REVIEW OF Fern Hill School - Oakville BY parent, Jyotika Luthra

(5) Student Experience

As a mother sending her first child to school for the first time, this experience can be very overwhelming … you are worried if your child will like school, settle in, and make friends … but then, come the first weekend, your child is crying because they DON’T have to go to school? That’s how you know they have fit right in, and there is no bigger relief! My daughter loves the comfort of a supportive and helpful homeroom teacher, Ms. D’Agostino, and is so attached to all the administrative staff. She enjoys the activities and diverse celebrations and says each day in her life feels like a new storybook! How awesome is that! Every morning, she wakes up excitedly to get to her newest adventure!

(5) School Leadership

Whoever said it’s about first impressions was spot on! When I came to Fern Hill for my very first tour, my initial emotion was - I wish I could’ve gone to this school. Ms. Kusters in the Admissions office was kind enough not to give me JUST one tour but entertained two more of my requests to bring my parents and husband to take a look as well, as we could not all come at the same time. The school is great at sending out communications and reminders, and for a first-time parent, it really helps settle into the process. The effort made by each teacher to update Edsby about the day-to-day is commendable. My biggest kudos to the amazing leaders (Ms. Bell and Ms. Grout Ogden especially) who are out braving the extreme weather each day to welcome their students to school … they remember each student by name and ensure everyone comes and goes safely. Their excellent leadership trickles through the school and makes Fern Hill a safe and wonderful place for its students!

(5) Teaching

The teaching concepts right from the JK level are so well-tailored and thought out. The methods are practical and do not overwhelm children, especially young children. I was so blown away by the concept of Super Kids to learn the alphabet in a fun, memorable way! The STEM activities excite my daughter the most, and she enjoys learning French and Mandarin. It is heartening to see how well the teachers are laying the foundation in the earliest years. It is also great to go through all the children’s work at the end of the week and see what they did. Teachers comment in detail about which sections were done as a class, which on their own and which with one-on-one support, allowing us to help our children where they need the most support. The activities are age-appropriate but just challenging enough to help kids think that little extra. My daughter comes home and shares all the amazing things she learns each day, and we sit and discuss her favourite topic from the day.

(5) Academics

My daughter has just embarked on her Fern Hill journey, and though it may seem too early for me to comment on this, I truly believe the kindergarten teachers are really laying down a sound foundation for my child. My best friend’s daughter also attends Fern Hill and is currently in grade 3. I see her confidence and personality when in social gatherings and it is such a delight to see how well the school recognizes each child’s unique abilities and focuses on enhancing them. From the little engagement I have had with the grade 8 students while helping prepare for a cultural assembly, I was so proud to see how well-spoken each of them was! And it was easy to see that they would all build successful futures for themselves upon graduating from Fern Hill.

(5) Extracurriculars

Again, it is a bit early for me to comment, but from all the updates and communications that come out in the weekly newsletter, it is evident that the Fern Hill students are very busy! Extracurriculars are offered in varied fields that cover a large variety of interests, right from music, sports, theatre, and art, just to name a few. Also, the international trip for the older kids is so exciting and such a wonderful way to open their eyes to the world and new cultures. The younger kids get to go on many exciting field trips that are very educational for them. My daughter is also enrolled in the after-school Karate program offered at Fern Hill.

(5) Students

The general atmosphere of the students at Fern Hill is that they are very confident, ambitious, and smart. I had the privilege of interacting with the Grade 8 children for the narration of the Diwali Assembly, and it was such a delight to see 26 of them volunteer their time and effort to participate! Fern Hill teaches them a blend of cultures and exposes them to so many opportunities, whether it be the Round Square trips, the field trips or the various sports or interschool activities they compete in. Every child seems to be a well-rounded individual who has been given many opportunities to explore and then polish their skill/s of interest. It is so evident that the students are always happy and excited to be at school. My favourite part is when the older students come to oversee the JKs and SKs during recess, allowing them to bond across ages and learn from each other. I am confident that Fern Hill sets each child up for a successful future.

(5) School Life

As mentioned in one of my answers above, I am a parent whose child is spending their first year at school, and the initial thought can be overwhelming. But the fact that my daughter wakes up so excited at the thought of going to school speaks volumes for the atmosphere she experiences every single day. The balance between academics and extracurricular activities is JUST right and challenges the students on all levels. The fact that almost every teacher knows every student by name still amazes me and goes a long way to show how much they care. The homeroom teacher has my special respect for the individualized attention she gives each student and how she works on their problem areas. Fern Hill is a school that makes me want to return to that age and go back to school here, even though I absolutely loved my own school life.

(5) Community

This is probably one of my favourite parts about the school. The Fern Hill Parents Association is a group of very passionate parents who put their heart and soul into organizing events that encompass all cultures and backgrounds that exist within the school. I had promised myself I would try to be as much a part of my daughter’s school life as possible, and I have been so lucky to have been offered several opportunities to do so! In the 6 months since she started at Fern Hill, I have already been a part of organizing the Diwali Assembly, the Christmas Market, and the Book Fair, and I am now helping out with the Teachers Appreciation Lunch. Interacting with all the other parents who willingly volunteer on these occasions is also a highlight. I look forward to contributing more in every capacity that I can.

(3.5) School Location

If I were ever forced to point out a place of improvement for Fern Hill, this would be it … as a personal opinion, I am not thrilled that the school is in such close proximity to a cemetery. The single lanes to get to the school are always an issue due to it being a high-traffic road. I do like the fact that it’s its own island and there is ample outdoor space for the students. Location wasn’t a factor that kept me from picking Fern Hill as our school of choice, though.

(5) Admissions

Admissions were such a smooth and hassle-free process, and I will never forget how grateful I was to Ms. Kusters for entertaining the various tour requests I made. She took the time on each instance to take us through the school and its day-to-day in a lot of detail, and that really ‘sold’ us on our final decision to move forward with Fern Hill. The assessment, paperwork and orientation were simple and easy to follow.