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St. John's-Kilmarnock School logo
in-depth report
The OUR KIDS Report: St. John's-Kilmarnock School
Grades JK TO Gr. 12 — Waterloo Region (Breslau), ON (Map)
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THE OUR KIDS REPORT:
St. John's-Kilmarnock School
REPORT CONTENTS
Reviews
Analysis

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School Leadership

What is the leadership style at St. John's-Kilmarnock School? How do the school leaders shape the culture, priorities, and daily life of the community? How does this leadership style compare to that of other private and independent schools, and how might it influence your choice of school?

Page Contents

Facts and analysis

MESSAGE FROM THE LEADERSHIP

We asked Ms. Cheryl Boughton, Head of School at St. John's-Kilmarnock School for their message.

They offered insights into their vision, values, and the principles that define their leadership style.

Ms. Cheryl Boughton, Head of School

As a well-established and fully accredited International Baccalaureate (IB) Continuum School, we prepare your children for the future, providing the foundation to thrive in a rapidly changing world. From Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12, students engage with modern facilities and the School's beautiful 36-acre campus, which sets the stage for stimulating learning environments where knowledge, innovation, and internationalism are expressed and valued. 

SJK is the only school in our region to be authorized by the International Baccalaureate to offer the continuum of three IB programs: the Primary Years Programme (PYP), the Middle Years Programme (MYP) and the university preparatory Diploma Programme. We are one of only five schools in Ontario to achieve this distinction. 

Our qualified and talented faculty ensure that learning and teaching focuses on the development of well-rounded and confident individuals; IB represents an enriched framework for personal and social development as well as skills for life, but also a competitive academic and professional qualification alongside the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD). Students engage in a balanced range of classroom and course offerings; co-curricular, leadership and service activities; as well as international perspectives and experiences. 

The SJK community is grounded in a sense of respect for oneself, each other and our environment as local and global citizens. Students are challenged to GO BEYOND the given, to the possible. 

The best way to get to know the School is to come for a visit, experience the energy, explore the facilities and campus, and see firsthand the warm and friendly environment our school has become known for. 

INTERVIEW WITH THE LEADERSHIP

Watch our interview with Cheryl Boughton, Head of School at St. John's-Kilmarnock School

They reflect on their path to educational leadership, the school's mission, and the vision guiding their everyday decisions.

Video Contents

  • 1:01 - Three things the Head of School loves about her job
  • 2:03 - The Head of School's career path leading to St. John's-Kilmarnock School
  • 2:53 - Surprises about the school
  • Show Full Video Contents
 

Qualitative insights

These insights are based on conversations with parents, alumni, and school leadership. Handpicked and curated by our editor, they offer a close look at how the school is experienced and perceived by those who know it best.


They provide a strong and welcoming community.

Accounts from students and parents highlight the remarkable sense of belonging and the warm, inclusive environment that makes this school community stand out.

When you become part of this community, you really feel that you've found your home, you feel like you belong. I think often independent schools talk about the community being a special element of their identity. But it really surprised me just how strong the community is and how warm and welcoming everyone was. And it's not just toward me, it's toward anyone who joins the community. New people very quickly say the same thing as people who have been here for a long time, that the community is something that's really outstanding here.
—Cheryl Boughton, Head of School (see full interview)
The administration holds the school environment top of mind. There is regular communication between home and school with prompt response time. The anticipated Friday File is a weekly email publication written by the Head of School which includes activities of the week and upcoming events as well as a thoughtful and insightful message. Each day the Heads of School are seen at the entrance doors and directing morning drop-off traffic, always with a smile and friendly interaction with students and parents. There is a specific focus on the emotional well-being of students which is supported by the full-time school nurse, who holds a specialty in children’s mental health.
—Laura Armstrong, parent (beginning 2021) (see full review)

They foster respect and open-mindedness.

Insights from the school community reveal a deep culture of mutual respect and a strong emphasis on understanding diverse perspectives.

I think that's another value that is very much instilled in our students. I think that there's a huge culture of respect here, respect for each other, respect for their teachers, respect for our traditions, and also respect for other people's ideas and opinions and being curious about trying to understand what someone else's point of view might be. It might be different from your own.
—Cheryl Boughton, Head of School (see full interview)
My own personal rule is that if it takes more than five sentences to explain in an email, it's a conversation. We just talk to people and we listen to what they have to say, and we put forward what we have to say, and we just try to find common ground and try to find a way forward. People are reasonable, and they often have questions or concerns, and we want to answer them. So it really is an open door policy, and we encourage people to feel that they can contact us if they have any concerns.
—Cheryl Boughton, Head of School (see full interview)

Holistic student development is encouraged.

Student and alumni testimonies emphasize the school's commitment to providing balanced growth opportunities in academics, sports, and the arts, ensuring well-rounded personal development.

On the one hand, [academics are] absolutely a part of who we are, but it's not the only thing that we are. We really encourage our students to be very well rounded. So while academics take priority here, so do sports and healthy, active living, and we have a really strong arts program, too. We really challenge our students to reach their potential and develop all facets of themselves, while still keeping in mind the importance of their academics and of course, the success that comes from those academics and the opportunities that those academics afford.
—Cheryl Boughton, Head of School (see full interview)
I think that the IB Programme itself has benefits in terms of its philosophy and approach to education. We're called a continuum school because we have the three programs: the primary program, the middle year's program, and the diploma program. I think that there is value in participating in the Primary Years Programme because that's the foundation of the whole IB Programme. In particular, students can look forward to Grade 6, to the end of the [Primary] Programme, to the exhibition. So this is a project that students work on individually and they form their own inquiry questions and then they follow that through to find the answers to their own questions.
—Cheryl Boughton, Head of School (see full interview)
[SJK is part of] a well established community, but we are also home to a lot of high tech companies, and there's a lot of really creative and innovative things that are happening in this region. I think that if SJK was a person, SJK would have that ability to kind of think outside the box and be nimble and be able to do things differently, but without losing sight of their core values. I would also say, too, that SJK would, if it were a person, be able to participate in the sport that it really loves and at the same time be able to engage in the arts as well and showcase their creativity in that way. I would say [SJK] has the right balance between being focused and determined, but also being able to have fun, too, and having a light hearted side to itself.
—Cheryl Boughton, Head of School (see full interview)
 

THE OUR KIDS REPORT: St. John's-Kilmarnock School

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