REVIEW OF Braemar House School BY parent, Aileen Costigan

(5) Student Experience

We have two children at Braemar House School, and each experiences the school in a unique way. My son loves his small class, where both his teacher and peers know him well, and he knows them too. He feels safe and happy at school, and that sense of comfort helps him do his best every day, even on the more challenging ones. He also enjoys the many learning opportunities beyond the classroom, such as field trips, experiential learning, outdoor school events, and track and field. He looks forward to these experiences and always comes home excited to share what he’s learned. My daughter appreciates how her teachers have empowered her in the higher grades to take responsibility for her own learning. She values the freedom to use her creativity to design and direct her academic pursuits, like writing portfolios and STEAM projects, with supportive guidance rather than rigid structure. She thrives under the expectation that she can plan, manage, execute, and evaluate her own progress and work. While she enjoys her small class, she would welcome a few new, friendly faces to broaden her social circle.

(5) School Leadership

The leadership at Braemar is outstanding. Any issue we have encountered or concern we have raised has been addressed fairly, appropriately, sensitively, and in a timely manner. Communication is exceptionally effective and delivered through a variety of channels, such as the Remind messaging app, email, phone calls, the school website, and face-to-face availability, ensuring all families have convenient ways to access important information and receive answers to their questions or concerns. Both the administrative and teaching staff consistently go above and beyond to warmly welcome each student every day, to know each student as an individual, and to foster a warm, dynamic school community.

(5) Teaching

What initially attracted our family to Braemar was the teaching we witnessed during our exploratory visit, especially how it contrasted with our experience in the separate school board at the time. We walked into a Grade 5 classroom and saw a teacher at the whiteboard demonstrating and explaining long division to a focused group of students, each equipped with some means to capture information—whether an open laptop, pencil, or paper. She explicitly taught the skill, welcomed and answered all student questions, repeated key concepts in varied ways, and checked for understanding through probing questions. At the end of the lesson, she provided supported practice opportunities with clear guidelines and expectations before circulating to offer individualized help. It truly felt like an exemplary classroom from a bygone era! Now, having experienced multiple Braemar classrooms with two children, it is clear that these teaching principles remain central to the hearts and practices of all Braemar educators.

(5) Academics

Though each teacher we have encountered at Braemar brings their own unique approach, style, and strengths, several academic consistencies stand out: - Academic expectations are always clearly communicated and reasonable, both in terms of content and timelines. Completion, quality, and efficiency are emphasized throughout Braemar classrooms. As seasoned university faculty, we believe this is a key factor behind Braemar’s success in preparing students for post-secondary education and the workforce, as reflected in the strong academic standing and professional achievements of its alumni. - Teachers provide timely formative and summative feedback, both positive and constructive, and expect students to respect, inquire about, and develop strategies to address this feedback. Many assignments are iterative, offering structured opportunities to revise and improve. This approach wonderfully fosters resilience, creativity, confidence, and critical thinking in students. - Students and their families are encouraged to take responsibility, ownership, and pride in academic progress and achievements. Braemar supports this through regular homework, culminating projects, and special events that celebrate outstanding accomplishments, such as awards assemblies, storytelling and public speaking competitions, and art shows.

(5) Extracurriculars

Our children have enjoyed a wide variety of extracurricular activities at Braemar, including artistic pursuits like the school musical, athletic opportunities such as sports teams, academic clubs like chess, and community-building groups including the GEM’s club and garden club. The school’s small size creates unique opportunities for students to contribute and grow through coaching and peer interaction—even in traditionally competitive environments where they may have little prior experience, such as basketball and volleyball teams. We’ve witnessed our daughter’s skills and confidence develop impressively through these experiences. One of our favourite aspects of Braemar’s extracurricular program is seeing students, our own children and their peers, step outside their comfort zones to try new activities that might surprise even themselves and others. For instance, two high-caliber hockey players took on leading roles as Gaston and LeFou in the school production of Beauty and the Beast, while Belle herself ran a strong 100 m leg in the 4x100 m relay at track and field. We truly believe these opportunities foster the growth of well-rounded, confident future leaders!

