Big Brothers Big Sisters has helped thousands of children and youth in the years they have been in Halton. Big Brothers in Halton dates back more than 50 years, and in 2005 the agency merged with Big Sisters. The agency’s goal is to provide positive role models in the lives of children and youth through trained volunteers. 

One story that has stayed with executive director Sandra Baker involves an eight-year-old girl who was matched with a “big sister.” Like many matches, the girl thrived under the mentorship of her big sister. When the girl reached 15, her mom noticed her daughter was getting in with the wrong crowd and that her grades were dropping. “(She) saw her daughter going down the wrong path and called us back and said, ‘I saw what happened before and I know what Big Sisters can do’,” recalls Baker. This time the teen was matched with a “big sister” who happened to be a financial advisor. The woman taught the teen about money management which inspired the teen to change her spending  habits.
She even began educating herself on investments. Baker cites the story as an example of how relationships that develop through the program can yield unexpected results.

Last year, volunteers with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Halton impacted the lives of more than 1,200 youth and children. While the children and youth came from different life situations, their common thread was that something put them at risk of not developing to their full potential.  Some had parents who were experiencing mental health or addiction problems, or their family was living in poverty and the parents were working multiple jobs. In addition to the one-on-one program, the agency has a school-based program and a seven-week after-school program for boys called Game On where a mentor volunteers with four boys at once.

Some 800 mentors volunteered with the agency last year, but there is always a need for more, as current wait lists are anywhere from 18 months to two years for a big sister or big brother. Baker says it takes around 20 hours to move through the screening and training process (which includes police checks) and, after a person qualifies, the requirement is that they meet with their little sister or brother for a minimum of one outing a month. People who step forward to volunteer do so for a number of reasons but most do it for the love of helping others. “It’s a good lesson in selflessness. When you really boil it down, it’s people who just want to help,” Baker notes. One sign of the program’s success is seen in how many people who are matched continue to stay friends after the person turns 18.  “Our mentors say over and over to us, ‘I get so much more out of this than I think he gets out of it’.” 

There are several other agencies in Halton that offer mentor programs for children and families as well as couples. Family KiNnections has a youth mentor program that involves paid staff that are specially trained to help youth develop their social skills and life skills. A social skills coach works with them one-on-one to help them develop people skills. They also have life skills coaches who teach them about day-to-day skills like cooking, doing laundry and budgeting. The agency is based in Hamilton, Oakville, and Mississauga and also offers in-home counselling and coaches who will work with a child who needs one-to-one attention or who just wants a special friend.

The Oakville-based group Community Youth in Action Network (CYAN) also offers several ways for youth to connect and engage with others, including its Summer Passport program.

by Denise Davy

Local Links

Big Brothers Big Sisters, Halton
halton.bigbrothersbigsisters.ca

Family Kinnections
familykinnections.ca/services/youth-mentoring

Youth Inspire, Oakville
youthinspire.ca

Going back to school isn’t just for kids anymore. Local high schools, colleges and universities in Halton now offer such a wide range of programs for adults that it’s tempting to join the kids when they head back to the classrooms in the fall. We have so many opportunities to change career track, learn a new language or upgrade skills and knowledge, and it’s all local.

Here is a sampling of what’s available at three local schools: 

Gary Allan High School

There’s a course at Gary Allan High School in Burlington called Designing your Future, which is an apt description for the school’s overall selection of continuing education programs. The school offers a wide range of adult continuing education programs in many areas and offers credit and non-credit courses and classes in English as a Second Language, skilled trades and job search.

The classes come in various forms, from night school to summer school, co-operative learning and online learning. In the area of skilled trades, the board partners with The Centre for Skills Development and Training and offers a free 20-week career and trades exploration program that includes hands-on training in manufacturing, electrical and construction.

Language courses for adults have grown in popularity and Gary Allan now offers Korean, Arabic, Urdu, Mandarin, Romanian, German and Spanish. While German has been one of their most popular courses, there has been increased interest in Spanish and for the first time, they are offering Romanian this fall. Mandarin was started about three years ago and has also become one of their most popular languages.

Their online classes include English, math, science (Biology, Chemistry, Physics), and computers, as well as photography, nutrition and health and parenting. Math and English are popular with adults who want to obtain their OSSD (Ontario Secondary School Diploma) to open up career opportunities. There are even correspondence courses for inmates at the Maplehurst and Vanier Prisons to help them prepare for jobs when they’re released.

