russian language program are offered. Additional Drama, Visual Art and other classes taught in Russian are offered after school to support the core programme.
Hebrew
ESL
Spanish
Russian
Latin
Japanese
Italian
Greek
German
French
Chinese-Mandarin
Chinese-Cantonese
Hebrew
ESL
Spanish
Russian
Latin
Japanese
Italian
Greek
German
French
Chinese-Mandarin
Chinese-Cantonese
Information not available
Equal Balance
These programs have an equal emphasis on receptive and creative learning.
The Fine Arts are an integral part of our educational curriculum. In order to foster the talents and creative process of the student body, Erudite School's schedule reflects the addition of Drama, Graphic Design, Music and Visual Arts. An intensive Music curriculum allows students to grow in vocal, music history, theory and playing instruments. The goals of the Drama classes are 1. let students learn how to express themselves,try themself in a different feeling. 2. learn how to collaborate with others 3. be an active participant in a school production and 4. giving students the experience of working with extensive cross-discipline projects. COLLABORATION of all of the departments of the Fine Arts. The Visual Art programme gives students the knowledge to form skills in drawing, painting, sculpting and composition. Students work with a wide variety of materials and are introduced to the classical style of Visual Art. Cross-curriculum projects.
Acting
Dance
Drama/Theatre
Graphic Design
Music
Visual Arts
Acting
Dance
Drama/Theatre
Graphic Design
Music
Visual Arts
Medium integration
A major effort is made to integrate the development of digital literacy throughout the curriculum and in everything students do. Digital literacy is understood to be a fundamental skill in the 21st century: it therefore follows, the idea goes, that teachers should find ways to connect every lesson back to technology. Effort is made to ensure the use of technology is meaningful and advances students’ skills beyond what they would otherwise be from using computers outside the classroom.
Effort is made to integrate the development of digital literacy through the curriculum. However, this is not a dominant focus.
Humans evolved to enjoy play because play helps us to learn about our environment and prepare for our adult lives. However, learning only feels like play when it is hands-on, self-directed, and self-motivated. Students are excited about learning when they can see how the subject at hand will be relevant to their lives. Most high school students are not excited about learning the quadratic formula because they don't see how it will ever be useful to them outside of school. At Claren Academy, we expose students to aspirational fields in a hands-on way to show that their studies will indeed help them to excel in the areas they most enjoy. Our students are introduced to: Computer programming Digital art & music Robotics & electronics Entrepreneurship Science experiments 3D printing Broadcasting & streaming Digital film making & animation Virtual reality Molecular gastronomy (cooking!) Game design and much more!
Students start working with computers on a weekly basis from Grade Four. Computer science is an important part of the Erudite School curriculum. Students working with coding from Grade Four to Grade Eight practise game and website creations. They learning how to work with databases. Here is the list of some areas covered: Python, HTML, CSS, JS, etc. Another part of the Erudite technology programme in Engineering. During the course, students are challenged to work on projects starting from the planning step. During this course, students learn the basic fundamentals of robotics by exploring the fields of mechanical (3D design, 3D printing, electrical motors), electrical (voltage, current, switches, basic circuits) and computer (Arduino programming) and combine their skills to create real-life projects.
Web design
Robotics
Computer science
Information not available
Information not available
Play-based
Play-based programs are the most common type of preschool and Kindergarten, and are founded on the belief young children learn best through play. Largely open-ended and minimally structured, play-based programs aim to develop social skills and a love of attending school. “Pre-academic” skills are taught, but in a more indirect way than at, say, an Academic program: through children playing in different “stations” set up around the classroom, which children choose on their own volition. Stations often contain an indirect lesson or developmental goal. Play-based classrooms are highly social and active.
Play-based programs are the most common type of preschool and Kindergarten, and are founded on the belief young children learn best through play. Largely open-ended and minimally structured, play-based programs aim to develop social skills and a love of attending school. “Pre-academic” skills are taught, but in a more indirect way than at, say, an Academic program: through children playing in different “stations” set up around the classroom, which children choose on their own volition. Stations often contain an indirect lesson or developmental goal. Play-based classrooms are highly social and active.
We have developed a method of teaching to personalize learning for each child. Teachers prepare materials, centre play activities and projects with our students' interests and needs in mind. Our programs are inspired by the approaches used in Reggio Emilia, Montessori and Play-based programs. Humans evolved to enjoy play because play helps us to learn about our environment and prepare for our adult lives. However, learning feels like play most often when it is hands-on, self-directed, and self-motivated. Students are excited about learning when they can see how the subject at hand will be relevant to their lives.
Information not available
Student-paced
Broadly-speaking, the main curriculum -- like that of most schools -- paces the provincially-outlined one. This pace is steady and set by the teachers and school. The curriculum might still be enriched in various ways: covering topics more in-depth and with more vigor than the provincial one, or covering a broader selection of topics.
The main curriculum pace is non-standardized and is HIGHLY responsive to the pacing of individual students, (via differentiated instruction, differentiated assessment, etc). In theory, some students outpace the default/normalized curriculum, while others spend periods "behind schedule" if they need the extra time.
