The big picture on Oakville Christian School (OCS)
We summarized the school ourselves
OCS was founded in 1982 to serve a need principally for a quality school that taught the Ontario curriculum through a Christian lens. Since, the school has built its reputation on precisely that: offering a Christian perspective on the core Ontario curriculum. The school has a strong community feel, a product to some extent of its size, though leadership has given close attention to developing instruction and extra-curriculars, including the development of a strong athletic program. The school continues to reflect its original mandate while also remaining agile, adopting new programs and practices to meet the needs of students in a changing world.
We questioned the school adminstration
1. Who are you, as a school?
"Nurturing excellence in a Christ-centred academic environment is the key to education at Oakville Christian School. The Christian principles of the school reflect a strong belief in the value of each child. OCS seeks to develop the mind, body and spirit of each student within the context of a caring, safe community environment. In a world that expects you to fit in, we teach our students to stand out!"
2. What do you do differently and uniquely well?
"At OCS, our aim is to help students – accomplish the following:
-Develop Biblical values that will guide them in their decision making,-in the present and in years to...(more)
"At OCS, our aim is to help students – accomplish the following:
-Develop Biblical values that will guide them in their decision making,-in the present and in years to come.
-Respect other students and teachers (all people) as persons of value, made in the image of Christ.
-Recognize others in their lives as instruments of God (Proverbs 27:17) to ‘sharpen’ their lives with a goal to journey through life interdependently.
-Become lifelong lovers of learning developing healthy work habits."
3. What tradeoffs has your school made to serve families in this way?
"At Oakville Christian School, our unwavering commitment to faith formation and Christ-centred education guides every decision we make. This strong focus means we choose to...(more)
"At Oakville Christian School, our unwavering commitment to faith formation and Christ-centred education guides every decision we make. This strong focus means we choose to prioritize spiritual growth, character development, and community.
Our focus is on whole-child education through small class sizes and intentional relationships. We prioritize a nurturing, close-knit community where students are known personally and encouraged to grow spiritually, emotionally, and academically at a pace that is developmentally appropriate.
We also emphasize structure, respect, and character within a grace-filled environment. While creativity is welcomed and encouraged, we do so within a framework that reflects Biblical values and clear expectations for behaviour and responsibility. As a result, students experience a safe, respectful environment, but they may not encounter the same level of “anything goes” creative freedom as in more open-ended educational settings."
4. What key junctures in your school's history have most shaped its present?
"Oakville Christian School was founded with a clear mission: to provide a Christian education that nurtures both the mind and the spirit. From the beginning, the school sought to...(more)
"Oakville Christian School was founded with a clear mission: to provide a Christian education that nurtures both the mind and the spirit. From the beginning, the school sought to integrate faith into every aspect of learning, not just as a subject but as a lens through which students understand the world. This vision continues to define our approach today—students grow academically, socially, and spiritually in a Christ-centered environment.
Over the years, we introduced hallmark programs that reflect our evolving understanding of how children learn best. The adoption of the Schoolwide Enrichment Model and the creation of our "Service Clusters" not only enhanced our academic offerings but also reinforced our commitment to spiritual growth an community service.
2. Establishing a Permanent Home
A major milestone in our history was securing and establishing our current facility. Having a permanent campus allowed us to grow intentionally—adding classrooms, creating outdoor learning"
5. What type of student is a good fit for your school?
"At Oakville Christian School, students who thrive here are curious, engaged, and open to growing both academically and spiritually. A good fit is a child who is eager to learn,...(more)
"At Oakville Christian School, students who thrive here are curious, engaged, and open to growing both academically and spiritually. A good fit is a child who is eager to learn, respectful of others, and able to participate positively in a nurturing, Christ-centered environment. We support a range of learning styles, so students don’t need to arrive with everything "figured out"—but a willingness to try, to grow, and to be part of a community is key.
Families who will get the most out of their time at OCS are those who value strong academics grounded in a biblical worldview and who see education as a partnership between home and school. Parents who are supportive, communicative, and engaged—whether through prayer, volunteering, or simply encouraging their child’s growth—help foster the sense of community we deeply value."
6. Under what conditions would you advise a family against choosing your school?
"We are deeply committed to providing a Christ-centered education that integrates faith and learning in every aspect of school life. Because of this strong focus, there are some...(more)
"We are deeply committed to providing a Christ-centered education that integrates faith and learning in every aspect of school life. Because of this strong focus, there are some situations where we may not be the best fit for every family—and that’s okay. Our desire is to help families find the right school environment where their child will thrive.