Sheridan College

At Sheridan College’s Faculty of Continuing and Professional Studies, you can take general interest classes on everything from Psychology Core Concepts to The History of Chocolate, as well as college prep courses in both Math and Science. There’s also the Academic and Career Entrance (ACE) program, which is a high school equivalency program for adult learners looking to achieve their educational goals. With classes offered online, in-person, and in a specialized hybrid environment, adult learners can look forward to tackling their passion in Digital Photography, Bereavement Studies, Small Business Bookkeeping, Home Inspector Training, and many other areas of study.

Sheridan promotes over 450 courses while providing flexibility with courses ranging from one-day workshops to 14-week programs. Sheridan currently boasts such popular programs as Accounting and Finance, Human Resource Management, Project Management, Visual Design Interior Decorating, and French. Due to their popularity and many requests for more technology based courses, the College is launching new technology-related programs for their fall semester. “We’ve seen an increased interest in technology and analytics, which is why we launched our Data Science certificate for the upcoming term”, says Marcela Velez-Pulgarin, Program Manager for Sheridan’s Faculty of Continuing and Professional Studies.

DeGroote School of Business

The image most of us have of the McMaster University DeGroote School of Business is that it’s a full-time academy for budding MBA students. In fact, the South Service Road school in East Burlington offers a number of short-term classes during the day and night that are Executive Education courses targeted to mid and senior level managers, directors, executives and entrepreneurs. The Executive Education programs are split up into the areas of healthcare leadership, executive management and continuing education-style programs.

by Denise Davy

Local Links

Gary Allan High School, Burlington
garyallan.ca/adult-students

The Centre for Skills Development and Training
thecentre.on.ca/skilledtrades

DeGroote School of Business, McMaster University
execed.degroote.mcmaster.ca

Sheridan College
caps.sheridancollege.ca

In one corner of this sunny classroom, a group of children are painting pictures, while children in another area are playing games. Across the room, two girls are sitting quietly while eating snacks. It’s not a scene you would typically find in most classrooms where the desks are neatly lined up and children learn from the same lesson. But this is a Montessori learning environment which follows the philosophy that children learn by doing rather than by being told what to do, and that they learn at their own pace. There are several schools in Oakville and Burlington that offer a traditional Montessori approach.

At the Clanmore Montessori School on Lakeshore Road in Oakville, the building itself tells you that something different is going on inside. The original building was a farmhouse built in 1904 and the second addition was designed to look like an old barn and is covered in reclaimed barn board. The green roof is in keeping with the school’s philosophy on green living. Pine trees surround the building and there’s a special magnolia tree where students often go for quiet talks. When the school opened in 1997, there were 50 students (toddler to grade two) compared to 150 now (toddler to middle school).

Clanmore’s Communication Co-ordinator, Anne Mercer, says the school’s approach to learning is based on Dr. Maria Montessori’s observations about the developmental needs and abilities of children, which are addressed both in terms of content and approach as well as subject areas. Rather than being compartmentalized, all facets of a child’s development are addressed, including academic, physical, social and emotional. The key is to take an individualized approach with each child. “What emerges are students who are independent, curious, responsible, self-disciplined, empathetic, and able to collaborate,” says Mercer. “They have strong academics, leadership skills and initiative. They are the best versions of themselves.”

Dr. Montessori’s belief was that you should educate the child for life so that when they become adults, they’re able to contribute their skills, knowledge and talents to the betterment of their communities. Mercer notes that Clanmore creates an environment where children can learn that way. “We discovered that education is not something which the teacher does, but that it is a natural process which develops spontaneously in the human being.” She says the majority of children thrive under the Montessori model, including children who struggle to learn, but children who need constant one-on-one attention may be beyond the resources of a typical classroom.

Breanne Rymes, Director of School Operations at Dearcroft Montessori School in Oakville, also emphasizes the importance placed at their school on a student-centered approach.  Every student has an individualized curriculum that is tailored to his or her abilities and needs.  Lessons are presented one on one or in small groups, ensuring each student receives instruction that is appropriate specifically for that student at that time.  Students are always working at their highest ability in every subject area.  Rymes explains that “with a hands-on, student-centered program, students help drive the curriculum, keeping it interesting and engaging. In addition to using a true Montessori approach, our school regularly has extra classes and programs to ensure students are prepared for the rapidly changing workplace.”

Tammy-Leigh Sage, Director of Fairview Glen Montessori School in Burlington, says the biggest key for success in any child is their ability to self regulate. In a Montessori classroom, if a child has trouble concentrating, the teacher will show them strategies to help them concentrate. Fairview Glen Montessori School has 120 students, from toddler to grade six and, like Clanmore, they’ve seen steady growth since opening in 2007. This year’s enrolment is up by 20 percent from last year. 

