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I 449 FOUtTH JM . OAJCVILU, All Store Made Sausages J ? | K9 WMIVM4* /* Managing Editor: Rod Jerred Phone: 905-337-5559 Fax: 905-337-5567 e-mail: rjerred@haltonsearch.com \\l I INKS! >.\V II n 2 2 0 0 i · I !\< '.I. I ) 1 B U SIN ESS Wildwood Academy is learning sanctuary School allows children with learning disabilities to have advanced education By Howard Mozel O A K V ILLE B EA VER S TA FF If a good teacher is worth their weight in gold then the value o f a school that truly puts students first might seem incalculable. At Oakville's W ildwood A cadem y, however, the benefits o f caring, dedication and sup port are in fact happily quantifiable. Wildwood - a charitable non-profit organization located on Sheridan Garden Drive - is an academic upgrad ing school for whom students unsuited for other private schools find sanctu ary. intensive interaction with instruc tors and Iife-skills that will benefit them as adults. "What they do is thrive in this envi ronm ent," says Bud Johnson, who founded the school with wife Laurie Simpson to address the shortfall in spe cialized special need education in Halton. "TTiis provides students with the opportunities they deserve." This is especially important for chil dren with learning disabilities and Attention D eficit H yperactivity Disorder (A D H D ) who are often turned away from more traditional pri vate schools, explained W ildwood Director Amber Heenan-Way. 'T h e response has been remarkably positive from our parents." she said. "They're thrilled they've found such a learning environment." What truly sets Wildwood apart are the extraordinary student/teacher ratios available - 12:1, 6:1 and 1:1 - to best suit students' academ ic and social skills level, as well as to better imple ment their individualized education plans. Wildwood's extensively field-tested Direct Instruction programs are used to teach reading, writing, spelling and mathematics to a level o f "mastery." This is accomplished through system atic lessons focused on modeling, rep etition, review and generous positive reinforcement. In addition, students' progress is constantly tracked so that teachers can structure their lessons accordingly. Close interaction with teachers is another Wildwood hallmark. · Heenan-Way explained that the rep etition of lessons learned all through Wildwood Academy offers extraordi nary student/teacher ratios - 12:1,6:1 and 1:1. Amber Heenan-Way, above works closely with student Nader Shugaa. The school, including the front entrance, left, was designed to be a warm and inviting learning place. Patrick Monaghan, below left, takes a break from learning during Wildwood's end o f the year play day. Photos by Peter C. McCusker · Oakville Beaver the school year is essential so that understanding takes deep root and mis takes are never left uncorrected. As a result, pupils don't just pass their courses but must achieve 80 per cent. "Our children are successful every day," said Heenan-Way. In keeping with their philosophy of developing the whole child, Wildwood teachers lead students through a morn ing workout - plus games and sports and encourage healthy eating. The rounding-out o f children is also found in the school's music, drama and art programs plus extracurricular activi ties, clubs and much more. "The children are working in a very positive atmosphere," said Assistant Director Kelly Henderson. "Teachers just love the children." Hopefully, most students will reach a level where they can attend a regular high school or university or, as Johnson says, "train them to be an important part o f the community." "We're hoping to integrate most of the kids out again," he said. One key to Wildwood's success is active parental involvement, from the initial tour and interview process through regular phone calls and faceto-face m eetings. Parents are also involved in creating their child's indi vidual education plan and are encour aged to participate in everything from field trips to the Christmas talent Show. In its first year. W ildwood had 13 students enrolled with an eye on grad ually building to 25 or 30 children. Ideally, says Johnson, there will be about 60 students. "We're planning on staying small," said Heenan-W ay. "W e're grow ing slowly on purpose." Henderson explained that there is also a great em phasis on teacher pro fessional development and upgrading. Even the school's office manager is trained in Direct Teaching so she can fill in whenever necessary. "We have the best of the best," said Heenan-Way. "We have a fabulous staff. They love the children and they love their work." Adds Henderson: "It's a joy to come to work every