REVIEW OF Matthews Hall BY parent, Kristen Gotkowski

(5) Student Experience

My son loves going to school. He wants to stay at extended daycare as long as possible; he looks forward to Mondays more than Fridays and wakes up excited to take on his day every single day. He has made many friends, coming out of a shell he had as a toddler, and adores each of his teachers. He tells wonderful stories about the day, comes home with tiny trinkets from his day, and each is so special to him. He's learned so much and honestly can teach me new things about birds, apples, or the French language consistently. His growth and experience here have always made me feel very confident in our choice to send him to Matthews Hall, and I'm excited to see what the decade at school brings for him.

(5) School Leadership

The school leadership and administration are very involved in the students' lives. They know who each parent is, and they know students by name immediately upon arrival. They come down and interact with them regularly, with the Assistant Head sometimes even covering extended daycare for the children to spend more time with them. I have not had any experience with discipline issues yet, but there is consistent and open communication, and they make you feel like a family member upon entering the school.

(5) Teaching

My son has multiple teachers, all of whom he truly adores. The Kindergarten teachers seem to work as a team to take care of the children, regardless of their assigned classroom. This approach, I believe, provides more comfort for the children during this transitional phase of their lives, as they have additional adults to approach. Even teachers from outside the Kindergarten classroom who assist are able to make my son feel comfortable. My son has learned a lot from his teachers, from day-to-day skills to technical knowledge, and from socialization skills to problem-solving. It is a very well-rounded approach to teaching the students. The teachers are very connected with parents and communicate any issues or areas for improvement quickly, and they are supportive in how to handle them.

(5) Academics

As my son is in Junior Kindergarten, we have not yet experienced the full length of the academic program. My main observation this year is that he began French classes immediately, compared to my own experience of starting in Grade 4. I think this early start is crucial for children this young, given how well they absorb new languages! They have also had a strong focus on music, which brought out a love for it in my son and revealed a talent I was unaware he had. He’s now comfortable performing in front of assemblies, always coming home singing a new song or showing me a dance he is practicing at school. The program has allowed him to excel in areas he was already interested in and discover new things to become interested in!

(5) Extracurriculars

My son participates in the Extended Day program and also attends field trips and social events at Matthews Hall. Due to his age, he is not yet involved in any sports teams at Matthews Hall, but he does play several sports outside of school, so I see this happening in the future. He thoroughly enjoys the Extended Day program, and I cannot imagine him not participating in it going forward. He always gets very excited and teaches me everything he’s learned leading up to a field trip. The field trips are very intentional and align with what they cover in class, making them a fun way to focus on learning!

(5) Students

The students at Matthews Hall are genuinely amazing. I have never interacted with such well-rounded, polite, and considerate young people. My son is very young, yet he has friends of all ages. They always hold the door for me when I’m heading in or out of the school, and they participate in my son's interests even though he is much younger than them. I do not see any disrespect as I walk through the school. His classmates all seem to be forming, hopefully, lifelong friendships, and we have attended birthday parties outside the school where all the parents are also forming friendships. It is a very inclusive school, and it seems that the students consistently get along with each other.

(5) School Life

Overall, student life at Matthews Hall is wonderful. My son loves attending school, but I have not yet been able to tell him about summer break, as I know it will break his heart. If he could attend seven days a week, year-round, he would. He's surrounded by good friends, learns new things every day, develops his social skills and confidence, is fed delicious food, and has so much fun. The only possible improvement would be implementing something like a summer camp or even a March break camp lasting two weeks. I think this would be a good balance for students and parents, as some students do not want to miss school, and it could help parents juggle work commitments alongside their children’s needs.

(5) Community

I have been pleasantly surprised by the connections made at Matthews Hall with the parents. It is very enjoyable to attend playdates, events, birthday parties, etc., with my son, as the parents are also an inclusive group who look to get to know each other and the other children to create a more well-rounded experience for everyone. I feel very involved in my son's school life, which I think, in part, is due to the extended day program and my daily attendance at the school. Parents are also invited as chaperones on field trips, which is another opportunity to meet other parents and children, be part of the day with the children, and have a connection with the teachers! I don't think parents are left out of the journey here.

(5) School Location

My understanding is that students do not leave the grounds of Matthews Hall during the day. This seems reasonable due to the ages of the students here. The location of the school is excellent in that it is at the edge of the city, so it does not have the busy atmosphere of downtown. There is a high school next door, and some students come to Matthews Hall to volunteer, which is very helpful as well.

(5) Admissions

The admission process at Matthews Hall is phenomenal. It is very tailored and private, and they ensure to make you and your child feel very welcomed. You are provided a full private tour of the school with full details. Your child attends a day at the school in the classroom they would be in, and all along the way, they ensure that when you walk in, it is clear that they want to have you there. It is very low pressure and comfortable for families!