Flex Academy ACADEMICS & Curriculum
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Curriculum
Curriculum approach at Flex Academy: Progressive
Flex Academy has a Progressive approach to Curriculum (as opposed to Traditional, Liberal Arts, Montessori, Reggio Emilia, Waldorf approach).
What Flex Academy says about their overall curriculum and approach:
Flex Academy delivers the full British Columbia curriculum, Junior Kindergarten through Grade 12, with students graduating on the BC Dogwood Diploma. What makes it unique is how we teach it. For Jr. K-Grade 5 students have a fairly traditional school experience with unique outdoor and exploratory learning opportunities. In grades 6-12 our hybrid model pairs a digital curriculum that handles content delivery with relationship-focused teachers who design meaningful in-person learning applications. Every student has a personalized plan built around their gifts, goals, and pace, with flexible scheduling that makes room for sport, arts, service, and real-world experience. Robust inclusive-education support meets the full range of learners, from gifted students to those needing accommodations. And it's all Christ-centered: faith isn't a subject in the course schedule, but the foundation woven through how we teach and how we treat others.
Approach
| Focus | Religious-based |
|---|---|
| Academic | Christian (Non-denominational) |
If you want to learn more about faith-based education, check out our comprehensive guide.
Read our detailed guide to learn all about Christian education.
Pedagogies and subject courses:
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Mathematics
Mathematics approach at Flex Academy: Traditional Math
Flex Academy has a Traditional Math approach to Mathematics (as opposed to Discovery Math, Equal Balance approach).
[Show: About Traditional Math?]What Flex Academy says:
Our math approach builds from deep understanding toward confident independence. In the elementary years (K–8), we primarily use My Math Path, a BC-aligned program grounded in the Singapore Math framework. Its concrete-pictorial-abstract model means students first handle real manipulatives, then work with pictures, then move to numbers — so they learn the why behind the how, not just memorized steps. Problem-solving, hands-on activities, and real-world modelling build skill and perseverance from the start. As students move into high school (Grade 9 and up), we transition to StudyForge Math — interactive, BC-aligned digital courses spanning Foundations, Pre-Calculus and Calculus. Video lessons, digital manipulatives, and expert-designed problems let students work at a pace that develops mastery.
Textbooks and supplementary materials:
Kindergarten - Marshall Cavendish Mathematics Grade 1-7 - My Math Path Grade 8 - MathLinks: Pathway to Success Grade 9-12: StudyForge Math
Calculator policy:
Students supply their own calculator as they enter the grades where math requires one. A basic calculator is needed for Grade 6, and a scientific calculator for Grades 7 through 12. The same scientific calculator will serve students through the rest of their high school math courses.
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Early Reading
Early Reading approach at Flex Academy: Phonics-intensive
Flex Academy has a Phonics-intensive approach to Early Reading (as opposed to Whole Language, Balanced Literacy approach).
[Show: About Phonics-intensive?]What Flex Academy says:
Our phonics-intensive foundation in Grades 1–5 is built on Logic of English, a structured, explicit program that teaches children how words work. Every student from Kindergarten through Grade 8 is also assessed with DIBELS two to three times a year. This research-backed screening shows us exactly where each child is at and catches a struggling reader early, before a small gap becomes a lasting one. When the data flags a student reading below grade level, we pull in supports. Our targeted reading support spans the full K–8 range and includes pull-out instruction, one-on-one time with reading specialists, and structured reading-recovery programs designed to close the gap. No child is quietly passed along, hoping reading will click later. We know that learning to read well is the foundation everything else is built on.
DIBELS Testing: This school periodically uses DIBELS testing to assess reading progress.
What Flex Academy says:
DIBELS assessments are completed 2-3 times/year to track student progress and ensure timely support and intervention when necessary.
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Writing
Writing approach at Flex Academy: Equal balance
Flex Academy has an Equal balance approach to Writing (as opposed to Systematic approach, Process approach approach).
[Show: About Equal balance?]What Flex Academy says:
As writing fluency develops in the early years, we use the 6+1 Traits of Writing to give students and teachers a shared language for what strong writing looks like — ideas, organization, voice, word choice, sentence fluency, conventions, and presentation. The result is a balance we hold on purpose: plenty of real writing and creative freedom, supported by explicit instruction in grammar, sentence structure, and strategy. Children write often, get specific coaching, and steadily build both the skills and the confidence to say what they intend.