If a family is primarily looking for a secular education or prefers a school where faith is kept separate from academics, they may not find what they’re looking for here. At OCS, we intentionally weave biblical truth into our curriculum, classroom discussions, and student life. Faith is not an add-on—it’s foundational.
We are a nurturing school, but we do have clear expectations for academic effort, respectful behaviour, and a willingness to grow in character. If If a family is looking for a school with a more relaxed or unstructured approach to discipline, homework, or classroom routines, our structure may not align with their preferences."
7. To your knowledge, why do families choose your school over others?
"Our student body’s size lends itself to a ‘family’ atmosphere, where all teachers and administrative staff know students by name. Many groups contribute this OCS culture of...(more)
"Our student body’s size lends itself to a ‘family’ atmosphere, where all teachers and administrative staff know students by name. Many groups contribute this OCS culture of community, with a common goal of learning, growing together, and having mutual respect for one another. We believe a healthy, trusting home/school relationship enhances, and even speeds, a child’s growth."
8. How would you characterize your school's image amongst the public?
"Oakville Christian School is seen as a warm, nurturing, and faith-filled environment where students thrive both academically and spiritually. Among the public, our school is known...(more)
"Oakville Christian School is seen as a warm, nurturing, and faith-filled environment where students thrive both academically and spiritually. Among the public, our school is known for its strong sense of community, small class sizes, and commitment to Christian values. Families often speak highly of the caring relationships between staff and students, and the way faith is woven into every aspect of school life.
The most prominent feature of our school in the public eye is our emphasis on whole-child development—where character, faith, and academic excellence are all seen as essential parts of a child’s growth. People associate OCS with a safe, welcoming atmosphere where children are known, loved, and challenged to reach their potential.
These attributes of community, faith, excellence, and care reflect the heart of our brand identity. While this public image is just the “tip of the iceberg,” it points to deeper values that shape everything we do as a school."
9. What aspect of your school is underappreciated?
"At Oakville Christian School, our common goal is to help our students continue on their academic paths to success while being lovingly nurtured in a Christ-Centered Academic...(more)
"At Oakville Christian School, our common goal is to help our students continue on their academic paths to success while being lovingly nurtured in a Christ-Centered Academic Environment."
10. What might families find surprising about your school?
"At Oakville Christian School, we believe that school is more than just academics. We offer a variety of programs to our students, promoting growth academically, physically,...(more)
"At Oakville Christian School, we believe that school is more than just academics. We offer a variety of programs to our students, promoting growth academically, physically, spiritually, and socially. We know that each child is unique in their abilities and talents, and we strive to offer programs that appeal to all aptitudes. We provide numerous clubs, extracurricular activities, competitive and non-competitive athletics, service, and student council opportunities."
11. What improvements or changes has your school made recently?
"Recently, we’ve made several tangible improvements to our campus that speak directly to our values.
We’ve opened a brand-new Student Centre, which now houses our library—a...(more)
"Recently, we’ve made several tangible improvements to our campus that speak directly to our values.
We’ve opened a brand-new Student Centre, which now houses our library—a space designed to inspire curiosity, quiet reflection, and a love for learning. This centre embodies our desire to create environments where students can grow in knowledge and faith.
Our new playground equipment reflects our belief in the importance of play, physical activity, and building healthy friendships. It’s a space where students of all ages can connect, move, and enjoy God’s creation together.
We’ve also built a dedicated music studio, providing students with a creative outlet to explore and develop their God-given talents. Each of these improvements points back to our mission—to provide a Christ-centered education that encourages students to grow in wisdom and character. They're physical expressions of our ongoing commitment to serve families with excellence, joy, and purpose."
12. How will your school change in the next 5 years?
"At Oakville Christian School, we envision a future of continued growth that stays deeply rooted in our mission: to nurture the hearts and minds of children for Christ. Over the...(more)
"At Oakville Christian School, we envision a future of continued growth that stays deeply rooted in our mission: to nurture the hearts and minds of children for Christ. Over the coming years, we aim to strengthen and expand our programs in ways that holistically develop students—spiritually, academically, socially, and emotionally."
