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Go to child profileWhytecliff Centres in Langley & Burnaby offer a highly successful Gr. 8-12 curriculum tailored for youth with diverse learning/personal challenges. Our caring and competent staff gently weave the academics with a positive strengths-based therapeutic program, paving the way for whole-life success. Despite struggling in other schools, attendance here soars, and course completion increases 4 to 8 times. 95% of students entering grade 12 graduate, and later self-report as 9.3 out of 10 for being on a solid life path!
What learning looks like now: In order to ensure the safety of children and staff our cleaning procedures have been increased to provide deeper cleaning of both premises and vehicles. HEPA air purifies have been added throughout each building to provide additional air purification and all HVACs have been serviced. We have purchased both fogging equipment and electric sprayers with appropriate food-safe Health Canada chemicals for fogging buildings at night, spraying washrooms (mid-day) and any common use areas prior to any new group’s use. Whytecliff is fortunate to have a relatively low student-to-staff ratio which will help insure physical distancing. We have expanded both our school spaces by greater use of the outdoors and rental of an additional classroom/area from churches next door to both sites which have the same standard COVID cleaning protocols as our main facility. Youth are assigned to smaller, self-contained educational/social ‘groups’ no larger than 10-12 students. Each ‘group’ will be socially distanced from other groups (while also physical distancing within groups). All youth will have their temperature checked upon arrival to the building or initial contact with school.
Whytecliff offers bus transferring.
Additional notes: To ensure every child has access to our programs, we have a few passenger vans at each of our campuses, and are able to offer daily pick-ups and drop-offs at certain hub locations. Please contact us for more details.
The school began operations in 1993, though is an expression of a larger program of activity that dates back to 1975 with the creation of the Focus Foundation, a non-profit intending to provide social and educational support for youth aged 13-19. Since the beginning, the force of the programs was in working with assets, rather than deficits: finding talents and passions, and using those as the means of developing skills and engagement. The school extends that mandate, providing a positive, understanding environment for students who, for a range of reasons, haven’t been able to thrive in prior academic settings. The proof, as they say, is in the pudding, and that’s demonstrated through high rates of attendance, course and degree completion, and academic success. Students arrive with a range of challenges, though also with a shared experience of finding themselves on the periphery of their various social circles. In that sense, while they may be different from each other, here they are different in the same way. The school, for many, is the first truly positive, inclusive community they’ve been a part of. That forms the basis of the work of the school, as does a faculty that brings a wealth of professional and therapeutic accreditation and experience.
here on OurKids.net, is part of our series of in-depth accounts of Canada's leading private schools. Insights were gardnered by visiting the school and interviewing students, parents, faculty, and administrators.
This 50-page review of Whytecliff Agile Learning Centres, published as a book and available to read in full,Read the Our Kids Featured Review of Whytecliff Agile Learning Centres
Focus | Special needs |
---|---|
Academic | Special needs , Troubled Teens, Gifted |
Subject | offered |
---|---|
Evolution as consensus theory | |
Evolution as one of many equally viable theories | |
Evolution is not taught |
Subject | offered |
---|---|
Biology | |
Chemistry | |
Ecology | |
Geology | |
Meteorology | |
Physics | |
Physiology | |
Zoology |
Subject | offered |
---|---|
Acting | |
Dance | |
Drama/Theatre | |
Graphic Design | |
Music | |
Visual Arts |
Subject | offered |
---|---|
Computer science | |
Robotics | |
Web design |
Flexible pacing style | offered |
---|---|
Subject-streaming (tracking) | |
Multi-age classrooms as standard | |
Ability-grouping (in-class) as common | |
Frequent use of cyber-learning (at-their-own-pace) | |
Regular guided independent study opportunities | |
Differentiated assessment |
Full-time programming is offered for all students which is exclusively focused on one or more special needs.
Subject Type | offered |
---|---|
Learning strategy and study counselling; habit formation | |
Extra support and minor accommodations for children experiencing subclinical difficulties |
Subject Type | offered |
---|---|
Accommodations | |
Modifications | |
Extra support |
Read our guide to special needs schools and special education
Curriculum delivery: Enrichment (The main focus is on enrichment. This means that while students may work at a marginally quicker pace than public school peers, the primary aim is to study subject in broader and deeper ways.)