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Science
Science approach at Flex Academy: Equal Balance
Flex Academy has an Equal Balance approach to Science (as opposed to Expository, Inquiry approach).
[Show: About Equal Balance?]Teaching approach:
In Grades 1–5, our Explorations Program takes students to a farm every Friday for hands-on, farm-focused learning — where life cycles, seasons, weather, plants, and animals aren't diagrams in a book but things children touch, tend, and watch change week to week. That real-world foundation is paired with Nelson's BC Science resources, keeping instruction fully aligned to the provincial curriculum and its big ideas. Beginning in Grade 6, students move into StudyForge Science — interactive, BC-aligned digital courses that use video, simulations, and inquiry-based questions to build deeper conceptual understanding as the content grows more complex. Our online content learning through Grades 6-12 is paired with weekly lab blocks where students explore the scientific principles they are learning about.
Treatment of evolution:
Subject Offered Evolution as consensus theory Evolution as one of many equally viable theories Evolution is not taught Topics covered in curriculum:
Subject Offered Biology Chemistry Ecology Geology Meteorology Physics Physiology Zoology Literature
Literature approach at Flex Academy: Traditional
Flex Academy has a Traditional approach to Literature (as opposed to Social Justice, Equal Balance approach).
[Show: About Traditional?]What Flex Academy says:
In our Foundations years, literature comes alive through rich novel studies — a deliberate mix of timeless classics and resonant contemporary titles — alongside independent reading through school-wide initiatives and each student's own pursuits. We select literature intentionally — guided by our Christ-centered values and a commitment to age-appropriate content.. In high school, that foundation deepens into serious literary study: English 10, grounded in Composition and Literary Studies, followed by Literary Studies 11 and English First Peoples 12, developing close reading, strong writing, and critical thinking.
Program covers:
Subject Offered Canadian lit American lit European (continental) lit World (non-Western) lit English lit Ancient lit Social Studies
Social Studies approach at Flex Academy: Expanding Communities
Flex Academy has an Expanding Communities approach to Social Studies (as opposed to Core Knowledge, Thematic approach).
[Show: About Expanding Communities?]What Flex Academy says:
Our K–6 Social Studies program aligns with the BC Curricular Standards. It starts with a child's own world and widens outward year by year. Students begin with themselves, their families, and identity, then move to their local community, then to Canada's regions and the wider world, and on to Indigenous peoples, Canadian history, and global systems.
Humanities and Social Sciences
Humanities and Social Sciences approach at Flex Academy: Pragmatism
Flex Academy has a Pragmatism approach to Humanities and Social Sciences (as opposed to Perennialism, Equal Balance approach).
[Show: About Pragmatism?]What Flex Academy says:
In Grades 7–12, Social Studies focuses on learning that connects to students' real world and builds thinking skills they'll use. Rather than treating history and the social sciences as a fixed body of facts to memorize, we teach them as living disciplines: students investigate real questions, weigh evidence, consider multiple perspectives, and grapple with issues that matter now. The backbone is StudyForge's BC-aligned Social Studies courses — interactive, inquiry-driven digital coursework that lets students work at a mastery pace with video, primary sources, and questions designed to make them think, not just recall. We pair that with weekly in-person labs, where students discuss, debate, collaborate, and apply what they're learning face-to-face.
Foreign Languages
Foreign Languages approach at Flex Academy: Audio-Lingual
Flex Academy has an Audio-Lingual approach to Foreign Languages (as opposed to Communicative, Equal Balance approach).
[Show: About Audio-Lingual?]What Flex Academy says:
From Grades 5–9, every student explores Spanish as an elective built to be gentle, playful, and fun: real exposure to how a second language works, without the drills that make so many kids decide early they're "not language people." The goal at this stage is simple — spark interest and build confidence. Students who leave middle school eager for more can then pursue Spanish with greater depth and intention in high school. And because we're part of Heritage Christian Online School, students drawn to other languages aren't limited by our walls: through cross-enrollment with HCOS, they can take French, German, American Sign Language, and more alongside their Flex program.
