We’ll supplement this page with expert insight into the FIT between Turnbull School and YOUR CHILD. Just answer a few short questions. It takes only 5 minutes.
Or, dive right into our insights on Turnbull School:
To customize this school profile (and others), answer a few questions about your child’s needs.
Go to child profileTurnbull School is dedicated to academic excellence in a caring environment. Students benefit from highly qualified teachers, small class sizes, daily physical education, effective organization and study skills, enhanced French, award winning science, dynamic music, visual arts and drama programs, intramural and extra-curricular sports, clubs and special events, and modern facilities. Our leadership and character development programs enhance the school culture of excellence and caring.
What learning looks like now: We are very pleased and excited to be embarking on this very special and unique school year. It goes without saying that the COVID-19 global pandemic has had major effects and ramifications on all facets of life, including education. We have made many thoughtful changes to our procedures, school facilities and schedules to help create a safe, nurturing and enjoyable environment for the students and staff at Turnbull School. Of course, mask wearing, social distancing and frequent hand washing form the basis of the many enhancements put in place to help combat the spread of COVID-19. Although the majority of our students will be attending school each day, several families have opted for their children to "Learn from Home". These children will receive live streaming of their academic classes throughout the week. Time will also be made for them to connect with their teachers to help build rapport and ensure curriculum expectations are being met.
Curriculum delivery for 2020/21:
Grades | Living Arrangement | Delivery Model | Frequency |
---|---|---|---|
Day | JK - Gr. 8 | In-person | Full-time |
eSchool | JK - Gr. 8 | Online | Full-time |
Turnbull School offers bus transferring. Service options offered are regular rider, door-to-door pickup .
Additional notes: Several students take a private bus service run by ActKIDvity.
Girls Volleyball in Gymnasium
Sports Field
Double Gymnasium - P.E. Class
New Music Hall
Senior Dance Club at United Way Assembly
New Visual Arts Room
Front of East Wing
West Wing and Gymnasium
Rear View of East Wing
Senior Students at Work
Grade 4 Students Working Together
Writing Activity in Kindergarten
Microscope Lab
Owl Pellet Lab
Science Class
Senior Computer Lab
Classroom Smartboard
20th Anniversary Garden
Library
25th Anniversary Celebration Assembly
Library
Turnbull was founded by Mary Ann Turnbull in 1992, though its history in a sense dates back to Turnbull Learning Centre, which she established in 1981. The Centre offered academic services, and Turnbull’s success there lead to the creation of the school. The setting is idyllic —since 1996 it has occupied a parcel of 5.5 acres in the Central Experimental Farm area of Ottawa. The location is within Ottawa, yet retains a rural community feel, which itself is a draw for many families. The space also allows for a focus on environmental education, something that has distinguished the school somewhat and gained recognition in 2007 by the SEEDS Foundation. The school has grown over the years, and is a good size today, allowing for a nice breadth of programming, while at the same time retaining a personal, community feel. Per the initial intentions for the school, values—cooperation, character, and reasoned reflection—inform all the activities of the school. Parental involvement in the life of the school is welcomed, as is consistent, informal communication between families and school administration.
Focus |
---|
Academic |
DIBELS Testing: This school periodically uses DIBELS testing to assess reading progress.
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 |
Students remain in a regular classroom for the whole day, and periodically receive break-out support (individually or in small groups) within the classroom from a qualified special education teacher.
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: Enrichment (The main focus is on enrichment. This means that while students may work at a marginally quicker pace than public school peers, the primary aim is to study subject in broader and deeper ways.)
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) |
In grade Gr. 8, Turnbull School students perform an average of 1.5 hours of homework per night.
JK | SK | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Turnbull School | 0 mins | 0 mins | 15 mins | 15 mins | 30 mins | 45 mins | 45 mins | 60 mins | 60 mins | 90 mins |
Site Average | 6 mins | 7 mins | 15 mins | 17 mins | 24 mins | 30 mins | 35 mins | 41 mins | 53 mins | 57 mins |
Lettered or numbered grades | JK to Gr. 8 |
Prose (narrative)-based feedback | JK to Gr. 8 |
Academic achievement reporting | JK to Gr. 8 |
Habits and behaviour reporting | JK to Gr. 8 |
Parent-teacher meetings | JK to Gr. 8 |
Competitive sports: 8
Recreational sports: 10
Turnbull School offers 20 clubs and extracurricular programs.
JK | SK | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | |
Day | $19,700 | $21,700 |
Grades | Gender | Living Arrangement | Enrolment | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Group 1 | JK to Gr. 8 | Coed | Day | 400 |
Total enrolment | 400 |
Average class size | 9 to 18 |
% of international students (total enrolment) | 20% |
Number of different nationalities within student population | 15 |
JK | SK | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Day Enrollment | 19 | 15 | 35 | 30 | 48 | 29 | 45 | 45 | 60 | 71 |
Class Size | 9 | 9 | 12 | 10 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 18 |
Assessment | Required | Grades |
---|---|---|
Interview | ||
SSAT | ||
SSAT (out of province) | ||
Entrance Exam(s) | 1 - 8 | |
Entrance Essay |
Day students: Rolling
Offer mid-year entry:
Yes
Application fee: N/A
Registration fee: N/A
Deposit:
$2,500
Turnbull School has a multi-step admissions process. For children applying to Grades 1 to 8, we begin by gathering information from report cards, confidential letters of reference and formal assessments (if any). This is followed by a visit day in a classroom of the child's current grade. The final step is the administration of an individual standardized assessment by an educational consultant.
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 | JK | SK | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Day Acceptance (Acceptance rate) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Alumni Highlights
At Turnbull School, we focus on bringing excellence to our students in a caring environment. We offer a comprehensive program in a coeducational setting for children in Kindergarten to Grade 8. We believe there is tremendous value in building a solid educational foundation for children during their elementary school years that will last a lifetime! Please visit our website or give us a call for more information. Thank you for your interest in Turnbull School.
The Trusted Source for Families since 1998
Interested in Turnbull School?
Visit WebsiteJoin the Our Kids roundtable discussion about [School Name]. Alumni and current parents are answering questions and sharing their insights—about the school’s culture, strengths, and weaknesses.
Oct
ZOOM MEETING