Reflections from students, parents, and alumni indicate that Merrick Preparatory School fosters a tight-knit, family-like community where students feel supported, respected, and included.
The sense of community at Merrick Preparatory School is one of the most important values we appreciate. The school operates as a community, making everyone feel included and involved. My daughter's language has changed to reflect this sense of belonging, always using "we" instead of "I." This community spirit is evident in how the school accommodates everyone and in the individual attention each student receives.
For parents seeking quality education and a strong sense of community for their children, Merrick Preparatory School is the place to go. The school fosters a family-like environment where everyone is involved, from teachers to students. The high academic standards and the numerous extracurricular activities contribute to the students' overall development. Investing in your child's education is crucial, and Merrick has proven to be a worthwhile investment for our family, and we highly recommend it.
Merrick felt like home, because we were always together, and there's always staff taking care of you or just there for you. I don't remember feeling homesick. And I always liked it when I went for Christmas breaks back home. I was so eager to go back and see my friends and then see the teachers because I love the school and I love the people there. Everyone was so nice to me because otherwise, I don't think I would be happy there. So everyone was really nice and it felt like home. That's the thing. It was very cozy even in the place and everything.
I'm really appreciative of the friendships that I made there. I made lifelong friends, and I even went to Mexico just to see one of the friends from Merrick. It's friendly, the students there were really nice and everyone is in the same boat. People weren't distant. People were very warm and things like that. The community, I guess, because everyone was very supportive. When we have problems, someone is always there for us.
Right from the start, we felt that there was a lot of support, a lot of interest in my son’s talents and skills, and us as a family. My son had to do an interview and write something like a little essay. Everyone was really keen to learn about him and his way of thinking. The atmosphere at school with lots of friends, pastoral care, academic care, and feeling at home stood out the most.
It's nice. I love the place because of the love, spirit, and pride I feel when I'm in the building; it feels very "homey." The school treats the students as if they're family and they always strive better for their students as they focus on developing critical thinking, enhancing our creativity and making sure no one is left out. When I'm in the classroom, the classroom environment feels very supportive, the teachers make sure to engage us and that no one is left out on classroom activities; I feel very comfortable in the class and that has made my confidence grow, which has helped me in multiple aspects of life. The school environment is no different, it's positive. With students belonging to various cultures and coming from all around the world, the school has done a good job of promoting harmony and encouraging the students to understand and respect the values of other cultures. The school also has good facilities that help students to identify their skills and work on achieving their full potential, those ranging from the sports equipment to laboratories and the overall town MPS is located in as it has a library for one example within walking distance. If I could change one thing about the school though, I would like more students and a way for day students to have wifi after hours... because I don't know how I could ever last going to the school on the weekends or afternoons of Fridays with none.
—Helen Phan, student (beginning 2021) (see
full review)
The school makes it very possible for the students to interact with each other regardless of which grade level they may be in. Students see the school as the central part of their stay in Merrickville and therefore they are more than ready to club together and to participate in activities as a team. On school excursions, and in sporting competitions there is a very strong and supportive ethos. Perhaps the school is a little too small to enable students to stretch out a little and to make new contacts and this can be a little limiting, but the students make the best of what they have and the spirit is very high amongst them. The general atmosphere is one of positivity and they help to make the school a very welcome place to be.
—John Hopkins, parent (beginning 2021) (see
full review)
One of my favourite things about Merrick Preparatory School is how easy it is to interact with the other students. The classes are small, which allows every student in the class to build relationships with one another and as a whole, and the small and involved classes help to strengthen bonds between students. The school's schedule and smaller classes also make it easy to socialize and interact with other students regardless of grade or age. There are chances for students to get to know one another at meals, clubs, and school outings (such as sports games, also played as a school), and within just a short while everybody knows everyone else. The school and community spirit within the school are heightened by this feeling of unity and community.
—Elisa Hopkins, student (beginning 2021) (see
full review)
What I like in MPS is the class size is small the teaching becomes more like one-to-one teaching and the students are like brothers and sisters. Students from different countries and different cultures become United at MPS. No bullying or hate just love and respect for one another. They develop a strong bond between each other and teachers and the headmaster like a big family. It is a challenging, healthy and fun environment. My son has developed good socializing skills with discipline and respect for others. Even during the pandemic Students kept in contact with each other in a group online call laughing and having fun after school hours. Now my son has friends from different parts of the world sharing different experiences and cultures.
—Seem Pharaon, parent (beginning 2019) (see
full review)
Although I was not a boarding student and only attended classes during the day, the school definitely felt like a family. It was also an interesting year due to COVID, but there was most certainly a pronounced school community. With things such as our spirit week taking place, it is very easy to see just how much Merrick values its students, staff, and sense of family. I was very impressed with just how much it felt like we were unified. We can also see this in our school sports teams (so far we have played soccer against other schools in a competition), which most of the school participated in and helped teach one another. Overall, I very much enjoyed how much the school felt like a home and a family.
