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Advertorial 31 | Thursday, January 22, 2015 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com Advertorial A global-minded approach to elementary education "This was the best decision we have made for our child. We feel like part of a family and the level of education is outstanding," states a MacLachlan parent in a recent survey. MacLachlan College is highly regarded as a school that embodies a strong sense of community with a warm family atmosphere and rigorous academic curriculum. Through its student-centered, personalized approach to learning, MacLachlan's engaging teachers inspire students providing them the freedom to discover, accept challenges and achieve. MacLachlan is the only independent school in Oakville offering the prestigious International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme (PYP) for students in Pre-Kindergarten to Grade 6. The PYP curriculum combines the best research and practice from a range of international systems creating a relevant, engaging and global educational framework. Individualized learning is nurtured through a culture of inquiry where students are actively engaged in authentic tasks. Inquiry learning not only develops superior higherorder thinking skills, but also engages students in their own learning and encourages them to explore, embrace new challenges with confidence, and develop an enduring curiosity about the world. With a focus on the overall growth of the developing child, a MacLachlan education touches hearts as well as minds. By encompassing the social, physical, emotional and cultural needs of every student, MacLachlan students are encouraged to strive for excellence in their academic and personal endeavours. MacLachlan College So many great ideas about teaching and learning have little impact on educational practice. Innovations in education are attempted all the time, but few of them stick. The reason for this is that many innovations, changes, or reforms are those which do not affect the core of educational practice ­ the nature of knowledge as understood by students and teachers and how this is manifested in the classroom. The core of educational practice may include physical layouts of schools and classrooms, processes of assessing and evaluating student learning, communicating this to students, teachers, and parents, groupings of students, delivery style of lessons, types of questions that are asked, levels of thinking that are attained, teacher's working relationships with each other. These all focus on the outcomes of learning experiences. Schools change all the time, but it is really not changing the core of educational practice. They change the way they arrange schedules, they change class sizes, they change textbook series, tests, grouping practices, administrative roles, but these are not connected to the way knowledge is constructed or the division of responsibility between teachers and students. Getting students to learn at higher lev- Implementing schoolwide enrichment model Oakville Christian School els and increasing student achievement in schools today requires change in the way we do school. It requires changing the core of schooling. This is the sort of change in which Oakville Christian School is interested. Implementing the Schoolwide Enrichment Model improves the learning experience for its students in several ways. Students have the opportunity to shine in the areas where they are strong and are deeply interested. Students are exposed to many real world applications to learning and many career opportunities that get them thinking about their future. Students have the opportunities to face head-on some real world problems and apply the knowledge they are learning to create real solutions and products. The Schoolwide Enrichment Model is a plan designed to bring about changes in schools. Its vision for schools is that they become places of talent development. Everyone has an important role to play in societal improvement and everyone's role can be enhanced if educators provide opportunities, resources, and encouragement. If you would like to learn more about the Schoolwide Enrichment Model please call Janice Wood at 905- 825 -1247 ext 221 to arrange a tour. ne e s pm 4 u Op -2 y2 O m r H a 10 nua a j MacLachlan College Open House MacLachlan's small school approach embodies a strong sense of community and a warm family atmosphere for students in Pre-Kindergarten to Grade 12. We invite you to attend our Open House on Saturday, January 24 from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Learn about our new Bursary Program for students entering Grades 8, 9 and 10 in September 2015. Oakville Christian School is committed to instilling confidence in young lives during their formative years, and cultivating in its students solid Christian character traits and values through a safe, caring, learning environment where every child matters. 905-844-0372 ext. 235 admissions@maclachlan.ca 337 Trafalgar Road, Oakville www.maclachlan.ca Individual tuition assistance of up to $10,000 will be awarded to mission appropriate students on a financial need basis.