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Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/394777
P r o m o t e d C o n t e n t van Hardenburg, communications coordinator. "It's always really incredible to see them come back from their trip with a real sense of accomplishment." St. Margaret's is a secular school of 350 students from Jr. Kindergarten to Grade 12. As a small school, programming can be nimble and progressive. "Our goal is to provide a space that is uniquely for girls, and an education that empowers them for life. We are able to look at the needs of individual girls and specific age groups. For example, how do we set her up with great self-confidence at the age when we know girls lose self-confidence? How do we give her challenges so that she is able to find her voice and discover her interests?" The misperceptions about a school for girls are things van Hardenburg hears all too often. "People think we must be Catholic, the environment must be stodgy and ultra-conservative, and that the girls will grow up and not know how to relate to boys. In fact it's quite the opposite." New Learning Practices Founded in 1996, West Point Grey Academy (WPGA) has always been focused on growing both their student body and innovative educational programs. "We want to be a model for schools offering experiential, interdisciplinary programs and partnerships," says Tam Matthews, head of school. "At West Point Grey, we have invested fully in our people and programs. That's how we have created classrooms with leading teaching and learning practices." He references Harvard research that defines quality teaching by three characteristics: rigour, relevance and relationships. WPGA's professional development for teachers includes a mentorship program, training in attachment theory and partnerships with renowned educators and University of British Columbia professors. Such practices have produced excellent outcomes. WPGA students excel in external testing, and 100 per cent are accepted to university, including the top schools around the world. Despite its young age, Meadowridge School in Maple Ridge has already established itself as an outstanding academic institution with an innovative approach. The school is one of five International Baccalaureate Continuum schools in B.C., meaning that all grades from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12 are accredited by the IB Program. In June 2014, Meadowridge's first IB Diploma class graduated, with excellent results. Eighty-four per cent of the class attempted and received the diploma, which is equivalent to first-year university. The exams are scored internationally, and Meadowridge students scored 12 per cent above the world average scores. "The IB Diploma Program is considered to be the most rigorous curriculum in the world," says headmaster Hugh Burke, "so we were very happy with that." He attributes the school's success to a lot of diligent work over time. "We are not as i n d E p E n d E n t s c h o o l s