Approach and Philosophy
All staff will be involved in the day to day school operations, from organizing field trips and curriculum delivery to ensuring the school is a safe, productive environment for students and staff. Peak's academic program is based on the current Ontario Ministry of Education Guidelines. The class sizes will be kept small. As a result, teachers are able to provide students with the instruction and feedback needed to ensure academic success. The school day is structured so that tutoring time is built into the daily schedule. Peak staffs are certified teachers and are trained on best teaching practices when it comes to instructing elite athletes. Collaboration is a strong feature of professional life at the school. Teachers share their ideas, collaborate in the selection of resources to support curriculum and differentiate teaching strategies in reading, writing, and mathematics.
High expectations for student achievement together with consistent standards across grades ensure a positive school climate where learning comes first. The focus on literacy and numeracy is reflected in our timetable, both blocks are taught in the morning, when students are fresh and able to focus most effectively. Teachers' help students build a learning community in the classroom by modeling and encouraging positive interaction. The intent is to create enthusiasm for learning and to facilitate working on team-based tasks. Student engagement is fostered through the use of varied instructional strategies, access to interesting resources for both teachers and students, and student-led conferences. Student teachers are used as a valuable resource for student engagement.
Parental involvement is encouraged in many ways. Parents are invited to volunteer and share their areas of expertise. The school has set a no homework expectations as we truly believe that we will achieve our educational goals throughout the normal school day. Peak believes in offering our students a busy schedule during the school day of both academics and athletics so that evenings and weekends are free to partake in their chosen sports and have time to enjoy being a kid!
