Polite, kind and honest — these are the
rules by which Edison School teaches students. Located in Okotoks, Alta., just south of Calgary, the school
still runs by its foundation that small classroom sizes and individualized learning are the most effective
ways to teach. Edison School has an athletics program offering sports ranging from golf and badminton to
basketball and football, a strong mathematics department and advanced placement programs preparing students
for university as early as Grade 9 so that every student can graduate confident and ahead of others their
age.
Q&A: Beth
Chernoff
Lifestyler
spoke with the
school’s headmistress, Beth Chernoff, to get the scoop on their programs, students and what makes them
different.
With what purpose or
goal did Edison School open 18 years ago?
To provide an
individualized, academic and challenging curriculum in a school that also values physical pursuits and
citizenship. Students and teachers are expected to be polite, kind and honest and these expectations lead to
a serene learning environment.
Edison School caters to
students from kindergarten to Grade 12, whereas many private schools focus on either the elementary years or
high school. How is the school divided up to teach students with such a large range in
age?
We have three buildings
and the students are divided up into the lower, middle and upper schools. The students are provided with both
structured and unstructured opportunities to mix together and this adds a cohesive community feeling to the
entire school.
What are some of the
teaching and learning techniques used by staff that are unique to Edison School?
With small classes,
teachers are able to individualize some of the curriculum, particularly in mathematics and language arts.
One-on-one time is spent with our teachers and there are more opportunities for students to present their
work to their class. Additional time is set aside for language arts so that phonics, vocabulary and geography
are able to be taught within the language arts classes.
Many parents are
becoming more and more concerned with athletics and including physical activity in their children's daily
lives. What are some of the athletics programs offered at Edison School?
At Edison, we are very
active and believe in imbuing a love of sport and exercise in our students. Activities range from
running the 5K as a school to team sports, outdoor education and casual four square on the playground. We
have two gymnasiums for 170 students and they are in constant use. In particular we have a well-developed
badminton program with a world-class coach.
What are some of the
specialty programs or courses offered at Edison School that are stronger than those offered at other
schools?
Mathematics and
badminton are our strongest areas. We use the Singapore math program, widely regarded as the world's
best. This math program starts in kindergarten, developing a very strong number sense in the students, and
continues through Grade 9, at which point students have covered approximately half of the senior high math
program. This gives students the opportunity to take university-level economics and math courses while still
in high school. The badminton program is very strong and it too starts in kindergarten. Badminton is a
wonderful sport because it can be played well into your 80s and it demands a high level of sportsmanship —
something we value at Edison.
How involved are parents
at the school in terms of their children's performance in the classroom and their studies?
Our parents are very
involved and we make it a priority to keep them well informed.
What will students
graduating from Edison School gain that they would have otherwise missed out on at another
school?
At Edison every student
is expected to participate in as many activities as possible. We have musical theatre, canoe trips, hiking,
sports teams, house activities, peer tutoring and other events going on constantly, which all require
students to fill-in the roles. Very few students can avoid being involved and this creates opportunities for
them to have experiences outside of their comfort zones.
Edison School is
obviously a small school and has remained this way for the last 18 years, with an average teacher-to-student
ratio of 12 to one. Even though it's had the opportunity to grow, why has the school purposely kept a small
size?
A small school fosters
community relationships between teachers, students and parents. We believe these relationships provide a
foundation with which a student can move on into adulthood able to make good decisions and have a fulfilling
life.
Why should parents and
their children choose Edison School over other private schools?
At Edison, teachers
have the time to challenge and care for each student. Opportunities are created with individual students in
mind that larger schools cannot provide. Graduates are confident, honest and goal-oriented.
For more information about
Edison School, visit edisonschool.ca or call 403-938-7670.
Ahead of the
Curve
Edison School offers
advanced placement (AP) classes starting in Grade 9 through Grade 12, whereas most schools don’t offer them
until Grade 11. The AP classes offered are:
Environmental
Science
Art History
European
History
World History
Calculus
AB/BC
Physics C
Microeconomics
Macroeconomics
Human
Geography
Psychology
Biology
The classes are first-year
university-level courses and students who score four or five out of five receive credit from most
universities in North America, as well as preferred university admission and scholarships.
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