Niagara Christian Collegiate KEY INSIGHTS

Niagara Christian Collegiate (NCC) provides individualized attention to a diverse student body, all in a close-knit, supportive environment. The overarching feeling at NCC is one of warmth, as family-like values have always been built into the school’s programs.

Academic excellence is a top priority for both students and teachers at NCC. The expectations are high, but so is the level of support. Small class sizes and an emphasis on strong teacher-student relationships set students up for success. “Sometimes we’ll have a class with five people, and our teachers really get to know us and our strengths,” says one Grade 12 student. Not only is there a 100 percent post-secondary acceptance rate, but graduates consistently report feeling more than prepared for their next stage of study.

Given that more than half of the students are boarders from around the globe, there’s a very intentional effort to create the atmosphere of being a “home away from home.” The breadth of geographic and cultural diversity among students makes for lively discussion in the cafeteria and classroom alike, yet there’s a tangible sense of unity among students.

There’s an array of supports that promote inclusiveness. Social activities in the dorms, school-wide celebrations of multiple cultural traditions, and special lunches featuring international cuisines foster a feeling of belonging and community. The mix of cultural backgrounds adds to these activities, with each student bringing their unique perspectives and experiences to the school.

The school’s extensive International Study Program ensures English preparation and support are provided to all ESL students in reaching the proficiency needed for secondary success as well as in achieving post-secondary ambitions.

BASICS

The peaceful, scenic route along the Niagara Parkway to get to NCC sets the stage for the serenity of the campus. Turning into the driveway, several handsome buildings come into view. The overall impression is of a small college campus with an inviting feel.

The vast 120 acres of green space is the site of all types of outdoor activities, from cross-country running and campfires to school-wide games. A pond sits near the centre of campus, with the boys’ and girls’ dormitories facing onto it. Several students we spoke to said they loved to sit on the benches around the pond, while other favourite spots included the back sports fields, the dining hall, and the chapel.

A visit to the dining hall at lunchtime revealed a cozy, wood-panelled space with different types of seating arranged for single diners or big groups. The light-filled, airy chapel accommodates the school’s weekly worship service, classes, and a variety of special events and gatherings. Other features include a full-sized gym, fitness centre, music room, on-site medical health centre, and a large meeting space for boarding students called the “Wrec Centre,” a popular spot for movie nights and ping pong. With a spacious campus and a small student body, the school can offer students what they need to make the most of their day-to-day experience, whether they live on campus or not.

SCHOOL CULTURE

NCC’s Christian values can be felt across every part of the campus, from faith-infused teaching to the weekly chapel services to students and teachers meeting for lunch and prayer. As might be expected, every NCC teacher and staff member is Christian. Yet, as a university preparatory school, NCC delivers the Ontario provincial curriculum to a broad spectrum of students, including those who are Christian, agnostic, or from other faith backgrounds.

The teachers we met spoke extensively about striking the right balance in their outreach with non-Christian students and the importance of making students feel safe, comfortable, and cared for. Students we spoke to shared their feelings of inclusivity. “I love learning about different faiths,” says one Muslim student from Turkey. “When I first came, my teacher would start each class with a devotion, and I was curious about the songs and prayers. Whenever I had any questions or I didn’t understand a concept, my teachers or friends would explain it to me so patiently. I’ve never felt excluded. And I found people were always so interested in my perspective.”

ACADEMICS

The strongest testament to NCC’s academic program is the feedback from graduates about the ease of their transition to post-secondary education. Every graduate and every parent of a graduate we spoke to reported that NCC thoroughly prepared students for post-secondary study. “My daughter is in her second year of university, and she’s always telling me how valuable her time here was,” says Laurie Blue, head of the art department and parent to NCC graduates. “She was so well-equipped that she was teaching her friends.”

