Message from the Head of School
Hello to All Students, Parents, Grandparents and Friends of the School,
This is an exciting time as we prepare to open our doors to students in the fall. I am pleased to be part of such an exciting, new and unbelievable educational opportunity for Chatham Kent.
Chatham College School will be offering the International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum-Primary Years Program (PYP). The IB curriculum is offered at some of the most prestigious and academically reknowned schools throughout the world. We are very fortunate in Chatham-Kent to have this high level program available to students at such an affordable cost. The IB program is designed to provide meaning and understanding between theoretical knowledge and real world problems. The IB curriculum guides students about how to investigate diffferent subjects, uncover key questions and how to develop their thoughts and ideas into an expressable knowledge. This transdisciplinary, wholistic approach to education addresses the interconnectedness between the world around us and those who live on the planet The comprehensiveness of the curriculum addresses all of the expectations of the Ontario Provincial curricuulum and surpasses it with our Transdisciplinary Units of Inquiry.
The key component in delivering quality education is due in part to the quality of our teachers. Chatham College School will ensure academic excellence by selecting teachers based on their academic knowledge and ability to teach. Our teachers will have passion for education and a true desire to see their students achieve. Our teachers will be provided with the support, resources and professional development that is required to make their classrooms rich, inviting and full of interest. My passion for education and my knowledge of some of the world education systems has given me good insight into the abilites of young students. I firmly believe children are capable of so much more than the current system offers. Unfortunately, classrooms of today are full of non-academic influences that disrupt lesson delivery, interrupt teaching opportunities, and generally detract from a students ability to learn. Our classrooms have clear goals, challenging activities and comprehensive lessons which contribute to the overall academic development of our students. Undisturbed classroom lesson time delivers comprehensive, challenging curriculum expectations and provides expanded opportunities for further discussion, discovery, and greater knowledge. Our classrooms are encouraging, respectful, courteous and our students work independantly and in groups with others that share common academic aspirations.
As a parent, I know that a safe learning environment is important. Our building itself is always secured and while we encourage visitors they will have to be escorted into the building by staff. Our large outside play areas are monitored by teachers during all outside play time. But most importantly, a supportive, caring environment and culture of citizenship among students will be carefully nurtured and our students will look after each other. I will ensure that this school culture permeates every aspect of the school day and that our students model this behaviour in and out of class.
Finally, Chatham College School believes strongly in fitness and daily physical activity. Chatham College School will have both an outdoor and an indoor play area for children. Chatham’s Hall of Wonders will be an exclusive indoor play area and one of a kind in Chatham-Kent. This will ensure that even on cold or rainy days, students will get the daily physical activity they need. In conjunction with this, Chatham College School will be providing daily nutritious lunches and snacks.
I look forward to the upcoming school year and I hope that you and your family can be a part of it. I hope that you share the educational values of our school as much as I do. It is my objective to make this school enjoyable, educational and rewarding for all our students and to deliver on the promise of a better education and future.
Sincerely,
Neil Anderson
Head of School
Chatham College School