Why Mabin?
With so many options available for educating your child, what makes The Mabin School different? We pride ourselves in creating a unique educational environment unlike any other school. Here's how we do it:
A Small, Intimate Setting (with lots of secret places)
• Our classrooms are the setting for large and small group instruction geared to the various learning levels of our students
• The Mabin house is the backdrop that highlights the ideas and work of our students. In the blink of an eye, it can become a learning laboratory, a studio, an office, a construction site or a volleyball court.
• Owned by the children, it is their home away from home.
A Very Special Community
• Mabin students are excited to come to school, entering a fun and challenging environment where they feel listened to and respected.
• Our community of 150 children and 25 teachers means everyone knows each other — not just by first name but as a trusted friend.
• Parents are part of the vibrant community that genuinely cares about education and their children’s future. Their involvement and support of the program are invaluable.
Our Innovative Program
• The centre of all learning at The Mabin School is the child. What makes us unique is that we organize our program around the learning needs, strengths, developmental levels and interests of our students.
• We provide a strong academic foundation where personal achievement is emphasized. A rich, integrated learning experience, it meets and often exceeds Provincial guidelines.
• Teachers promote classroom themes that are of intrinsic interest to their students. These themes, in conjunction with direct lessons, become vehicles to deliver the essential academic skills in an integrated, active and child-centred education.
• Expert specialists in Art, Music, Computers, Science, Physical Education and French collaborate with our classroom teachers to build a deep and multidimensional learning experience.
• Our schedule has been carefully organized so that the children often work in small groups in the core and specialist classes. This allows teachers optimal conditions to recognize the learning characteristics of each child, set realistic goals and adjust programs accordingly so all children feel successful in their learning. It means our teachers really know and understand your child.
Those Treasured Values
• Our goal is for our students to explore problems and issues that are challenging: we want them to experience a variety of ways of thinking and be sensitive to different life circumstances and lifestyles. We want them to make a difference.
• Children are given time to think, write and discuss in a reflective manner about themselves and others and then turn their insights into actions. From Kindergarten through to Grade 6, children are given the “tools” and language for self reflection and goal setting. They truly are active participants in their own learning.
• Children at Mabin develop an awareness of the power of community, and the rights and responsibilities that come with being a member. Knowledge leads to actions — our students not only participate, but launch a multitude of community support projects.
• Upon graduation, our students are in high demand from other schools. Mabin children are invested learners with effective organizational and study skills. They are critical and divergent thinkers comfortable with problem solving. Self knowledge has given them a confidence which helps them to be empathic and caring, enthusiastic and actively involved in their new school community.
Exceptional and Inspired Teachers
• In a recent survey of Mabin families, our teachers were rated the number one reason why The Mabin School is so successful at educating children. Our faculty is a balance of seasoned teachers (some who have been here over fifteen years) and educators who have sought out Mabin more recently because of the opportunity it provides to explore and implement a progressive educational philosophy. Professional, inventive and fun, they are committed to making a real difference in children's lives.