Laurie Blue adds, “All of the students here strive for a high standard in their work, but it’s coming from a place of inspiration, as opposed to a negative kind of demand on themselves.” The students we met agreed that there’s a feeling of collegiality among their peers when it comes to marks. “It’s more like healthy competition with ourselves or our friends,” says one Grade 12 student. “I think students feel competitive about getting into the right university for themselves, rather than competitive against their peers. Our students do a good job of helping each other academically and being happy when their friends do well,” says Rachel Peters, director of student services.

NCC lives up to its promise of “high expectations and high support” by providing a range of connected programs designed to meet the needs of all students. Whether they’re struggling to keep pace in their courses or striving to increase already commendable grades, the right help is always there. The student services team, led by Rachel Peters since 2009, includes guidance, learning resources, the advisory program, and peer tutoring.

The guidance department works closely with students in making plans for post-secondary education. By the time students are approaching graduation, they’ve done a lot of self-reflection on their strengths and interests with the team, along with intensive research on college and university programs that would suit them.

PEDAGOGICAL APPROACH

Exceptional teachers make NCC an exceptional place to live and learn. Our conversations with parents, students, staff, senior administrators, and teachers themselves made it clear that there’s an extraordinary strength of commitment among faculty members. “I’ve known many of the teachers for a long time, and they have great professional integrity,” says Todd MacGregor, NCC pastor and parent of one current student and two graduates. “Prospective families should know that their children will get excellent, one-on-one attention.”

Students also get a strong grounding in Christianity because NCC teachers integrate their faith into their teaching. They do this by following a guiding framework called Christian Deeper Learning, which aims to deeply engage students in their learning and recognize its importance in the wider community. The goal is for students to understand that their classroom work shapes who they are and the role they play in the world. The teachers we spoke to emphasized that this teaching approach isn’t about forcing a Christian perspective on every lesson. “We bring faith into the classroom in a much more organic way.” ESL teacher Ruben Dunnink echoed this comment, saying, “It’s intentional, but not explicit in that we’re not saying to students, ‘Let’s learn about the Bible right now.’ It’s more about taking principles from the Bible and from our faith and weaving them into the curriculum. It’s a gentler approach for students who aren’t Christian.” Even if the Christian messages don’t resonate with students, the larger ideas usually do.

CO-CURRICULAR

The breadth of co-curricular offerings at NCC is impressive, considering the smaller school size. Arts and athletics are particularly strong at NCC, with opportunities for students from the amateur to highly skilled levels. This is where being a small school is an advantage, something several teachers and students brought up. “We have more chances to get engaged in extracurricular life because it’s not as competitive or limited by numbers as at big schools,” says one Grade 11 student.

For students with multiple interests, it’s possible to take part in arts programs while still having time for sports teams. “We’re intentional about making sure that everyone has access to as many co-curriculars as they want,” says ESL teacher and athletic director Ruben Dunnink. The parents we spoke to appreciate this inclusiveness and its potential to uncover new interests and abilities in their children. “At bigger schools, it’s so hard to make a lot of the teams,” says one parent. “Here, if someone wants to be part of a team and they’re committed to showing up for practices, they’ll have a role.”

WELLNESS

The school’s family-like culture naturally extends to a strong community of care that prioritizes students’ all-around well-being. NCC provides support for students’ physical, emotional, and spiritual health, with staff and resources available to meet those needs

Boarding students can access primary healthcare right on campus rather than having to travel to clinics in Fort Erie. The staff at the centre provide essential care for students’ physical health and coordinate with the mental health counsellor, who regularly visits the school, to support students’ overall well-being.

A weekly advisory program run by classroom teachers gives students a chance to discuss a variety of topics relevant to personal well-being, such as how good sleep and nutrition are pivotal to a healthy body and mind. “We talk about a lot of different issues that come up in our lives,” says one student. “It helps to get different perspectives.” NCC Pastor Todd MacGregor also holds prayer meetings and individual counselling sessions with students seeking a Christian point of view. “I think every NCC student would tell you that they have at least one, often two, staff members that they’ve really gotten to know and trust and would be comfortable approaching for help,” says Rachel Peters. For the students we spoke to, this proved true. “When we need support, there’s always somewhere to go and someone to talk to,” says one Grade 11 student.