How we see Blyth Academy Downsview Park
How Blyth Academy Downsview Park sees itself
"Blyth Academy Downsview Park offers an enriched learning experience for students in Grades 4–12. Our approach is designed to fully engage students in a genuine learning experience founded upon curiosity, creativity and innovative thinking. Our campus is known for its Elite Athletics program with instructors who work with NHL, TFC, OHL, Junior and AAA level elite players. Our student-athletes participate in sport-specific training each morning. With NHL, MLS, OHL, and NCAA alumni, we're where athletes come to learn."
"Our school serves athletic students who want to improve their skills, learn at a high academic standard, and have more flexibility around their learning to accommodate sport schedules. We maintain a culture of teamwork, good sportsmanship and aim to produce global citizens capable of navigating the 21st century world. With world class trainers and facilities, our students can hone their athletic skills in the mornings leaving them alert and ready for their studies."
"In addition to helping prepare young student-athletes for their professional careers, regular patterns of exercise and physical activity correlate to higher academic performance, providing them with the mindset and opportunity to achieve at the highest level. Our students are met with compassion and encouragement to be their best selves. With our small class sizes and individual attention, our highly experienced teachers deliver transformational learning experiences for our students."
"Families often come to us for high level athletic training, but what they also find is a very high academic standard and the teaching of life skills necessary for a rapidly changing world. Students develop their social skills by transferring their sense of teamwork to the classroom. They support one another in a truly heartwarming way. We help focus their natural competitiveness to improve their skills and knowledge, and to push themselves to go beyond their perceived limits."
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How people from the school’s community see Blyth Academy Downsview Park
Top-down influence on the school’s direction and tone
Pia Munther, Principal, Blyth Downsview Park
B.A, B.Ed., M.A, M.B.A.
Pia Munther is the Principal of Blyth Academy Downsview Park School for Elite Athletes. She brings a wealth of experience teaching, and experience in international business to her role as Principal. Educated at Queen’s University, Stockholm University (Sweden), and OISE/the University of Toronto, Pia believes in engaging all students to reach their maximum potential at Blyth Academy. As an advocate for lifelong learning, Pia ensures that students develop a passion and enthusiasm towards education, while teaching students the life skills necessary to be successful in their future. As a professionally trained Business and Economics specialist, Pia promotes experiential learning, while integrating technology into the classroom. Pia is very passionate about the combination of elite academics and athletics at Blyth Academy Downsview Park and is excited to see the campus continue to grow.
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.”
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.
THE OUR KIDS REPORT: Blyth Academy Downsview Park
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