& INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS EDUCATION GUIDE
INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS DIRECTORY Unschooling? Enough?
Independent Schools Directory
Alexander Academy
Blessed Sacrament School
Canada Royal Arts High School
Century High School
Claren Academy
Vancouver 9-12
Vancouver K-7
Vancouver 8-12
Vancouver 10-12
Vancouver K-7
Columbia Academy Vancouver 9-12
Columbia College Vancouver 10-12
Corpus Christi School
Crofton House
Vancouver K-7
Vancouver K-12
Eaton Arrowsmith School Vancouver 4-10
Franklin School
Vancouver 8-12
Fraser Academy Vancouver 2-12
Hongde Elementary Vancouver K-5
Immaculate Conception School
Johnathan Academy
King David High School
Vancouver K-7
Vancouver 8-12
Vancouver 8-12
LaSalle College Vancouver High School Vancouver 10-12
Little Flower Academy Vancouver 8-12
Lowell High School Vancouver 10-12
Madrona School
604-687-8832 alexanderacademy.ca
604-876-7211 ess.vancouver.bc.ca
604-354-1194 ciraschool.com
604-730-8138 centuryhighschool.ca
604-428-6694 clarenacademy.org
778-379-6811 columbiaacademy.ca
604-683-8360 columbiacollege.ca
604-321-1117 cchristi.ca
604-263-3255 croftonhouse.ca
604-264-8327 eatonarrowsmith.com
604-876-8812 franklinschool.ca
604-736-5575 fraseracademy.ca
604-416-0386 hongdeschool.ca
604-224-5012 cisva.bc.ca
604-971-6888 johnathana.ca
604-263-9700 kdhs.org
604-355-1626 lasallecollegevancouver.com
604-738-9016 lfabc.org
604-336-0456 lowellhighschool.ca
Vancouver K-9 604-499-7303 madronaschool.com
Notre Dame Regional Secondary Vancouver 8-12
Our Lady of Perpetual Help
Our Lady of Sorrows
Pacific Spirit School
Pattison High School
Pear Tree Elementary
Qawsain Knowledge House
Royal Canadian College
St Andrew’s
St Anthony of Padua
604-255-5454 ndrs.org
Vancouver K-7 604-228-8811 olphbc.ca
Vancouver K-7
Vancouver K-10
Vancouver 10-12
Vancouver 1-7
604-253-2434 cisva.bc.ca
604-222-1900 pacificspiritschool.org
604-608-8788 pattisonhighschool.ca
604-355-2155 peartree.school
Vancouver K-9 604-783-9011 qawsain.ca
Vancouver 10-12
Vancouver K-7
Vancouver K-7
St Augustine’s Vancouver K-7
St Francis of Assisi
604-738-2221 royalcanadiancollege.com
604-325-6317 cisva.bc.ca
604-261-4043 sapadua.ca
604-731-8024 cisva.bc.ca
Vancouver K-7 604-253-7311 sfaschool.ca
St Francis Xavier Vancouver K-7 604-254-2714 sfxschool.ca
St George’s School
St John’s Academy
Vancouver K-12
Vancouver 9-12
St John’s School Vancouver K-12
St Joseph’s
Vancouver K-7
St Jude’s Vancouver K-7
St Mary’s Vancouver K-7
St Patrick Regional Secondary Vancouver 8-12
604-221-3608 stgeorges.bc.ca
604-683-4572 sjavan.ca
604-732-4434 stjohns.bc.ca
604-872-5715 saintjosephschool.ca
604-434-1633 stjude.ca
604-437-1312 cisva.bc.ca
604-874-6422 stpats.bc.ca
St Patrick’s Elementary Vancouver K-7 604-879-4411 spev.ca
Stratford Hall Vancouver K-12
The Westside School Vancouver K-12
Vancouver Christian Vancouver K-12
Vancouver College Vancouver K-12
Vancouver Formosa Academy Vancouver 7-12
Vancouver Hebrew Academy Vancouver K-9
Vancouver Talmud Torah Elementary
VISST
West Coast Christian School
West Point Grey Academy
York House School
Vancouver K-7
Vancouver 8-9
Vancouver K-12
Vancouver K-12
Vancouver K-12
604-436-0608 stratfordhall.ca
604-687-8021 thewestsideschools.ca
604-435-3113 vancs.org
604-833-7769 vancouvercollege.ca
604-436-2332 vfa.bc.ca
604-266-1245 vhebrewacademy.com
604-736-7307 talmudtorah.com
604-566-7836 visst.ca
604-255-2990 westcoastchristianschool.ca
604-222-8750 wpga.ca
604-736-6551 yorkhouse.ca
LOCATION
Burnaby Online Burnaby K-12
888-479-8882 online.burnabyschools.ca
Burnaby Online serves and advocates for individuals and their families to determine the optimal location, direction and environment for their learning. Personal commitment, trust and respect are the cornerstones of our learning community.
