Lower School
engaged STUDENT-CENTRED LEARNING
For generations, Ridley has shaped the lives and futures of graduates located around the globe. BIG IDEAS BEGIN IN OUR LOWER SCHOOL. We give our youngest students the care, time and resources they need to explore and delight in the world around them, as well as in their own strengths and those of others.
LOWER SCHOOL • STUDENT-CENTRED | 1
WE ALL NEED TIME AND SPACE TO GROW.
the best
DRAWING OUT OF EACH RIDLEIAN IS HOW WE EDUCATE.
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Your child will become the best he or she can be across the board from JK and up. Pushing kids’ personal envelopes in a positive and enthusiastic manner and the outstanding commitment by the faculty here are just two things I really love about this school. And I know other parents do as well. — CLAIRE, MOTHER
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RIDLEY IS TRULY AN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL, WITH STUDENTS FROM OVER 50 COUNTRIES AND GLOBALLY-EXPERIENCED TEACHERS. Our goal is to prepare students to move with understanding and ease in a global society. The opportunity for students to begin their school years with this perspective gives them a major advantage.
PARENT SATISFACTION: THE LOWER SCHOOL ENJOYS A VERY HIGH RETENTION RATE, WITH 97 OF 100 FAMILIES RETURNING IN OUR MOST
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You don’t discover what you’re missing until you come here. We were at a school in Toronto that we paid a lot more for. When we came here, I thought ‘wow’; this is just head-over-heels, a significantly better school. — CHERYL, MOTHER
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RIDLEY IS A GENUINE BLEND OF RESPECT FOR ITS GREAT TRADITIONS AND FOR THE BEST OF MODERN PROGRESSION. We emphasize inquiry-based and student-centred learning, whereby students are challenged to take charge of their own learning. We believe in developing balanced, happy individuals who have a firm academic foundation and can see things from a wide and varied perspective.
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There is a greater focus on excellence here—not just on academic or athletic excellence, but the pursuit of excellence. I wanted to make sure that our children had that opportunity to get that exposure, not just from the faculty, but from other students as well. — TOM, FATHER
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A LEARNER-CENTRED CULTURE
GLOBAL-MINDED LEARNING
INSPIRING LIFELONG LEARNING
PLAYING WITH PURPOSE
CREATIVITY, ACTIVITY, AND SERVICE
HOME-TO-SCHOOL PARTNERSHIP
Our Lower School offers a unique experience that allows your child to unlock the wonder of inquirybased learning, develop the foundations of physical literacy, and explore the endless possibilities of personal creativity.
The International Baccalaureate (IB) approach cultivates a student’s natural curiosity from the start and enables development of critical thinking and problem solving skills. Our approach to learning develops lifelong learners who demonstrate respect for themselves and others, and have the capacity to participate in the world around them.
Everything we do at the Lower School is designed to inspire your child to become ready to make a difference in the world of tomorrow. This accomplished through the support of experienced leadership, a diverse and talented faculty, subject specialists, a learning strategies coordinator, and school counsellor.
Physical activity primes the brain for learning, contributes to physical literacy, and leads to a healthy lifestyle.
The Lower School experience promotes the importance of community and service to others.
Ridley’s physical education programme is designed to focus on fundamental skill development, and to build both competence and confidence in a wide range of activities. Ridley promotes physical literacy by providing a variety of opportunities for students to develop their movement skills.
Through the Creativity, Activity, and Service Programme, students participate in weekly service and volunteer activities. Each activity allows them to learn about local and global charitable organizations, and gain a greater understanding of the wider world in which they live.
Our experience is also based on a home-to-school partnership that invites parents to be involved in the journey with their child.
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Workshops and seminars equip parents with the resources needed to feel engaged in their child’s educational experience at Ridley.
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IT’S NOT ONLY WHAT YOU LEARN, BUT HOW YOU LEARN. In Lower School classrooms, teaching how to learn is just as important as the curriculum. The foundations of the International Baccalaureate continuum, the Primary Years Programme (PYP) and Middle Years Programme (MYP) are appropriate for a wide range of learning styles, and prepare children from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 8 for the challenges of schooling, life, and the future.
