How we see Agora Prep Academy
It’s true that no school is right for every student, and that’s something that Agora has taken absolutely to heart. Some students thrive in highly structured, regimented environments, though very many others don’t. The program has been developed to be student-lead, active, engaging and dynamic, a true marketplace of ideas and experiences, as indeed the name suggests. Staff is prone to look beyond the school walls, bringing in members of the wider community, including business owners, adding a welcome dimension to classroom instruction. Learning is project based, making use of a wide range of supports, from staff expertise to AI. It’s a bold program, and one to which very many students respond enthusiastically to.
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How Agora Prep Academy sees itself
"Here are Agora's main differentiators: We are a non-traditional learning environment, with flexible seating. We focus on outdoor education, mental and emotional health using an interest-based curriculum that teaches real life, necessary 21st century skills. Examples include finance (taxes, debts, interest, budgets, applications), hydroponics, entrepreneurship and innovative critical-thinking. We encourage innovation through exploration and research. We are a community of future leaders with all abilities. Join us!"
"Key differentiators at Agora Prep Academy is due to the move away from non-traditional learning.
-Non-Traditional Learning Environment
-Flexible Seating
-Outdoor Education
-Interest Based
-21st Century Skills
-Everyday life skills"
"Key reasons we've heard from parents why they choose us is our focus on inquiry based learning and leveraging children's interest to learn new subjects and skills. Additionally, children with unique needs and special abilities are engaged and learning as they are more comfortable with the removal of strict regimented settings."
"You feel the positive vibe that is felt throughout the school and there is a real sense of comradery amongst all the students. The students are almost family like and both lookout and support each other. Even students with special needs or who were bullied at other schools are flourishing in the open and accepting environment."
"The lasting impact of happy children due to being in a positive and healthy learning environment where they thrive. This reignites their passion to learn."
"• A private school that caters to children of all abilities: Gifted, ASD, OCD, ODD, ADD, ADhD, emotional dysregulation, intellectual differences.
• Non-Traditional Learning Environment and flexible seating
• Inquiry and interest based learning"
Reading Nooks
Every child belongs here!
Flexible Seating in al our classes!
Bright just like our students!
Learn anywhere philosophy
3D wallpapers adorn our setting
How people from the school’s community see Agora Prep Academy
Top-down influence on the school’s direction and tone
Sylvia Martignani, Principal and Visionary
BA. Psych, BEd., Harvard Grad
Thank you for visting my Academy's profile. I am a mother of 3 beautiful children who have struggled in the current school system. I wrote a thesis in 2001 about Engaged Learning for my Specialized Honours Degree in Education. I have since gained experience in the education field and worked with many students from Kindergarten to grade 12 and Adults in the Federal Government. Learning is my passion and I have amalgamated several theories of learning from around the world to be the first to create our one-of-a-kind Academy called Agora Prep. Agora is the ancient Greek Marketplace where ideas were discussed and many pholisophers such as Socrates, Plato, Descartes and others explored progressive notions like gravity, the earth, and notable areas of knowledge such as psychology, astronomy, philosophy and scientific inquiry. Similarly, Agora Prep Academy will explore our world through inquiries, discussions, research and debate. This is the proven method of learning and retention. It is the way of the future.
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.”
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.
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: Agora Prep Academy
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