Next to unconditional parental love and quality family time, your child must have a well-balanced education to be successful in today’s challenging world. Even at the pre-school level, parents are shopping for programs that best suit the needs of their children. Many parents are looking outside the public-school system in search of smaller classrooms, language immersion, religious and cultural training, greater discipline, experienced, enthusiastic motivating, teachers and a variety of extracurricular activities. Public school systems are realizing that to keep their students and attract new ones, they too must offer specialized programs. Ensuring that your child’s school experience is a positive one starting from the pre-school years should be every parent’s priority! This year you have a choice to school shop in your pajamas with virtual open houses or in-person open houses. It is a great opportunity to visit schools you may have considered but did not have time to learn more about.
Here are some suggestions to consider when school shopping:
- How many children in a classroom?
- Is there an active parent council?
- Is the environment clean, safe and well maintained?
- Does the staff (principal, teachers and office staff seem friendly and helpful?
- Are the halls filled with the works of the students?
- Do the teachers speak to the children respectfully?
- How are children disciplined for unacceptable behaviour?
- Is the library busy and well stocked?
- Do you see parents volunteering in the classrooms?
- Is there a modern computer and science lab?
- Are there a variety of extracurricular clubs and sports programs?
Be assertive and detail your child’s personality when you go to an interview.
Write down all the answers given so that you can go home and compare notes.
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PRE-SCHOOL PROGRAMS
Children’s House Montessori
Children’s House Montessori School at 150 Pacific Avenue has provided a unique education to young children of Winnipeg since 1967. Our school is housed in a two storey building of over 6000 sq. ft. The upper level contains our kindergarten and nursery classrooms, while the lower level consists of a large indoor gym/creative movement area as well as our music program. We also have a large fenced outdoor classroom. Children’s House offers a high quality learning environment for children ages 2 1/2 to 6, five days a week from September to June, in half-day sessions. The educational program is based on the work of Maria Montessori and emphasizes the development of all aspects of the child. The warm and friendly staff at Children’s House are committed to providing a non-competitive environment that fosters within each child a love of learning, self-motivation, independence, responsibility and self- confidence while allowing the children to exercise their natural curiosity and creativity. They learn to respect their surroundings, each other and themselves. A Department of Education accredited Kindergarten program is offered as an integral part of the Children’s House program. Kindergarten-aged children have the option of attending either full day or half day sessions. Children’s House also offers an Orff-based music program.
We will hold our Kindergarten Information Evening on Thursday, February 16, 2023 at 6:30. If you would like to attend, please contact the school by e-mail or call us at 204-956-1622 to register. at If we are unable due to pandemic guidelines, Nursery open house tours will be held in late February.Further information will be available on our website. Registration for September is now in progress!
Casa Montessori & Orff Elementary School
Albert Einstein – “Education is not the learning of facts, but the training of the mind to think”
If your dreams include a child who really loves school, is an independent and creative thinker, and who thinks and cares about others, then you are certainly doing the right thing by giving your child the gift of a Montessori education.
In 1991, five Winnipeg Montessori teachers conceived the unique idea of merging the Montessori principles of education with the Orff method of teaching music. Their vision, in the spirit of both Maria Montessori and Carl Orff’s philosophies, was to create an environment that would touch the imagination of the child and stimulate learning in a creative and independent environment. And so began the journey of Casa Montessori and Orff School from a pre-school program for 2-6 year olds to the addition in 2008 of the first and only recognized Elementary Montessori program in Winnipeg. The Elementary program is highly enriched and challenging. Children have the opportunity to learn absolutely amazing things in an independent and creative environment. There are three main components in the program: The first is the Mastery of Fundamental Skills and acquisition of basic knowledge found in a traditional curriculum including math, language, geography, botany, zoology, history, art, geometry, physics, chemistry, French, and music.
The Great Stories are the second component. They are presented as inspiring stories and include the story of how the world began, the development of plant and animal life on earth, the story of humankind, the history of language, math and technology. They are intended to give children a perspective of the Earth we live in and humanity’s place within the universe. The third component is Individual Chosen Research. Students gather information, assemble projects and share what they have learnt with their fellow classmates. Their oral presentation and written research reports grow in sophistication and complexity over the years.
Learning continues to be a hands-on experience and the Montessori materials that were used in the pre-school classrooms are used in an even more sophisticated manner. The unique peace curriculum enables the development of a small community in which children learn to work together, become involved in charities and community service projects and ultimately prepare students for life.
A student’s Elementary education culminates with an amazing experience at the Montessori Model United Nations in New York. Students step into the shoes of Ambassadors of other countries, debate international issues, negotiate and resolve conflicts while navigating the UN’s rules procedures.
Call (204) 487-6167 to schedule your personal Zoom tour! Please visit our website and our facebook page for more information.
