The Element

Choosing a school can be a daunting task for a parent. At the end of grade 6, like most people, we had to seek out a new school. Since our daughter had attended Montessori from Kindergarten, our first choice was to investigate The Element High School at Landsdowne. A chance to attend the school for a day during Grade 6 allowed our daughter to make the decision for us. She came home saying “This is exactly where I want to go to school” and we can honestly say it has changed our lives. The last thing anyone wants is to force their child to go to school. So far for Grade 7 and 8 she has wanted to be the first to arrive and is almost the last to leave. They really do provide a program that considers the students stage of development. The staff is exceptional and accepting of a variety of learning needs and provides an environment that is flexible enough to meet those needs. Their cooking program is by far one of the most essential skills all children should have an opportunity to experience. From meal planning, shopping, cooking and serving they are preparing themselves for the real world. Our daughter is more engaged in the meal planning at home and provides us with tips on where to find the best prices and products for our menu. Her routine is not governed by a series of bells. She receives instructions in all areas of the curriculum but has the opportunity to plan and organize her work through independent work periods. It is this balance between structure and freedom that allows her to take charge of her learning and incorporate and apply her interests to the subject matter. I have never seen her more engaged in her learning and she accomplishes so much in her school day. She loves the outdoor space especially the opportunity to skate everyday in the winter if she chooses. To our surprise, she had an awesome time on the Odyssey trips, which helped to establish friendships and build a strong school community. What an awesome experience. She loves the bright, open concept classrooms, their quiet rooms, and the couches and chairs in the lobby to lounge or work in. Attending this school really does allow her to be in her element!

The Element High School is a highly academic, dynamic and innovative place for our children to learn to become independent, highly skilled, well rounded, community driven adults. The teachers are excellent and the modern facilities are designed to inspire 21st Century learning. I think the trip up the Moosenee River in the first 8 days of the school year says it all. Our son is excelling in every facet of learning and development. It feels great to be part of The Element's innovative learning community, and I can only imagine that this new school will draw many others in our area who want to be a part of education at its best.