The 2026 OUR KIDS Private School Expo is coming to cities near you. Get your family pass
The regions Unisus School offers busing from are:
Additional notes: We offer bussing daily from Penticton and West Kelowna. In addition, we support our 5-Day (M-F weekday) boarders with transportation options if required. Transportation to boarding events, activities and weekend adventure programs is on our Unisus school busses, driven by our licensed professional drivers.
"UNISUS is a co-educational IB school in Summerland, British Columbia, welcoming local and international students from Kindergarten to Grade 12, with boarding from Grade 7. We believe strong academics and the freedom to explore belong together. In our close-knit community, students are known as individuals, challenged to think for themselves and encouraged to pursue what they love. They leave with the skills, independence and confidence to choose their own path."
At UNISUS, students build strong academic foundations while discovering what they love. Our IB approach develops curious, critical thinkers, and Outdoor Education takes learning into the Okanagan’s mountains and lakes through all four seasons. In Grades 6–10, Academics+ gives students three afternoons a week to pursue sport or enrichment, with no classes missed. In Grades 11 and 12, they can pursue the IB and BC Dogwood diplomas, opening doors to universities around the world. Individual academic support and university and career guidance help each student find their path.
For students in Grade 7 and above, Monday-to-Friday or full-time boarding adds another dimension. After-school activities and weekend adventures help them explore Canada and form friendships. Our boarding curriculum builds the independence and life skills to thrive wherever their next steps lead.
Here, students discover what they’re capable of and gain the confidence to make it happen.
At UNISUS, we make room for students to discover who they are, so we give less priority to a one-size-fits-all school experience. Academics+ sets aside three afternoons a week for students in Grades 6–10 to pursue sport or enrichment. We choose this time deliberately, while keeping academic classes fully supported and ensuring no classes are missed. We also make outdoor learning part of the school experience, even when learning indoors might be simpler to schedule. These choices give students space to develop interests, build independence and apply what they learn. They leave with strong academics and a clearer sense of where they want to go next.
In 2023, we heard from hockey families whose children were balancing school with practices after class and on weekends, plus travel to tournaments. Keeping up with academics could be difficult. We created the UNISUS Hockey Academy to bring training into the school day, giving students the time and support to pursue their sport while staying engaged in their studies.
That idea grew. Snowsports, Motorsports and Soccer academies followed, then Enrichment Programs opened another avenue for students to explore their interests. These pathways became Academics+.
Today, students spend up to 3 afternoons a week pursuing what they love, with no academic classes missed. They build skills & a portfolio that shows universities who they are beyond their marks, while gaining a clearer sense of the paths they might choose after graduation.
Academics+ sets UNISUS apart by making time for students to pursue their passions within the school day, while keeping academics at the heart of their education.
Students who get the most from UNISUS are curious, open to new experiences and ready to take an active role in their learning. Some arrive with a passion for sport, the arts or technology; others discover one here. They thrive in an ideally sized classroom where teachers know them well and can give individual attention. We aim for no more than 22 students per class in Kindergarten to Grade 7 and 25 in Grades 8–12.
UNISUS is a strong match for families who value academic achievement alongside personal growth. They want their child to be challenged and supported, to learn outdoors, pursue their interests and develop independence. They see education as a partnership with the school and welcome opportunities shaped around their child’s strengths and goals.
UNISUS may not be the best fit for families who want their child’s school experience to centre on big-city life. We are in Summerland, a quieter Okanagan community surrounded by lakes, mountains and open space. Students looking for busy streets, large shopping centres and entertainment close at hand may prefer an urban school, though Penticton and Kelowna are within reach.
Our location shapes daily life here. We make time for outdoor learning, and boarding students have opportunities to explore the region through weekend adventures. Students who would rather spend most of their free time in a city may not enjoy that emphasis. Those who are excited to get outside, experience Canada’s seasons and find a calm place to study and build friendships are likely to feel at home.
Families often tell us they want their child to be known, supported and challenged. They are drawn to our IB approach, individual attention and the opportunity to pursue interests through Academics+ without missing academic classes. For families weighing other schools, that combination can stand out: students can work toward strong academic goals while making meaningful time for sport, enrichment and outdoor learning.
Boarding families also value the chance for their child to live on campus, build independence and experience Canada in a welcoming international community. Our setting in Summerland offers a quieter place to study, with the Okanagan’s lakes and mountains close by. Each family has its own priorities, but many choose UNISUS because they can picture their child growing here, both in and beyond the classroom.
The image many families first associate with UNISUS is an IB school in the Okanagan where learning is exciting and extends beyond the classroom. Students study in a supportive community, then head outdoors or spend part of their school week pursuing a passion through Academics+. For boarding families, that picture also includes living on campus and exploring Canada with friends from around the world.
It is an inviting first impression, but it points to something deeper: we make room for students to succeed academically while discovering their interests, growing in independence and finding their own direction.
Families often notice the Okanagan setting, but may not realize how much it shapes a student’s experience. For boarding students, weekends spent skiing, hiking, paddling or trying something new are more than outings. They are chances to build friendships, grow in confidence and experience Canada firsthand. Paired with a close-knit community where staff know each student, these experiences help young people feel at home while becoming more independent.
The scenery draws families in; the growth that happens within it is what often stays with them.
Based in the beautiful Okanagan, British Columbia, we have a unique chance to ignite a passion and respect for outdoor exploration and recreation. The UNISUS outdoor education program has the natural advantage of the renowned sunny Okanagan climate and four-season outdoor activities, including skiing, snowshoeing, hiking, swimming, rock climbing, ziplining and direct access to some of the best hiking trails, lakes, and ski hills in the world. We also boast a tight-knit, caring community!
UNISUS has expanded its Academics+ program to give students more opportunities to pursue their passions alongside their academics. What began in 2023 with hockey training built into the school day grew to include Snowsports, Motorsports and Soccer Academies. We then added Enrichment programs, broadening opportunities for students interested in visual arts, music, outdoor education, technology, entrepreneurship and more.
Students can now dedicate several afternoons each week to Academics+. This expansion reflects our commitment to supporting individual interests and bringing our pillars of Technology & Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Outdoor Education into everyday learning. Students can deepen an existing passion or discover something new while building confidence, practical skills and a portfolio that supports their opportunities beyond school.
Over the next five years, our vision is to build on what makes UNISUS distinctive: strong academics, personalized support and opportunities for students to discover and pursue their interests. We aim to continue developing Academics+ in response to student interests, creating deeper connections between learning, our three pillars and real-world experiences.
As technology and the workplace evolve, we want students to grow as confident thinkers, creative problem-solvers and adaptable learners. Strengthening university and career guidance, alongside opportunities to develop practical skills and explore different pathways, will help students make informed choices about life after school. Throughout this growth, preserving our close-knit community and the individual attention students receive will remain central to how we serve families.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
By logging in or creating an account, you agree to Our Kids' Terms and Conditions. Some information presented on this page may be paid advertising provided by the advertisers and is not warranted or guaranteed by OurKids.net or its associated websites. By using this website, creating or logging into an Our Kids account, you agree to Our Kids' Terms and Conditions. Please also see our Privacy Policy. OUR KIDS ™ © 2026 All rights reserved.