The Little Years School Inc., a nursery school program, is accepting registration forms for the 2023-2024 Academic School Year. We are located in three classrooms within Ralph Maybank Elementary School at 20 Donnelly Street in Fort Garry, Pembina Trails School Division.
We are proud to be a bountiful nursery school with a variety of programs to choose from. The two day/week program runs on Tuesday and Thursday mornings or afternoons at a cost of $83.20/month. The three day/week program runs on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings or afternoons at a cost of $124.80/month. Our Basic French program is offered M/W/F afternoons for $124.80/month. And we offer a 5 day/week program for $208.00/month. Our programs run from September to June.
Our dedicated and devoted teachers, and very well-equipped classrooms provide quality preschool education in a safe, fun, spacious, clean, and stimulating atmosphere. All teachers have a minimum of Early Childhood Educator II accreditation. Our director is an Early Childhood Educator III, with a Bachelor of Education degree. Children participate in free play, printing practice, crafts, arts and science centres, music and movement, learning circles, snack time, movement time and story time. Each child brings their own healthy (all nut free) foods for snack time.
For more information on the school or to start the application registration process contact the Director, at 204-489-0303 or
e-mail us at littleyearsschool@yahoo.ca.
You can also check out our website for a Virtual Tour.
KINDERGARDEN TO S4 SCHOOLS
Balmoral Hall School
“(Sea) Lions and Foxes and (Polar) Bears, Oh My!”
At Balmoral Hall Beginnings, our two- and three-year-old students lead their own learning through our inquiry-based curriculum. We plan in response to their current interests, as they are encouraged to explore, lean into their curiosity, and share their thoughts and ideas.
Recently, the girls developed an interest in polar habitats and the animals that call them home after the children’s book Little Penguin’s Tale became a classroom favourite. To extend this interest, our educators set up a polar scene on one of the bookshelves for students to explore. We filled it with lights, along with a variety of land and sea animals, and sourced books and posters to be displayed nearby. We brought in snow and water to encourage discussion about the arctic environment through sensory experiences. The girls eagerly asked questions about the animals and their habitat, enacting encounters between the animals as they energetically channelled their curiosity, creativity, and sense of wonder through play.
This is just one of many examples of how girls direct their learning at Balmoral Hall School, beginning in our junior nursery class. Students’ interests are at the forefront of our curriculum at each stage of their learning journeys from age two onward, forging their own paths as lifelong learners. Visit our website for more information.
Beautiful Savior Lutheran School
Beautiful Savior Lutheran School (BSLS) continues to provide “Excellent in Education, Under the Gospel’ after 25 years! BSLS is not just a school, we are all brothers and sisters through Christ making our community atmosphere feel like family. Everyone is welcome and treated with respect. BSLS offers smaller classroom sizes which allows students to have more one on one time with the teachers, it provides a greater personal gain per student and by grade 8, our students have grown to be strong and confident individuals. All students receive an enriched and completed K-8 Manitoba Education Curriculum, they attend weekly Chapel services and have in class daily devotions. Each student also receives daily physical education, music and French all starting at the Kindergarten level. To find out more information about the only Lutheran School in Manitoba please visit our website or cennect with us by e-mail.
St. Maurice School Parochial School
(K-12) of St. Vital Roman Catholic Church – Educating the Heart and the Mind
St. Maurice School is the largest Catholic school in the province of Manitoba and provides a an all-inclusive K-12 Education. Since 1958 we have established a tradition of academic excellence within a structured learning environment permeated by Christian values. Since 1991 our high school graduates have gone on to be meaningful contributors to society both in their chosen vocation and in their acts of Christian service through Social Justice opportunities. You can read some of their stories on our web page in the “Admissions” tab under the heading “Read My Story”. Over 93% of our graduates continue on to postsecondary studies. Invariably they come back to visit and tell us, “We were well prepared!”
Along with a strong faith and academic culture, our school has developed into a vibrant community with a family atmosphere where students feel welcomed, safe and at home.
Other Highlights of St. Maurice School:
- School Uniform K-12
- High level debating and public speaking program
- Award winning High School Business Education Program
- Grade 12 Advanced Placement Courses
- Over 35 Extra-Curricular Activities
- Non-semestered year-long courses in high school
- Liturgical celebrations at St. Vital Parish Church
- Social Justice and Volunteer Programs
St. Maurice School is a full service education institution:
- St. Maurice Daycare (ages 1-5), adjacent to the school buildings
- Healthy Lunch program for Grades 1 to 6 (Mon-Fri)
- Before and After School Program for Kindergarten to Grade 6 students
- Before and After School Study Halls for Grade 7-12 students.
- After school staff office hours
- School Cafeteria with daily food services for Grades 7-12
We would love to hear from you! For more information please see our website or contact us by e-mail.
