12224 240th Street, Maple Ridge, British Columbia, V4R 1N1, Canada
3450 Boundary Road, Burnaby, British Columbia, V5M 4A5, Canada
1985
1993
660
32
JK to 12
8 to 12
Coed
Coed
Day
Day
English
English
Academic
Progressive, International Baccalaureate
16 to 18
3 to 6
$28,400 to $38,400
$8,900 to $21,000
Yes
Yes
0%
0%
9 to 12
8 to 12
$0
$5,000
44
6
0%
0%
0%
0%
JK, SK, K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Rolling
Rolling
Not available
Not available
Yes: grades JK - 12
Yes: grades 8 - 12
Yes: grades 6 - 12
No
Meadowridge is a school that intends to inspire and teach through direct, personal involvement. They don't just teach art, for example, they immerse students within it, including an on-site collection of works from an a-list of Canadian artists, including Tom Thomson, Kenojuak Ashevak, and Lawren Harris. The campus includes a forest, so the links between art and the environment are profound. Likewise, gardens and greenhouses provide an entrée to ecology and biology, and a design lab provides an entrée into technology and engineering. Those, and other examples, provide a unique balance between traditional learning and experiential learning. The buildings, the 27-acre campus, the proximity to Vancouver as well as a range of natural environments—all of it would rightly be the envy of any school. The ideal student is one who is curious, engaging, and prone to make use of the range of programs and opportunities that Meadowridge provides.
Read The Our Kids Review of Meadowridge School
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Meadowridge is a school that intends to inspire and teach through direct, personal involvement. They don't just teach art, for example, they immerse students within it, including an on-site collection of works from an a-list of Canadian artists, including Tom Thomson, Kenojuak Ashevak, and Lawren Harris. The campus includes a forest, so the links between art and the environment are profound. Likewise, gardens and greenhouses provide an entrée to ecology and biology, and a design lab provides an entrée into technology and engineering. Those, and other examples, provide a unique balance between traditional learning and experiential learning. The buildings, the 27-acre campus, the proximity to Vancouver as well as a range of natural environments—all of it would rightly be the envy of any school. The ideal student is one who is curious, engaging, and prone to make use of the range of programs and opportunities that Meadowridge provides.
View full reportWhytecliff is different, something the youth and families who attend deeply appreciate. … For students with diverse learning needs, especially those who have struggled with anxiety or depression, Whytecliff is a refuge—an island of stability in a turbulent world. The hallmark of the Whytecliff program is that it’s community-based and anchored in real relationships.
The school began operations in 1993, though is an expression of a larger program of activity that dates back to 1975 with the creation of the Focus Foundation, a non-profit intending to provide social and educational support for youth aged 13-19. Since the beginning, the force of the programs was in working with assets, rather than deficits: finding talents and passions, and using those as the means of developing skills and engagement. The school extends that mandate, providing a positive, understanding environment for students who, for a range of reasons, haven’t been able to thrive in prior academic settings. The proof, as they say, is in the pudding, and that’s demonstrated through high rates of attendance, course and degree completion, and academic success. Students arrive with a range of challenges, though also with a shared experience of finding themselves on the periphery of their various social circles. In that sense, while they may be different from each other, here they are different in the same way. The school, for many, is the first truly positive, inclusive community they’ve been a part of. That forms the basis of the work of the school, as does a faculty that brings a wealth of professional and therapeutic accreditation and experience.
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"Meadowridge is an IB Continuum World School supporting a growing community of learners from Junior Kindergarten through to Graduation. While we have enjoyed celebrating the outstanding academic results of our children, our greatest sense of pride comes from supporting their development into kind, morally bound, and critically thinking leaders in our society. We learn how to care for ourselves and others while embracing change and developing the confidence to not only meet the future but also to create it."
"Whytecliff Centres in Langley & Burnaby offer a highly successful Gr. 8-12 curriculum tailored for youth with diverse learning/personal challenges. Our caring and competent staff gently weave the academics with a positive strengths-based therapeutic program, paving the way for whole-life success. Despite struggling in other schools, attendance here soars, and course completion increases 4 to 8 times. 95% of students entering grade 12 graduate, and later self-report as 9.3 out of 10 for being on a solid life path!"
"Our school’s mission, learning to live well, with and for others, in a just community, resonates with our community’s desire to do more. We are driven to have a profoundly positive impact on our world. We begin to accomplish this through a series of strategic and thoughtful experiences, often involving our natural environment, collaboration with our peers, and creative and critical problem-solving."
