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Go to child profileMacdonald-Cartier Academy teaches Grade 7 & 8 students how to learn and offers a French immersion program combining rigorous and accelerated academics with athletics and fun experiential learning. Class sizes are kept small to provide an individualized education environment. Fluently bilingual, highly qualified educators help students reach their full potential–equipping them with computer, time management, listening, note taking and studying skills that serve them well in high school and university.
What learning looks like now: Our objective in March was to have the MCA academic program advance and be covered as if we were in school. To do this we had to streamline the program and we kept five essential subjects: mathématiques, sciences, English, français, histoire/géographie. Physical education was limited to three sessions of Japanese Tabata (high intensity interval training) per day. Students start their school day at 10am and finish at 3pm everyday. They log in their presence before 10am and late arrivals are noted for the report card as if they were in school. Microsoft Teams is the platform selected for all students and teachers. We selected the use of video lessons with class notes and assignments supported by live review/discussion classes plus many one on one teacher/student live chats. Every morning in all subject the students receive an ‘’Ordre du jour’’ which describes what is assigned that day in that subject (replaces the student agenda during the time of online teaching) All of the student’s work is reviewed and corrected by the teachers. Evaluation of the understanding of the concepts covered is done by tests, projects, evaluated homework, presentations and exams. • June 1st, MCA students start reviewing and preparing with their teachers for the June final exams. • June 10th to 16th we have the final exams session. • June 25th, Academic, citizenship and athletic awards will be announced online and the students will receive their report card and anecdotal comments for the year.
Macdonald-Cartier was formed in 1990 to offer a challenging, academic, bilingual program, and it’s been happily and successfully been doing it ever since. The student body is small, with just 60 students annually, which translates into a very responsive, student-centered approach to curriculum delivery. The intention is somewhat unique, namely to give students a strong preparation for high school with an eye to university admission. The feel, as the name implies, is very rooted in a sense of place, and in that the school is an expression of the cultural and historical life of the national capital region. Likewise, there are a wealth of resources located locally, and Macdonald-Cartier rightly makes very good use of them.
Focus |
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Academic |
Subject | offered |
---|---|
Evolution as consensus theory | |
Evolution as one of many equally viable theories | |
Evolution is not taught |
Subject | offered |
---|---|
Biology | |
Chemistry | |
Ecology | |
Geology | |
Meteorology | |
Physics | |
Physiology | |
Zoology |
Subject | offered |
---|---|
Acting | |
Dance | |
Drama/Theatre | |
Graphic Design | |
Music | |
Visual Arts |
Expressive | |
Disciplined |
Subject | offered |
---|---|
Computer science | |
Robotics | |
Web design |
Flexible pacing style | offered |
---|---|
Subject-streaming (tracking) | |
Multi-age classrooms as standard | |
Ability-grouping (in-class) as common | |
Frequent use of cyber-learning (at-their-own-pace) | |
Regular guided independent study opportunities | |
Differentiated assessment |
MCA Academy offers no/limited support for students with learning difficulties or special needs.
Subject Type | offered |
---|---|
Learning strategy and study counselling; habit formation | |
Extra support and minor accommodations for children experiencing subclinical difficulties |
Subject Type | offered |
---|---|
Accommodations | |
Modifications | |
Extra support |
Read our guide to special needs schools and special education
Program | offered |
---|---|
Full-time gifted program (parallel to rest of school) | |
Part-time gifted program (pull-out; parallel to rest of class) |
Curriculum delivery: Acceleration and enrichment (There is an equal emphasis on acceleration and enrichment.)
Program | offered |
---|---|
Custom subject enrichment (special arrangement) | |
Custom curriculum compacting (special arrangement) | |
Guided independent study (custom gifted arrangement) | |
Cyber-learning opportunities (custom gifted arrangement) | |
Formalized peer coaching opportunities (specifically for gifted learners to coach others) | |
Custom subject acceleration (special arrangement) | |
Career exploration (custom gifted arrangement) | |
Project-based learning (custom gifted arrangement) | |
Mentorships (custom gifted arrangement) |
English - 20% | French - 80% |
In grade Gr. 8, MCA Academy students perform an average of 1.5 hours of homework per night.
7 | 8 | |
---|---|---|
MCA Academy | 90 mins | 90 mins |
Site Average | 53 mins | 57 mins |
Lettered or numbered grades | Gr. 7 to Gr. 8 |
Prose (narrative)-based feedback | Gr. 7 to Gr. 8 |
Habits and behaviour reporting | Gr. 7 to Gr. 8 |
Parent-teacher meetings | Gr. 7 to Gr. 8 |
Competitive sports: 4
Recreational sports: 12
Macdonald-Cartier Academy offers 6 clubs and extracurricular programs.
7 | 8 | |
Day | $17,950 |
Grades | Gender | Living Arrangement | Enrolment | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Group 1 | Gr. 7 to Gr. 8 | Coed | Day | 64 |
Total enrolment | 64 |
Average class size | 10 to 16 |
% of international students (total enrolment) | N/A |
Number of different nationalities within student population | N/A |
7 | 8 | |
---|---|---|
Day Enrollment | 32 | 32 |
Class Size | 16 | 16 |
Assessment | Required | Grades |
---|---|---|
Interview | 7 - 8 | |
SSAT | ||
SSAT (out of province) | ||
Entrance Exam(s) | 7 - 8 | |
Entrance Essay |
Day students: Rolling
Offer mid-year entry:
Yes
Application fee: $60
Registration fee: $1,710
Deposit:
N/A
Prior to acceptance, all students must successfully complete qualification examinations. Normally these examinations are taken in the fall of the year prior to entrance. Applicants must submit a copy of their most recent report card.
Applicants will be interviewed by a MCA administrator. The interview is designed to determine the applicant's willingness to work within a disciplined environment, and to verify the accuracy of reports submitted.
This is the percentage of applicants typically accepted into the school. So if 50 students are admitted out of 100 applicants, the school has an overall acceptance rate of 50%.
Student Entry Points
This shows approximately how many openings there are likely to be in each grade in a typical year, as well as the estimated acceptance rate for each grade level.
Student Type | 7 | 8 |
---|---|---|
Day Acceptance (Acceptance rate) | 24 - 32 (85%) | 1 - 2 (50%) |
Bonjour
MCA was founded in 1990 to offer parents in the Ottawa area the option of a demanding academic program that would prepare their child in both the French and English languages. The program is designed to teach the students skills that will help them succeed in school and in life.
Being a small school is a big advantage when you want to give quality instruction and teach skills that will serve the students for life. We present them academic and physical challenges that will encourage them to leave their comfort zone and truly begin learning.
Our program has evolved to meet the demands of our Canadian society but our mission to teach the students how to learn has never changed. The need to teach methods to improve their organizational skills and become responsible students is even more important today than it was when I founded the program in 1990.
We specialize in working with students at the junior high school level. I believe that this is an age where we can influence the child`s academic and life skills the most to prepare them for high school, university and beyond. Our students have always worked hard and played hard with a big smile on their faces. Some things should never change!
Merci.
Jean P. Mantha
The Trusted Source for Families since 1998
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