Creekford Academy

Innovative, experiential, nature-based learning awaits! Join us in September, and let your child’s curiosity and creativity flourish!

Unlock the wonder of learning! Enrol your child in our innovative Kindergarten Program and watch them blossom into a confident learner. With engaging experiential activities, nurturing teachers, dynamic programming, and a highly supportive environment, we will help your child build a strong foundation for a lifetime of learning. Join us in this exciting journey of growth and discovery!

For more information on this specialized, low-ratio program or to set up a tour, please visit our website ➡️ Link in bio

Creekford Academy Creekford Academy is a private school for students in kindergarten to grade three, located in the west end of Kingston, Ontario. Dedicated to fostering academic excellence among primary students through innovative, experiential and nature-based education.

It’s worth the long read!
One of the most common phrases we hear from parents is “I want to provide more opportunities for my kids than I had at that age.” In theory this is a fantastic ideal, but sometimes in practice it leads to a myriad of unintended consequences. The parent working extended hours in order to take an extra family vacation for a week, versus the extra two hours each and every night they could spend together at home. Well intentioned parents put their lives in the rearview mirror to do everything for their kids, including constantly driving to and from sports practices/events and devoting extensive amounts of time to every weekend tournament and recital.

In a series of research studies, child psychologist and author Madeline Levine developed some very thought provoking conclusions on this:

“The constant doting and focus on the child’s every whim and activity - signals to kids that grownups lead empty and pathetic lives. Watching our offspring play sports and engage in activities is paramount to all. All of my other parental/adult duties mean nothing next to the importance of this sports practice or weekend long tournament. And to even suggest that maybe there are other things that are just as important marks you as a selfish heretic. It models a miserable portrait of what it means to be an adult. Then as parents, we are appalled when they’re eight to ten years behind in entering adulthood.”

Every year on this day, we get to witness school parents’ childlike joy as our DIY Halloween unfolds. This year we suggested a family themed food costume, and it did not disappoint! The hours of planning as a family and working together to design and craft costumes is time that may not seem like much to us when we have endless adult responsibilities, but to a child, it is everything. The more often we attempt to see things through their eyes, the more apt we are to remember what truly matters. To be frank, kids won’t care about an extra week in Mexico, a new SUV, or new furniture from those extra hours worked. They will remember time spent having dinner with mom and dad, being wrapped up in a parent’s arms on the couch, or even making costumes together.

“A leader is best when people barely know she exists. When the work is done, the aim fulfilled, they will all say: We did it ourselves. “
Loa tzu

As I read this quote I think it not only truly speaks to the philosophy of Creekford but to the character of the fantastic person that teaches and inspires the students of Creekford daily.

I strongly believe the oft forgotten part of effective leadership can be found in “leading with the heart.”

We have the opportunity to see this daily in Katherine’s interactions with the students. She truly gives each child a small piece of her heart every single day. It can be see through the smiles, the A-HA moments and even through the frustrations and challenges the are paramount to growth and development.

This next part is the unexplained by science aspect of great teaching and leadership. In some form of childhood magic the children come back the next day having grown from that little piece of heart. They return it back through the same smiles, A-HA moments and challenges to a great leader/educator, which further strengthens this beautiful cycle.

Please join me in saying, “Thank you for all that you do Katherine and Happy Birthday!!!”

Play ▶️ Outside.
Amen!

💚ne week to go! 📖🌲☀️We are ready for those curious brains and active bodies! We can’t wait to Explore. Learn. Create. Play.

It’s almost time for the adventure to begin … and we can’t wait! Take a look 🎞️➡️ 🧠☀️🎒

It’s almost time for the adventure to begin … and we can’t wait! #backtoschool #ygk #ygkkids #education #experientialeducation #outdooreducation #playbasedlearning #kingston_on

Open it up and take a few minutes to read!

There are a few spaces left in our School Program and the Pre-K Prep Program. Join us in September for another incredible year of learning!
💻 www.creekfordacademy.ca
📧 [email protected]

Every mud kitchen needs an herb garden 🪴 and every child needs a learning space ripe with opportunity for play; the type of play which promotes thinking 🧠 - imaginative thinking, creative thinking, associative thinking, divergent thinking.

The beauty of watching this herb garden unfold, was that involved a lot more children than just two, and it arose from our grade three students believing they found basil on the property. This emergent opportunity led to some deeper investigation and learning, and although it was a different plant, the girls in the kitchen were quick to use their friends’ “basil” anyway! We suddenly needed a space in the kitchen for herbs, and the hunt was on for more! Some students looked for replicas of rosemary/sage/parsley based on prior knowledge, while others who were learning about those herbs contributed by hunting for plants that looked different from what was already found. 💚

Come out for a tour, and learn about our innovative educational programs which take place in the most diverse, engaging, and dynamic school environment!