"We reach kids on an emotional level. We’re not bound by a lot of the same rules and structures that some schools are. Everything that we do here, in the end, comes down to relationships. And the program that we’ve created here is a family. What we do here is create a warm, caring environment. It’s like a home."
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"Meadowridge is a full IB continuum school from JK to Grade 12 and is nestled into the lush environment of Maple Ridge. Boasting 27 acres of land, the Meadowridge campus is home to a regenerative farm, greenhouses, gardens, a campground, and an outdoor cookhouse. Inside, the school's library holds more than 47,000 resources, there are many purpose-built classrooms and spaces, and various common areas for reading, studying, and collaborating."
"Most students are at Whytecliff because things didn't go well at other schools. Students chose us because they're looking for a fresh start, a new approach; a school that might have success where others hadn’t. And once here, both parents and students find it life altering."
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"Since the beginning, the force of the programs was in working with student assets, rather than deficits: finding talents and passions, and using those as the means of developing skills and engagement. It’s unlike any school in the region or, for that matter, the country."
"Meadowridge School began because of a group of parents decided against all odds to open an independent school in Maple Ridge, BC. This was in 1985, when Maple Ridge was seen as a small exurban community, more working-class than wealthy, with limited road and bridge infrastructures. Establishing a viable school in this area, at that time, was an audacious pursuit. These founding parents had the audacity - and the determination, hard work, and vision, too."
"Parents are always surprised with the changes they see in their child and how quickly thrive at Whytecliff. Despite struggling in other schools, student attendance at Whytecliff soars, and course completion increases 4 to 8 times. 95% of students entering grade 12 graduate, and later self-report as 9.3 out of 10 for being on a solid life path."
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For those that I have not already met, my name is Scott Banack and I am the Headmaster at Meadowridge School. Having been part of the Meadowridge community since 2009, I have worked as a teacher, MYP coordinator, Middle School Principal, and most recently, the Deputy Headmaster. I have had the opportunity to work with many of the very dedicated and motivated Meadowridge community.
Throughout my 20+ years of experience as an educator, I have been fortunate to work at some of the best schools around the world. I started my career in rural Alberta, before heading overseas to work as a teacher and administrator in Turkey, the Philippines, and Venezuela. My wife Stacy, a teacher at Meadowridge, and I decided to move closer to home after our son Ethan was born. That’s when we found Meadowridge and it has become such an important component of our family. We’ve brought both Ethan and our daughter, Adele, to Meadowridge and it has become their second home. Our connection runs deep, with great friends, colleagues, and peers. It is impossible to accurately describe in words, as this is a community that needs to be experienced to be truly appreciated.
Our school’s mission, learning to live well, with and for others, in a just community, resonates with our community’s desire to do more. We are driven to have a profoundly positive impact on our world. We begin to accomplish this through a series of strategic and thoughtful experiences, often involving our natural environment, collaboration with our peers, and creative and critical problem solving. I am consistently impressed by our students not only for what they are able to accomplish, but the integrity, honor, pride, resilience, and compassion they display while reaching these great heights.
I am energized by the thoughts of a new school year, filled with promise, excitement, nervous energy, and an eternal optimism. I look forward to building this community alongside all of you.
Best regards,
Scott Banack
Head of School
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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.
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Some private schools offer International Baccalaureate (IB) programming. The "Diploma Programme" is offered to students in the final two years of high school, while the "Primary Years Programme" (ages 3 to 12) and "Middle Years Programme" (ages 11 to 16) serve as preparation for the diploma program.
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At Meadowridge our Mission, "learning to live well, with others and for others, in a just community" is woven into our everyday actions and interactions, both at the school and in the community at large. It acknowledges the importance of positive interactions with others and in seeking to better the community as we better ourselves. It looks beyond gender, nationality, culture and class. It guides staff, administration, students, and families to meet responsibilities and fulfill dreams. This atmosphere of respect combined with a challenging and enriched curriculum provides many opportunities for students to excel in the core academic subjects of reading, writing, math, science and areas of creative expression and original thought, such as performing and visual arts, athletics, clubs, computer science and drama - all of which foster a strong sense of personal and community pride and cause for celebration. We believe in the importance of celebrating our students’ individual and collective accomplishments as we strive for their highest level of performance, whatever their stage of development.
