The push for independence and autonomy is often the focus of the middle school years. At the same time they are facing increased academic challenges, these adolescents are facing greater social and emotional pressures. This can be a time of testing personal limits as well as the rules and structures around them.
Two of Nancy Evans' three children attend private schools. But she didn't consider enrolling them during their younger years in elementary school. "I truly love the local neighbourhood public schools for the elementary years. I think building that bond of neighbourhood and friendships is an important element of their education," she says.
Her son is in Grade 9, wrapping up his first year at Ridley College, in St. Catherines, while her daughter, who is in Grade 11, started at Bishop Strachan School, in Toronto, in Grade 7. Her youngest son remains at a local public school in Grade 8.
Nancy believes that when children are starting private school for the first time as teenagers, the push needs to come from them. "A private school is such an individual choice and not every private school is right for every child."
It wasn't the superior quality of the education, but rather the array of extracurricular activities that compelled her to enrol her son at Ridley. "What really made the decision easier for us were the sports and programs offered through the private school. As a student, you must participate in sports and activities, and there truly is a sport or activity for everyone," Nancy says. "My son is the type who, if he isn't moving or busy doing something, is bored and unhappy. So Ridley has kept him busy and consequently he has had to organize his time to fit in all of his games around his school work."
How school size impacts the student experience at TCS [Read more]
TCS’s service learning program provides the hands-on experience of giving back [Read more]
What language education at Alexander von Humboldt German International School Montreal provides [Read more]
How HTS is building a state-of-the-art online education platform that focuses on student relationships [Read more]
How The Linden School paves the way for global change through their STEM programs [Read more]
How a new on-site theatre will support Villanova College’s rich arts programming [Read more]
School size matters
How school size impacts the student experience at TCS (April 4, 2024)
La critique de l'éditeur de Our Kids: La Citadelle International Academy.
(March 19, 2024)
Out of the class and into the community
TCS’s service learning program provides the hands-on experience of giving back (February 13, 2024)
The benefits of multilingualism
What language education at Alexander von Humboldt German International School Montreal provides (February 1, 2024)
Profile of Carrie Hughes-Grant, Head of School, Holy Name of Mary College
“It’s all about giving the girls a voice.” (December 14, 2023)
