Elmwood is one of the most innovative girls' schools in North America and ranked as one of the top 25 private schools in Canada. We are one of only nineteen schools in Canada to receive the Apple Distinguished School designation and the only school in the region offering all three levels of the International Baccalaureate Programme.
Acclaimed for its academic excellence, caring atmosphere, and strong community spirit, Elmwood is a school where girls are encouraged to stretch themselves, try new things, create and explore. We are nimble and flexible, modeling best practices in educating girls. We strike a balance between traditional academic goals and innovative approaches to achieving those goals. We create inquiring lifelong learners, compassionate and engaged global citizens, and confidence, caring leaders.
Elmwood School has been an institution in the Village of Rockcliffe Park for over one hundred years. It was founded in 1915 as the "Rockcliffe Preparatory School" by Theodora Philpot. The School opened for business in 1915 with only four students, aged four to seven. The educational ambitions of the first Headmistress were high. She wrote: "The discipline of the School and the instruction are by the best modern methods, and constant care is given to the proper development of each pupil and the fostering of good school spirit.
When we talk to the girls about what makes their school special, we get as many different answers as we have students. Not far from every girl answer, though is family and confident young women. There is something here for every girl to love, get involved in, and find inspiring.
Over 100 years ago, Theodora Philpot, an entrepreneurial and visionary woman, founded Elmwood School. Although the subjects we teach and how we teach have evolved dramatically since 1915, Mrs. Philpot would still recognize the essence of the School she created. Every girl here is known, and valued-we see them as individual girls on individual journeys, and we inspire each girl to reach her full potential. That is the School's mission statement, and it is something every member of our community lives every day.
Our holistic approach to girls' education combines superior academics with outstanding co-curricular activities and healthy lifestyle choices. The tremendous and supportive all-girls environment gives students the freedom to stretch themselves, take risks, and learn from their mistakes. We are specialists in how girls learn, so we can tailor things to precisely what works best.
At the base of everything is our reputation for academic excellence. Elmwood is the only School in Ottawa accredited to deliver all three levels of the International Baccalaureate (IB) program ranging from preschool right up to the senior grades. This is a fully transferable, world-class education, and the combination of the "gold standard" IB program and a strong Ontario curriculum is the best preparation for university and beyond.
When girls graduate from Elmwood, they are ready to move on to the next phase of their education with confidence. They have become inquiring, lifelong learners with an exceptional education, confident, caring leaders and compassionate, engaged global citizens.
We believe that the best kind of education combines a world-class curriculum, passionate teachers, innovative teaching methods, and small class sizes, so every student gets individual attention. Elmwood's curriculum exceeds the expectations of the provincial curriculum and is more rigorously evaluated than any other school in Ottawa. Our standards are evaluated by the International Baccalaureate (IB) Programme, the Ontario Ministry of Education, and Canadian Accredited Independent Schools (CAIS). Elmwood's academic program continues to surpass the expectations of each regulatory body. At Elmwood, we encourage and challenge our students to strive for academic excellence and inspire them to develop a lifelong love of learning. We know that this strong foundation of knowledge and skills is crucial for success in the 21st century.
Our outstanding faculty draws on best practices in girls' education as they inspire students to be principled, knowledgeable, and reflective life-long learners. From the early years to graduation day, Elmwood students benefit from a program of study that is student-directed, inquiry-based, rigorous, relevant, and specifically designed to prepare students for life and work beyond the classroom.
Our nurturing environment encourages our youngest students to feel secure and helps them start to build their independence. We balance a vibrant, academic environment with creative and purposeful play, helping students construct a solid knowledge of the world around them. A skilled, dedicated educator who is an expert in early childhood education and inquiry-based learning leads each classroom. In our purpose-built Junior School, the Kindergarten classrooms are designed to meet our youngest students' needs. Through experiential and imaginative play, Elmwood students engage in early literacy activities and tackle mathematical problems using various strategies, helping them establish a strong foundation for their future studies.
As they progress through Junior School, girls develop skills, passion, and curiosity about the world—resulting in a love of learning. They continue to gain confidence and build the resilience and strength of character that they need to take smart risks, use their voice, and develop to their full potential.
The IB Primary Years Programme curriculum framework is guided by six transdisciplinary themes of global significance, and recognizes the importance of not only what they learn but also how they learn. Using this inquiry-based model, our faculty teaches girls to teach themselves, using creativity, critical thinking, and their natural curiosity to discover and understand the world around them.
In the Middle School, our goal is to nurture our students a life-long sense of curiosity and joy towards learning. Through the lens of the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme (MYP), we offer a rich and engaging academic program where collaboration, creativity, and critical thinking are central.
Our Middle School students learn and grow within an inspiring and supportive environment where courage, creativity, and character are celebrated. Through our 1:1 program, we support the full use of technology to help students develop academic skills, augment the curriculum, motivate learning, and prepare students for future life experiences in our technologically-based world.
Senior School is all about preparing our students to enter university. Our students benefit from an educational environment that stresses higher-level critical thinking and inquiry and research skills, allowing them to develop a broad basis of knowledge and abilities while gaining an in-depth understanding of most interest subjects. This rigorous academic program, along with substantial co-curricular and leadership opportunities, helps Elmwood girls gain acceptance to the universities of their choice, often with generous entrance scholarships.
Many universities actively seek out full IB Diploma students in their recruitment strategies, offering incentives such as early acceptance, scholarships, and credit for first-year courses. Alternatively, some students may choose from a wide array of IB Certificate courses in subjects of particular interest. Also, all Elmwood students graduate with the Ministry of Education diploma (Ontario Secondary School Diploma).
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