St. John Brebeuf Catholic School
Choosing the right school for your child is one of the most important decisions you will make as a parent. St. John Brebeuf Catholic School provides a dynamic, comprehensive education that equips K to 8 students with the technological, academic, spiritual, physical and moral tools to excel in today’s world. A high percentage of graduates consistently achieve Honour Roll status at St. Mary’s Academy, St. Paul’s High School and St. Boniface Diocesan High School.
In addition to the provincial curriculum, St. John Brebeuf School offers progressive teaching methods that maximize the learning styles of all students, including Basic French using AIM methodology, Orff Music, Tyner and Barton Literacy, as well as Religion, Resource, Computer Literacy and Full-Time Kindergarten programs. A social justice focus develops personal and social responsibility.
The school features a full-sized gym, competitive teams and extra-curricular clubs and activities, and offers Before and After School Care with optional private music lessons.
The school is open to Catholic youth in Kindergarten to Grade 8 and students of other faiths. For more information, visit our website or call 489-2115.
Linden Christian School
Linden Christian School is a dynamic independent school providing an outstanding education to over 1000 students from Kindergarten to Grade 12. Our exceptional and caring teaching staff guide students as they grow to be insightful thinkers and discerning decision makers. We give them the tools, knowledge and opportunities they need to succeed.
LCS strives towards a standard of excellence in every endeavor. Our students consistently score well above the provincial median on provincial exams. Smaller class sizes provide a nurturing environment where each student has the opportunity to excel to his or her full potential. It is the desire of our staff to see your child grow into a well-balanced individual academically, spiritually and socially.
LCS offers outstanding Athletic and Performing Arts programs, as well as a wide range of extra-curricular activities such as competitive athletics, leadership and service opportunities. Current computer technology is integrated through our Kindergarten to Grade 12 course programs. LCS also provides a Before and After School Care program for a minimal fee.
For further information regarding Information Evenings or our application process, please contact our Admissions Office at 204-989-6739.
St. John’s-Ravenscourt School
St. John’s-Ravenscourt (SJR) School is committed to offering innovative, vibrant, and creative learning opportunities, where students thrive within a diverse educational program. With more than 30 different co-curricular clubs, students can explore opportunities that reinforce the four pillars of an SJR Education: Academic Excellence, Creative Expression, Social Responsibility, and Active Healthy Living.
Students at SJR are well-equipped with the skills needed to suit their chosen program of study. 100% of graduating students are accepted to leading post-secondary schools, nationally and internationally, and 98% are accepted to their first choice of university program.
SJR cultivates community leaders who demonstrate confidence, integrity, and resilience. Our graduates strive for excellence in their post-secondary careers and beyond, applying the tools they’ve developed to grow as critical thinkers, advocates for healthy living, and active community members.
For parents wishing to enroll their children in meaningful, impactful, and transformative educational opportunities, the fundamental strengths, goals, and possibilities offered at SJR makes it the ideal choice for Winnipeg parents.
Winnipeg Mennonite Elementary & Middle Schools
“The WMEMS community is amazing because it extends beyond the expected. It is seen in former students stopping by for a visit; it is seen in parent volunteers tearing up at the thought of helping out at their last hot lunch day; it is seen in the school parents and families going above and beyond to make our school better. I am so thankful for the role that WMEMS has had in showing me what is possible when we serve a God who always keeps His promises.” ~ Pamela Doerksen, WMEMS alumni/staff
innipeg Mennonite Elementary & Middle Schools is committed to providing a strong academic foundation for students through our Christ-centred education. We are able to do this thanks to our vibrant community of highly engaged families and staff. We want you to be a part of that community.
Learn more at our website.
ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION
Jobworks
SCHOOL CAN BE FUN AGAIN!
Jobworks Alternative High School recognizes that some students have difficulty in a traditional high school setting for a variety of reasons. It can be the size of the school, course structure, other students, medical concerns, or other issues. As a result, students find themselves skipping classes, losing interest, or getting into trouble.
The Alternative High School program has helped many students achieve a high school diploma, fulfill requirements to return to a regular high school, or build the skills required for other programs and/or employment. To help learners succeed, there is a strong focus on meeting individual needs, providing support, and delivering quality instruction that addresses different learning styles.
The program places a strong emphasis on respect, teamwork, community, self-worth, and self-awareness while building skills, habits, and attitudes required for moving forward beyond high school.
WHAT THE PROGRAM OFFERS:
Individualized Attention and Plans: Increased one-on-one attention and tailored planning that meets the needs and goals of each student.
- Modular Structure: Students focus on fewer courses at a time.
- Alternate Course Structure: Compulsory courses and a variety of elective choices are offered.
- Unique Experiences: Field trips, guest speakers, monthly celebrations, and many other unique in and out-of-class experiences.
- Smaller School Environment: All classes take place in one room allowing students to find comfort in not having to move from class to class, navigate a large building, and feel overwhelmed by a large student population.
Funding Provided by: The Government of Manitoba