Why Choose WMA for Elementary?

• WMA students learn the skills of everyday life in an atmosphere of kindness, community and respect.
• Class sizes are important at WMA – we ensure that class sizes are kept small enough for each child to have the individual attention they need, while maintaining a substantial social group of peers.
• WMA is a small school, which encourages relationships to be built between parents and teachers in supporting each child. Because our school is small, we also see a lot of friendships that are not based on age. There is no hierarchy based on grade level within students’ friendships and interactions.
• The multi-aged classrooms at WMA allow for each child to experience peer mentoring.
• The classroom and method allows for movement. Children are not expected to be sedentary all day.
• Children are given a meaningful amount of responsibility over their own learning and the classroom culture, and therefore, they feel a strong sense of accomplishment and pride in their work and classroom.
• Children can learn at their own pace, meaning they can move beyond a grade level or spend the time they need in reviewing a concept. Children are not forced to move forward because of the teachers daily lesson plans. This in turn leads to children being excited about school and enjoying the process of learning.
• Children use specifically designed Montessori materials to understand a concept before doing it in the abstract.
• Children learn how to plan out their own workday and learn time management skills.
• Children learn through trial, error, discovery, and with regard to the learning style that best suits their needs.
• Children learn to think and solve problems independently which in turn leads them to become goal directed and work towards acquiring skills they want to learn
• We teach world geography, botany, zoology, chemistry, physics, history of the Earth, and geology. We do this from a young age to give the child a full picture of our Earth and how all things are interconnected.
• We teach a second language beginning in our Casa dei Bambini (age 2.5 to 4), and at grade 5 we introduce a third language.
• We teach about money and responsibility: The children organize and run fundraisers to raise money for things like a classroom pet, charity fundraisers and garden projects.
• We offer specialist programs taught by professionals from each field in: yoga, music, theatre arts, art, table tennis.
• Teachers plan many in-class and in situ field trips to reinforce topics learned about in the classroom and support learning experiences.
• We offer a fun and active after school care program as well as after school clubs in a variety of subjects taught by experienced professionals.

WMA is a Group 2 Independent School. We are monitored by the Independent School Board of BC and follow the BC Guide for Independent Schools. We are also required by the Ministry of Education to follow the Prescribed Learning Outcomes for each subject area. The Prescribed Learning Outcomes set the learning standards for the provincial K to 12 education system and form the prescribed curriculum for British Columbia. They are statements of what students are expected to know and do at the end of an indicated grade or course.

WMA has the responsibility to ensure that all Prescribed Learning Outcomes in each IRP (Integrated Resource Package) are met; however, we have flexibility in determining how delivery of the Prescribed Learning Outcomes can best take place. It is expected that student achievement will vary in relation to the Prescribed Learning Outcomes.