Indirect Support:
AN INDEPENDENT SCHOOL FOR DIVERSE LEARNERS. WillowWood was founded in 1980 based on the core value that all students have a right to learn with dignity; that a warm and nurturing school can serve as a foundation for remarkable lives; and that it is the whole person who matters. We have a long tradition of delivering targeted, personal education that considers each student's needs, inclinations and strengths. This individualized approach ensures that students are able to discover and embrace their strengths, address their weaknesses, and maintain their dignity. Classes are small, the atmosphere is warm, and the pedagogical approach is holistic. Our effective teaching strategies, enthusiastic staff members, innovative programs and friendly environment bring out the best in students, build self-confidence and inspire a love of learning. If your family is seeking a new style of school that is small, with a strong history of inspiring students, come by for a visit. We’d love to meet you.
By any measure, there’s a lot to love about WillowWood. That said, for the families that enroll here, it’s that they say this: “all students have a right to learn with dignity.” Truly they mean it, precisely because they rub up against that concept in every class they teach, every day of the school year. The work of the school is dedicated to supporting learners who, for a range of reasons, need something different, and who, for whatever reason, aren’t adequately supported in other academic environments. Their personal needs are assessed, as are their strengths and interests, and instruction begins from that point, seeking to build on their abilities in order to grow engaged learners equipped with the confidence and the skills to establish a place in the community of the school and beyond.
Gallery showcasing school life and general photos of WillowWood School.
Gallery showcasing specific locations and facilities found at WillowWood School.
| Focus | Special needs |
|---|---|
| Academic | Special needs |
DIBELS Testing: This school does not use DIBELS testing to assess reading progress.
| Subject | offered |
|---|---|
| Biology | |
| Chemistry | |
| Ecology | |
| Geology | |
| Meteorology | |
| Physics | |
| Physiology | |
| Zoology |
| Subject | offered |
|---|---|
| Evolution as consensus theory | |
| Evolution as one of many equally viable theories | |
| Evolution is not taught |
| Subject | offered |
|---|---|
| Acting | |
| Dance | |
| Drama/Theatre | |
| Graphic Design | |
| Music | |
| Visual Arts |
| Expressive | |
| Disciplined |
| 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
| Program | offered |
|---|---|
| Full-time gifted program (parallel to rest of school) | |
| Part-time gifted program (pull-out; parallel to rest of class) |
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) |
| Lettered or numbered grades | Gr. 1 to Gr. 12 |
| Prose (narrative)-based feedback | Gr. 1 to Gr. 12 |
| Academic achievement reporting | Gr. 1 to Gr. 12 |
| Habits and behaviour reporting | Gr. 1 to Gr. 12 |
| Parent-teacher meetings | Gr. 1 to Gr. 12 |
Competitive sports: 13
Recreational sports: 16
WillowWood School offers 17 clubs and extracurricular programs.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | |
| Day (Domestic) | $18,100 | $20,300 | $21,200 | $22,300 | ||||||||
| Day (International) | $21,000 | $22,200 | $23,500 | |||||||||
| Grades | Gender | Living Arrangement | Enrolment | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Group 1 | Gr. 1 to Gr. 12 | Coed | Day | 250 |
| Total enrolment | 250 |
| Average class size | 10 to 16 |
| % of international students (total enrolment) | 20% |
| Number of different nationalities within student population | 10 |
| Assessment | Required | Grades |
|---|---|---|
| Interview | 1 - 12 | |
| SSAT | ||
| SSAT (out of province) | ||
| Entrance Exam(s) | ||
| Entrance Essay |
Day students: Rolling
Offer mid-year entry: Yes
Application fee: N/A
Registration fee: N/A
Deposit: N/A
WillowWood admissions involve determining the fit between the student and school. Our process involves several steps:
Domestic Applications
1. An information interview with the parent(s) or guardian(s)
2. In Lower and Middle Schools (gr.1-8), the prospective student usually visits a classroom for a morning. In Upper School, (grade 9-12), the prospective student comes in for an interview with a member of the admissions team, and a tour.
3. A review of documentation is conducted by the admissions team.
4. Placement is offered.
International Applications
1. A parent, guardian or agent contacts the school and receives a list of necessary information.
2. The information is assessed by our admissions team.
3. An interview meeting (in person or via telephone/ Skype) is held with the prospective student's parent(s)/guardian(s)/agent, our admissions team, and the student.
4. Placement is offered.
Admissions are welcome all year.To contact WillowWood with regard to enrolling a student, please call 416 444 7644, or email [email protected].
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 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day Acceptance (Acceptance rate) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Average graduating class size | 25 |
| 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 |
WillowWood School 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 |
What WillowWood School says:
Alumni Highlights
When visitors walk into the building for the first time they often remark on the special feeling the school has.
That feeling (which I call magical) is a combination of the history and philosophy of the school, the energy of the staff, and the spirit of the students.
When I founded this school it was based on the belief that learning can and should be fun and that school should be a positive and rewarding experience.
We know that one size does not fit all and that students flourish when their school embraces their strengths, addresses their needs and respects their dignity. My staff and I have been successfully delivering student-centred, individualized education in a warm and caring environment for over 30 years.
That's the magic we make at WillowWood.
If your family is seeking a new style of school with a strong history of inspiring students, come by for a visit. I'd love to meet you.
- Joy Kurtz, Director
The Trusted Source for Families since 1998
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