Meet Blyth Academy Burlington's admission team at the Private School Expo: Toronto (Oct 04), Halton-Peel (Oct 19), Ottawa (Sep 28). RSVP NOW
The big picture on Blyth Academy Burlington
We summarized the school ourselves
Sam Blyth founded Blyth Academy in an understanding that, as the world changes the needs of students change, and education therefore must to evolve to meet them. Throughout the decades of its life, Blyth Academy has consistently proven its ability to meet that mandate. It began by offering a global curriculum, one that covered the basic literacies as well as collaborative and leadership skills. In addition to 10 brick-and-mortar campuses, Blyth Academy Online, launched in 2014, offering asynchronous courses that students can start at any time throughout the calendar year. In response to the COVID crisis, Blyth Academic Orbit added a synchronous virtual school to the offering, bringing all the schedules, teachers, peers and relationships of a traditional academic experience, the only difference being that all was mounted entirely . In all, it’s hard to imagine a school more suited to our time, or making more out of the technologies available for program delivery. Blyth Academy is now effectively the largest single private school network in Canada, the student experience remains intimate; in the both the physical and virtual synchronous classrooms there are never more than 15 students. True to Sam Blyth’s original vision, there remains a focus on global learning, citizenship, and ethical leadership. There might have been a time when Blyth was an anomaly within the world of education—smaller schools, virtual offerings, an agile approach to learning—though it certainly isn’t now. It’s hard to imagine a school better suited to our time and the needs of the current generation of learners.
We questioned the school adminstration
1. Who are you, as a school?
"
Blyth Academy Burlington is a flourishing private school conveniently located in Village Square in the heart of downtown Burlington within walking distance of the Waterfront and Spencer Smith Park. This campus offers outstanding programming for students from grades 5 to 12. Surrounded by local restaurants, art shops, and fitness facilities, this vibrant hub is the perfect location for our students to pursue their educational goals while remaining connected to their community."
Small class size (Average 8-16)
Experiential learning approach
Individualised programming
Partnerships with community organizations
Comprehensive guidance support
High performance sports programs: Hockey, Soccer, Lacrosse
Flexible Schedules
Multimodal delivery of courses
Part of a network of Blyth Academy campuses in Ontario
2. What do you do differently and uniquely well?
"Our commitment to your child's success is holistic. The work we do each day is meant to prepare our students to be successful beyond our doors and to serve them as they continue...(more)
"Our commitment to your child's success is holistic. The work we do each day is meant to prepare our students to be successful beyond our doors and to serve them as they continue to succeed as global citizens. Through small class sizes and increased 1:1 interaction with expert teachers, your child will be afforded the opportunity to develop their own connection with what they're learning. Our smaller, more welcoming classes create a healthy environment for our students to conference with their teachers and peers to hone their skills and broaden the depth of their knowledge."
3. What tradeoffs has your school made to serve families in this way?
"Our unique daily schedule and exceptional location are two of the things our families love most about Blyth Burlington. Our schedule means that we do offer a more narrow scope of...(more)
"Our unique daily schedule and exceptional location are two of the things our families love most about Blyth Burlington. Our schedule means that we do offer a more narrow scope of courses during an academic year. To ensure that our students are not hindered by this, we use a thorough course interest and selection process to ensure that those chosen courses continue to meet the needs of our student body in any given cohort.
A location as prime as the Village Square does come with its limitations, and our school does not have on-site gymnasium facilities or a "school yard" and playground. Our teachers leverage the YMCA, local curling clubs, nearby parks, the waterfront trail and other unique locations to ensure that our students have plenty of opportunity to get active and enjoy their time outside of the classroom."
4. What key junctures in your school's history have most shaped its present?
Information not yet available.
5. What type of student is a good fit for your school?
"There isn't one "type" of student who finds success at Blyth Burlington. Our students are as unique and diverse as our teachers and staff and this partnership is truly the...(more)
"There isn't one "type" of student who finds success at Blyth Burlington. Our students are as unique and diverse as our teachers and staff and this partnership is truly the foundation for all kinds of success. There is something for everyone here."
6. Under what conditions would you advise a family against choosing your school?
"As a small school, we don't have a traditional "Learning Support" department, like you may find in larger schools. Our Guidance Counsellor works with all students who have IEPs...(more)
"As a small school, we don't have a traditional "Learning Support" department, like you may find in larger schools. Our Guidance Counsellor works with all students who have IEPs and Student Support Plans, and in many cases our small class sizes and increased teacher support address much of the concern our students have experience in traditional educational settings. However, for students who would typically spend time in a Learning Resource room, or working 1:1 with a staff member for portions of their day, those are things we cannot replicate on our campus. We always recommend a meeting with our Principal and Guidance Counsellor to discuss your specific learning goals and needs to better understand if we can provide the appropriate support for your child to be successful."
7. To your knowledge, why do families choose your school over others?
Information not yet available.
8. How would you characterize your school's image amongst the public?
"With a broad range of families, involved in many different social circles and communities, our greatest feature is our supple approach to student success. We don't run a...(more)
"With a broad range of families, involved in many different social circles and communities, our greatest feature is our supple approach to student success. We don't run a one-size-fits-all program and there is a recipe for success that can be found for many different learners."
9. What aspect of your school is underappreciated?
Information not yet available.
10. What might families find surprising about your school?
Information not yet available.
11. What improvements or changes has your school made recently?
Information not yet available.
12. How will your school change in the next 5 years?
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