P R O M O T E D C O N T E N T
An Enriching
Educational
Environment
Independent schools offer students extraordinary learning
experiences that extend beyond the classroom
E
ach independent school has its own unique culture
and areas of expertise. With that said, the search for
the right school for your child should begin as early
as possible.
Janis Clark, director of admissions at
Collingwood School in West Vancouver, says that
parents should begin looking at schools at least a
year in advance.
Collingwood School is the largest independent day school in
Canada with 1,265 students, and by spring the school is pretty
much at full enrolment for the following year. "Make sure you
contact the school to schedule a tour, see the school in action
and meet as many people as you can," she says. "We love the
relationship that starts with this first in-person meeting, and
we develop a good comfort level with our families. We also
encourage families to visit more than one school so that they
can compare and contrast programs and facilities in order to
make an informed application decision for their child."
For help in the research process, parents are turning to
the various resources provided by Our Kids Media. The free
website (www.ourkids.net) is Canada's largest website about
private education. Its most popular feature is a school search,
which allows parents to find a school by location, grade level
or programs. The site offers school profiles with information
about tuition, ratings, scholarships and details about the
application process. The site also offers listings of open houses
and helpful articles on topics such as the application process
and financial aid.
Our Kids Media also publishes an annual magazine aimed
at helping parents navigate the world of private education.
Published every fall, Canada's Private School Guide is a
comprehensive overview of 44 private schools in B.C. and 312
private schools across Canada. It also features the latest trends
in education and offers a glossary of terms such as International
Baccalaureate and Advanced Placement. Canada's Private
i n d E p E n d E n t s c h o o l s
