Interview with The Sterling Hall School Alum, Caleb McLeod
- Name
Caleb McLeod - Grades (year)
Gr. 3 - Gr. 8 - University (major)
University of Toronto (Philosophy ) - Gender
Male - Enrolment
Day student
Caleb, an alum of The Sterling Hall School, spoke about the school’s commitment to making sure that each and every student succeeded in all aspects of their life and how the genuine care and support of the teachers, combined with resources at school and home, made learning more effective. He credited Sterling Hall for identifying students’ strengths and nurturing them while providing a safe space to work on weaknesses.
Highlights from the interview
- I always, from the time I started school, understood that my teachers candidly did care about me, and it was not something that they were compelled to do. What that meant was then utilizing the other resources the school supplied me with, the support systems I had at home, and the educational curriculum that was used to make sure that I would succeed, which became a lot easier to follow.
I always, from the time I started school, understood that my teachers candidly did care about me, and it was not something that they were compelled to do. What that meant was then utilizing the other resources the school supplied me with, the support systems I had at home, and the educational curriculum that was used to make sure that I would succeed, which became a lot easier to follow.
The school's mantra is about trying to support each and every boy through their formative years, with a big emphasis on ensuring that each component is really emphasized. Every boy is going to learn in a different, not only a different way, but at different stages and different times.
The school's curriculum is not one that is trying to box you into a particular way of learning or a particular subject matter to learn, but it really wants you to focus on the method by which you learn and then allows you to go from there.
The school does not want you to merely be a proficient learner. They also want you to be a person who understands that you are a citizen of your country and of the world in general. And that means you have to be conscientious in how you exist in those spaces.
The school has a really big emphasis on teaching you how to lead, but also making sure that that leadership does not have to take on the most traditional conception of it but to always have that muscle, as well.
The school tries to radiate a more positive outlook on your education, in terms of not thinking that if you messed up or failed in a particular subject matter that you've lost, but more teaching you how to take a lesson from and see what you've gained out of that.
The school is going to take whatever you are good at and is going to enhance it and give you opportunities to thrive in that zone, but also to see the areas where you are weaker and allow you to struggle in those ways in an environment that doesn't have huge costs to you.
I'd say that my time in Sterling Hall was more important than my high school years because of how transformational they were. If you go to high school and you've had some good experiences underneath your belt that have pushed you to grow, that's probably a much easier transition than if you were to go to high school a little bit behind the eight ball.
The school is going to always cater to your child enough to make it work, and also because there are so many benefits later on down the road for your child as well.