Program | offered |
---|---|
Custom subject enrichment (special arrangement) | |
Custom curriculum compacting (special arrangement) | |
Guided independent study (custom gifted arrangement) | |
Cyber-learning opportunities (custom gifted arrangement) | |
Formalized peer coaching opportunities (specifically for gifted learners to coach others) | |
Custom subject acceleration (special arrangement) | |
Career exploration (custom gifted arrangement) | |
Project-based learning (custom gifted arrangement) | |
Mentorships (custom gifted arrangement) |
Competitive sports: 4
Recreational sports: 17
Whytecliff Agile Learning Centres offers 6 clubs and extracurricular programs.
8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | |
Day | $19,500 |
Discounts
Discount Type | Enrolment Type | Amount |
---|---|---|
Full payment | all students | 5% |
Grade range that need-based aid is offered: | |
Percentage of grade-eligible students receiving financial aid | 0% |
Average aid package size | $0 |
Percentage of total enrolment on financial aid | 0% |
Total aid available | $0 |
This information is not currently available.
Grades | Gender | Living Arrangement | Enrolment | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Group 1 | Gr. 8 to Gr. 12 | Coed | Day | 46 |
Group 2 | Gr. 8 to Gr. 12 | Coed | Homestay | 1 |
Total enrolment | 47 |
Average class size | 3 to 6 |
% of international students (total enrolment) | 2% |
Number of different nationalities within student population | N/A |
Assessment | Required | Grades |
---|---|---|
Interview | 8 - 12 | |
SSAT | ||
SSAT (out of province) | ||
Entrance Exam(s) | ||
Entrance Essay |
Day students: Rolling
Homestay students: N/A
Offer mid-year entry:
Yes
Application fee: N/A
Registration fee: N/A
Deposit:
N/A
This is the percentage of applicants typically accepted into the school. So if 50 students are admitted out of 100 applicants, the school has an overall acceptance rate of 50%.
Student Entry Points
This shows approximately how many openings there are likely to be in each grade in a typical year, as well as the estimated acceptance rate for each grade level.
Student Type | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Day Acceptance (Acceptance rate) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Homestay Acceptance (Acceptance rate) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Average graduating class size | N/A |
Students accepted into post-secondary studies upon graduation | N/A |
Percentage of students who attend post-secondary institutions outside of Canada | N/A |
Students who attended a Ivy+ school Number of students in the past 5 years that that attended one of Harvard, Yale, Princeton, University of Pennsylvania, Dartmouth, Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Stanford, University of Chicago, Oxford or Cambridge (UK) | N/A |
Whytecliff Agile Learning Centres Graduates’ Post-Secondary Studies:
This information is not currently available.Aggregate of All Schools’ Post-Secondary Studies:
Career planning | |
Internships | N/A |
Mentorship Program | N/A |
University counseling |
At Focus Foundation of BC we work from a strength based approach with a focus on students' strengths and abilities. Each student has an IEP that helps them set and meet their educational, social, emotional and physical goals. This approach has a proven track record; this year we had a 95% graduation success rate with our grade 12 students.
Teaching Philosophy:
I want to create an exciting leaning environment that is challenging, interactive and respectful. I believe students learn best by being engaged and knowing it is okay to make mistakes. When students leave my classroom I want them to feel confident and have a passion for life long learning.
Why I work at Whytecliff
I work as a Teacher and Principal for the Focus Foundation of BC. I work here because I can’t imagine another job existing that has the perfect combination of challenges and successes. Whytecliff School has become a part of what defines me as a professional and as a person, and it is a part of me that I am extremely proud of.
Does Whytecliff Agile Learning Centres have good reviews?
You can read 1 review about Whytecliff Agile Learning Centres via this link.
When is the application deadline for Whytecliff Agile Learning Centres?
The application deadline for day students is typically open year-round based on availability. More application details are available here.
What is the curriculum pace at Whytecliff Agile Learning Centres?
Whytecliff Agile Learning Centres has a Student-paced approach to curriculum pace (as opposed to Standard-enriched or Accelerated). Learn more about curriculum pace here.
How many students attend Whytecliff Agile Learning Centres?
There are 47 students enrolled at Whytecliff Agile Learning Centres from Gr. 8 to Gr. 12. 2% are international students. 46 are Day students. 1 are Homestay students. More details about enrollment are available here.
Does Whytecliff Agile Learning Centres offer busing?
Yes
Do students at Whytecliff Agile Learning Centres wear uniforms?
No
Does Whytecliff Agile Learning Centres offer a hot lunch program?
Yes
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