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To our family, Ridley is about opportunity. It is a place where young people can excel and are encouraged to succeed by their peers and faculty alike, and we really wanted that for our children. While our kids are at school each day, to know that they are in a learning environment with teachers, coaches, and mentors that truly care for their well-being and will work to help them reach their full potential is very comforting to us. – MCRAE FAMILY
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SCHOOL SHOULD CONTAIN MANY OF THE HAPPIEST DAYS OF ONE’S LIFE. Flourishing lives blossom in an environment that supports inquisitive natures, develops resilience, inspires creativity, and creates a sense of community. Ridley’s Lower School provides that environment to help your child learn the habits of mind, body, and spirit, and the values he or she needs to lead a flourishing life. Our students are happily and actively engaged each day.
A LOWER SCHOOL WORLD WITHIN A MAGNIFICENT CAMPUS Our 90-acre campus is truly an environment in which students can flourish. It has
When needed, Lower School faculty call upon the breadth and depth of school-wide
been designed and renovated to cater to the evolving needs of all students.
facilities, such as the Mandeville Theatre and Ross E. Morrow Theatre, a state-of-
Our Lower School is one of our most iconic buildings on campus, and was designed on a more intimate scale for younger students. In addition to classrooms, it includes a recently updated and dedicated library, dining hall, art studio, design and technology workshop and natural playscape. 14 | engaged
the-art athletics complex with ice hockey arena and fieldhouse, swimming pool, two gymnasiums, five tennis courts, exceptional playing fields, a stunning Chapel, the Great Hall dining room, Matthews Library and our 60-acre, off-site Burgoyne Outdoor Educational Research Centre.
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JK THROUGH GRADE 6
GRADE 7 AND 8
sample schedule
sample schedule
7:00–7:55am
Breakfast for Junior Boarding students in Grades 5–8
7:00–7:55am
8:00–8:30am
Student drop-off. A teacher is on supervision in the courtyard.
Breakfast for Junior Boarding students in Grades 5–8
8:00–8:30am
8:30–8:40am
Homeroom
Student drop-off. A teacher is on supervision in the courtyard.
8:40–9:30am
Transdisciplinary Inquiry1
8:30–8:40am
Homeroom
9:30–9:35am
Transition
8:40–9:30am
Period 1¹
9:30–9:35am
Transition
9:35–10:25am
Transdisciplinary Inquiry
10:25–10:40am
FITNESS/NUTRITION BREAK
10:40–11:30am
Transdisciplinary Inquiry
11:30am–12:30pm 12:30–1:20pm
9:35–10:25am
LUNCH2 Specialist Subject3
1:20–1:25pm
Transition
1:25–2:15pm
Specialist Subject
2:15–2:30pm
FITNESS/NUTRITION BREAK
2:30–3:20pm
Transdisciplinary Inquiry
3:20–3:30pm
Homeroom
3:30–4:30pm
After School Programmes4 (Grades 1–3), Sports (Grades 4–6)
3:30–6:30pm
AfterCare available until 6:00pm
Period 2
10:25–10:40am
FITNESS/NUTRITION BREAK
10:40–11:30am
Period 3
11:30am–12:30pm
LUNCH2
12:30–1:20pm
Period 4
1:20–1:25pm
Transition
1:25–2:15pm
Period 5
2:15–2:30pm
FITNESS/NUTRITION BREAK
2:30–3:20pm
Period 6
3:20–3:30pm
Homeroom
3:30–4:30pm
After School Programme3
3:30–6:30pm
AfterCare available until 6:00pm
NOTES: ¹ The MYP comprises eight subject groups: Language Acquisition (French), Language and Literature (English), Individuals and Societies (History and Geography), Sciences, Mathematics, Arts, Physical and Health Education, and Design. These are taught in a rotational basis throughout each academic day on a four-day cycle. ² There are some clubs and activities that are offered at lunch times. ³ Sports practices and fixtures take place on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and some Saturdays.
NOTES: ¹ Transdisciplinary Inquiry includes Language Arts (Reading, Writing, Working with Words, Media Literacy), Science, Social Studies and Mathematics instruction structured around IB-PYP Transdisciplinary themes. ² There are some clubs and activities that are offered at lunch times. ³ Specialist Subjects include: French, Visual Art, Music, and Personal, Social, and Physical Education ⁴ Students in Grade 4 are eligible to try out for U12 sports teams.
