WINDSOR HOUSE SCHOOL
Windsor House School is an amazing community of learning. It has a 34-year history and has become a collection of the best aspects of many schools - yet it is absolutely unique in all of Canada with:
• Kindergarten to Grade 12
• multi-age groupings
• a democratic system of governance
• non-coercive (self-directed) academics
• parent-participation
• portfolio-based reporting
• public funding
The school philosophy centres around:
A) empowering students to come and develop into who they are, via an innate ability and desire to direct their own education, a tolerance of self, exploring their passions, understanding themselves as learners in relation to Provincial Curriculum, acting responsibly, gaining knowledge of life, building self-esteem, learning about freedom and power, understanding commitment and respect;
B) building community via cooperation over competition, inclusion of all, individuals and their contributions. (There are celebrations and fun).
Multi-age groupings allow students to learn from one another. Older students gain from interacting with the younger students i.e. take responsibility, set good examples, and learn from each other; younger students benefit from the experience and insight of older students. Infants and toddlers are welcomed - their presence helps maintain familial bonds between siblings.
Relationship is the key to success. Every staff member works hard to build strong, trust-based relationships with each student. Everyone is addressed by his or her first name. You are treated as a person and your point of view is not disregarded.
Windsor House students have many opportunities to independently choose how to spend their school time (non-coercive education). They may play, read, work on academics or other projects, reflect, talk with friends, or apprentice in the community. Students may engage in work in any of the areas of the facility as long as they honour the intentions of the space. In this way, the children's natural curiosity and vitality induce them to pursue their interests. They may not, however, choose the option of entertaining themselves at someone else's expense.
Windsor House School is an ongoing collaborative effort. Walk into the school at any point and you may see rather "gray" lines: parents assisting as volunteer staff, staff who have been students and now are parents to students attending from their own families, committees and organizers comprised of all three levels. Windsor House truly embodies the District's emerging new model of Community Schools, harking back to when an entire community from infants to seniors played a part in the life of the school.
A vibrant aspect of this collaboration is the democracy that is practiced in all vital aspects of WHS. Every community member is validated as an equal partner in the processes, and no opinion is disregarded.