Language instruction offered in:
Subject Offered Chinese-Cantonese Chinese-Mandarin French German Greek Italian Japanese Hebrew Latin Russian Spanish ESL Fine Arts
Fine Arts approach at Flex Academy: Creative
Flex Academy has a Creative approach to Fine Arts (as opposed to Receptive, Equal Balance approach).
[Show: About Creative?]Program offers:
Subject Offered Acting Dance Drama/Theatre Graphic Design Music Visual Arts Visual studio philosophy:
Expressive Disciplined What Flex Academy says:
Visual art runs Jr. K–12, where students explore and are taught across a widening range of mediums and modalities — building technique and sophistication year over year, so creativity is matched by craft. Music is woven through our Foundations years, giving younger students an early, joyful grounding in rhythm, voice, and sound. And our theatre arts program is a genuine standout: a robust offering spanning dance, drama, and the backstage world of audio, visual, and production — so whether a student wants the spotlight or the soundboard, there's a real place for them. Beyond that – there is room for creativity at Flex everywhere you look! From leading worship at chapels, to doing set construction, to exploring photography through our yearbook courses, and more!
Computers and Technology
Computers and Technology approach at Flex Academy: Medium integration
Flex Academy has a Medium integration approach to Computers and Technology (as opposed to Light integration, Heavy integration approach).
[Show: About Medium integration?]What Flex Academy says:
It surprises people, but for a hybrid school, we're deliberate about keeping digital technology in its place. Yes, digital curriculum is part of how we deliver content in Grades 6-12 — but when students are together on-site, in classes and lab blocks, the computer isn't the star. Hands-on learning, exploration, discussion, and real materials are. Screens are a tool we pick up when they're the right one, and set down when they're not. On digital literacy, we teach the skills students genuinely need for a connected world: touch typing, the intentional and wise use of AI, and the broader digital-citizenship topics woven throughout the BC curriculum — thinking critically about information, using tools responsibly, and staying safe online.
Program covers:
Subject Offered Computer science Robotics Web design Physical Education
What Flex Academy says:
Our Physical and Health Education program follows the BC curriculum, which treats physical and health education as one connected whole — because a healthy body, a healthy mind, and healthy relationships grow together. Because movement matters so much, we protect real time for it: students in Grades K–5 have 90 minutes of gym time each week, and students in Grades 6–12 have 150 if they are taking PHE. That time develops physical literacy through a wide range of movement — individual and team activities, games, and fundamental skills that build the competence and confidence to stay active for life. Alongside the physical, we teach the health side the curriculum calls for — informed choices about nutrition, safety, and substance use; healthy relationships; and mental well-being.
Religious Education
What Flex Academy says:
Faith at Flex isn't a class students sit through — it's a way of forming whole people, and our Christian Studies program is built around three connected dimensions: Head, Heart, and Hands. Head is knowing: students engage directly with the Bible, moving across the grades from listening and retelling toward asking hard questions, thinking critically, and building a tested, confident biblical worldview of their own. Heart is becoming: we help students encounter God's love, reflect honestly on their relationship with him, and grow in character, so that what they believe and how they live line up. Hands is doing: faith put into action through service, caring for God's creation, and using their gifts to love their neighbours. Woven through it all are shared rhythms of spiritual growth and connection — daily devotions, weekly chapels, and retreats. Our goal isn't behaviour management or rote answers; it's students who own their faith, think deeply about it, and live it out.
Advanced Placement courses
This information is not currently available.Sex and health education
Sex and health education approach at Flex Academy: British Columbia curriculum
Flex Academy has a British Columbia curriculum approach to Sex and health education (as opposed to Does not follow prrovincialcurriculum approach).
[Show: About British Columbia curriculum?]What Flex Academy says:
This information is not currently available.
Preschool/K Curriculum
Preschool/K Curriculum approach at Flex Academy: Play-based
Flex Academy has a Play-based approach to Preschool/K Curriculum (as opposed to Montessori, Waldorf, Reggio Emilia, Academic approach).
