REVIEW OF Hudson College BY parent, Jason Campbell

(5) Student Experience

All of my children have had an overall positive experience at Hudson College. They really enjoy the balance of academics and athletics that the school offers. They have truly embraced the school's community, with both their teachers and peers, which gives them a strong sense of identity and belonging. As a parent, it's very rewarding to see my children go to a positive environment every day; one that allows them to grow in a balanced way. My kids really enjoy the many different extracurricular programs and opportunities the school offers. These opportunities allow them to try new things and develop skill sets that can be applied to everyday life, both inside and outside the school environment. The year-end celebration, June Fest, is something my kids love and look forward to every year!

(4.5) School Leadership

The school's leadership and administration know my children, as they do all the students, which makes them stand out to me. This makes me feel like my children aren’t getting lost in the system and allows me to have meaningful contact with the administration to discuss my children's path forward. They foster a positive school environment by building strong character traits in students. Disciplinary issues are dealt with fairly, from my limited experience, and I think it’s a system that allows students to have a voice when these challenges arise. In my experience, the school leadership and administration communicate effectively with both students and parents.

(4.5) Teaching

We have been very happy with the teachers and the quality of instruction at Hudson College. It has always been important to us that our children have fun at school and that it’s a place they want to embrace. The teachers are passionate and knowledgeable about the work they do. The smaller class sizes also allow the teachers to develop meaningful and caring relationships with the students. As a parent, I always have direct access to all of the teachers, so there’s an open line of communication to relay constructive feedback. My children have been challenged in ways that stretch them and, in some cases, move them outside of their comfort zones for positive growth. This is all done with underlying support from the teachers to help get the students to where they want to be.

(4.5) Academics

The academic program at Hudson College is strong, and it begins in the early grades to prepare students as they move forward to each new grade. There is a deliberate emphasis on developing strong reading, spelling, and arithmetic skill sets early on to build a solid foundation for the students. While there is a strong focus on developing these skills, the program is well-rounded to support students at varying learning levels. There is also a strong music program that encourages and supports students in developing the ability to play different instruments while learning the language of music. I feel that my child's education at Hudson College is well-rounded and provides a solid foundation they can continue building on. I also think they are placed in leadership roles and given opportunities to become comfortable presenting themselves in front of others.

(4.5) Extracurriculars

I feel that the school offers many different extracurricular activities and opportunities for the students. These opportunities allow the students to interact with each other in a different setting and continue to develop social skill sets with their peers. From sports to cooking to camping, all of the extracurricular opportunities increase the value of their education and growth as well-rounded individuals. There are also many sports teams for the students to participate in. These provide opportunities for physical growth and lessons in healthy competition.

(4.5) Students

Our experience in the Lower School has been tremendously positive with the student body. The class sizes feel right, which allows my kids to build a relationship with the entire class. I think kids will always gravitate toward groups of friends, but in general, the students get along well with each other outside of those groups. Of course, part of growth is encountering resistance, and for the most part, the outcome of their day-to-day school life is happy. The school tries to solve any issues between students with the students. The thing that stands out the most to me is how positive the interactions are between students of different grades. Having the older grades in the Lower School interact with the younger grades really helps to build a strong community where students all know each other.

(4.5) School Life

For my kids, the Hudson College community has been integral to their quality of life. They all had amazing teachers who have challenged them to grow in positive ways. They love going to school because of the environment they are in. It’s not that every day is a good day for them, which wouldn’t exist anywhere, but this is part of growing in a positive way. They have built meaningful relationships with their friends and peers, which is part of their excitement for going each day. Students are also rewarded with monthly Character Awards, which recognize their accomplishments in a character trait. This brings pride to the students and spotlights exemplary behaviour. My kids are very sports-oriented, and I think they would like it if the school was even more focused on athletics, but overall, the balance of everything Hudson School offers is making them well-rounded people.

(4.5) Community

We have had a positive experience with the broader community and parent community at Hudson College. We have also made many meaningful relationships with other families at the school. Parents are welcome to get involved in the life of the school, and there are different opportunities to do so. I think it’s probably challenging to get parent volunteers, and I’m not too sure how to further incentivize more parents to get involved, but from our experiences in getting involved, they have all been positive. These opportunities also give us, as parents, a chance to build better relationships with the teachers and admissions staff, which makes our experience at Hudson College even stronger. I think the school could provide more opportunities for parents to get involved and try to build a roster of parents who are involved. Fortunately, the parents who are involved are dedicated and excited to help when it’s needed, which further strengthens the community.

(5) School Location

My children are not old enough yet to venture beyond the school grounds, but it certainly is not an island, being located close to St. Clair Ave W and Dufferin St. The school acts as a meeting place for the students, which helps build the social environment because the students and their friends don’t necessarily live close together, as they come from different parts of the city. This can sometimes make it a challenge for friends to meet outside of school hours and emphasizes the school as a meeting place.

(4.5) Admissions

This is a school that’s worth looking into if you value a well-rounded education and a strong community. My advice would be to meet with the school admissions and ask to speak with some of the parents if you are interested in applying for admission. In our experience, the admissions process was smooth. After connecting with the school and some parents of previous students, we felt that Hudson College was the right fit for our son. Following his positive experience, we knew that enrolling our other children was the right choice for us.