COMBINING THE BEST OF LEARNING AND LIVING

Programs that develop the whole student at every age

Columbia prides itself on providing a Total Care Development? experience for all its students, customized according to the student’s particular age and development needs. Students are divided into one of three age-based “ASEP Achievers” groups, with “ASEP” standing for “academic, social, emotional and physical,” the four dimensions of a person that Columbia strives to develop through its Total Care? Education philosophy. “Young ASEP Achievers” are 16 years old or younger as of July 31 of that year. As our youngest students, they get the support and supervision they need to thrive far from the familiarity of family and culture. “Junior ASEP Achievers” are 16 and 17 years old as of August 1, while “Senior ASEP Achievers” are 17 and 18 years old. We make sure to offer fun activities for these junior and senior students while creating a disciplined and consistent daily routine that enables them to develop healthy social and emotional lives. All students receive age-tailored life coaching and participate in character-building activities that will serve them well at university and in their future lives.

AGE-AND GRADE-APPROPRIATE PROGRAMMING

Junior Middle School (Grades 7 and 8) Grade 9 ESL Grades 10 and 11 Grades 11 and 12
After school clubs (leadership, arts, science, leisure, athletics, service, trips, events) 4 mandatory clubs+1 errand day 4 mandatory clubs 4 mandatory clubs
2 ESL support +2 other
3 mandatory clubs Choice of 2 mandatory clubs +
University Preparatory club
Saturday activities Mandatory trips and activities Mandatory trips and activities Trip or study option with conditions Trip or study option with conditions Trip or study option with conditions
Monthly trip Compulsory Compulsory Compulsory Compulsory Optional with conditions
Duke of Edinburgh Award Optional Optional Optional Optional Optional

A SCHEDULE?FOR SUCCESSFUL LEARNING

WEEKDAYS Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Classroom learning
4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Clubs and activities
5:30 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. Dinner
7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Individual study and/or group study with assistance from peer tutors and academic tutors
9 p.m. to 10 p.m. Snacks, preparation for next school day, and bed time
10 p.m. Curfew

WEEKEND ACTIVITIES THAT BLEND LEARNING AND FUN

Saturday Sunday
Morning Brunch Brunch and optional religious activity of choice
After brunch Organized trips and activities Cultural trips and excursions
Dinner Family, food and leisure Family, food and leisure
Evening Organized activities and leisure Study time

A Year of Character-building Programming

AUGUST

  • Orientation tours for new students
  • Welcome BBQ
  • Niagara Falls/Toronto city tour
  • Club Fair
  • International Cuisine Dinner

NOVEMBER: Responsibility

  • International fashion show
  • Awards ceremony
  • Winter talent show
  • Leadership retreat
  • International cuisine dinner

FEBRUARY: Fairness

  • Staff versus students basketball game
  • University Fair
  • 30-Hour Famine
  • Skiing trip
  • International cuisine dinner

MAY: Self-confidence and self-advocacy

  • Graduation ceremony
  • Final?exams
  • JMS Theatre Production
  • MLS Game
  • Bayfront Picnic

SEPTEMBER: Respect

  • Leadership retreat at Bark Lake
  • Spirit Week
  • Terry Fox Run for cancer research
  • Hamilton Tiger-Cats football game
  • Games Day

DECEMBER: Peaceful and Positive Conflict Resolution

  • Christmas gingerbread house making
  • Graduation Ceremony
  • New Year’s Eve party
  • Winter Festival of Lights

MARCH: Caring

  • Character Week
  • Character mentoring
  • International Games Day
  • Toronto Raptors basketball game
  • International cuisine dinner

JUNE: Perseverance

  • Graduation ceremony
  • Junior middle school graduation ceremony
  • Water games
  • Canada’s Wonderland trip
  • International cuisine dinner

OCTOBER: Honesty and Integrity

  • Thanksgiving celebration
  • Pumpkin carving competition
  • Canada’s Wonderland Hallowe’en Haunt
  • Apple-picking trip
  • International cuisine dinner

JANUARY: Inclusiveness

  • Orientation tours for new students
  • Club Fair
  • Spirit Week
  • Snow tubing
  • Niagara Falls/Toronto city tour

APRIL: Optimism

  • Sodexo food drive
  • Prom (graduation dinner and dance)
  • Leadership BBQ
  • Awards ceremony
  • International cuisine dinner

JULY

  • Leadership-in-training program
  • Summer camp talent show
  • Shopping trip
  • Residence sports activities
  • Movie trip

Care for our youngest students.

Students who are under 16 years old as of July 31 each year are placed in our “Young ASEP Achievers” or “Junior ASEP Achievers” program. These students, who may be in our junior middle school program or in the first years of high school, receive the special care and attention they need to mature into responsible adults.