REVIEW OF Sidney Ledson Institute BY parent, Xiaoping Li

(4.5) Student Experience

My children liked their teachers (Ms. Tabacowalla, Ms. Selina & Ms. Yu) so much in the first a few weeks since they started their JK in September 2017, that they looked forward to going to school. These teachers established personal connections with my children, which paved way for them to engage in enriched learning. My children enjoyed the playtime with other kids. It's great that they have playtime between learning sessions. I feel that my children developed social skills through playing with other kids. I like that they have arts and crafts activity daily.

(4.5) School Leadership

Principle Ms. Shivji is kind, caring, paying attention to details of my children's development, while pursuing enriched learning experience for students. Teachers and admin staff are responsive to issues, suggestions and ideas I put forward to them.

(4.5) Teaching

I like that the teachers give individualized worksheets to students so everyone progresses on their own pace.

(4.5) Academics

The school has a strong academic program. My son (in JK) is reading at the level equivalent to grade 2 in the public school system. It helps that he is naturally gifted in learning phonics. My daughter (also in JK) is reading at a level equivalent to grade 1 in the public school system. She is not as naturally gifted as my son in learning phonics, while her strength is in the arts. Although I have consistently provided help to my children in learning phonics at home even before they started JK, the school's curriculum definitely helped them to progress steadily in reading.

(4) Extracurriculars

The school provides extracurricular activities which are usually not a great fit for the needs of my JK children and myself for the following reasons: 1. Initially my children need time to sleep. So they can't stay for after school activities. They often fall asleep in the car on their way home. 2. As they grow they need less sleep time. Then, I want to spend playtime with them after school. 3. I prefer my children to have more physical activities as they don't get them a lot in school. The school has a small indoor space functioning as an indoor gym and a small outdoor concrete space for children to run around. After school, I take my children to playgrounds, skating, gymnastics, etc.

(4.5) Students

Students are well behaved and friendly to each other. I like the interaction of students between different grades. It's a small school. Students seem to know each other in the school.

(2.5) Community

Parents are friendly to each other during drop-off, pick-up and field trips. There is no organized parent group. I feel the school can provide more opportunities for parental involvement in the life of the school.

(2.5) School Location

The school is located in an office building. Students don't venture beyond the school grounds.