REVIEW OF Mater Boni Consilii Academy BY parent, Melissa AtLee

(5) Student Experience

Our children love the care and attention that they receive at MBCA. The small class sizes allow the teachers and support staff to dedicate plenty of time to each child, ensuring that all their needs and concerns are addressed. My youngest daughter, who joined in JK, has received the best introduction to school. Her teacher is warm, kind, and patient, while at the same time firm in her expectations of manners and behaviour. My older kids enjoy the camaraderie with their fellow classmates, as well as the extracurricular clubs (ie. STEM, music, art, etc). In the situations where the kids need help with interpersonal skills, the school staff makes sure that they are lovingly providing the right assistance, working with the parents to ensure that the children are receiving the right support at home and at school. As Catholics, my kids enjoy the infusion of faith throughout the day - the morning prayers, the stories about the saints, the religious instruction, the daily Rosary, and weekly Mass, to name a few.

Why Mater Boni Consilii Academy?

We were looking for a close-knit, Catholic, affordable school that shared our values and could partner with us in educating our children. What stood out the most for us is how deeply the teachers and staff care, not just about academics, but about the whole child. We also love that the school has a strict policy when it comes to electronics on the premises, so that children can be children without the temptations of phones and other devices.

Expectations vs. Reality

MBCA matched our expectations of being close-knit, Catholic, affordable, and deeply committed to raising boys and girls to become men and women of virtue. As a new school, the material resources are currently limited when compared to other private schools. However, the teachers and staff go above and beyond despite the limitations — spiritually, academically, artistically, physically, and emotionally — all the ingredients to provide the kids with an excellent education are present.

Your Advice

If you are looking for a school that will see, guide and love your child as a beloved son or daughter of God and educate your child with their whole person in mind, then please check out MBCA. As a new school, you have the opportunity to be an early "investor" in an education project that could bear much fruit for your family and the future of Catholic education.

(5) School Leadership

The school administration is excellent at communicating with parents and extremely swift at dealing with any issues that arise. They discipline in a loving and fair way, seeing each "situation" as an opportunity to help the child grow in virtue. We have a great relationship with the school teachers and staff, which is why we entrust our children to them.

(5) Teaching

The teachers care deeply about the students and provide a curriculum rooted in the classics and aligned with Catholic values. The kindergarten teacher provides daily updates so that we always know what our daughter is learning and where we can supplement at home. For the older grades, we sign off on all assignments and tests so that we always know where our children stand and if they need additional support. The teachers are always available before and after school for the parents if needed.

(5) Academics

The curriculum has a classical, catholic foundation aimed to provide each child with a well-rounded education. The small class sizes make it possible for the teachers to challenge or provide additional support to each child as needed. We are confident that the current curriculum will properly prepare our children for high school and beyond.

(5) Extracurriculars

Due to the newness of the school, there are limited resources available compared to the more established private schools. However, there are plenty of opportunities for children to develop their passions. There are STEM, arts & crafts, fun days and quarterly field trips that expose kids to various learning environments (ie, concerts, plays, museums, farms, etc). Because the school is small, the kids are also given plenty of opportunity to develop their leadership skills to plan and execute on many of these activities.

(5) Students

The school body is currently small (under 25 students). The kids are great. The environment at MBCA fosters kindness, cooperation and friendly competition. The kids learn about virtues and are continually encouraged to practice them. The Christian spirit of fellowship is evident, and we have seen our kids grow and thrive in virtue as the school year has progressed.

(5) School Life

Our children love going to MBCA. They are in an environment where they know they are truly cared for, and this is something that they intuitively feel. They also feel that they have a voice and are able to speak about any concerns that they have, knowing that they will be listened to. From a faith perspective, we have witnessed our children grow in their love for our Catholic faith through the daily spiritual practices at the school.

(5) Community

The community at MBCA is one of the things that we love the most as parents. We have gotten to know all of the teachers, staff and board members, and have become friends with many of them. The school actively encourages parent participation, and as such, I have been personally involved in several volunteering endeavours, such as fundraising, planning for the annual gala, planning and chaperoning field trips, and being the parent liaison.

(5) School Location

The school is located in a safe neighbourhood in Oakville, Ontario. It is easily accessible by car, bike and public transit. During recess, the kids have plenty of space to run around behind the school. Once a week, they walk to the local library as well as the local YMCA.

(5) Admissions

The admissions process was smooth. It's important to ensure that the school is the right fit for the family and the child, so I view the admissions process as a two-way interview. Does the school provide what you're looking for, and are you also the right fit for the mission of the school?