What Flex Academy says about their preschool/K curriculum approach:
We keep class sizes small and adult-to-student ratios high so every child gets the attention, warmth, and gentle guidance early learning depends on: more books read one-on-one, more hands held on the way to bravery, and staff who notice and care. We also build flexibility in from the very first years. Families who want a half-day Kindergarten option can choose it, easing little ones into school at a pace that fits them rather than forcing a full-day leap. Small, warm, and flexible — an early classroom experience where a child feels safe enough to fall in love with learning.
Language
Learn about Flex Academy's languages of instruction and enrolment.
Flex Academy offers English as the primary language of instruction.
Language of enrolment include: English
Online Learning
Flex Academy's online learning approach and offerings. Learn about this school's online programs and courses offered, its course formats, and its teaching and learning approaches.
Flex Academy offers online courses to students.
What Flex Academy says about their course flexibility:
In general, we expect online courses to be completed within the standard timeline of the school year. But— we can be flexible! Course enrolment is a decision that is made by families and the school working together to build an academic program that best supports the students goals and sometimes that involves unique start and end times.
Course schedule
| Period | Grades | Number of Courses | Start - End |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full year | 10 to 12 | 20 | Sep 08, 2026 — Jun 11, 2027 |
Course format
| Type | Offered |
|---|---|
| Distance | |
| Asynchronous | |
| Synchronous |
Academic support and services
| Type | Offered |
|---|---|
| Dedicated teacher per course | |
| Exam proctoring | |
| Student progress tracker | |
| Regular office hours | |
| Additional support | |
| Study groups | |
| Special needs support |
Curriculum Pace
Curriculum Pace approach at Flex Academy: Standard-enriched
Flex Academy has a Standard-enriched approach to Curriculum Pace (as opposed to Accelerated, Student-paced approach).
What Flex Academy says about their curriculum pace:
Because our model is personalized and hybrid, enrichment is built in. Students ready for more can easily work ahead, take on additional courses, or stretch into deeper challenges without waiting for the class to catch up. We stay responsive — expanding opportunities to match each student's pace, passion, and potential.
Flexible pacing style
| Type | Offered |
|---|---|
| Subject-streaming (tracking) | |
| Multi-age classrooms as standard | |
| Ability-grouping (in-class) as common | |
| Frequent use of cyber-learning (at-their-own-pace) | |
| Regular guided independent study opportunities | |
| Differentiated assessment |
What Flex Academy says about their flexible pacing:
Learning isn't one-speed here. Our hybrid model lets students move at a pace that fits them — speeding through concepts they grasp quickly, taking the time they need on the ones they don't. No one is rushed past confusion or held back by the clock.
Academic Culture
Academic Culture approach at Flex Academy: Supportive
Flex Academy has a Supportive approach to Academic Culture (as opposed to Rigorous approach).
What Flex Academy says about their academic culture:
Our academic culture holds two things together: high expectations and high support. We believe every student is capable of real growth, so we set a genuine bar — but we measure each child against their own progress and potential, not a class ranking. Mastery matters more than speed; students are pushed to truly understand, not just complete. Because learning is personalized, students help set goals, track their progress, and advocate for what they need. And because kids learn best when they feel safe, we've built a culture where effort and honest struggle are respected, mistakes are part of learning, and no one is left to sink. High standards, held with care.
Developmental priorities
Primary Developmental Priority: Balanced
Equal emphasis is placed on a balance of priorities: intellectual, emotional, social and physical cultivation.
Secondary Developmental Priority: Intellectual
The goal is to cultivate "academically strong, creative and critical thinkers, capable of exercising rationality, apprehending truth, and making aesthetic distinctions."
What Flex Academy says about their developmental priorities:
We chose "balanced," but that deserves a word of clarification. We're a school, so intellectual growth is a high priority — we care deeply about academic strength, critical thinking, and a real love of learning. But we don't treat that as separate from emotional development. We've learned that a child who feels safe, known, and emotionally supported is a child who can learn deeply; nurturing the heart isn't a nice extra alongside the mind — the two are completely integrated. Woven through all of it is spiritual growth, a central part of who we are and how we form students. So "balanced," for us, doesn't mean equal-but-separate. It means integrated: all areas developing together, each strengthening the others.