Our students have opportunities each day to learn across grades in a large group setting as well as smaller groups based on ability and/or on curriculum.
Information not available
Rigorous
A school with a “supportive” academic culture focuses more on process than short-term outcomes: academic performance is a welcomed side-benefit, but not the driving focus. This does not mean the school lacks standards, or has low expectations for its students: a school can have a supportive academic culture and still light the fire of ambition in its students. It does mean, however, the school provides a less intensive culture than schools with a “rigorous” academic classification, and is focused more simply on instilling a love of learning and life-long curiosity.
A school with a “rigorous” academic culture places a high value on academic performance, and expects their students to do the same. This does not mean the school is uncaring, unsupportive, or non-responsive -- far from it. A school can have a rigorous academic culture and still provide excellent individual support. It does mean, however, the school places a particular emphasis on performance -- seeking the best students and challenging them to the fullest extent -- relative to a normal baseline. High expectations and standards – and a challenging yet rewarding curriculum – are the common themes here. Keep in mind this classification is more relevant for the older grades: few Kindergarten classrooms, for example, would be called “rigorous”.
older grades - preparation for high school provide support for students if necessary - remedial or enrichment
"We intentionally avoid all forms of public distinction between students in terms of academic performance."
Information not available
Intellectual
The goal is to cultivate "academically strong, creative and critical thinkers, capable of exercising rationality, apprehending truth, and making aesthetic distinctions."
Balanced
Equal emphasis is placed on a balance of priorities: intellectual, emotional, social and physical cultivation.
Balanced
Equal emphasis is placed on a balance of priorities: intellectual, emotional, social and physical cultivation.
Intellectual
The goal is to cultivate "academically strong, creative and critical thinkers, capable of exercising rationality, apprehending truth, and making aesthetic distinctions."
We foster creativity in our students by reducing emphasis on rote memorization, and by teaching them to find answers for themselves. Similarly, we encourage diversity over conformity, and instead of a "one size fits all" program, our students are at liberty to explore their own areas of interest, permitted that a strong grasp of core subjects has been demonstrated.
We are believe that
CompetitiveComp. |
RecreationalRec. |
CompetitiveComp. |
RecreationalRec. |
|
---|---|---|---|---|
Badminton |
||||
Baseball |
||||
Basketball |
||||
Canoeing/Kayaking |
||||
Cricket |
||||
Cross-country skiing |
||||
Cycling |
||||
Downhill skiing |
||||
Equestrian |
||||
Fencing |
||||
Field Hockey |
||||
Figure Skating |
||||
Football |
||||
Golf |
||||
Gymnastics |
||||
Ice Hockey |
||||
Ice Skating |
||||
Lacrosse |
||||
Martial Arts |
||||
Mountain biking |
||||
Racquet Ball |
||||
Rowing |
||||
Rugby |
||||
Running |
||||
Sailing |
||||
Skateboarding |
||||
Snowboarding |
||||
Soccer |
||||
Softball |
||||
Squash |
||||
Swimming |
||||
Tennis |
||||
Track & Field |
||||
Volleyball |
||||
Weightlifting |
||||
Wrestling |
||||
Archery |
||||
Curling |
||||
Ultimate |
Ballet and Classical Ballet
Yoga
Yearbook
Student Council
Scouting
Science Club
School newspaper
Round Square
Robotics club
Radio club
Poetry/Literature club
Photography
Paintball
Outdoor Education
Outdoor Club
Online Magazine
Musical theatre/Opera
Math Club
Jazz Ensemble
Habitat for Humanity
Foreign Language Club
Environmental Club
Drama Club
Debate Club
Dance Club
Computer Club
Community Service
Choir
Chess Club
Band
Audiovisual Club
Astronomy Club
Art Club
Animation
Ballet and Classical Ballet
Yoga
Yearbook
Student Council
Scouting
Science Club
School newspaper
Round Square
Robotics club
Radio club
Poetry/Literature club
Photography
Paintball
Outdoor Education
Outdoor Club
Online Magazine
Musical theatre/Opera
Math Club
Jazz Ensemble
Habitat for Humanity
Foreign Language Club
Environmental Club
Drama Club
Debate Club
Dance Club
Computer Club
Community Service
Choir
Chess Club
Band
Audiovisual Club
Astronomy Club
Art Club
Animation
K - 8
0%
0%
$9,000
$0
75%
0%
K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Rolling
Rolling
Not available
Not available
Yes: grades K - 6
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
Admission to grades K-8 at Claren Academy is based on: - The candidate's social, emotional, and developmental readiness - The family's interview - The candidate's actions during the play-based observation - The school's assessment of references and past academic records The following may also be considered: - Availability of space in the year to which the candidate is applying - Diversity and gender balance - Siblings of students already enrolled
Please visit our admissions page to learn about our requirements and process.
Claren Academy is accepting applications for kindergarten to grade 8, adding a grade each year up to grade 12. Children born from 2010 to 2018 are eligible to apply for 2023.
Application steps:
Interviews and play evaluations take place on a rolling basis. Placement decisions will be announced within two weeks of your interview and observation. Successful applicants will then be asked for a deposit to secure enrolment.
Please visit our admissions page to learn about our requirements and process.