The regions Maple Leaf World Schools offers busing from are:
How we see Maple Leaf World Schools - Canada
Maple Leaf was founded in 2016 in order to provide a strong entry for international students into the Canadian educational system with a specific eye to achieving admission to and success at university in North America. The program has been engineered with that goal very firmly in mind, including all the support necessary for the international student arriving in Canada, ESL courses and assessment, a full menu of AP offerings, and travel and university guidance. Maple Leaf is smaller than some of the other international schools in the region, which is a draw for families looking for a more personal approach to curriculum delivery and student life. On arrival, students enter an environment that is student-centered and populated by peers of a like mind and facing the same challenges, specifically around university preparation. The ideal student is one who's able to thrive in a challenging, goal-oriented, and diverse academic environment.
How Maple Leaf World Schools - Canada sees itself
"Maple Leaf World Schools (MLWS) operates a high school within a university campus MLWS-KPU. Proudly partnering with Kwantlen Polytechnic University, MLWS offers the British Columbia Graduation Program from grades 10 to 12. Our students share state-of-the-art university facilities and have the opportunity to begin taking 1st-year university courses through our partner university while enrolled in high school."
"We are a university preparatory high school, and our Advance Start Program allows exceptional students to enroll in first-year university courses while completing their high school diplomas. Students taking an Advance Start course experience the feel and life of a university course taught by university professors, while still having the comfort and support of their high school. Our STEM curriculum embodies our belief that high-quality learning can transform lives, communities, and the world."
"We are a top choice for families because of our small class sizes which offer a more personalized approach to learning. Families feel comforted and reassured that their child is getting his or her best educational experience where teachers care for and support each individual student."
"We have a robust after-school program that offers students tutorial help and a selection of clubs specifically tailored to student interests. Our location inside the university allows students to access university-quality facilities, which include the science laboratories and university library. Our school is committed to building strong parent communication channels, and has an open-door policy where parents are welcome to stop in at any time"
"We are located in the heart of central Richmond, and students can easily commute to our school by bus and Skytrain from the many surrounding areas. Our Advance Start Program gives students an advantage when applying to top worldwide universities as an Advance Start course is also a first-year university course that can be used for credits towards their university program."
"The top facts that represent the quality of our school are our small class sizes where students are supported in a caring environment.
We are located inside a university, which allows the student to experience a university setting while in the comfort and support of our high school classes. We are a STEM-certified school where students are able to create, explore, and develop solutions to real-world problems. We have a robust after-school program in our BC certified, senior high school."
How people from the school’s community see Maple Leaf World Schools - Canada
Top-down influence on the school’s direction and tone
Yvonne Chester, Ms
B.A., B. Ed., M.Ed.
Maple Leaf World School – KPU proudly welcomes your child to British Columbia, Canada. Our school is situated within Kwantlen Polytechnic University's Richmond campus and is surrounded by community centers, libraries, restaurants, and shopping malls. The city of Richmond has many amazing parks, trails, cycling routes, recreation centres, as well as Arts, Heritage, and Cultural facilities, which our students take the opportunity to explore during our weekend activity program. The school’s learning environment and facilities are outstanding and will provide for a safe and nurturing atmosphere for your child’s learning. Students have access to state-of-the-art university science lab facilities, a cafeteria and snack bar, the university library, as well the nearby Olympic Oval gym and exercise facility For academically gifted students, our University Advance Start program allows students to enroll in 1st-year university courses while completing their high school diploma. Our goal is to ensure that your child’s transition to Canada is both smooth and successful. On behalf of our entire faculty, we warmly welcome your family to Maple Leaf World School – KPU.
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.”
Throughout the continuum—from the Primary Years Programme (PYP) to the Diploma Programme (DP)—the IB offers plenty of group work, projects, and activities, which can be great for extroverts who often enjoy social and collaborative learning. Also, “Since IB schools have a strong emphasis on community service and activism, your child will have great opportunities to harness their outgoing and collaborative personality,” says Stacey Jacobs, Director of Clear Path Educational Consulting. These schools will also give your child the chance to interact and spend time with a bright, motivated, and ambitious group of kids who may have interests similar to them.
However, given the challenging curriculum and heavy workload of the IB, it can sometimes leave less time for socializing. This makes it especially important to ask about social opportunities at the school, including the ability to interact with different peer groups, both in class and out.
At a boarding school, your extroverted child will likely enjoy seeking out and interacting with peer groups from different backgrounds, away from home. In fact, studying and living with other kids for an extended period of time, as many alumni tell us, provides the unique opportunity to form close relationships that can last well beyond the school years. Many boarding schools also have large student populations and more extracurriculars—including activities like student council, team sports, and arts programs—which will give your outgoing child a broader scope of opportunities to feed off the energy of others, and possibly even become a leader, in a dynamic environment.
Keep in mind, though, “Being an extrovert can be a catalyst for getting involved in lots of activities, which can sometimes be hard to manage,” says Joanne Foster, Toronto-based education consultant and author of ABCs of Raising Smarter Kids. “For instance, a particularly extroverted child may try to end up juggling too many people and activities. While they still may thrive at a boarding school, it helps to know your child and how much social interaction they can handle comfortably.”
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.
IB schools give your child the opportunity to interact and spend time with a bright, motivated, and ambitious group of kids who may have interests similar to them. Due to the IB’s heavy focus on group work, the programme offers a social and collaborative learning environment, which can help your introverted child overcome their shyness and get to know their peers well. This can relieve some of the pressure associated with having to take the initiative outside of class to make friends.
Just make sure any school you're considering offers enough independent work time for your introverted child—something which can vary widely between IB schools.
At a boarding school, your introverted child will be more motivated (and virtually compelled) to seek out and interact with different peer groups. Away from home and in a new environment, they’re more likely to take the initiative to form close friendships, which can boost their independence and confidence, and help them develop critical social skills.
"Consider, though, whether your child will be comfortable and confident while living away from home, and while having to navigate the various, and sometimes unforeseen social-emotional experiences, alongside the academic challenges,” says Joanne Foster, education expert and author of ABCs of Raising Smarter Kids. Finally, ensure support systems are in place to promote their social and emotional development, and that your child is willing and prepared to take advantage of them. Your child will often need to advocate for themselves at a boarding school, and they’ll need confidence and perseverance to do so.
THE OUR KIDS REPORT: Maple Leaf World Schools - Canada
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