REVIEW OF AVRO Academy BY Alum, Izabel Bird

(3.5) Overall Experience

My time at AVRO Academy was a pivotal period in my life. The school gave me time to focus on my well-being while attending classes. What stood out was the accommodations for students and the extent of my say in what I was learning. Teachers were very easy to talk to and lenient/flexible. I liked that this school gave me a one-on-one teaching experience. What I would change is to prepare students who are going into higher education afterwards for studying technical skills. For future students, expect to be taught material directly by great teachers, a curriculum that you have a say in, and more flexibility.

Looking Back

What stood out to me was the teachers being very helpful. They listen to you and will help you with anything you might need. All the staff were very friendly and understanding.

Current Perspective

I realized that even though I was learning at a slower pace and had fewer deadlines and finals, AVRO was just what I needed at the time to succeed in school.

Your Advice

(4) School Leadership

The administration was very respectful and kind. Although the discipline was not strict, problems were definitely addressed appropriately, and discipline was handed out fairly. Communication was effective with parents, but it depended on the type of student and the situation. Discipline and communication with parents were based on the type of student and what they did.

(5) Teaching

I was very happy with the teaching style at AVRO. The dynamic was informal, but everyone was very respectful and made going to school more fun. Teachers were somewhat like friends. Teachers were always enthusiastic and gave creative assignments/activities, sometimes even basing their curriculum on the students' interests. Feedback was detailed and helpful. I had a love for writing, but I developed it more during Writer's Craft. Two teachers positively impacted me, making me believe I could go to college after graduation.

(3.5) Academics

Strengths of this academic program are that it is very individualized, personalized, relaxed, and supportive. Classes have a very small number of students, so teachers easily personalize programs for each student. There was no competitiveness. Support was great, the teachers are very helpful and available. Weaknesses are an easier course curriculum and preparation for the future. Assignments are favoured over tests, which, in college, I do many tests. The course curriculum was easier than in regular schools, and the workload was lighter. Since this school is primarily not for regular students, that does make sense. I did not feel very challenged, but that just meant I could ask for more work/harder work. Some classes were not challenging at all, though, and I felt like more could be done.

(2.5) Extracurriculars

Extracurricular activities included fun class trips, such as movies, Center Island, and laser tag. There were other clubs and educational class trips, but I was not a part of them. I do know that one of the educational class trips prepared students for jobs. Most extracurriculars were for fun, but we did go to an art museum. Specific courses did not have any trips regarding the curriculum.

(4) Students

The size of the school was small, there were not many students and fewer than 5 in a classroom when I attended. The typical student had some type of disability or mental illness, ranging from heavily affected to not as much. Qualities in a student that garnered respect from other students were non-disruptive and kind. Ethnicity was mostly white, but there were other non-white students. Socio-economic background ranged from middle to high. The dynamic between students was separated. Some people preferred to be left alone, others were in groups, and others had friends. People of a similar mindset typically stick together.

(5) School Life

I liked going to school at AVRO. I liked that it was more personalized and relaxed. Staff were very understanding, which made it easier to go to school when you are struggling. Students seemed very happy to be at AVRO, maybe not passionate about learning, but they still enjoyed being there. I liked how I had a say in what I did or did not do. The relaxed teaching style made it easier to learn, and the teachers listened to you so which made it easier to get through classes. Being able to have a say in what I do while I'm at school was really nice, especially if I didn't want to do anything that day. I don't think AVRO needs to improve in anything regarding quality of life.

(2.5) Community

Parents are welcome to be involved, but there was not really any situation where that was needed. I think that teachers do reach out to parents about the students and how they are doing, and send updates. I'm sure parents are welcome? The only example I could think of is parents buying food for all of the students for holidays or birthdays. I have not really kept up with anyone after graduation, but there is not really any reason why. I do still have my old friends' contacts, and I have visited them since graduating. For the broader community, I got a job through AVRO at a clinic across the street, with whom I still have contacts, and worked after graduating. Other students I did not know seem to be doing wel,l as I see it on their social media.

(5) School Location

The school location is really nice, a long street with buses and near a subway station. Lots of places to eat food, less than a 10-minute walk to any fast food place/grocery store. There's also a park right next to the school. Students went beyond the school grounds quite a lot, and there wasn't really a restriction since it's Toronto. Finally, there is a large Jewish community.

(5) Admissions

Admission is so easy. From what I recall, all I did was go on a Zoom call to talk about why I'm applying to go to AVRO, and I think I talked about what I was going through and why regular school wasn't for me. The admission officer worked with my parents and me to make sure I was a good fit. It was a very easy process, all done online. You can also take a tour/meet with the staff beforehand, but I did not.

(5) University placement and counselling

I felt supported during the process as it was done one-on-one with a teacher. We were directly told how to apply and given input on programs we were interested in. We also went to a uni/college convention type thing to explore our options, which was very helpful. Applying was very easy, and teachers helped with papers/essays during the application. I was given appropriate guidance early in time for the applications. Teachers helped greatly in applying to college. CO-OP was another thing that I was allowed to do, which helped me decide what program I wanted. I showed interest in the medical field, and I was told I could do a co-op at a vet office, which I never thought about before. When I did it, I decided I wanted to go to school for it.