REVIEW OF Ashbury College BY parent, Scott Procter

(5) Student Experience

Our children's experience at Ashbury has been fantastic. From their first days in the Junior school, they were excited about all aspects of school life. At Ashbury, our children met strangers who immediately became friends and peers. When objectives were successfully met, teachers recognized and reinforced our children, to their great satisfaction. The teachers and administrators at Ashbury genuinely know and care for the students, so we have felt very comfortable dropping them off each day. More importantly, believe it or not, on many occasions, our children woke early and hurried us, their parents, so that they could get to school more quickly. Year after year, our children have matured, become kinder, collaborative, ambitious, resourceful, insightful, and have now burgeoned into responsible young adults. Our kids have thoroughly enjoyed their time at Ashbury. They, and we, regret only that this time is winding down.

(4.5) School Leadership

Ashbury's leadership team not only establishes a strategy and subordinate plans for the school, but also exemplifies its documented values. All staff are conscious that students and parents watch them not only for the definition of expectations but also for their own example of how those expectations should be met. A sincere and positive environment results in which students see, practice, and internalize good conduct. All leaders and staff communicate assertively, invite feedback, and do not hesitate to schedule meetings or to otherwise seek input from parents and other stakeholders to continuously enhance the quality of school life. Disciplinary issues that we know of were handled with great discretion, firmness, and fairness.

(5) Teaching

We have been overwhelmed by the quality of instruction at Ashbury. The school's teachers get to know each student individually, care deeply about them, have surprisingly diverse and advanced personal accomplishments to bring to bear, and work long hours and exceptionally hard, so that they consistently draw out the best possible performance from each student. Occasional difficulties are to be expected in a complex and lengthy relationship, but even these rare stresses, e.g. a student's disappointment with a grade, are themselves converted by teaching staff into learning experiences for the students. By contrast with most schools, the objectives of the teachers at Ashbury are tightly aligned with those of students and their parents. Whether our children were struggling with a concept and sought supplementary assistance or were finding a topic too simple and sought more advanced material or referral to enrichment opportunities, Ashbury teachers respond passionately and effectively.

(5) Academics

Ashbury's emphasis on academic excellence is pervasive. While students are, of course, not equally talented, Ashbury teachers and staff, among whom are a remarkable number of PhDs, go to great lengths to guide and motivate each student to fulfill their particular potential. As a result, not only do Ashbury students learn far more than do most young people during their high school years, but they also develop sound work and study skills, intellectual self-confidence, argumentative and critical skills, high expectations of themselves, and other traits of mature adults and professionals. Our children are far better prepared for university and for adulthood than we were at the same age, largely due to Ashbury's academic environment. Furthermore, we suspect that, having become used to a heavy course-load and rigorous academic expectations, most students graduating from Ashbury will find the first year or two of university surprisingly easy.

(5) Extracurriculars

The variety of extracurricular opportunities available to students at Ashbury is extraordinary. Even in Grade 4, we had to guide our children to prioritize their time as they wanted to participate in ALL of the extracurricular activities, even if they were scheduled to occur simultaneously. Music, sports, adventure, arts and culture, hobbies, languages, skills development of all kinds - Ashbury offers it all by re-deploying its talented teachers and by engaging specialized partners. Extracurricular life considerably augments and overlaps with the academic and social experience at Ashbury.

(5) Students

At Ashbury, our children met, worked with, and developed social relationships with students from many countries, who expressed a diversity of languages, ethnicities, beliefs, etc. This diversity within the student and community population is very rare, very valuable, and very formative. Ashbury is big enough that a wide variety of students and student experiences are possible, yet small enough that every student is treated specially. School, house and class spirit are active and provide a structure within which constant striving for more and better is motivated. The student body is structured in such a way that each individual must learn to work with older and younger students, with students having different backgrounds and interests, and with students from different places, etc. Teachers and students who have assumed leadership roles ensure that those students who don't initially get along with others soon learn how to do so. In the end, children graduating from Ashbury are tolerant and self-confident citizens of the world.

(5) School Life

The overall quality of student life at Ashbury is excellent. Since expectations are elevated, students necessarily work and play intensely and are either immediately able to maintain the fast pace or soon learn new techniques. Our children love the constant activity at the school. Their own classes and extra-curricular activities are already a lot to manage, but Ashbury also hosts a variety of events and programs and students not directly involved in a particular event, i.e. a soccer tournament, are often recruited to support it in some indirect way, adding to the richness of the student experience. I've often thought that parents could perhaps do more to contribute to school activities, but Ashbury does such a good job that parents would likely just get in the way. Also, it should be a comfort to know that, while pushing the children to excel, all sorts of extra assistance and wellness services are readily available and effectively support students who become ill, are slightly injured, or who are experiencing some stress or difficulty in their lives. Ashbury is a second home.

(4.5) Community

Ashbury engages with and actively nurtures its broader community. That community includes the parents of current and former students, the alumni, volunteers, partners, donors, vendors, persons geographically proximate to the Ashbury campus, etc. Parents and other community members are advised of many key school plans and are invited to respond. Ashbury staff are sincere when they invite parents to contact them at any time and will meet to receive input on just about any matter. Ashbury has ensured that particularly keen parents can directly contribute to non-core roles at the school. While Ashbury could certainly provide even more opportunity for parental involvement, e.g. reading with young children whose first language isn't English, we have come to realize that many well-meaning parents would not actually be effective in such core educational roles, which are best left to professionals.

(5) School Location

Ashbury maintains an active relationship with all elements of its community, including the residents of the immediate geographic area in which it is located. That area is very close to downtown Ottawa, yet it is heavily treed, is criss-crossed by paths and trails, and even encompasses a pond for swimming. The area's population is enriched by a large number of diplomatic representatives from around the world. Many houses are occupied by current and past Ashbury parents. Ashbury organizes many activities that involve this community, allowing students to see the area and meet its residents. The local community appreciates Ashbury as its central institution.

(5) Admissions

If you would like your child to achieve their potential, rather than a minimum provincial standard, then you should apply for your child to attend Ashbury College. Ashbury staff are very encouraging and provide guidance and explanation throughout the Admissions process. However, because this process is competitive, it is stressful. Those students and families who are eventually offered admission recognize that this outcome is a distinct and exhilarating accomplishment. The gratifying realization that they have been selected from a large pool of applicants prepares the student to respect and commit themselves to the Ashbury school culture.

(4) University placement and counselling

While ultimate responsibility for researching and applying to universities rests with the parents and students themselves, Ashbury provides thoughtful guidance about national and international universities, academic programs, admission standards, scholarships, careers, logistics, etc., more than a year in advance, allowing everyone lots of time to carefully consider their upcoming decisions. As applications begin, students are individually monitored to ensure that their decisions are in fact being made and that applications are being submitted, sometimes with secondary documentation, in accordance with particular university requirements. In our experience, by virtue of Ashbury's university counselling program and the supervision of parents, students make well-informed and wise decisions regarding their futures. Our children were offered admission to their first-choice post-secondary program and are well-prepared and very excited about this next stage in their education.