SPECIAL DAYS There are a number of special theme days that take place throughout the school year, and those will be communicated in advance to parents via class newsletters. There are also three special days that are part of the regular weekly schedule:
MONDAYS 3:30–4:00pm Advisory Time
FRIDAYS 8:15–8:45am Chapel
(Well-being, Character and Strengths-Based Education)
THURSDAYS 3:30–4:00pm Whole school activities (JK–8)
SATURDAYS Occasional Sports Fixtures (7s and 8s)
Essential Extras Ridley students are encouraged to balance their academic lives by participating in a variety of co-curricular activities in the arts, athletics, leadership, and community service.
Healthy Competition: It’s cool to be a good student at Ridley. With a healthy sense of competition our students routinely excel in regional and national events in science, history, music, drama, public speaking and debate.
Artistic Outlets: Beginning in Kindergarten, lessons are available during the day in guitar, piano, violin, voice and more.
Green Tigers: Ridley has an in-depth environmental initiative called the Green Tigers. Our goal is not only stewardship and engagement, but also to enhance connection, cooperation, and understanding between people. As a part of this initiative, Lower School students get to know a variety of staff members, for instance: gardeners, kitchen workers and custodial staff. They work together on projects such as campus composting and community gardening.
Student Clubs: after school, students from Every day before and after school, students from Kindergarten through Grade 4 can take part in optional clubs such as yoga, art and sports. Visiting Scholars: Students are often visited by scholars, authors, musicians and other experts. Grade-to-Grade Connections: Connections between younger and older students can further learning. For example, our Grade 7 students work with Grade 3 students on biography projects. The older students interview the younger ones and write their biographies. The Grade 3 students illustrate and read the biographies aloud.
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AfterCare Programme: Parents who register for AfterCare have the flexibility of picking their children up from school 3:00pm and to 6:00pm. between 3:30pm 6:30pm.
Both my kids are so excited about virtually every class and project they work on. They just get really excited. That’s a barometer for me about how great a school this is. — KAREN, MOTHER
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Performing Arts: Two productions are staged each year, one for Junior Kindergarten to Grade 6 and another for Grades 7 and 8.
Local Busing: Ridley provides local, morning bus service from Grimsby, Beamsville, Stoney Creek, Niagara-onthe-Lake, and St. Catharines. We make every effort to ensure that our routes are as efficient as possible and provide the shortest ride time for each student. LOWER SCHOOL • STUDENT-CENTRED | 19
Junior Boarding
Junior boarding is available to Lower School students in Grades 5 through Grade 8. Smaller than
A NURTURING AND GROUNDING HOME BASE.
younger students— the Burgoyne Bears. Life in Burgoyne is like being part of a family with a dozen
Each House is a small community within the school as a whole, and a central hub of social,
heritage and build lasting friendships while learning and living together.
service, athletic and enrichment activities. Head of House, faculty advisor, affiliated teachers and coaches form a close network of support for each of the students in their Houses, so students can make the most of their Ridley experience and personal development. 20 | engaged
the Upper School residences, Burgoyne House has a structured and home-like atmosphere for or more brothers and sisters. Students from Canada and around the world share their cultural
The House is led by a Head of House and his or her family, an Assistant Head of House, a Residential Don, a Supervised Study and Activities Coordinator, and a team of teachers who provide supervision on weekends. LOWER SCHOOL • STUDENT-CENTRED | 21
Research conducted by the Art & Science Group for The Association of Boarding Schools has found that the benefits of boarding school extend throughout a student’s life.
• Boarders spend more time on co-
Whether students are day or boarding,
curricular activities and homework,
Ridley is a 24/7 school that emphasizes
and less time watching television, than
life in a way that can’t happen at day
do their non-boarding school peers.
schools. Friendships are deeper. Learning is more intense. Students live and learn
• Significantly greater percentages of boarding school students and alumni
with others whose backgrounds may be very different from their own.
report academic satisfaction and academic challenge and feel better
Parents find their boarding children
prepared for all aspects of university
are more mature young people with a
from their academics to social life,
new confidence because they are part
time management and readiness for
of something bigger than themselves
independence.
and their own families. Interestingly, the experience of stepping beyond home
• By mid-career, more former boarders in the study had achieved top management positions compared to non-boarders. • Boarding school graduates attribute their independence, adventurousness and love of learning for learning’s sake to their boarding school experience.
makes family ties even stronger. As one boarding parent said, “Instead of oneword answers to questions, you get meaningful talk. The bonds between student and family become very strong and of even greater importance.”