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Discovery Math turns traditional math on its head: it frequently begins by introducing a novel problem to students, and works its way back to “discovering” a method of solving the problem. The goal is to ground mathematical procedures and algorithms firmly in their applications, and to challenge students to think critically about how they might go about solving the problem right from the beginning. Generally associated with the “Chicago Math” movement and related Everyday Math textbooks (Grades 1 to 6), Discovery math spends less classroom time mastering established algorithms and more time getting students invested in and thinking critically about novel mathematical problems and concepts. In this sense Discovery Math aims to establish conceptual and applied understand before procedural understanding.
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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.
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Part of learning to read at Meadowridge is also learning to love reading. We offer an extensive library full of resources and a Kindergarten specific Family Reading Program created by our very own Teacher Librarians and Kindergarten teachers.
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The process approach to teaching beginner writing aims to get students writing “real things” as much as possible and as soon as possible. The goal is to create the right environmental conditions to encourage a love of writing and a motivation to write well. With children invested in the writing process -- through assignments children find meaningful -- students are then given feedback on how they can improve.
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Inquiry-based science emphasizes teaching science as a way of thinking or practice, and therefore tries to get students “doing” science as much as possible -- and not just “learning” it. Students still learn foundational scientific ideas and content (and build on this knowledge progressively); however, relative to expository science instruction, inquiry-based programs have students spend more time developing and executing their own experiments (empirical and theoretical). Students are frequently challenged to develop critical and scientific-thinking skills by developing their own well-reasoned hypothesis and finding ways to test those hypotheses. Projects and experiments are emphasized over textbook learning. Skills are emphasized over breadth of knowledge.
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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
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These literature programs draw in equal measure from “Traditional” and “Social Justice” programs.
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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
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The Thematic approach organizes the curriculum around certain themes or cultural universals. Students might spend time focused on food. Then they might focus on transportation or government, and so on.
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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
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These programs have an equal emphasis on receptive and creative learning.
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Students learn through creative expression: they learn to understand and to analyze, to problem solve and to self-express, and they learn about themselves and about the world around them. So while they strum, or stroke, or sing, or sculpt, they learn a new way to express themselves and to convey feelings; students learn to become active meaning-makers, not passive recipients. By learning from the entire symbolic range, students evolve as both artist and learner of the arts. Through language and art, dance and movement, photography, film and multimedia, students learn to understand the essence of things – of people, culture, art, business, sciences, politics – and the nuances within them.
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Acting
Dance
Drama/Theatre
Graphic Design
Music
Visual Arts
Acting
Dance
Drama/Theatre
Graphic Design
Music
Visual Arts
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Effort is made to integrate the development of digital literacy through the curriculum. However, this is not a dominant focus.
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At Meadowridge, we teach our students to acquire, use, and share information in multiple forms and ways so that it becomes meaningful knowledge. When it comes to technology, every decision we make is based on learning, and that’s because technology cannot replace outstanding teaching or collaboration with other learners. We make sure that our school and our students control technology, and are not controlled by it.
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Web design
Robotics
Computer science
In Physical and Health Education, students learn to appreciate the value of physical activity and develop the motivation for making healthy life choices. PHE is taught so that students learn about and learn through physical activity. Students develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes which contribute to a healthy and balanced lifestyle: a balanced lifestyle which includes a healthy body, mind, and spirit. PHE is a critical element of a well-rounded learner. All students in the PYP and MYP participate in PHE, and have additional requirements for physical and activity outside of their courses.
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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.
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Meadowridge’s Junior Kindergarten and Kindergarten programs provide developmentally-appropriate learning opportunities for children to explore, socialize and grow in a safe and supportive environment. This takes place in a brand new, purpose built Early Childhood Education building. Children are active learners. In Junior Kindergarten and Kindergarten children learn by exploration and problem-solving in a safe environment. Students learn through play and units of inquiry based on the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme. This includes exploration into science, art, community, literacy, math, dance, athletics, technology, music, and more. Student develop skills through a hands-on activities where they can test, try, and engage.
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The main curriculum accelerates beyond the pace of the provincial one; ALL students do the work of OLDER public-school peers in tangible and measurable ways. This accelerated pace is maintained by the teachers and school, (through textbook selection, topic selection, grading, assignment standards and expectations, etc).
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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”.
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Our program challenges our students to find out more about their own beliefs, their own bodies, and society. When students graduate, they are equipped to deal with the complex realities of life, where critical thinking is at a premium. There are trained to question: how could this be better? In every unit of instruction, the children have a guiding question which they seek to answer. At the younger grades, the question is generated by the teacher, and smaller questions arise from the students. In older grades, we expect students to generate their own questions, and to personalize their learning.
