A creative environment and a real-world
take on education — two important qualities that you won’t find at just any school. That’s exactly why 28
years ago, a group of Edmonton parents founded Progressive Academy, a private school that’s keen on teaching
independence and responsibility to prepare children not only for long, rewarding careers, but also for life.
With an extensive list of programs including career mentoring, “Options” classes based on students’
interests, individual and group tutoring, music lessons, and classes in the beautiful Rocky Mountains,
students from kindergarten to Grade 12 learn to stay on track and explore their passions.
Q&A: Robyn
Robertson
Here we talk to the
school’s director of outreach, Robyn Robertson, about the “family” that makes up Progressive
Academy.
With the term
progressive comes to mind liberation and a new way of doing something. What about Progressive Academy is
different from other schools?
The belief at the school is that learning should be fun, and that what you learn in the
classroom should include real-world learning experiences. Students are encouraged to explore their interests
through open communication with teachers about what they love, what they are curious about, and then build
lessons around those interests and curiosities.
Everyone learns in
a different way — visually, verbally, quickly or at a slower pace. How does the school’s curriculum and staff
take this into consideration?
We are an Alberta
Education accredited school and use the Alberta curriculum at Progressive Academy. Having small class sizes
allows teachers to give a larger amount of individual attention, and the tutoring department is a big
support. We allow our students to work at their own level. If they are able to demonstrate
a strong understanding, they can move forward in their subjects as quickly as they like. If a student is
behind, we work to fill in those gaps; the key is that all learners are
supported.
Besides educating
students in the classroom with fundamental studies such as math and language, how does Progressive Academy
prepare students for the real world outside of the classroom?
From their first day at
age three, students are encouraged to be independent and have a voice. We continue building on the student’s
independence throughout the elementary years to prepare them for our junior/senior program. Junior high is
when students start working with mentors in real-life situations and workplaces.
Mountain Adventure
School allows students to gain credits while studying in the Rocky Mountains. Why did the school decide to
offer this style of learning?
The program aligns
perfectly with our day-to-day approach. We offer it because it teaches real-world skills and gives the
students the chance to apply them. It is a big benefit to students in that many have never even experienced
some of the activities and challenges they are presented with at Mountain Adventure School. Life is real. A
program that teaches skills should be too.
How involved and
informed are parents about the performance of their children at
school?With such small class sizes and our open-door policy, parent involvement is a daily
thing. Parents are welcome to volunteer in the classrooms and school. Students also present portfolios to
their parents, highlighting actual progress through work samples and discussion about targets for each
child.
For more information
on Progressive Academy, visit progressiveacademy.ca or call 780-455-8344.
Steps to Success
With the Mentor Program, students at Progressive Academy graduate with first-hand
experience in the field they want to pursue. Junior and senior high students get a chance to shadow a career
mentor in their real work environment, where they complete a project and present it to their teachers at the
end of the term.
The purpose: “We are focused on finding and developing their passions from an early age.
We encourage and guide each individual to get reality associated with their interests and dreams. The career
mentor program allows students to explore their interests and really test if this is the path they want to
follow,” says Robertson.
Step 1: Set-Up Meeting
The teacher and student meet to set up the internship.
Step 2: Internship Anthropology
During the next couple of weeks, the student shadows the mentor and writes a short
investigation on the internship site that helps them learn more about the
organization.
Step 3: Project Set-Up Meeting
The student and mentor have a meeting to determine a project, and the student will
create a project proposal based on this meeting.
Step 4: Monthly Meeting
The teacher visits the student and mentor on site to check in on the status of the
student’s project.
Step 5: Student Exhibition
Each trimester, the student will present all of their
work.
Step 6: Exit Meeting
Before this meeting, the mentor fills out an evaluation of the student’s
performance and the teacher comes in for an exit meeting. •