Sage says parents often enroll their child during the pre-school years and keep them there once they discover the benefits. What parents like is the philosophy that not every child the same age has the same abilities. “They’re looking for an individualized approach to education where teachers plan individual lessons and where every child has an individual plan for the week,” she says. “There’s also a big emphasis on the community and what you can contribute.” She also states that studies have shown that children who attend a Montessori school have an ability to think critically and are more skilled at using their time.

To see if your child would benefit from a method of education that’s beyond a typical classroom setting, consider attending the Oakville Independent Schools open house event on Saturday, January 21st from 10am – 2pm. Visit www.educationoakville.com for more information.

by Denise Davy

Local Links

Fairview Glen Montessori School
fairviewglen.com

Clanmore Montessori School
clanmore.ca

Dearcroft Montessori School, Oakville
dearcroft-montessori.com

Rotherglen School, Oakville
rotherglen.com

Headon Forest Montessori, Burlington
headonforestmontessori.com

Burlington Montessori Preschool, Burlington
burlingtonmontessori.com

Hopedale Montessori School, Burlington
hopedalemontessori.ca

Childventures Early Learning, Burlington
childventures.ca

Western Heights Montessori Academy, Oakville
westernheightsmontessori.com

Trafalgar Ridge Montessori School, Oakville
trms.ca

Glen Abbey Montessori School, Oakville
glenabbeymontessori.com

Choosing which school your kids should go to comes with a list of questions longer than a spelling bee. There are so many options and schooling methods to consider: Catholic, French Immersion, Christian, Montessori and more.  We are very fortunate in Halton as our publicly funded schools have great reputations, undoubtedly fueling the immigration to our region. For example, both Oakville Trafalgar and Abbey Park in Oakville consistently rank in the top 10 schools in the province in the annual Fraser Institute rankings.

Oakville and Burlington’s public and separate schools offer many programs and options, including special education resources. For example, you can elect to take the International Baccalaureate curriculum, or sign up for a variety of extra-curricular, athletic and after school programs. The Thomas Merton Centre for Continuing Education in Oakville offers youth, academic upgrade and language programs that are very economically feasible.  Kids from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 8 can take international language classes in one of more than 15 languages during the school year and in the summer. It is widely accepted that learning multiple languages can enhance cognitive development, promote cultural literacy, and increase employability.

In addition to our strong public schools, the Town of Oakville also boasts one of the highest concentrations of independent schools in North America. Jane Hamilton, Executive Director of Oakville Independent Schools (OIS), explains that these schools provide parents with a choice that they may be looking for based on their child’s talents, passions, needs and their family’s situation. “Just as we have great public schools in the area, we also have exceptional independent schools. It’s up to each individual family and parent as to what they decide is best for their child.” Parents opting to send their kids to an independent school may be attracted by the benefits of special needs classes, smaller class sizes, a focus on the arts, or perhaps the philosophy of Montessori-based education. There are also increased opportunities for children to get involved in charitable work. “Every single one of the OIS member schools is involved in some way with giving back to the community,” Hamilton says.

Two schools, Wildwood Academy and Chisholm Academy, focus on the special needs of children with ADHD, autism or dyslexia. Appleby College offers the option of boarding school for international students and requires all students to board in their final year. “Each school has its own mission and philosophy and is uniquely positioned to address each student’s educational goals and needs. It really comes down to what each family is looking for. Their reasons are often very personal and individual,” says Hamilton.

Private school is not just for the wealthy. Many forms of financial assistance are offered through bursaries, scholarships, and payment plans. “It is a cost and it is an investment. Financing an independent education takes planning and most families look at various options to keep costs within reach. Some families choose to manage with one car or forgo family vacations in order to provide for an investment in private education,” notes Hamilton. If you are thinking that a private school might be an option for your child, this is the time of year for school expos and open houses. You should consider attending the 11th annual Halton-Peel Private School Expo on October 16 at St. Joseph’s Banquet & Conference Centre in Oakville, and the members of OIS participate in a joint open house day on October 22nd where you can visit one or all of the eleven schools in one day.

With so many options available, the decision-making process can feel overwhelming. Of course, this is a good problem to have. Choice is important, and at the end of the day parents simply want to make the best decision for their child and their family. Take the time to explore your options, ask meaningful questions, and compare schools objectively.  The best part is: the choice is yours.

Local Links

Halton District School Board
hdsb.ca

Halton Catholic District School Board
hcdsb.org

Oakville Independent Schools
educationoakville.com

Thomas Merton Centre for Continuing Education
mertoncentre.com

Ontario Alliance of Christian Schools
oacs.org

Our Kids Media
ourkids.net