There are many reasons parents choose to enroll their children at a private school, from family tradition to elite sports. Parents who choose Hudson College, however, are less interested in the extremes at the edges of the private education market, and more interested in the foundational elements of a strong academic program and a positive learning experience: consistent social support, a sense of community, the agility to address student interests, and a consistent approach to curricular development. Jeff Bavington founded the school "to be a place where students with all different interests can come and feel part of a larger community, feel at home, and where students themselves can help create" the school environment. And it is.
This 50-page review of Hudson College, published as a book and available to read in full, here on OurKids.net, is part of our series of in-depth accounts of Canada's leading private schools and ...
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Hudson College
My daughter has been at Hudson College since Grade 8 and is just finishing grade 10. She came from a larger public school and immediately felt comfortable and accepted at Hudson. She was shy at first in class but soon -- with the support of the teachers -- began to develop the courage to participate. Her biggest fear that first year was how she would possibly keep up with Hudson's challenging math curriculum. Before too long, she was excelling at math for the first time in her life. After th... View full review
What I liked best about Hudson was how inclusive the school is. You are able to be yourself but are still able to grow, in the ways on how you can express yourself with different clubs, all of the sports teams, and on dress down days and certain school events. Also you meet all kinds of people with the diversity they offer at Hudson. I found that I was able to discover different sides of myself that I never really considered and opened up a little to new experiences as well. I really found most ... View full review
In my experience Hudson College is a fantastic school. I love how open and welcoming the school is to everyone. I also like the fact that at Hudson College you're not just a number within the system, here everyone cares about you and wants to see you succeed. One thing I wish I had a better grasp of is just how intense the semester system can get, especially considering I originally came from the public system. I love the semester system now and the many benefits it has. It just was a big change... View full review
My experience at Hudson College has been nothing but wonderful. Coming from a rather large school with upwards of 1800 kids, the transition couldn't have been smoother. From the first few seconds I entered the school everyone was welcoming and supportive. Hudson has endless support to offer in areas such as university, program choices, and personal support. I personally love the structure and feeling that Hudson provides you with on a daily basis. Throughout my past two years at the school I've ... View full review
It took some time to settle into Hudson, but it was the best feeling when I realized I was talking with more people, and everything seemed a bit more casual. The people here are really nice, and even though I came in grade 10, there were a lot of new students just like me. As the student body grows, I think the school would benefit from a more formal student government. Currently, any interested students have the option of joining the Student Council, which is responsible for planning most of th... View full review
My daughter is in her fifth year at Hudson College (she joined in Grade One from a French Immersion public school). In that first year, she was behind in maths and reading, and didn't believe that she would ever be able to master those skills. She was so down on herself, she almost didn't want to try. Her Grade One teacher was incredibly encouraging, and over the years the school staff have built up her confidence by celebrating her strengths (sports and social skills) and supporting her through... View full review
It starts every morning when I drop my children (grades 7 &2) off at school in the morning. They run into the school (and not because of the cold!). They both love going to school. They have tremendous bonds with their friends and peers and very strong relationships with their teachers. They feel that the school is a family. Our children are made to feel like they matter, that the staff care about them and are interested in their lives. Of course they wouldn't use the word "empowered... View full review