day." This level o f commitment and style o f teaching goes a long way to releas ing students, their parents and teachers from the vicious circle o f frustration, unhappiness and low self-esteem that often results from problems surround ing special needs children. Johnson explained. "The child wins," he said. The school's architecture is another ingredient in W ildw ood's learning alchemy: looking a lot like a ski chalet, it uses wood, stone, open space, colour and warm, natural light to help stim u late young minds. Time management is also important, like longer school days so there is less homework. After all, says Henderson, family time is also vital to a child's positive development. "Everything optim izes teaching time," she added. The non-profit nature o f the school is another selling-point for W ildwood, said Johnson, since parents understand that all funds are sunk into facilities, not his pocket. "It makes a huge difference," he said. Wildwood Academy is located at 2250 Sheridan Garden Dr. For more information call 905-829-4226 or visit .www.wildwoodacademy.com. Add that finishing touch with accent pieces from Delacor Liz Campbell S P EC IA L T O T H E BEAVER Harrison Smith · Special to the Oakville Beaver Ela Olszewska displays what you'll find in her Bronte store, Delacor Studio, including clothing, decor items and accessories. r -------------- ------------------- - ------------------------ -- -------------------- -- ---------------- _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ---------- , - lick n1Save , oupons Online 4 http://clicknsave2003.com _ Oakville's Online Savings Store J Please visit our pa rticipa tin g m erchants · Cigar & Sweet Variety · Classique Decor · Destination Leather & Patio Furniture · El Spero Family Restaurant · Pets and More · The Detailing Depot · Web Pages 4 U Sometimes creating the perfect inte rior setting for yourself is just a matter of finding just the right accessory to tie the whole room together. It's about inspiration, about finding the perfect focal point for a room. "I want my store to be a source of inspiration," says Ela Olszewska, Delacor Studio owner. "It's a showcase for interesting and unusual accent pieces." Indeed, with its eclectic displays of glass art, accessories and even some small furnishings, Delacor Studio is a delightful place to browse. A colourful selection of framed wall art may pro vide exacdy the right hanging for that empty space. Coffee tables, and a few furnishings dot the space but Olszewska has not cluttered the store; there's a clean, relaxed feel conducive to creative thinking. "I always seek the unique, the unusu al," says Olszewska. ``I don't bring in things that can be found everywhere. And I have tried to create a home feel ing to the store where my customers can enjoy the experience." A graduate of Sheridan College in Interior Design, she began her career at Palma Brava where she says she learned about different areas of design and pol ished her skills. She admits to a great respect for traditional design, but wants, she says, "to open people to contempo rary ideas," a process that is helpful in the eclectic traditional and modem blends most people have in their homes today. "I have a deep appreciation for histo ry and tradition," she says with warmth, "but I want to introduce people to the styles of today as well." It might seem an odd blend, but Olszewska also offers ladies fashions and unique jewelry. "I like to say it's a shop where form meets fashion," she laughs. "It's stylish one-stop shopping." As she has done with decor items, Olszewska has sought clothing offering casual elegance which complements the contemporary lifestyle of women today. And the jewelry here is unique, even extraordinary, offering designs not found anywhere else. Olszewska offers design consulta tions in everything from space planning and colour to window coverings. She carries a line of designer fabrics which can be used to complement and enhance the look of any room. "I offer you a store which showcases ideas and stretches your imagination," she says of her shop. For example, a striking 28-inch glass plate in rich golds, browns and mstic orange can provide a focal point and bring together all the elements in a room. Even the name of her shop reflects her creative instincts. She has tied together her own name, Ela and what she does, d£cor into Delacor Studio. What she has achieved is a unique lifestyle shop. A browse through this lit tle Bronte gem is guaranteed to provide you with a host of decorating ideas as well as some unusual wardrobe addi tions. Delacor Studio is located at 67 Bronte Rd., unit 2, just south of Lakeshore Road., 905-469-4278.