—Elisa Hopkins, student (beginning 2021) (see
full review)
The community is very friendly, everyone knows everyone because it is a small town. The students can walk in town freely. They can visit their school friends of course with permission. They go shopping, etc. The location of the school is away from the big cities distraction, however the learners can go to Ottawa which is the nearest town which is good.
—Rachel Tlhole, parent (beginning 2022) (see
full review)
Merrick's student body may not be very large but in my opinion, this was a positive. A smaller student body meant that everyone was very close and connected which made the environment feel more like a home rather than a school. Students often did things together and we were all very good friends and still talk and support each other even as alumni. There was a very diverse spectrum of students from all over the world which was awesome as learning about different cultures and meeting people from different places was really interesting. People had a lot of knowledge and stories to share from their homes. Students are always nice, funny, smart, and outgoing to help others as well as being well-rounded and polite.
—Konstantin Swientek, alum (2020-2022) (see
full review)
They are SO FUNNY, well at the very least, some of them. The school does a good job of making sure we're all interacting with one another no matter our grade such as meal times, extracurriculars, and really any trip the school forces us to go on. So because of that, it's made a lot of us close and I'm pretty sure a lot of us consider each other siblings. I've also gotten better social skills because of this as I've had to interact with lots of people over the course of the school year. I think I made all my friends on the first two days.
—Helen Phan, student (beginning 2021) (see
full review)
I really like my home where I celebrate and spend time with my family, and Merrick Prep started to feel like home since I was there for a long time. People are nice from the headmaster to teachers, staff and students, we treat each other nicely and are respectful to each other and we have some roles and red lines that we don't cross similar to the roles we have in my family. My roommate is one of the best, we spend a lot of time with each other and teach each other a lot of things, I am by her side and she is by my side when we need each other, when I miss my sisters she is always around. So yes it does feel like a home by now!
—Suzan Aljasem, student (beginning 2022) (see
full review)
At first, it felt pretty awkward, I was afraid that all the others there would know each other and be like "yo who the hell is this newbie" and because it was also my first time at a boarding school as I've gone to a public one for my whole life, but I very quickly found myself becoming comfortable in the new environment. The place feels like another home, kind of, considering I don't really have a bed to sleep in, but I've spent a lot of hours thereafter school hanging out with my friends that it's felt like another home. The school and students do a good job of making sure everyone is included in whatever they do. The community in MPS is like a family as everyone there does their best to support one another.
—Helen Phan, student (beginning 2021) (see
full review)
The students in our school are the best as everyone comes from a different country, different culture and have different ways of thinking. They are creative funny, heartwarming, nice, respectful, and always try their best to help if someone needs help. It feels like we are a family and always stand for each other as if we were siblings. I love all the students but there are some who are close to me and we hang out a lot together so I think students are my community in the school and I feel relaxed and comfortable being around them. I think everyone feels included since when we have new students coming we make sure to welcome them and try to teach them to settle and make them feel included and comfortable.
—Suzan Aljasem, student (beginning 2022) (see
full review)
The school has learners who act as leaders for the week, which my daughter enjoys. This has given her the opportunity to lead and to be led. The students get along very well, they help each other, for example, when going out on activities, to style each other's hair, etc. They celebrate birthdays. I see that even though my daughter is at home for the holidays, she still continues to chat with her friends at school and catch up. This shows that they have developed special bonds between them beyond the school walls. The general mood at the school is happiness, from what I see with my daughter and her friends. What stands out for me with this school is the family environment that it provides for the learners.
—Rachel Tlhole, parent (beginning 2022) (see
full review)
I am a day student, so perhaps my view is a little different from that of boarding students, but if I were asked to deliver a school tour the first place I would like to show somebody would be the dining hall. For me, this room is the heart of the school. All the students and staff gather here to eat and interact in the middle of the day, and it is a nice pause between classes. Many students would agree that this is one of the most important places in the school - and not just because of the amazing food! There are many good, fun and exciting memories in that room, such as the winter talent show and festival that was held in December and there will probably be lots more to come!
—Elisa Hopkins, student (beginning 2021) (see
full review)
I would take them to the reception area, not because it is the first room accessed from the front door, but because there is always someone to receive you with a smile, open arms, and an open heart. Arriving at the school for the first time, and taking in the atmosphere of the school, our decision to choose this school felt right. The richness of the school is in its people, being part of the teaching, administrative or student body. Or I could take you to the Headmaster’s Office, whose door is always open to welcome everyone. Of course, the students would be more amenable to see their rooms and to find out who their roommate would be, and where they would be spending time relaxing.
—Rossana de Fabrega, parent (beginning 2022) (see
full review)