Origins Academy inspires and engages students with a uniquely child-centred program aimed at developing curious, thoughtful, and ambitious young learners . Through projects and a knowledge-building curriculum, we advance children’s mastery of core subjects like math, science and reading as well as important capacities such as creativity, strategic thinking and collaboration. At this time, Origins Academy is welcoming children ages 5 to 7 years of age.
Approach
Children’s exceptional academic development and positive self and social development are at the centre of our work. The educational content and approaches used are based on sound research evidence, always. Children direct their learning through their unique interests following a project- and knowledge-building approach that empowers and values children. This personalized learning approach incorporates screening and ongoing assessment to build excellent skills across learning domains.
To achieve the above, we follow a developmental approach that does not restrict children to certain content or grade-level expectations. By consulting the research literature, scope and sequences beginning at basic to more complex are available across curricular areas-- these skill hierarchies guide children’s learning, not grade-levels. Importantly, we provide children the time and space to learn and excel in both an indoor and outdoor environment of more than 5 acres that supports calm, engaging and purposeful play and learning.
Curriculum
Our curriculum focuses on building knowledge while achieving skill mastery. Core subjects areas include math, science and reading in addition to enrichment courses in the arts, movement and french language. All teaching approaches are rooted in evidence and are reviewed regularly for their efficacy. Our curriculum exceeds the provincial requirements in the province of New Brunswick. Close partnerships with the family and regular screening and monitoring help ensure every child succeeds and enjoys learning.
Evidence-Informed Teaching and Learning
Teaching and learning at Origins Academy are evidence-informed. That means there are no programs followed or lesson plans adopted from the Internet. Our teachers and Principal are informed professionals who use their knowledge of research evidence to teach and promote learning.
Outdoor & Community
The outside world is the foundation for all learning concepts as interactions with the natural world bring knowledge, questions, provocations and opportunity for extension. Community, library, resources, business and culture are valued in the classroom and are modelled outside the classroom in daily life.
Foundational School Years
The early years of school between the ages of zero to eight years shape children’s approaches to learning and provide the foundation they need to excel in school and life. It is imperative that children receive a high-quality early education that is evidence-based, developmentally appropriate and focuses on building knowledge and skills. The experience of an exceptional foundational years program lies the foundation children need to thrive. The small class sizes provided coupled with the flexibility we offer facilitates the development of strong relationships between teachers, students and our community.
Achievement in the early years of school has been linked to the following key elements:
Future reading ability: We do not know what the future of our children will look like; in fact, it’s very hard to predict what the world will look like in just five years! But, we can be confident that the ability to communicate both orally and written, will continue to be essential. As such, children at Origins Academy will receive evidence-based literacy instruction that is engaging, fun and skill-building. All children will benefit from a structured literacy approach that is evidence-based, explicit and cumulative.
High school graduation rates: children’s experiences in kindergarten and grade one have been found to directly influence future school success. This is because learning trajectories are highly stable and emerge early. Without intensive intervention, trajectories are highly resistant to change. We see this with literacy and across many other skill domains, including math.
Social development: children come to see themselves as successful, or unsuccessful learners, very early. It is imperative that children experience early schooling that is empowering, engaging and building their knowledge- setting them up for success and a love of learning that is key to continued engagement.
Daily Routine
Below is a sample of just one learning day at Origins Academy. Please note that the schedule only denotes the subject areas targeted at that time however the approaches used during the time will differ. For example, during each period of time some groups of children will be engaged with learning centres while the teacher meets with small groups of children or individuals, while at other times the entire class will work together or even on their own! Large periods of time are allotted to each subject area so a range of methods and approaches can be used during the time period and so children have sufficient time and space to delve deeply into their play and learning.
7:30 AM Learning centres and knowledge building
8:30 AM Class meeting and planning
9:00 -10:00 AM Reading and writing skills
10:00 - 11:30 AM Cross curricular knowledge building
11:00 - 11:30 AM Snack and Movement
11:30 AM - 12:00 PM Math skills
12:00 PM Lunch and Movement
12:45 - 2:00 PM Knowledge Building
2:00- 6:00 PM The Woods Nature Program
Application process
The application process begins with a meeting to discuss your child, family and what Origins Academy has to offer.
Tuition
Tuition at Origins Academy is $8750 per year (50 weeks of education and care). Tuition can be paid every two weeks, at a balanced weekly rate of $175. The tuition for Origins Academy includes both school and childcare. A tax receipt for child care services can be provided.
For planning purposes, please note that summer and after-school care alone at The Woods is $6,350 annually which broken up over the year is just $48/week less, per year, than education and care at Origins Academy.
Governance
Origins Academy is an incorporated company owned by Dr. Erin Schryer and Jennifer Arsenault. Dr. Schryer is the school’s principal and will mentor, oversee and advise the school’s teachers.
PLEASE CONTACT US WITH ANY QUESTIONS, FOR A MEETING AND/OR FOR A TOUR OF THE SPACE.
ERIN SCHRYER [email protected] 506.608.8333
JENNIFER ARSENAULT [email protected] 506.644.8885