Who are We? How are We Different?
For 28 years, Banbury Crossroads School has offered a caring, positive and individualized learning experience in a safe family atmosphere from pre-school through Grade 12. To achieve this unique learning environment, we limit enrollment to 100 students, with a maximum student: teacher ratio of 10:1.
Our student profile is diverse. Many of our children come because traditional education institutions have not adequately met their emotional status or learning styles, or been a good fit with their personalities or interests. The "gifted but bored" scenario is common, with children sometimes teased for being intelligent or creative. Some students have been bullied, and seek a safe learning environment. Others may be shy, or insecure about their reading ability. Maybe they have fallen behind the rest of the class, and were unable to catch up.
Our individualized teaching methods at Banbury are designed to meet the child's individual needs. Children work at their own pace and at different levels, until they have successfully mastered and understood the subject matter We encourage the development of critical thinking skills through constructive participation, as well as the appropriate use of contemporary information and digital technology systems. All interaction is nurtured and reinforced by positive learning and acknowledgement, in order to achieve not only desired levels of competence, but also the confidence to apply these newly acquired skills, habits and attitudes in real world situations. We have found that success breeds further success.
Our teachers are provided the time and resources to nurture individual students and to facilitate small multi-aged groups, fostering trust, effective communication skills and negotiation strategies. Relationships within the school are based around mutual respect, trust and a positive responsiveness to others. Instead of attempting to control children using simple rewards or punishments, we attempt to convince them - helping all students to discover their own intrinsic reasons for doing things. Both teacher input and student input is sought in planning and decision-making. This approach increases autonomy and self-esteem within each student, and enhances tolerance, politeness, and confidence when working with others.
Our school is fully accredited, and Banbury follows the Alberta Programs of Study. Our emphasis is on helping students how to think clearly and well, not just what to think. We utilize each student's interests and motivation as a platform for further systematic inquiry. We accommodate various preferred learning styles and negotiate with students to work at their own pace. With elementary students, reading skills are based on each child's learning readiness, which could be anywhere between the ages of 3 and 7. Our approach is non-intrusive, yet encouraging. We respect and nurture each child's natural sense of wonder, enthusiasm and curiosity towards learning. We encourage initiative and self-responsibility in our students, so that they will adopt a positive attitude towards the challenges and demands of a rapidly changing and complex world.
Our methods effectively prepare secondary students for university or college entrance and the world of work. We offer English, Math, Social Studies, Science, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Physical Education, and Career and Life Management. Options can include Art, French, Spanish, Drama, Philosophy, Psychology, Food Studies, World Religions, Art History, Music History, History of American Film and Work Experience. In addition, each and every one of our students participates in an internship each year of their secondary schooling. These internships are based on their personal interests and/or potential career routes and are immersive and contributive in nature. Students spend somewhere between 25 and 125 hours out of their classes volunteering/working for an organization in the community. During their time at that placement, they are paired with an adult mentor who guides them in designing a project to give back to the organization. Students journal their experiences and then the internship is concluded with an exhibition of the learning and of the connections that were made to the curriculum.
To help you make an informed decision about Banbury Crossroads, we invite you to arrange a visit to our school. You can informally talk with students and staff to better judge if Banbury is for you. Perhaps your child would like to participate in our programs for a day or two during the school term.
Click to Download the Banbury Crossroads School Booklet
For more information:
Phone (403) 270-7787
E-mail general@banburycrossroads.com
Fax (403) 270-7486
We are located at #201 2451 Dieppe Avenue S.W. in Calgary, Alberta.
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