Deer Lake SDA School Burnaby K-12
Fawkes Academy Burnaby K-12
Holy Cross Elementary School Burnaby K-7
604-434-5844 deerlakeschool.ca
604-299-4144 abacentre.ca
604-299-3530 cisva.bc.ca
John Knox Christian, Elementary Campus Burnaby K-6 604-522-1410 johnknoxbc.org
Our Lady of Mercy Burnaby K-7
604-526-7121 ourladyofmercy.ca
St Francis de Sales Burnaby K-7 604-435-5311 sfdsschool.ca
St Helen’s Burnaby K-7 604-299-2234 cisva.bc.ca
St Michaels Burnaby K-7 604-526-9768 cisva.bc.ca
St Thomas More Collegiate Burnaby 8-12 604-521-1801 stmc.bc.ca
Whytecliff Agile Learning Centre Burnaby 8-12 604-438-4451 walc.ca
Coquitlam College, Brookmere Secondary Coquitlam 11-12
604-939-6633 coquitlamcollege.com
Greater Heights Learning Academy Coquitlam K-12 604-937-3641 ghla.ca
Our Lady of Fatima Coquitlam K-7 604-936-4228 fatimaschool.ca
Queen of All Saints Elementary Coquitlam K-7 604-931-9071 qasbc.ca
Royal Bridge High School Coquitlam 12 604-474-3718 royalbridge.ca
Traditional Learning Academy Coquitlam K-11 604-931-7265 traditionallearning.com
Delta Christian School Delta K-7 604-946-2514 deltachristianschool.org
Immaculate Conception School Delta K-7 604-596-6116 cisva.bc.ca
Sacred Heart Delta K-7 604-946-2611 shsdelta.org
Southpointe Academy Delta K-12
604-948-8826 southpointe.ca
Al-Hidayah School New Westminster K-7 604-524-2752 alhidayahschool.ca
John Knox Christian, Secondary Campus New Westminster 7-12 604-523-1580 johnknoxbc.org
PALS Autism Society (School Program) New Westminster 1-12 604-251-7257 palsautismschool.ca
Purpose Independent Secondary School New Westminster 8-12 604-512-6888 purposesociety.org
Urban Academy Junior New Westminster K-7 604-524-2211 urbanacademy.ca
Urban Academy Senior New Westminster 8-12 604-524-2211 urbanacademy.ca
Bodwell High School North Vancouver 8-12 604-998-1000 bodwell.edu
Brockton Preparatory School North Vancouver K-12 604-929-9201 brocktonschool.com
Cousteau L’Ecole Francaise Interna’le North Vancouver K-9
604-924-2457 cousteauschool.org
Holy Trinity School North Vancouver K-7 604-987-4454 holytrinityschool.ca
Kenneth Gordon North Vancouver 1-12 604-985-5224 kgms.ca
Lions Gate Christian Academy North Vancouver K-12 604-984-8226 lgca.ca
Saplings Nature School North Vancouver K-4 778-838-0335 saplingsoutdoorprogram.ca
St Alcuin College for the Liberal Arts North Vancouver K-12
604-360-8656 alcuin.ca
St Edmund’s North Vancouver K-7 604-988-7364 stedmunds.ca
St Pius X Elementary School North Vancouver K-7 604-929-0345 saintpius.ca
St Thomas Aquinas North Vancouver 8-12 604-987-4431 aquinas.org
Vancouver Waldorf School North Vancouver K-12 604-985-7534 vws.ca
Archbishop Carney Regional Secondary Port Coquitlam 8-12
604-942-7465 acrss.org
British Columbia Christian Academy Port Coquitlam K-12 604-941-8426 bcchristianacademy.ca
Hope Lutheran Christian School Port Coquitlam K-8 604-942-5322 hopelcs.ca
Our Lady of the Assumption Port Coquitlam K-7 604-942-5522 cisva.bc.ca
Ark Elementary Richmond K-4 778-990-3520 noahsarkschool.ca
Az-Zahraa Islamic Academy Richmond K-9 604-274-7861 azia.ca
BC Muslim School Richmond K-7 604-270-2511 bcmaschools.ca
Canada Star Secondary School Richmond 8-12 604-285-7766 canstarlearning.com
Choice School for Gifted Children Richmond K-8 604-273-2418 choiceschool.org
City Vancouver Academy Richmond 10-12
604-278-6811 cityvanacademy.ca
Cornerstone Christian Academy Richmond K-7 604-303-9181 cebccanada.com
Fawkes Academy (DL) Richmond 1-12 604-261-8782 abacentre.ca
Maple Hill School Richmond 9-12
Maple Leaf School, KPU Richmond 10-12
604-285-9665 maplehilledu.com
604-599-2639 mapleleafedu.com
Pythagoras Academy Richmond K-8 604-370-0199 pythagorasacademy.ca
Richmond Christian School Richmond K-12 604-272-8238 myrcs.ca
Richmond Jewish Day School Richmond K-7 604-275-3393 rjds.ca
Rothewood Academy Richmond JK 604-279-1818 rothewood.com
At Rothewood Academy our passion and belief is to help the individual child embrace their inquisitiveness and creativity through play based and natural learning environments.