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"We honour and distinguish our brightest students, using them as examples for other students to follow."
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Balanced
Equal emphasis is placed on a balance of priorities: intellectual, emotional, social and physical cultivation.
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Intellectual
The goal is to cultivate "academically strong, creative and critical thinkers, capable of exercising rationality, apprehending truth, and making aesthetic distinctions."
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At the heart of all we do at Meadowridge is our Mission Statement, learning to live well, with others and for others, in a just community. We have created a just community within the school – one that is shaped by caring and trust, and also clarity of expectation and rules. We teach our students how to care for themselves, because a balanced and happy life is critical to their future. Students also learn to care for others, because a successful future is one in which common welfare is shared by all.
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RecreationalRec. |
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RecreationalRec. |
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Badminton |
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Baseball |
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Basketball |
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Canoeing/Kayaking |
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Cricket |
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Cross-country skiing |
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Cycling |
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Downhill skiing |
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Equestrian |
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Fencing |
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Field Hockey |
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Figure Skating |
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Football |
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Golf |
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Gymnastics |
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Ice Hockey |
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Ice Skating |
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Lacrosse |
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Martial Arts |
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Mountain biking |
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Racquet Ball |
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Rowing |
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Rugby |
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Running |
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Sailing |
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Skateboarding |
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Snowboarding |
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Soccer |
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Softball |
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Squash |
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Swimming |
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Tennis |
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Track & Field |
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Volleyball |
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Weightlifting |
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Wrestling |
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Archery |
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Curling |
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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
9 - 12
8 - 12
0%
0%
$0
$5,000
0%
0%
JK, SK, K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Rolling
Rolling
Not available
Not available
Yes: grades JK - 12
Yes: grades 8 - 12
Yes: grades 6 - 12
No
Yes: grades 6 - 12
No
Yes: grades K - 12
No
No
No
No
No
A Meadowridge student is one that seeks challenges in order to grow. We are not looking for perfect children, as they don't exist, but children who love to learn and explore the world. Children who are kind, willing to make mistakes and learn from them, and share their knowledge with others. From Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12, our students call Meadowridge home.
Whytecliff considers applications of any child in the Lower Mainland or Fraser Valley, age 13-18, who is not being successful or engaged in school. The majority of children we accept have challenges with anxiety & depression and are seeking an environment where they can feel safe ⎯ a real school offering Dogwood and Evergreen graduation that doesn’t seem remedial or like an ‘alternative school’, and a place where they can begin to relax, feel normal, and develop their personal abilities and self-esteem. Many of the children who are successful and qualify for acceptance at Whytecliff have been labelled within a diagnosed category such as: –ADHD –FASD –Dyslexia –Dyscalculia –Dysgraphia –Language Processing Disorder –Nonverbal Learning Disorders –Visual Perceptual/Visual Motor Deficit –Chronic Health Impairment –Gifted –High Functioning Autism –Asperger’s Syndrome –Behavioral and Emotional Challenges –Troubled Behavior –Clinical Depression –Clinical Anxiety –Suicidal Thoughts –Drug and Alcohol Abuse –Oppositional Defiant Disorder If you don’t see your child’s challenge listed above, that doesn’t mean they won’t qualify; we have a policy of actively considering all applications to the program.
Our admissions process is set-up specifically to determine if your child and family are the right fit for Meadowridge. From inquiry to assessment, we strive to get to know each family and the potential of each child.
There are tests and assessments but what it really comes down to is the fit. If your child will flourish at Meadowridge and your family will be an active member of our community is one of the most important factors for admissions.
Not all children and families are the right fit for our school. Meadowridge is a challenging school. We offer a rigorous curriculum and have high expectations of our students, not just academically but intellectually and emotionally. We expect them to take our Mission to heart, "Learning to live well, with others and for others, in a just community".
All Applicants:
To apply for a place in one of our programs, contact us, ideally by email.
Most of our intake occurs in August or early September, for the full school year, and in January and before February 10th for the Spring session.
We’re also happy to call you and get further details if you would prefer to apply that way. As we’re seeking to build a real community, we like to make sure the program is a good fit for each student.
We also have several Open Houses during the year. To find out our next open house date or arrange a private tour, please contact us.
12224 240th Street, Maple Ridge, British Columbia, V4R 1N1, Canada
3450 Boundary Road, Burnaby, British Columbia, V5M 4A5, Canada
