Our Difference
Star Academy is a private school with small class sizes, ranging, on average, from 10 to 16 students*. Our teachers know every student and challenge them as individuals.
Statistics Canada claims that the equivalent of one child in every school bus full of children has difficulty learning*. At Star Academy, our focus is to make children Learn to Love to Learn™ again. It’s our motto. And around the halls of Star Academy, stories of success echo. Such as 8-year-old John (names changed) who came to Star after being a full year behind in reading and writing at his previous school. And Sara who in Grade 1 had anxiety about going to school so intense, that she had to be taken to a psychologist. She’s now the first in the car in the morning to drive to her new school here at Star Academy. If you’re also facing similar challenges with your child, Star Academy is where your children will thrive. Our strong community and unique framework that is delivered and nurtured by our outstanding teachers have shown proven results over and over again.
Our Pillars of Child Development guide our classroom teachers. The pillars address the whole child and support our philosophy of a rounded development for each student. The Academic Pillar guides the curriculum, the Social Pillar guides ‘social intelligence’ for our students, the Global Pillar looks outward into our community, the Emotional Pillar focuses on self-image and confidence, and the Physical Pillar develops a sense of physical well-being through daily Physical Education classes.
Our alternative Star Academy year combines 10 months of academic day school programming followed by an additional three weeks in July of recreational day camp programming, Our camp programme priorizes social and recreational activities, while also still including some academic programming (only as an extension of previous academic programming).
*source: https://www.ldac-acta.ca/prevalence-of-learning-disabilities/
Admissions
Star Academy welcomes interested families to visit us for a tour and meeting with the Principal. Admissions are done year-round, and on occasion a mid-year placement is available, subject to space.
Our Process
The first step in our admissions process is to reach out to our office and arrange a tour and a meeting with our Principal, Julie Benneyworth or Director Heather Rees. We invite interested families to come and see Star Academy by appointment during a regular school day.
+ The Application
Following a parent tour of Star Academy and a meeting with the Principal, an application package is submitted. An application package includes:
- A completed application form.
- A $125 application fee.
- Copies of past two final report cards and all current year report cards.
- A copy of any Educational or Professional Assessments.
Following receipt of your application package, a visit will be arranged for your child to spend a day at Star Academy with the current grade class. During their visit they will experience a regular day as a Star student. Kindergarten applicants may visit for a half-day or a full-day.
After the student visit, a follow-up meeting or phone call will be arranged with the Principal to discuss your child’s visit to the school and answer any further questions about how our programming will benefit your child.
+ Acceptance Criteria
Star Academy offers small class sizes from Grades Pre-JK through 8. Class sizes vary by Grade, with up to 18 students in Kindergarten (with a teacher and assistant) and up to 16 students in Grade 1-8*.
Prospective students for our Academic Programme must demonstrate all of:
(i) the ability and the motivation to achieve academic excellence;
ii) an independently-motivated work ethic;
(iii) an enthusiasm to participate in a variety of events and activities including sports, clubs and leadership; and
(iv) the emotional and social skills necessary to co-operatively participate with minimal staff supervision, within our school environment and culture.
Both to ensure student success, and to confirm our ability to comprehensively meet student needs, the first one (1) month of a student’s enrolment will be specified to be a probationary period. Star Academy will ensure that each probationary student has reasonable opportunities to demonstrate their abilities, and to actualize their potential. These opportunities will include all of a testing of the student’s skills, the student’s ability to work in harmony with others, and an assessment of the student’s future likelihood to succeed while enrolled in Star Academy. Probationary admission will be reviewed after the completion of one (1) month, and Star Academy will then confirm (or not) the successful completion of this probationary period, and the continued (or not) registration.
*Star Academy reserves the right to determine appropriate class size based on the needs of students in a particular class.
+ Tuition and Fees
Students new to Star Academy have a one-time application fee payable on the day of the student visit. There is a one-time new student registration fee to be paid upon enrolment. Annual fees may be paid in one, three, or eight instalments. Download our 2024-25 Fee Schedule
Individual and group tutoring, social skills programmes, private music and tennis lessons are all invoiced separately from our regular school tuition.
Additional expenses include items such as overnight field trips (Intermediate and Senior classes), lunch and pizza lunch programme, and uniforms.
+ Financial Assistance
A small bursary fund is available annually and is considered on a first-come limited application basis. Star Academy uses a third-party system, ISM Fast, to evaluate the application for financial aid. Please visit ISM Fast if you are interested in applying for a bursary. There is a $60 US fee from ISM to process your application.
Our school uses FAST from Independent School Management (ISM) to process financial aid applications.
FAST provides our school with a need-based financial analysis, allowing us to allocate our resources wisely and fairly. All information from FAST regarding a family’s request for financial assistance is kept confidential.
The FAST application for financial assistance will be available in October at apply.ismfast.com.
+ School Uniforms
Uniforms for Star Academy students are purchased at the school. Kindergarten students have one uniform and are not required to purchase a gym uniform. Students in Grades 1-8 require a gym uniform daily for daily Physical Education, as well as their polo shirt and either pants or a skirt for everyday wear.
Our everyday uniform:
Navy crested polo
Pullover Star Academy sweatshirt
Grey skirt or dress pants
Black shoes
Our gym uniform:
Blue Star Academy gym shirt
Grey crested gym short
Full zip gym sweatshirt
Gym shoes
+ Homework Club and Aftercare
Our school day is from 8:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. Morning drop off begins at 8:00 a.m. and afternoon pick-up runs until 3:30 p.m.
Extended childcare is available Monday to Thursday from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. daily for a fee of $10.00. Fridays have childcare until 4:30 only. Fees for Homework Club and extended care are invoiced monthly.
+ School Calendar
Star Academy follows an 11-month school year programme. We write three report cards per school year; an interim report in the Fall, Term 1 reports (sent home late January/early February) and Term 2 reports (sent home in June). July programming includes academic enrichment, review and consolidation of skills, and project-based learning.
Click here to see school calendar.
Experience why our children are HAPPY to learn!
Have A Question? Request an e-brochure
We tried to think of everything, but if you have a question please let us know! We aim to respond to all inquiries quickly, with our office being open Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.