REVIEW OF Hydrostone Academy BY parent, Claire Simmons

(5) Student Experience

My child loves the warm and nurturing learning environment. There is a culture of respect between teachers and students that inspires and engages my six-year-old. As a grade one student, they are transitioning from very play-based learning to a more academic focus in a way that is thoughtful, developmentally appropriate and fun. The class sizes and teacher-to-student ratios are exceptional and allow for plenty of one-on-one support and personalized learning. My child is very active and prefers to be outside. Our family, both parents and student, appreciates the outdoor education core pillar at Hydrostone Academy. This engages my child's daily movement needs in a way that I feel is natural and inspires curiosity. Most importantly, my child experiences a deep sense of belonging at Hydrostone Academy that I'm sure has been and will continue to be an advantage in their adult life.

Why Hydrostone Academy?

We began with the pre-primary program on the recommendation of a colleague; the peaceful and natural learning environment, as well as the warm-hearted teachers, were appealing. We continued into the elementary program because of the deep sense of belonging our child experienced, as well as the delayed academics (beginning in Grade 1) and the delayed screen/technology use (upper school only).

Expectations vs. Reality

The school exceeded my expectations with its approach to academics. It has a bit of a hippy, artsy reputation, but the teachers are very skilled at conveying academics, and my child is thriving in Grade 1! I was also surprised by the outdoor education component. It's rare to find schools that provide kids with the outdoor opportunities that Hydrostone Academy offers.

Your Advice

Visit the school, meet the teachers and experience the classes. There really is a feeling and a sense of community that is palpable in the hallways!

(5) School Leadership

The school leadership and administration are exceptional. There is transparency, things are communicated well and with integrity, and they walk their talk. It's evident that the leadership embraces the core-pillars of the school's philosophy and makes appropriate decisions to uphold the school values. From my perspective, discipline is handled fairly. And the screening process ensures that students are the right fit for the existing school dynamic. Mary, the Executive Director, is warm-spirited and compassionate, but also inspires respect and authenticity in the student body.

(5) Teaching

The teachers at Hydrostone Academy are wonderful! So far, we have had the most exceptional experiences with both the quality of instruction and kindness. Teachers are well-trained, knowledgeable and passionate about their subjects. It's obvious in their demeanours and the school's vibe. So far, in each grade, my child has developed trust and respect with their teachers. Ms. Nicole, the pre-primary teacher, is a complete gem. She models kindness and sincerity for the young children, but keeps things in line and has appropriate boundaries with the children. Our experience in Primary was unique and very special. There were two teachers to 14 or 15 students, and they were keenly observing for Grade 1 readiness, through skills like fine motor, gross motor, problem-solving and social-emotional skills. I believe this thoroughly prepared my child for success in Grade 1.

(5) Academics

I can only speak from my experience with the Elementary program, but there is an obvious pedagogy of student readiness. Because of the small class sizes, teachers are able to engage with students one-on-one and generously support them. I appreciated the delayed academics for Grade 1 and the play-based Primary program. This gave my child a longer childhood and brought in skills when they were ready and had more of an attention-span and social skills to engage and learn in a structured classroom setting. I appreciate the approach to writing, reading and math in Grade 1. It is playful, inspired and seems to get results! I believe they cover what the public system covers in two years (Primary and Grade 1) in one year at Hydrostone Academy, and students are able to keep up.

(4) Extracurriculars

I cannot speak to this firsthand because my child is in Grade 1 and there are not many extracurriculars offered at that age. However, I have seen the calendar of club activities for the upper school, and it looks well-rounded - like it has something to appeal to everyone, from French Cafe to DND club to Drama and Performing Arts.

(5) Students

The small student body (I think the whole school is about 150 kids) makes for a tight-knit community. Students engage across ages, and the halls are full of familiar faces, where everyone knows you by name. This fosters a deep sense of belonging for students and families alike. The atmosphere is colourful, creative and upbeat. There is a general sense of contentment, self-expression and friendship in the hallways. Students develop close friendships as they travel through many grades together in small classes. My child is able to maintain friendships with classmates each year and is still able to grab a hug from previous teachers passing by. There is a warm, comforting environment that feels like home outside of home. There is no tolerance for bullying, bigotry or aggressive behaviour.

(5) School Life

My child loves Hydrostone Academy and has told me multiple times that they will never go anywhere else. After two years of pre-primary, we made an attempt at public school for Primary. It was not a supportive enough environment for my 5-year-old and resulted in us returning by Christmas break. As soon as we returned, my child's mental health and mood improved, and they bounced back to the confident and playful kid they've always been. The freedom of self-expression, along with the compassionate teachers, turned things around immediately, and we haven't looked back. The school is very inclusive, there are gender-neutral bathrooms, rooms for sensory support, counselling services, and resource support to accommodate the variety of kids that attend the school... doing their best to meet various social/emotional/sensory needs.

(5) Community

Parents are highly encouraged to participate in school events. There are always volunteer opportunities, and some parents are employed as staff at the school. It's a great way to get to know other families. I volunteer on a weekly basis, pursuing various tasks. Some examples of volunteer opportunities include: serving meals at the fall or winter festival, outdoor beautification projects and gardening, classroom support, building and maintenance tasks, fundraising activities, field trip chaperones, etc. I feel I have a better sense of the school, the school community and my kids' friends through my active involvement at the school. I have also met some wonderful parent friends with shared values/outlook on childhood and education. Because students are mainly picked up at the school, there are opportunities to meet and engage with parents (and teachers) at pick-up and drop-off times.

(5) School Location

The school has a newly planted native-species garden and sensory play area that has enhanced the front playground! Classes often go on outings to Needham Park for outdoor education, both in their peer groups or as a larger school group. I have recently heard about kids going to the local farmer's market for math class and the mailbox for some other surprise outing. Small class sizes make it possible to pursue outings and integrate into the surrounding community.

(5) Admissions

We have had very smooth admission processes. For Pre-Primary, we expressed our interest and met with the Pre-Primary Director on site. There was a small online questionnaire to complete, and we were accepted. We have held our space with early enrolment each year, which I believe is reserved for returning students and siblings. It's always been straightforward and clear. I'll be enrolling my second child in the Primary program this year, and I'm not concerned about any hiccups. We already know it's a good fit for our elementary-aged kids.