Special needs support
Flex Academy offers Full-time Dedicated Class
Students are placed in a separate special education class.
What Flex Academy says about their special need support:
When a learning difficulty emerges — whether a child arrives with a diagnosis or it surfaces along the way — we lean in. Our inclusive education program is built for exactly this: we flag needs early, set clear targets, and put strong supports in place, coordinated through a tight team around each student — principal, teacher, educational assistant, Learning Coach, our Inclusive Education Case Manager, and the external professionals in a family's corner. No child is quietly left to struggle. While we have a very robust and effective department, we have caps on how many students we enrol and support at a time in each grade level and as it relates to support profiles.
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Learning disabilitiesDyslexia (Language-Based Learning Disability)This is a learning disability that can limit a child's ability to read and learn. It can have a variety of traits. A few of the main ones are impaired phonological awareness and decoding, problems with orthographic coding, and auditory short-term memory impairment.Auditory Processing Disorder (APD)This is a sound differentiation disorder involving problems with reading, comprehension, and language.DyscalculiaThis is a kind of specific learning disability in math. Kids with this math disorder have problems with calculation. They may also have problems with math-related concepts such as time and money.DysgraphiaThis is a kind of specific learning disability in writing. It involves problems with handwriting, spelling, and organizing ideas.Language Processing DisorderThis is characterized by having extreme difficulty understanding what is heard and expressing what one wants to say. These disorders affect the area of the brain that controls language processing.Nonverbal Learning Disorders (NLD)These involve difficulties interpreting non-verbal cues, such as facial expressions and body language. They're usually characterized by a significant discrepancy between higher verbal skills and weaker motor, visual-spatial, and social skills.Visual Perceptual/Visual Motor DeficitA characteristic seen in people with learning disabilities such as Dysgraphia or Non-verbal LD. It can result in missing subtle differences in shapes or printed letters, losing place frequently, struggles with cutting, holding pencil too tightly, or poor eye/hand coordination.
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DevelopmentalAutismRefers to a range of conditions that involve challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, and speech and nonverbal communication. They also involve unique strengths and differences. For instance, there are persons with both low- and high-functioning autism (some claim the latter is identical to Asperger's syndrome).Asperger's SyndromeOn the autism spectrum, Asperger's is considered quite mild in terms of symptoms. While traits can vary widely, many kids with Asperger's struggle with social skills. They also sometimes fixate on certain subjects and engage in repetitive behaviour.Down syndromehis is associated with impairment of cognitive ability and physical growth, and a particular set of facial characteristics.Intellectual disabilityThis is a condition characterized by significant limitations in intellectual functioning (e.g., reasoning, learning, and problem solving). Intellectual disabilities are also known as general learning disabilities (and used to be referred to as a kind of mental retardation).Williams syndromeThis is a rare genetic disorder present at birth. It is characterized by intellectual disabilities or learning problems, unique facial features, and cardiovascular problems.Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is an umbrella term used to describe the range of effects that can occur in an individual whose mother consumed alcohol during pregnancy. These may include growth deficits, facial anomalies, and damage to the central nervous system, which can lead to cognitive, behavioural, and other problems.
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Behavioral and EmotionalTroubled behaviour / troubled teensroubled teens tend to have problems that are intense, persistent, and can lead to quite unpredictable behaviour. This can lead to behavioural and emotional issues, such as drug and alcohol abuse, criminal behaviour, eating disorders, depression, and anxiety.Clinical DepressionThis is a mental health disorder also called "major depression." It involves persistent feelings of sadness, loss, and anger. According to the Mayo Clinic, symptoms are usually severe enough to cause noticeable problems in relationships with others or in daily activities, such as school, work, or one's social life.Clinical anxietyThis is a mood disorder involving intense, relentless feelings of distress and fear. They can also have excessive and persistent worry about everyday situations, and repeated episodes of intense anxiety or terror.Suicidal thoughtsThis involves persistent thoughts about ending one's life.Drug and alcohol abuseThis involves the excessive use of drug and/or alcohol, which interferes with daily functioning.Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD)This is a disruptive behavioural disorder which normally involves angry outbursts, often directed at people of authority. This behaviour must last continuously for six months or more and significantly interfere with daily functioning.
