SPECIAL FEATURE
At Southridge, our vibrant and welcoming
community provides a unique K-12
independent school experience like no other.
Accepting applications for September 2025.
Learn more and apply at www.southridge.ca
604.535.5056
2656 160th St.
Surrey, BC V3Z 0B7
Our stunning 40 acre campus is located conveniently on
central Vancouver Island with easy access to Metro
Vancouver, Tofino and Mount Washington.
A Transformative Education
Preschool to Grade 12 Independent School
www.aspengroveschool.ca
Apply Now
for the 2025/26
School Year
hives. "Learning by doing is at the core of
our International Baccalaureate program, as
well as ensuring that there are no ordinary
days at Aspengrove," says Dr. Gary Kern,
Aspengrove's head of school. "Aspengrove
also recognizes the importance of co-
curricular engagement, individual character
and social responsibility."
At the younger grades, the school's Forest
Program enriches classroom learning by
providing teacher led exploration and learn-
ing opportunities in the natural environ-
ment. "Our students learn how to explore,
observe and inquire in their daily walks and
play throughout the campus," Dr. Kern says.
At the older grades, the co-curricular
program has been developed to celebrate
the activities that define living on the West
Coast, which means students participate in
a variety of activities including mountain
biking, skiing and snowboarding, rock
climbing, and trail running, as well as
arts and academic clubs that celebrate
Vancouver Island.
Aspengrove just celebrated its 20th year as
Nanaimo's only ISABC School (Independent
Schools Association of BC) and the team is
excited to build upon those first two decades.
"Nanaimo is becoming a globally minded
community," Dr. Kern says, "and Aspengrove
aspires to lead our community in welcoming
new families to our community and to
prepare future leaders for a changing world."
PEAR TREE SCHOOL
"We believe students learn best when they
are actively engaged with the material, mak-
ing real-world connections that go beyond
textbook theory," says Paul Romani, founder
and director at Pear Tree School.
The school's entire progressive curricu-
lum is built around experiential and proj-
ect-based learning, where critical thinking
is embedded into every step. Students are
encouraged to explore, question, and apply
their knowledge to solve problems or create
something meaningful.
One program example is the Urban
Design theme for grades 6-7, where students
actively engage in the process of city planning.
They conduct fieldwork to explore local
neighborhoods, identify design challenges
and study urban infrastructure.
"From there, students work in teams to
design their own sustainable city models,
using both physical materials and technology
to bring their vision to life," Romani says.
"This process combines geography, math and
environmental studies, giving them practical,
real-world applications of these subjects."