SK to Gr. 2 (current), Gr. 5 to Gr. 6 (current) — Watch our parent interview with Dr. Daniela Steyn to get the inside scoop on what it’s like to have a child attend Oakville Christian School (OCS).
Our children are in grades 3 and 7 and have been at OCS since preschool. Both kids love going to school at OCS for the community and the way the teachers/staff show them love and attention. Out of these, for sure both kids appreciate the teachers the most. The way they feel cared for and the interest the teachers take in their lives and thoughts builds their confidence and desire to strive to do their best. They look forward to learning and are excited about all of the events and extra-curricular activities that take place at school. They even enjoy going to the before/after school supervision program!
Our three kids have all done well at OCS. They seem very content - they go off to school eagerly and they come home with lots of stories that reflect they are engaged in their learning. All three speak fondly of OCS. I think this is in part because they feel they are known and loved. They belong and this makes OCS feel like their second home.
If I were to ask them what they like best, they would likely list their friends, extra-curricular activities, and recess ;). I think they also like to learn, but they might not admit it. If I were to ask them what they wished could change about their school, they would likely say that they want to live closer so that they could walk to school.
Our experience at Oakville Christian has been wonderful. The school, the teachers, the PTA and the families are all so very supportive and caring. Both of our children love their teachers, their friends and the Christian environment that is offered by OCS. Some of their favorite things include the opportunity to perform on stage for special occasions (Grandparents Day, Christmas Concert), gym class, the many opportunities to give back through the charitable activities through the year and the cluster groups that focus on their interests.
The only thing that my son would recommend is more organized school sports for the younger students (he is grade 2). Most of the team sports begin in grade 3 and up.
My children have, and still do appreciate everything that Oakville Christian School offers them on a daily basis.
The school is of a size both physically and numerically that allows them to know where everything is and recognize and know most, if not all, the teaching staff and administration. This creates a happy and safe environment for them to feel comfortable and happy to learn.
They enjoy as they get older, and progress through the school, the timetable allowing them to have more rotary teaching staff. Although even at a young age being able to have a specialist in French, Gym and Music is greatly appreciated.
My boys so enjoy having the space that the school provides both for outdoor recess and in the new gym. Having the new gym and stage has meant that theatrical productions have been able to be put on for the school and parents enjoyment. With the space of the gym and the atrium, sporting tournaments can now be hosted and the children are very proud to show off their school. My eldest son at Oakville Christian School in particular, loves the opportunities to take part in the school teams in such a wide variety of sports, something that could not be achieved outside of school.
My daughters are currently in grades one and two and are both thriving at Oakville Christian School. Both girls started in JK. Some classes have been quite below the maximum capacity and others have been at the max. Regardless of class size, my girls have adjusted well and have had no problems keeping pace with the class. I think the part my girls like the best are the teachers. They are kind, caring and compassionate. They take the time to understand each child and help them in the best way possible. As a parent, I appreciate the smaller size of the school. It creates a warm and inviting community for both students and parents. I don't feel as though my children will get lost in the shuffle or become a "number". It's not so intimidating for younger children. My children are still young so they haven't expressed any disappointment yet with their school. They have made friends and enjoy going to school every day.
We have had our children at Oakville Christian School for the last nine years. School has been a very positive experience for all four of our children. They have enjoyed going to school each day. They look forward to learning and are excited about the many extracurricular activities that take place of a daily basis at the school. Since each child is unique they appreciate different aspects of the school. Our oldest child is very involved with sports. His favourite part of school is participating in various teams and tournaments at the school. He has had the opportunity to play on many teams including ultimate frisbee, soccer, volleyball, basketball, floor hockey and softball. Our second child has enjoyed being part of the theatrical performances that take place at the school. She loves to sing and act. The Christmas and Spring concerts have given her an opportunity to not only work hard and learn new skills but to gain confidence through being on stage. Our third child loves to learn and is excited about the new things her teachers show her each day. She comes home excited to share with us the experiments she has done or a new art project that she has completed. Our youngest child is at the beginning of her journey at OCS. She is happy to go to school, loves her teachers and friends and is learning new things each day. Her favourite part about school is learning to read and count and of course, recess with her little friends. All of our children appreciate the sense of community at OCS. They have made wonderful friends with their classmates. All of the teachers and administration know our children and invest their time and energy into encouraging and supporting each of them. OCS is a wonderful school that all of our children look forward to going to each day.
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