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PhysicalMultiple sclerosisThis is a condition of the central nervous system. It affects the brain, optic nerves, and spinal cord. Symptoms can include fatigue, loss of motor control, memory loss, depression, and cognitive difficulties.Cerebral palsyhis refers to a group of permanent movement disorders that appear in early childhood. CP is caused by abnormal development or damage to the parts of the brain that control movement, balance, and posture.Muscular dystrophyMuscular dystrophy is a neuromuscular disorder which weakens the body's muscles. Causes, symptoms, age of onset, and prognosis vary between individuals.Spina BifidaThis is a condition present at birth due to the incomplete formation of the spine and spinal cord. It can lead to a number of physical challenges, including paralysis or weakness in the legs, bowel and bladder incontinence, hydrocephalus (too much fluid in the brain), and deformities of the spine.Dyspraxia (Developmental Coordination Disorder)This is a Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD). Also known as "sensory integration disorder," it affects fine and/or gross motor coordination in children and adults. It may also affect speech.BlindnessVisual impairment is a decreased ability or inability to see that can't be fixed in usual ways, such as with glasses. Some people are completely blind, while others have what's called "legal blindness."DeafnessHearing impairment, also known as "hearing loss," is a partial or total inability to hear. The degree of hearing impairment varies between people. It can range from complete hearing loss (or deafness) to partial hearing loss (meaning the ears can pick up some sounds).Cystic FibrosisCystic Fibrosis (CF) is an inherited genetic condition, which affects the body's respiratory, digestive, and reproductive systems. It affects young children and adults.Multiple physicalAccommodating a wide range of physical conditions and disabilities.
Read our guide to special needs schools and special education
Academic support
| Type | Offered |
|---|---|
| Learning strategy and study counselling; habit formation | |
| Extra support and minor accommodations for children experiencing subclinical difficulties |
Mild but clinically diagnosed learning disabilities
| Type | Offered |
|---|---|
| Accommodations | |
| Modifications | |
| Extra support |
Additional support
| Type | Offered |
|---|---|
| Social skills programs | |
| Occupational therapy | |
| Psychotherapy | |
| Speech-language therapy |
Gifted learner support
Curriculum Delivery: Acceleration and enrichment
There is an equal emphasis on acceleration and enrichment.
Class structure
| Program | Offered |
|---|---|
| Full-time gifted program (parallel to rest of school) | |
| Part-time gifted program (pull-out; parallel to rest of class) |
In-class adaptations
| Program | Offered |
|---|---|
| Custom subject enrichment (special arrangement) | |
| Custom curriculum compacting (special arrangement) | |
| Guided independent study (custom gifted arrangement) | |
| Cyber-learning opportunities (custom gifted arrangement) | |
| Formalized peer coaching opportunities (specifically for gifted learners to coach others) | |
| Custom subject acceleration (special arrangement) | |
| Career exploration (custom gifted arrangement) | |
| Project-based learning (custom gifted arrangement) | |
| Mentorships (custom gifted arrangement) |
What Flex Academy says about their gifted learner support:
This information is not currently available.
Homework Policy
Nightly homework
In grade Gr. 12, Flex Academy students perform an average of 1.5 hours of homework per night.
| JK | SK | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flex Academy | 0 mins | 15 mins | 15 mins | 15 mins | 15 mins | 30 mins | 30 mins | 30 mins | 30 mins | 45 mins | 45 mins | 60 mins | 90 mins | 90 mins |
| Site Average | 6 mins | 7 mins | 16 mins | 19 mins | 26 mins | 31 mins | 37 mins | 44 mins | 56 mins | 60 mins | 75 mins | 84 mins | 100 mins | 107 mins |
What Flex Academy says about their flipped classroom policy:
This information is not currently available.
Report Card Policy
How assessments are delivered across the grades
| Type | Grades |
|---|---|
| Lettered or numbered grades | SK to Gr. 12 |
| Prose (narrative)-based feedback | JK to Gr. 12 |
| Academic achievement reporting | JK to SK |
| Habits and behaviour reporting | JK to SK |
| Parent-teacher meetings | JK to Gr. 12 |