P r o m o t e d C o n t e n t
selective as some schools in the application
process. What we really want to measure is
the growth of our students from when they
arrive to when they leave. We very carefully
track data to see what our students are
good at and what they need to work on."
Students receive a lot of individual
attention, from the school's highly educated
teachers. "We believe that when you invest
in teacher development," says Burke, "you
increase student achievement."
Personalized Attention
Brockton School in North Vancouver
is what head of school Karen McCulla
describes as "a hidden gem." Established
in 2004, Brockton is a co-ed International
Baccalaureate World School from
Kindergarten to Grade 12. "As a smaller
school, we can give personalized attention
to our students," says McCulla. "We're not
entrenched in particular ways of doing
things, and are able to flex and flow with
the needs of our students; supporting
them where they need to be supported,
and stretching them where they can be
stretched."
If a student has a particular interest in
aviation for example, the teacher can tailor
the learning to include an experiential
exploration of that area of study. Brockton
also fosters students' interests outside the
classroom through athletics, arts, music,
outdoor education and service. Students in
the outstanding World Music Program have
represented Canada on an international
stage. "At Brockton, we see ourselves as
preparing students to succeed and get the
most out of today, while preparing them to
thrive in their futures, with an appreciation
of their personal, local and global
responsibilities," says McCulla.
Education For Life
Another young institution is Kelowna's
Aberdeen Hall, which has grown from 91
students to almost 500 in the past eight
years. Located on a 40-acre property
overlooking Glenmore Valley, Aberdeen
Hall has recently completed an impressive
$23-million campus. The school draws
students from Vernon, Penticton and
the Kettle Valley, and head of school
Christopher Grieve says the opportunities
offered at Aberdeen are unique in the area.
The school has also built up a scholarship
"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"
—Janis Clark,
director of admissions,
Collingwood School
