REVIEW OF Ontario eSecondary School BY student, Armita Ghasemi

(5) Student Experience

I had a fantastic experience with this e-secondary high school. The flexibility of the schedule allowed me to learn at my own pace, which was a huge benefit for balancing my studies with other responsibilities. The teachers were supportive, responsive, and truly cared about student success. The curriculum was challenging but engaging, and I felt well-prepared for university-level work. The online platform was easy to navigate, and there were plenty of resources like tutoring, discussion forums, and interactive assignments that made learning effective and enjoyable. I also appreciated how the school fostered a sense of community even in a virtual setting. Overall, I highly recommend this e-secondary school to any student looking for a high-quality, flexible, and supportive learning environment! My special thanks to Mara for her outstanding help and support. I truly appreciate her time and dedication in making everything run so smoothly.

(4.5) School Leadership

Yes, I do respect the school leaders at my Ontario secondary school, including the headmaster, guidance counsellors, and teachers. Each of them plays a unique and important role in shaping not only our academic journey but also our personal development. I recognize that many of them truly care about students’ well-being, and I appreciate how approachable and supportive some staff members are. One thing I think they do well is creating a stable and organized environment. Teachers work hard to plan lessons and give feedback, and guidance counsellors are usually helpful when it comes to course selection or planning for the future. I’ve also noticed that when I reach out through email, most staff respond fairly quickly—usually within a day or two—which shows that they respect students' time and take our concerns seriously.

(4.5) Teaching

When teachers talk about success, I think most of them imagine it as getting good grades, graduating, and moving on to post-secondary or a solid job. While that’s important, I wish more teachers talked about success in broader terms—like becoming confident, self-aware, curious, or resilient. For me, success is also about feeling balanced and supported, not just performing well on paper. The lessons and video calls where my teachers went over my assignments really helped me improve. They gave me specific feedback that showed exactly what I was doing well and what needed more work. Instead of just reading written comments, being able to talk through my strengths and mistakes in real time made everything clearer. It helped me understand the expectations better and gave me the confidence to apply the feedback to future assignments. These one-on-one or small group sessions made a big difference in how I approached my work, and I felt more supported and motivated to improve.

(4) Academics

Academically, I would say the work is mostly just right—not too easy, but also not too overwhelming as long as I stay on top of it. Some assignments can be challenging, but that’s what helps me grow. I do think what I’m learning will be useful later in life, especially the skills I’ve developed in English class. Learning how to write essays properly, especially using MLA format, has really helped me become a better writer and communicator. These are skills I know I’ll need in college, university, or even in professional settings where clear writing and proper formatting matter. It’s not just about passing the course—it’s about building a foundation for the future. It will help me keep in what to know at all times and see the way I construct my sentences in the future with more thought and depth.

(4.5) School Life

If I were asked to give a tour of my virtual school to a group of visitors, I would start by showing them the main learning platform or dashboard where we access all our courses. That’s the central hub for everything—assignments, lessons, announcements, and communication with teachers. I’d highlight how organized the layout is and how each course is easy to navigate. Then I would show them how we join live video classes and where we can message teachers or classmates for help. I’d also explain how tools like shared documents, discussion boards, and video feedback make the experience interactive, even though we’re not in a physical building. Showing them the many courses they could take online instead to balance out their in-person life, while also fostering some electives for an extra GPA.

(5) Admissions

The admissions process for my virtual school was fairly straightforward, but still felt a bit stressful at times, mostly because I wasn’t sure what to expect. I remember having to fill out forms, submit some basic academic information, and wait for confirmation. At the time, I didn’t fully understand how online learning worked, so I had a lot of questions about what the daily schedule would be like and how I would interact with teachers. Looking back, I realize it wasn’t as complicated as it seemed, and the staff were helpful in guiding me through the steps. If I were to give advice to someone applying, I’d say don’t be afraid to ask questions and take time to explore the school’s website or talk to current students if possible. It’s important to make sure the virtual school matches your learning style. I know now that being self-motivated and organized matters a lot more in a virtual setting than I expected, and that’s something I’ve learned to improve since starting.