The choice is difficult, and the outcomes are vitally important, so just what are the factors that encourage parents to choose private schooling for their children?
Amongst the most common reasons cited by parents are: safety, small class sizes, and consistently high teacher dedication and communication. These combine, in many cases to allow parents to feel entirely confident that their children are in good hands, while they go off to attend to the other demands of their very often busy day and lifestyle. Also, as the very nature of “family” evolves, it seems to help to have the support of a private school administration, teaching, and office team to assist in attending to the plethora of needs for the child. Current families include dual income, single parent, stay-at-home dads, extended families, and actively engaged grandparents, and as the definition of the family evolves, so too does the importance of a more personal connection with the school.
In addition to close relationships and communications, many parents are drawn to private schools by the wide variety of extracurricular and extended hours options. These allow added choice in helping families to tailor their own needs and schedules with a second “home base”, rather than requiring additional transportation and care giving arrangements. More and more, private schools are offering a “one stop shop” and staff members are bringing much more than their classroom skills to school, to offer value-added athletic, artistic, culinary, and technical programs.
Let’s not forget every parent’s concern for the quality and challenge of their child’s academic program. Private schools meet, and most often exceed, the Ontario Ministry of Education’s program expectations. Small classes allow a more individualized set of challenges for each student, and the option of enrichment or remediation as required. While not required to do so, many private schools also take part in external testing such as the Canadian Test of Basic Skills, and also compete in such challenges as the Canadian National Mathematics League and the Model United Nations, in order to ensure that they are measuring up well with others across the country.
As well, a strong focus on educational technologies is a key feature of private schools, as the most up-to-date equipment in the classrooms will better prepare children for their future learning and careers. It seems as though virtually every career on our children’s list of aspirations involves some aspect of technology, along with the requirement for a level of comfort in learning about the technical aspects of a new position.
Is a private school right for your child? Why not at least visit and acquire the information to make an informed decision? See you at school!
John Bailey, Director of Education and Academy Principal
Rowntree Montessori Schools
Rowntree Montessori Schools cordially invites your family to please drop in ANYTIME at any of our 5 welcoming, friendly and family oriented campuses.
We look forward to seeing you and sharing with you the private school community of which we are so proud.
Please drop by any of our campuses for a personal tour anytime Monday-Friday 9:00am-3:00pm. If you prefer, call to book an appointment for a personal tour anytime Monday-Friday 9:00am-3:00pm.
