Interview with Academy for Gifted Children - P.A.C.E. Alum, Jessica Du

What I appreciate the most about PACE is the support from everyone, especially the principal, the administration, and all the teachers. When I was in Grade 7, I was in a production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat and missed around three months of school. The teachers were always ready to provide extra help, which made balancing the show and my school work so much easier, and sometimes they even re-explained lessons to me because I missed them. On a regular basis, I feel like the PACE staff are very supportive and want you to be able to do your best and succeed. I overall just really appreciate the supportive environment that PACE provided.

I would describe the school's values and culture as curiosity, collaboration, community, personal growth, and respect. PACE always encouraged us to dive more deeply and understand concepts beyond the regular curriculum, and we were always encouraged to work as a team and help each other grow. PACE is not a very large school, but everyone feels very close and connected, and this friendly community helped me build strong bonds with my classmates. We were always supported in becoming more confident and independent people who could take leadership. PACE always valued respect, and we were in an environment where we were being treated—and treating others—with respect.

The principal was always very friendly and welcoming. She was supportive, very organized, and always willing to provide opportunities to students, which helped us succeed. The team at PACE made it clear that trying to make a positive school environment was their priority, and they ensured that everything ran smoothly.

PACE's academic approach was well-suited for gifted students because the curriculum was designed with gifted learners in mind. The curriculum wasn’t just accelerated, but we dove into greater depth in a way that made us want to learn. PACE’s rigorous curriculum helped me build strong study habits and confidence, which made a huge difference now that I'm in high school. The curriculum also prioritized collaboration, problem-solving, leadership, and critical thinking through many group and individual projects. There were opportunities for leadership, such as student council, grade representative, and peer tutoring, as well as competitions like Model UN and DECA.

PACE is a well-rounded school and offers many extracurricular options that allow students to explore their interests beyond the classroom. There were clubs in musical theatre, choir, robotics, and competitive sports like ultimate frisbee, soccer, basketball, badminton, and cross country. If you weren’t confident in trying something new, the school encouraged you to go for it. There were also fun clubs like knitting, chess, dance, and Reach for the Top. Every year, there were performances at the Richmond Hill Arts Performing Center, which helped us gain confidence in performing in front of a crowd.

The teachers at PACE were always supportive and addressed every student's needs. Homework help sessions between 3:00 and 3:45 allowed us to get one-on-one time with teachers, which was very important when I didn’t understand a concept. I always felt encouraged to ask questions because teachers made it clear they were available to help. They were very good at breaking down complex ideas in clear ways, and before tests, I always felt prepared because of how well they explained concepts.

One similarity among students was that everyone was gifted, which meant we were always encouraging and inspiring each other. We were constantly surrounded by people who were passionate about learning. Although we all had different personalities and learning styles, we supported each other in the PACE environment and helped each other when we didn’t understand something.

Student life at PACE encouraged us to go deeper into or explore our interests, whether diving into a subject like science or trying something completely new. Being surrounded by curious and passionate classmates made learning exciting. Since PACE isn’t a large school, we were able to interact with other grades more, which contributed to its tight-knit community.

PACE had drama, band, arts, robotics, science, and a gym—everything students could need. There is a drama room with a stage and costumes, a band room, science labs, robotics labs, and an art studio. PACE isn’t a very large school, but it has what students need and uses its space well.

The location of PACE was very nice because it was in a quiet, friendly neighbourhood in Richmond Hill. If you walked out for a couple of minutes, it was convenient to go out for lunch, with many nearby options like Harvey’s, Popeyes, Starbucks, and Subway.

I remember being tested for gifted in Grade 2, and after applying again for Grade 4, I got to spend a day at PACE as part of the admissions process. I instantly loved it and felt like I fit in immediately because everyone was welcoming, supportive, and friendly. I originally came from a Montessori school where one teacher taught everything, but at PACE, the teachers were specialized for each subject, and I loved being able to learn in greater depth.

I have many reasons for recommending PACE, but if I picked three, the first is that PACE is a gifted program with a curriculum designed for gifted children, which helped build a strong foundation for high school. Secondly, there is a very strong sense of community and spirit, especially through the student house system and house days, which helped me form close friendships. Lastly, PACE has a very supportive environment. The teachers were approachable, and there was always time to ask questions. I always felt supported, welcomed, and encouraged to explore my interests, and it is a school I would definitely recommend.