Strathcona-Tweedsmuir School officially opened on a beautiful country campus in Okotoks, Alberta in September 1971. An amalgamation of Strathcona School for Boys and Tweedsmuir: An Academic School for Girls, the new school came about as a result of the generosity of W.H. Atkinson and the Cross Family. Today, STS is a co-educational independent school community for Kindergarten-Grade 12 that develops well-balanced students for a life of purpose by inspiring excellence in scholarship, leadership, and character. STS' tradition in educational excellence spans more than 100 years through each of our founding schools: St. Hilda's School for Girls, Strathcona School for Boys, and Tweedsmuir: An Academic School for Girls and can be best summed up by the School's motto: Nil Nisi Optimum - nothing but your best.
We can think of no higher priority than the future of our children, and my vision is that as a team at STS, we contribute to moving them forward in their journey towards their hopes, dreams, and goals. We will do so in a respectful manner, honoring the individuality and diversity of our community. As we prepare to deliver on a new strategic plan and inspire commitment, trust, and belief in our collective abilities to change the world for the better.
The ST's spirit and ethos are infectious and inspiring. We have a history of innovation, tradition, and extensive collaboration with the community, and we will continue to build on our humble roots, be unapologetic in our pursuit of academic excellence, and continue to offer a myriad of experiences to nurture the spirit and passion of our students. As the educational landscape is rapidly changing, we must stay current, protect our core, and ensure our young charges are cared for, ready for the challenges and opportunities that today presents as well as an exciting future.
Strathcona-Tweedsmuir School (STS) is more than a great school - STS inspires journeys that lead our students beyond anything they could have imagined. Our Mission is to develop well-balanced students for a life of purpose by inspiring excellence in scholarship, leadership, and character. Our Vision is a leading educator recognized nationally and internationally for delivering exceptional programs in a unique setting, with an enduring sense of community. Our School community reflects the pride of shared purpose and love of learning in a values-based environment, where each child is respected as an individual.
- We believe in developing well-balanced individuals in an environment that emphasizes academic rigor, leadership, character development, self-expression, physical fitness, service, and a global perspective
- We uphold our values
- We stimulate a collaborative learning environment while empowering our students through the development of critical and independent thinking using a challenging and balanced curriculum built on a foundation of core knowledge and subjects and appropriate use of technology
- We provide opportunities to explore and develop an appreciation for outdoor pursuits, the arts, and speech & debate
- We promote physical fitness, health, and well-being
- We appreciate and respect diversity
- We foster strong inter-personal relationships between parents, students, faculty/staff, and alumni in a safe and nurturing community
- We treasure our strong sense of family and community, and
- We believe the safety of our students is paramount.
At Strathcona-Tweedsmuir School, students thrive in a culture of academic excellence. Students are empowered in their learning and strive to exceed their expectations for achievement. STS supplements the standard Alberta Education curriculum with the International Baccalaureate Programme beginning in the Elementary with the IB Primary Years Programme, moving to Middle School with the IB Middle Years Programme, and ending with the IB Diploma Programme in Senior School. Excellence in teaching and learning is fostered through critical thinking and inquiry. Throughout our students' years at STS, we focus on new and effective practices, incorporating current research and literature into all of our courses. We educate our students in an environment that combines state-of-the-art technologies, outdoor experiential education with opportunities to develop the individual as a whole.
At Strathcona-Tweedsmuir School (STS), we are always thinking about how best to prepare students for the future to ensure that they have the skills they will need to thrive in the 21st Century.
STS recognizes that our students are digital natives that technology is ubiquitous in their personal and academic lives. Research reveals that students’ comfort with technology in their personal lives is not synonymous with their mastery of technology to facilitate their learning or collaborate for learning’s sake. As such, it is paramount that schools teach information technology skills (ICT), digital citizenship skills, and computational thinking skills to prepare students for the 21st Century.
Technology plays a very significant role at all levels of our School. Students in Kindergarten-Grade 7 work within a 1:1 school-issued device program. Students in Grades 8-12 are part of the school BYOD Program. Robotics, coding, 3D printing, virtual reality, SMART boards, and a myriad of software tools are used in all three divisions.
As a Center for Teaching Excellence, our vision for educational technology is to be leaders in its use in ways that are human-centered in design, evidence-informed, and prioritize excellence and innovation in programming, pedagogy, and policy. We invite you to read through our Three-Year Educational Technology Strategy. Should you have any questions, please speak with our Director of Academic Programming and Educational Technology.