St Joseph the Worker Richmond K-7 604-277-1115 stjosephtheworker.ca
St Paul School Richmond K-7 604-277-4487 stpaulschool.ca
Windsor Hall Richmond 6-8 604-285-7766 canstarlearning.com
Al-Mustafa School Surrey K-2 604-900-2773 amschool.ca
Bibleway Christian Academy Surrey K-12 604-576-8188 biblewayacademy.org
Cloverdale Catholic School Surrey K-7 604-773-9743 cisva.bc.ca
Diamond School Surrey K-12 604-576-1146 diamondschool.ca
Fraser Valley School Surrey K-8 604-427-2282 fves.bc.ca
G.A.D. Elementary School Surrey K-9 604-595-0888 gadschool.com
Glarea Elevated Learning Surrey K-7 604-372-3725 glareaschool.com
Gobind Sarvar School Surrey K-11 604-930-2122 gobindsarvar.ca
Holy Cross Regional High School Surrey 8-12 604-581-3023 holycross.bc.ca
Honour Secondary School Surrey 8-12 604-992-3982 pcrs.ca
iLearn Secondary School Society Surrey 8-12 604-590-5504 ilearnhighschool.com
Iqra School Surrey K-7 604-583-7530 iqraschool.com
Khalsa School Newton Surrey K-7 604-591-2248 khalsaschool.ca
Khalsa School Old Yale Road Surrey K-7 604-951-2333 khalsaschool.ca
Khalsa Secondary School Surrey 8-12 604-585-8200 khalsaschool.ca
Newbridge Academy Surrey K-7 778-291-0110 newbridge-academy.ca
Our Lady of Good Counsel Surrey
Pacific Academy Surrey K-12
Regent Christian Academy Surrey K-12
604-581-5353 pacificacademy.net
604-599-8171 regent.bc.ca
Rothewood Academy Surrey JK 604-279-1818 rothewood.com
At Rothewood Academy our passion and belief is to help the individual child embrace their inquisitiveness and creativity through play based and natural learning environments.
Sikh Academy Surrey K-7
Southridge School Surrey K-12
604-599-3828 sikhacademy.ca
604-535-5056 southridge.ca
At Southridge, our mission is to develop well-rounded students with the love of learning, integrity, character and confidence to realize their full potential and make a difference in the world.
St Bernadette Surrey K-7
St Matthew’s Elementary Surrey K-7
604-596-1101 cisva.bc.ca
604-589-7545 stmatthewselementary.ca Star of the Sea Surrey K-7 604-531-6316 sosschool.ca
Surrey Christian School Surrey K-12
Surrey Muslim School Surrey K-9
604-498-3233 surreychristian.com
604-599-6608 bcmaschools.ca
Traditional Learning Academy Online Surrey K-12 604-575-8596 schoolathome.ca
White Rock Christian Academy Surrey K-12 604-531-9186 wrca.ca
St Michaels University School Victoria K-12 250-592-2411 smus.ca
Collingwood School West Vancouver K-12 604-925-3331 collingwood.org
Mulgrave School West Vancouver K-12 604-922-3223 mulgrave.com
Mulgrave is an IB World School from Preschool to Grade 12 in West Vancouver, where students can explore their potential. Find out where your child can go at here.mulgrave.com
St Anthony’s West Vancouver K-7 604-922-0011 saswv.ca
Rothewood Academy White Rock JK 604-279-1818 rothewood.com
At Rothewood Academy our passion and belief is to help the individual child embrace their inquisitiveness and creativity through play based and natural learning environments.
