How we see SPIRE Academy
It’s true that every school is unique, though SPIRE proves the point and then some. The academic program is strong, as you’d expect from any school of this stature, though the draw, rightly, is the athletic program. For the elite athlete, you’d be hard pressed to create an environment more suited to personal, academic, and athletic success. The school is within an elite training institute, coaches are at the top of their games, very literally. Students engage with others of a like mind, like aspirations, and like determination to succeed. They also interact with mentors who not only know their field, but are at the very pinnacle of them, including goal medal Olympians, professional athletes, and professional coaches. The facilities match all of that. If there is a school better suited to the talented, aspiring athlete, we haven’t heard of it.
How SPIRE Academy sees itself
"SPIRE Academy's learning environment balances academic, passions, professional and career aspirations within programs that nurture personal growth and stimulate the desires to challenge oneself. All of this is done while helping individuals identify and experience professions and career development opportunities that better prepare them for all of life’s journey. Passions in 2023 include Basketball, Esports, Lacrosse, Soccer, Swimming, Track & Field and Wrestling. Grades 9-12 plus Post Grad Programs."
"SPIRE Academy's vision is to provide an environment where individuals: excel academically, master life’s necessary personal skills, experience tomorrow’s emerging career opportunities and exceed expectations in their sport or other passion specialization."
"SPIRE is committed to unlocking an individual’s full potential. We integrate professional training, education and competition across a wide variety of sports, disciplines and possible career paths.
Sports is our foundation, but our specialty training options will eventually include a wide mix of potential professions as well. From basketball to esports, swimming and wrestling to track and field and drone racing, no other academy can match the diversity of our curriculum offerings. SPIRE studen"
"Our complex is one of the largest indoor, multi-sport, training and competition facilities in the world. With more than 750,000 sq. ft. under our roof and over 500 acres of outdoor recreational space, SPIRE has the unique capacity to simultaneously host a residential academy, clubs, leagues, tournaments and championship events, no matter the weather or the season. Every consideration has been taken to create an unparalleled experience."
"Our accredited 9-12th grade college preparatory academic program provides students with the learning rigor to earn admission to any college or university in the country. The program is cross-discipline and built on a project based experiential model that meets the needs of multiple types of learners. This customized academic model is designed to meet students where they are…and not require them to adapt to preconceived teacher expectations."
"90 Student Athletes representing 15 countries and 15 U.S. states all bound by their commitment to fueling their passion.
The comprehensive mix of professional level training integrates athletics and academics, skills training and performance training and personal and career development in ways that has never been done before. High school and post grad athletes on one campus, pursuing specialty passions ranging from basketball to e-gaming, swimming to drone racing, pole vaulting or sprinting"
SPIRE Academy operates summer camps and programs. Click here to learn about SPIRE Institute & Academy .
How people from the school’s community see SPIRE Academy
Top-down influence on the school’s direction and tone
Dr. Katherine Reedy, Dean of Academics
SPIRE Academics is built on the concept that we strive to prepare students for college and life. Looking to find ways to link core content to projects with real-world application helps bring relevance to the work students do within the classroom. Each class integrates disciplines and faculty strategically work to create opportunities for students to challenge themselves where they are in their academic growth and find purpose in their learning. We are excited to carry learning from the classroom to the field and back. We believe that learning does not happen in isolation and utilizing passion helps anchor learning. For example students may collect data on the basketball court and bring it back to the classroom to look at statistics, physics and geometry.
We are excited to bring new faculty to SPIRE this coming year to support the academic division. Teachers will be charged with working together and building an academic experience that challenges students, broadens their perspectives and links learning to life.
Additionally, the academic division is working closely with residential life to integrate the boarding curriculum with the academic day. Incorporating opportunities to explore the greater Cleveland area, expand service programming and bringing in career exploration students will have the chance to delve deeply into understanding how their passions can lead to future career opportunities. Athletics, academics and residential life will continue to work closely together to ensure there is a balance between training, learning and down time.
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.”
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.
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: SPIRE Academy
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