(5) Students

The spirit of Braemar is truly palpable and infectious, especially during community events where the whole school comes together. Take the monthly school-wide assemblies, for example, these gatherings celebrate students who embody important virtues like kindness, cleanliness, and teamwork. When we first attended one, we were deeply moved by the genuine enthusiasm and pride shared across the entire school body for these everyday successes. Similarly, the school talent show is a remarkable event that highlights the commitment and excitement students have in supporting one another. Every performer, regardless of experience or stage presence, is met with genuine joy and encouragement. Senior students, in particular, are eager to uplift and cheer on the younger ones, creating a truly inclusive atmosphere. While Braemar isn’t immune to typical social and interpersonal challenges among students, any issues we’ve witnessed have been handled with professionalism and care, always prioritizing student well-being.

(4.5) School Life

Both of our children absolutely LOVE going to Braemar and always look forward to coming back after any time away. If we had to guess the words they might use to describe their school, we imagine they’d say it’s busy, exciting, friendly, challenging, cool, and most of all—FUN! Our son thrives in his class of 16 students, a tight-knit group that genuinely enjoys each other’s company. On a recent trip to the local zoo, although students could have split into smaller groups, they naturally stuck together throughout the day, which really showed the strong bonds they’ve built. It’s easy to see why he looks forward to being part of this class every day—and why birthday parties are such eagerly anticipated events! Our daughter’s class is smaller, with just 10 students, but she has really appreciated the chances she’s had to connect with Grade 8 classmates this year. We suspect she’s hoping for new enrolments to broaden her social circle and bring fresh energy to her class. We deeply value Braemar’s commitment to recognizing excellence through awards, assemblies, and public speaking competitions. That said, we would LOVE to see opportunities in the area of science expanded beyond the school community. For instance, the impressive work showcased at the school’s STEAM expo could be elevated for submission to events like the Bay Area Science and Engineering Fair (BASEF). Such participation would give students access to expert evaluation and feedback, as well as opportunities for monetary and other awards—something that would be invaluable given the growing need for future leaders in science.

(5) Community

Families are truly welcomed as part of the Braemar community, with countless opportunities for meaningful engagement. Parents are regularly invited to take part in special events—such as the Grade 8 graduation, Thanksgiving dinner, and career days—as well as to contribute through foundational roles on the Education Committee or the Board of Directors. This year, a particularly special opportunity was extended: a parent think-tank designed to help shape the school’s future direction. We were invited to share our insights and identify priorities in areas such as academics, extracurriculars, infrastructure, and community building. For us, this was a powerful demonstration of how deeply Braemar values parent perspectives and expertise. While we’re mindful of the importance of giving students space to form strong relationships with staff during the school day, we always feel welcome and at ease when we step into the school. Every time we’re on campus, we’re greeted with warmth and respect, and that consistent sense of belonging is something we truly cherish.

(4.5) School Location

The Braemar campus is truly beautiful. With mature trees, a mix of paved and grassy play areas, access to park equipment, and ample parking (separate from the play space), it offers a welcoming and functional environment. That said, some parents still find it challenging to use the parking areas appropriately, which is something that could be improved. Adding more outdoor equipment—such as balls, nets, or even an outdoor ping pong table—would help diversify and enhance the outdoor experience for students. Similarly, an expansion of the relatively small gym/stage space would be a valuable investment, especially considering the school community’s strong enthusiasm for both competitive sports and dramatic arts. We also truly value the school’s ongoing efforts to connect with the broader community through programs like food bank initiatives and field trips to enriching local institutions like McMaster University and the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum. These opportunities are incredibly meaningful and align beautifully with Braemar’s well-rounded educational approach.

(5) Admissions

Braemar takes a thoughtful and structured approach to admissions, ensuring the process is mutually beneficial for both the prospective student and the broader school community. There is a well-documented process in place, designed to carefully assess fit and readiness. Families considering Braemar are strongly encouraged to participate in exploratory opportunities, such as open houses and school visits, to get a genuine feel for the environment. Understanding and embracing the school’s commitment to high-caliber academics, within a warm, inclusive, and dynamic community, is essential. Success at Braemar is deeply rooted in a strong partnership between families and staff, working together to support each child’s growth and well-being.