The regions Coast Mountain Academy offers busing from are:
"Coast Mountain Academy is a post-secondary preparatory school that was founded with the goal of creating a culture of curiosity while providing a world class education. We offer not only a rigorous academic program, but a well-rounded arts, athletics, and outdoor education program. Our engaging courses take full advantage of the mountainous temperate rain forest that surrounds us, while fostering advanced academic skills in communication, critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration."
One thing that truly distinguishes CMA is how connected our community is and how much care our staff, faculty, parents, and alumni take to collectively support our student's success at school and beyond. As a small and tight-knit school community our students form lifelong connections with their peers, and a teacher's reach is beyond the courses that they teach: our teachers are mentors for the students of CMA. Year by year, we are graduating inspired leaders who come back to visit as Alumni and give back to the community that helped shape them.
At a very early juncture in the school's history, our Board of Directors decided that we would not become an AP or IB school. Although we recognize the rigour and international recognition that these programs can bring, we wanted to preserve our flexibility to teach 'best practice' as it inevitably evolves and we have seen the BC Curriculum do just that! CMA's programming thrives because of our small class sizes and our ability to match the BC Curriculum to local landscapes and the societal structures that surround us. We introduce academic rigour in a scaffolded manner and have the flexibility to conduct experiential programming at times of the year when it makes the most sense to do so.
In 2012, the key pillars of Coast Mountain Academy's vision were scribbled on a piece of paper by our founders. Daily Physical Education in the morning. Outdoor Education for all. Entrepreneurship and Inquiry. A creative STEM program. And Experiential Education woven into each course, to bring the curriculum to life and provide an education that students would remember.
Many years later these founding principles have been tested by the Covid-19 pandemic, climate change, and changing global politics. Our school survived and thrived as Quest University closed around us and what we learned through these key historical moments is that each challenge is an opportunity. We adapted our programming when we needed to which helped us to find new ways to provide the most robust and impactful education that we could. Our key pillars evolved and took new directions but they ultimately remain as cornerstone pieces to a CMA education.
Students who get the most out of a Coast Mountain Academy education are those who are open minded and curious about learning and enjoy doing new things in the classroom and in the outdoors. Our supportive community encourages students to embrace new challenges and cultivate their unique talents, making it a perfect fit for families who value growth and development.
We would advise a family against choosing CMA if they are looking for a highly traditional and conventional educational approach, as our school emphasizes experiential and inquiry-based learning. Our assessment methods are holistic, and generally speaking, CMA differs from highly traditional large school settings in our willingness to be flexible, to be patient, and to adjust if necessary.
Also of note, we do not currently offer boarding and our small support team can only offer moderate levels of individualized support outside of the classroom to students with extra needs.
In the middle school years families choose CMA over other local options because they know their student will not fall through the cracks. CMA keeps a close-eye on student behaviour in these years, teaches social-emotional skills and understandings, and brings students' core academic skills from elementary levels up to a robust high school standard.
In the senior school years families choose CMA over other local options because of the rigour of the classrooms. Families know that there is no wasted time in a senior school classroom and that students will be making academic progress each day, preparing themselves for post-secondary.
In both divisions CMA is a safe, welcoming school environment that pushes each child towards transformative growth and pursuing their own passions. CMA also offers an inspiring series of trips throughout our education that opens students' eyes to the world around them. These trips are a big draw for students and families alike.
CMA has quickly gained a positive reputation in the Sea to Sky corridor as a school who gets its students outside on transformative adventures as part of our LEAD program. In addition, we offer some unique and student-loved classes such as our Engineering, Entrepreneurship, and INQubator (an inquiry based, student-led class).
From the mud to the Makerspace, CMA recognizes and honours the fact that lasting learning is messy!
One underappreciated aspect of our school is our focus on University Preparation. At times the slow, methodical, long-term work we do with students in the academic domain can be overshadowed by the adventurous learning experiences and projects that our students engage in.
Course-design aspects like year-long portfolios, essay prompts that are revisited year after year, and tours of prominent Canadian universities help to inspire and give students the skillset to not only gain acceptance to university, but thrive once they're there.
Families might be surprised by the extensive range of opportunities available for student leadership and engagement at our school. While many are drawn to our innovative academic and experiential programs, the vibrant student life at CMA offers numerous avenues for students to explore their interests and develop leadership skills. From participating in house teams and student council to joining various clubs and athletic teams, students are encouraged to take initiative and contribute to our dynamic community.
The main improvements and changes that were made heading into the 25/26 school year include:
- a hot lunch program that takes place in the university cafeteria
- an optimized school timetable that allows for our Outdoor Connections classes to go on full-day Friday field trips and adventures without disruption to the rest of the schedule
- the creation of a Resource Room to better equip our students and teachers with learning materials, and to provide spaces for students requiring extra support
As a young school, there is no such thing as "this is the way it's always been done" We are constantly seeking improvement and refinement of our systems and programs.
CMA's vision for the next 5 years is to acquire land and build a new campus. Our vision for these new school buildings is to create spaces that deeply inspire student learning and motivation. Our goal is to match our progressive curriculum with world-class purpose-built facilities, and be able to increase enrolment, reaching more students and families, as a result.
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