How we see Académie de la Capitale
How Académie de la Capitale sees itself
"Acadecap International School (Académie de la Capitale) provides a rigorous, tailored bilingual and/or English education. IB PYP students engage in experiential learning in i STEAM, International Languages and PSPE. The PSSP and the OSSD promote in-depth understanding of content, teaching students to work hard and make practical connections between subjects and the real world, preparing them for post-secondary education. Our proprietary 3-tier 21st Century Learning Curriculum is implemented from grade 7 to 12."
"Respecting a student’s potential by way of built-in programme differentiation maximizes each student’s learning and achievement. AcadeCap recognizes that no student is the same and that no one learns the same. With differentiating, we ensure that students comprehensively learn and master the concepts and skills to be successful. Teachers adapt according to the individual abilities of each student. We get to know our students because of our small class sizes. Both factors support differentiation."
"The convenience of our one-stop-education offerings, from a top-notch bilingual IB PYP, the OSSD, the Orton-Gillingham dyslexia support, our enriched physical education programme, the after-school clubs and the summer camps."
"The efficiency of across-the-ages collaborative learning in an open-concept setting. The open-space and the small class sizes at AcadeCap allow for a great deal of flexibility, opportunity, and time to differentiate. Solid social skills and long-lasting friendships develop in a small group setting where children can interact with one another in a more approachable way. This allows children to develop their skills, and learn new skills from others while accomplishing a collaborative task."
"Our learning-to-learn approach which translates into resilience for lifelong learning and for successful academic achievement.
Our students are confident when communicating with people of all ages, not only their peers."
"Established in 1998
Inspected OSSD since 2002
OG-based systematic multisensory literacy programmes since 2002
First authorized IB PYP school in Ottawa in 2004, and first bilingual IB PYP in the world
First Label FrancEducation school in Canada in 2022"
Christmas concert
Students from JK to Grade 8 learn the violin
After school clubs in the lab
Students code their own video games and make their own controllers
How people from the school’s community see Académie de la Capitale
Top-down influence on the school’s direction and tone
Lucie Lalonde, Founding Director
B.A., B.Ed., M.Ed.
Académie de la Capitale (AcadeCap) I am proud to say, is a unique bilingual IB World School where students want to stay, long after the school day is finished! Soon after its inception, it had the distinction of being the first school in the Ottawa/Outaouais region authorized to offer the IB Primary Years Programme. AcadeCap, still true to its roots, upholds its unique approach to education. Our students: construct learning according to their potential rather than their age and/or grade; engage easily in learning “beyond the classroom” as a result of the “pick-up and go” potential of the small class; participate in e-long-distance learning to support geographically mobile students; become totally bilingual, and even multilingual; develop collaborative social skills through interaction across the ages; learn to work respectfully alongside each other in an open-concept facility; participate in an AcadeCap developed Globalization, Leadership and Innovation course in middle school; At AcadeCap, we are convinced that real life learning and a lifelong love of learning occur when a child or a teenager engages in on-going personal interaction with adults as well as other children, and participates in relevant learning experiences such as going to Bamfield Marine Science Center and to Race Rocks at Lester B. Pearson United World College. To tailor such authentic learning experiences, to offer guidance throughout the experience, as well as to nourish this love of learning, it is essential for educators to have the time to interact with each and every student. Open-mindedness, flexibility and small class size, allow for such learning to take place at AcadeCap. Take the challenge: we invite you to enrol your child at AcadeCap and find out how engaged in learning your daughter or your son can be when inspired to transcend limits!
If you’re considering a small school for your extroverted child, make sure it offers plenty of social opportunities, including the ability to seek out and interact with different peer groups. Since smaller schools have smaller and less diverse student populations than big schools, it can sometimes be more challenging for your child to find a like-minded group of friends—friends with similar interests, values, etc.
“It’s important to look at the social makeup of the school,” says Ruth Rumack of Ruth Rumack's Learning Space. "Is there enough variety that your child will have a group that they feel connected with? Because you want to have friends that are like-minded and you want to be in a social situation where you feel honoured and respected. Variety can also be found in extracurriculars, leadership programs, and sports activities, which tend to have kids with a wide range of personalities.”
Also, make sure a school’s teaching and learning approach is suitable for your social child. “For instance, a school focusing on individual learning instead of group learning may not play into your child’s strengths,” say Ann and Karen Wolff, Toronto-based education consultants at Wolff Educational Services. “You want to make sure the social, emotional, and academic realities of the classroom are a match for your child’s personality.”
Throughout the continuum—from the Primary Years Programme (PYP) to the Diploma Programme (DP)—the IB offers plenty of group work, projects, and activities, which can be great for extroverts who often enjoy social and collaborative learning. Also, “Since IB schools have a strong emphasis on community service and activism, your child will have great opportunities to harness their outgoing and collaborative personality,” says Stacey Jacobs, Director of Clear Path Educational Consulting. These schools will also give your child the chance to interact and spend time with a bright, motivated, and ambitious group of kids who may have interests similar to them.
However, given the challenging curriculum and heavy workload of the IB, it can sometimes leave less time for socializing. This makes it especially important to ask about social opportunities at the school, including the ability to interact with different peer groups, both in class and out.
If you’re considering a language immersion school for your extroverted child, make sure it offers a wide range of social opportunities, including the ability to interact with kids outside of class. Since most of your child’s learning won’t be in their mother tongue, they may find it challenging at times to negotiate the complexities of social interaction in the classroom. This makes it especially important to ensure the school offers extensive extracurriculars—such as volunteering, sports teams, and arts programs—which will help your child satisfy their need to interact and make friends.
Smaller schools often have small classrooms and tight-knit communities, which can make it easier for your introverted child to come out of their shell, make friends, and feel like they belong. Since they’re less socially overwhelming, your child should find it easier to navigate their social environment. And since they’re conducive to group work, small classes often have plenty of interaction, which can help your child develop critical interpersonal skills.
Of course, small schools normally have a less diverse student population than big schools, which can sometimes make it more challenging to find a group of like-minded peers—peers with similar personalities, interests, values, etc. This makes it especially important to ask a school about its extracurricular programs, which can help your introverted child establish an intimate social circle.
IB schools give your child the opportunity to interact and spend time with a bright, motivated, and ambitious group of kids who may have interests similar to them. Due to the IB’s heavy focus on group work, the programme offers a social and collaborative learning environment, which can help your introverted child overcome their shyness and get to know their peers well. This can relieve some of the pressure associated with having to take the initiative outside of class to make friends.
Just make sure any school you're considering offers enough independent work time for your introverted child—something which can vary widely between IB schools.
If you’re considering a language immersion school for your introverted child, make sure it offers plenty of social opportunities, including the ability to interact with different peer groups outside of class. Since most of your child’s learning won’t be in their mother tongue, they may find it challenging at times to negotiate the complexities of social interaction in the classroom. This makes it especially important to ensure the school offers extensive extracurriculars—such as student council, volunteering, and team sports—which can enable your child to connect with peers, make new friends outside of class, overcome their shyness, and develop critical social skills.
THE OUR KIDS REPORT: Académie de la Capitale
Next steps to continue your research:
Continue researching Académie de la Capitale with OurKids.net, or visit school website.