REVIEW OF Leonardo Da Vinci Academy of Arts & Sciences BY parent, Emilia Barbiero
- Date of Review
July 01, 2026 - Child 1
Nursery/Toddler - Preschool (Female, Current Day Student) - Child 2
Nursery/Toddler - SK (Male, Current Day Student)
(5) Student Experience
My children absolutely love everything at LDVA, but especially their teachers. In particular, Signora Marcella is both academically rigorous and supportive, providing so much personal and intellectual enrichment to the class. Neither of them has ever complained that they don't want to go to school! My kids also love all the extracurricular activities that enrich their school days: pasta-making with Chef Luciano at Boccaccio restaurant, field trips to make maple syrup, and playing Bocce in the gym. As for me, I love how much they're learning: both are fluent in Italian, and every day there is some kind of engagement with Italian culture. So, for example, our kids have digital "pen pals" in Italy, meeting regularly via FaceTime with a class of children their age in Italy. Carnevale is particularly wonderful from this POV (my kids know all the commedia dell'arte characters are adorable little rhymes about them!), as is Christmas when they build presepi and learn Tu scendi dalle stelle. And let me add that the academics are superlative: my son, who is in SK, is already reading, writing in cursive and both adding and subtracting!
Why Leonardo Da Vinci Academy of Arts & Sciences?
We chose LDVA above all because of the Italian element. Our children are Italian speakers, and so continuing their exposure to the Italian language and culture at school is super important to us. We also chose LDVA because it is academically rigorous, it is Catholic (we love the rosary Fridays!) and because of the small teacher-to-student ratio. We also love that the school does not expose our small children to inappropriate topics.
Expectations vs. Reality
In terms of pedagogy and school culture, LDVA aligned completely with my expectations. The administration can be somewhat disorganized, which I didn't expect when I first joined the school. But it functions well nevertheless.
Your Advice
LDVA is the only school in Toronto where your child can get a solid, traditional education with extensive instruction in Italian. The school isn't by any means perfect, but what it offers is completely unique.