St John Paul II Academy White Rock 8-12 604-560-8210 sjp2academy.com
Have I Taught Them Enough?
Life skills your teen should know before leaving home
My oldest son turned 18 last week, which precipitated a deep moment of reflection for this mama. Have I taught him enough?
I have spent the last 18 years teaching him how to be kind, motivated, self-assured and resourceful. He is all these things. Yet now I wonder if he has the necessary skills to survive in the big wide world. He is a fantastic kid, but what does he need to learn about life to be a successful adult?
In truth, there are still lessons to be learned. Values I have modelled but intend to be more explicit about. I’ve narrowed my intentions down to two themes: Financial and Emotional Literacy.
1. Financial Literacy
What we want (and even what we can afford) is not always in our best interest. Many teenagers spend money as quickly as they earn it. Understandable! It’s exciting to be earning for the first time. Upon young adulthood, however, I hope my son begins to think towards his future financial goals.
I want him to realize the power of making sacrifices in the present to benefit the future. Choose the vehicle or the college that won’t plunge you into debt. Learn to buy clothes in a vintage shop or forgo your daily latte to save a few dollars.
We all must budget (and no, it’s never fun). Unfortunately, this lesson may come with a heaping spoonful of tough love. The time has come when I need to stop swooping in to make my son’s life easier. If he’s financially stretched, the discomfort will force him to analyze the choices he has made and re-evaluate his priorities. Every time I lend him money, I am robbing him of this vital self-reflection. If that means he must take the bus because he can’t afford gas that week, perhaps the inconvenience will inspire him to change his financial behaviour.
Plan now for your future. My husband and I have always been transparent with our children about the need to create passive income through smart investments. We’ve advised that our kids spend half and save
half of whatever they earn. So far, they’ve used those savings indulgently every so often. However, now that my son is 18, we are encouraging him to open a Tax Free Savings Account and buy some stock options. If we had this foresight at his age, we would have achieved financial freedom much sooner.
2. Emotional Literacy
You deserve joy (but will experience all the other emotions along the way). The people you choose to spend your time with should lift you up, not leave you depleted. The career you choose to follow should make you feel happy and fulfilled. Will you feel amazing all the time? No! Sometimes we need the darkness to point us towards the light, so use those difficult seasons to re-evaluate your choices and think about what doesn’t align with who you are and who you want to be. Don’t be afraid to let go of dreams, ideas and relationships which no longer serve you.
Create a community of care. No one can survive life by going alone, but
Better chess moves, better life moves
relationships take effort. Let people know they are important and that you care. The investment of time, care and support you invest in relationships will come back to you exponentially. And don’t be afraid to ask for help. Letting others know you need them is a sign of strength and wisdom.
Just keep moving forward. Upon his graduation from high school, almost every person followed their congratulations with a question about what comes next. College? Career? Travel? The pressure we put on young adults to have life figured out is ridiculous! The advice I gave my son is to “keep swimming.” Accept that job. Take a course. Find a new hobby. The more he experiences, the more he will learn about himself, and each step will take him closer to building a life he feels wildly excited about. Being a young adult is all about exploration, which means we can’t be afraid of making mistakes. Fail. Learn. Try again. Don’t be in a rush to grow up. As someone who abided by “the plan”—moved out at 18, married early, had children young—I regret not having fun as a young adult. I remind my son often that his 20s are for having adventures, seeing the world and making memories. Rent/mortgage, groceries, family… those things will still be a part of his future and he will appreciate them so much more after experiencing freedom and exploration.
Kelly Cleeve is a best-selling author and an educator. More importantly, she is the proud parent of two amazing sons. Visit kellycleeve.com or follow her on Instagram @resilient_kel and Facebook, Raising Resilient Children/Radiant and Resilient.
K Comprehensive 12-level chess program
R Online and in-person programs
B Weekly tournaments
N Top coaches
What is ‘Unschooling?’