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We chose Ridley College for our daughter because it really stood out as an exceptional school. As a family, we researched many independent and private schools and it was clear that Ridley was the most comprehensive and progressive. — PERCO FAMILY
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OUR CANADIAN SCHOOL WITH ITS DEEP INTERNATIONAL CONNECTEDNESS IS A TRUE BLEND OF PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE. Joining Ridley is about so much more than being a member of a school. It means being part of a community that sets students on their way to finding the great contribution they can make in this world. The best way to learn about Ridley is to visit our campus. We invite you to see for yourself the friendly warmth of our community, the excitement of our academics, arts and athletics, and the lively engagement within our school. If you would like your children to spend their formative years here, growing and learning and discovering all that they are capable of, we will do everything we can to help you including financial assistance beginning in Grade 5 through Upper School.
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I am thrilled by the opportunity to send both my children to Ridley. My parents are immigrants who sacrificed to give me the opportunity to attend Ridley. I, in turn, will do the same for my son and daughter. I place exceptional value on the learning opportunities Ridley presents —not just academics but life skills. You hope to provide a foundation and tools for your children and let them decide what they build with them. — MARKO, FATHER
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JK – Post-Graduate | co-educational | day & boarding
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AVERAGE CLASS SIZE
97
FACULTY MEMBERS 34% HAVE ADVANCED DEGREES
(BOARDERS ACCEPTED IN GR. 5)
8:1 STUDENT : FACULTY
90+
CORE VALUES • • • •
Integrity Knowledge Respect for Community Personal Growth through Perseverance
Canada’s only IB Continuum day and boarding school
ACRE CAMPUS
LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES: Prefects, House Captains, House Councils, Burgoyne House Counsellor, Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, Cadets.
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Doors have been opened that would never have been opened for my children. Opportunity. Confidence. That’s huge when they go out into the bigger world. Each year as they move ahead, they know where they need to be. They want to excel and they do. I love this school.
Ridley College Cadet Corps No. 162 RC(A)CC: • largest co-ed Corps in Canada • longest-running school tradition
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— DALE, FATHER
Complete competitive athletics programme including hockey, basketball, soccer, rowing and more
MOTTO: TERAR DUM PROSIM May I Be Consumed In Service
Two theatre productions per year and other, smaller productions
Students are encouraged to participate in three terms of competitive sports, or the Ridley ‘Sport For Life’ (RS4L) programme.
TEN BOARDING HOUSES: Upper School day students are assigned a House where they have study and storage space.
$2.7M 30% $2.8M FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AWARDED
Lower School JK–Grade 8
McLaughlin Resource Centre and Williams Dining Hall THEATRES: Mandeville and Ross Morrow VISUAL ARTS: darkroom, sculpting studio, drawing room with natural lighting, art studio, design and technology workshop
OF STUDENTS RECEIVE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
Upper School Grade 9–12
Matthews Library and The Great Hall ATHLETICS FACILITIES: Arena and Fieldhouse complex (completed 2010) • two gymnasiums • fitness room • ergometer room • sports therapy clinic • swimming pool • five tennis courts • Outdoor Education Centre (BOERC) located in Vineland, ON ACADEMICS: Robotics Lab • Classrooms are SMART Board equipped • Wireless campus
For generations, Ridley has shaped the lives and futures of graduates located around the globe. BIG IDEAS BEGIN IN OUR LOWER SCHOOL. We give our youngest students the care, time and resources they need to explore and delight in the world around them, as well as in their own strengths and those of others.
VISIT RIDLEY Contact us to arrange a visit that can be tailored to your interests. admissions@ridleycollege.com We look forward to meeting you in the near future.
P.O. Box 3013 - 2 Ridley Road, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada L2R 7C3 | 905-684-1889
ridleycollege.com