Unschooling is a form of home-based education where children learn by exploring their own interests rather than following a fixed curriculum. Instead of structured lessons, children might spend their time reading, doing projects, exploring nature, asking questions or pursuing hobbies.
The method is gaining traction in British Columbia, a province often known for its progressive approaches to education.
It is important to understand that unschooling is different from homeschooling. While homeschoolers often follow a set curriculum at home, unschoolers focus on “learning by living.” Their learning happens through everyday activities like cooking, gardening, playing, exploring the outdoors or even building with blocks or doing art. The idea behind unschooling is that children will naturally seek out the knowledge they need when they’re engaged in things that interest them.
So, is Unschooling Right for Your Family?
Unschooling is a unique approach, and it likely won’t work for every family. Here are a few things to consider before deciding if you should unschool:
1. Your Child’s Learning Style. Unschooling tends to work best for kids who are independent, and eager to learn through exploration. If your child loves asking questions, diving into projects and exploring new topics on their own, unschooling could be a great fit.
On the other hand, some children need at least some guidance and structure to stay focused. If your child prefers clear directions and thrives with set goals, they may feel frustrated or lost without the framework that traditional schooling provides.
2. Your Family’s Lifestyle. Unschooling works best in families where parents are actively involved in their child’s learning journey— helping to provide resources, answer questions and support their
child’s interests. If your family enjoys hands-on learning, exploring new activities and taking spontaneous trips, unschooling could be a perfect fit.
However, if you prefer a more predictable schedule or if your family’s lifestyle doesn’t allow for a lot of flexibility, unschooling may feel overwhelming. Additionally, if you’re juggling work or other commitments, you might find it challenging to dedicate the time needed for unschooling.
3. Your Child’s Social Needs. Unschooling can offer rich learning opportunities, but it’s important to think about how your child will stay socially connected. Unlike traditional types of schooling, where children are around peers every day, unschooling may require more effort to arrange social interactions. Luckily, there are homeschooling and unschooling social or educational groups in several cities in BC.
4. Your Comfort with an Unstructured Approach. Unschooling requires a large shift in mindset about education because there are no grades or fixed milestones to track your child’s progress. This can be freeing, but it can also be daunting. If you’re anxious about meeting specific educational standards or worry about ”falling behind,” unschooling might be stressful for your family.
How to Start Unschooling in BC
If you decide that unschooling is the right fit for you, here’s how to get started.
1. Register as a Homeschooler. The first step is to register your child as a homeschooler with a public or independent school. This process is straightforward, and once registered, you’ll have the freedom to unschool your child without adhering to a formal curriculum.
2. Create a Stimulating Environment (Inside and Outside of the Home). Unschooling happens everywhere, so make your home an environment where learning can naturally unfold. Fill your space with books, art supplies, science kits and musical instruments. Use your community as a learning resource—BC has libraries, nature centres, museums and cultural institutions that can spark your child’s interests. And don’t forget parks, oceans, lakes and even your own back yard, which can be incredible places for exploring and learning.
3. Follow Your Child’s Lead. Pay attention to what sparks your child’s curiosity and follow their interests. Whether it’s cooking, birds, space exploration or building things, unschooling allows children to dive deeply into topics they are passionate about. Online tutorials and local libraries can be great ways to delve into certain subjects of interest.
Unschooling in British Columbia offers a flexible, child-led approach to learning that can be an incredibly rewarding experience for the right families. By following your child’s interests, creating a vast learning environment and tapping into resources in your area, you can foster a lifelong love of learning in your child.
Erika Palmer is a writer living with her husband and daughter. She believes most problems can be solved with a good cup of tea and a huge piece of chocolate.
Mulgrave's preschool programme encourages confident learners.
The youngest members of our school community engage in an IB inquiry-based, hands-on approach to learning that encourages them to actively explore the world, develop critical thinking skills, apply their ideas, and encourage social-emotional development.
With this foundation, students can thrive as they continue to grow and develop through to Grade 12 and beyond.
BURNABY SCHOOL DISTRICT ONLINE PROGRAM
Ministry approved BC curriculum
Kindergarten to Grade 12 program
Contemporary Indigenous Studies 12 available for enrollment
Full time or part time available Grade 10 to 12
Adult learning options
Grade 8 to 12: over 50 course options
Innovative learning management system
Experienced online learning teachers
Opportunities for self-paced, flexible, convenient learning
Direct teacher support available
Develop communication and technical online skills registering full-time or for a single course