The Junior School is a vibrant place for elementary school aged children to grow, learn, and begin to explore and discover their unique talents and interests. We embrace an educational experience that nurtures the whole child through academics, athletics, arts, service, and character development.
The Junior School proudly offers both the International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Program (PYP) and the Middle Years Program (MYP) within our Kindergarten to Grade 7 learning continuum. Both programs provide a research-based, international philosophy and framework that engages our students in rigorous and globally significant, inquiry-based teaching and learning.
A focus on building positive relationships amongst students and teachers through daily homeroom time
Social Emotional Learning (SEL) through the Second Step® program (K-Grade 7).
A student services department that provides learning strategies support in and out of the classroom, and counsellors who support social and emotional wellness.
Core and specialist subject teachers across all grades.
Technology enhanced learning with a one-to-one laptop program beginning in Grade 5.
An extensive co-curricular and athletics program.
Opportunities for student-initiated action and service in the school, community, and world.
Special events and opportunities for all students (e.g. house events, feasts, Grade 5-7 musical, K-4 arts showcase, Speech Day, etc.).
Spacious facilities that include well-equipped classrooms, a Great Hall, library, design lab, music room, two art rooms, a science lab, large playground, and fields.
Caring, collaborative, and committed teachers and leaders.
The Macdougall Library is a fun and lively space that encourages our students to develop a love of reading. We have regular parent volunteers who help out to ensure we’ve got all of the latest and greatest books well-organized for our budding readers!
Students can use a variety of areas in the library to connect and learn from beanbag chairs to collaborative table configurations. The library is a well-resourced, dynamic, and warm learning space specially designed for our Junior School students. The teacher-librarian works closely with faculty, parents, and students to provide fun and interesting learning opportunities and a great book selection.
Southridge strives to integrate technology across the curriculum in an effort to accommodate different learning styles and levels, enhance creativity, develop problem solving strategies, and improve critical thinking skills. Technology does not stand alone; it is best used when seamlessly incorporated into teacher lessons in different subjects to help students achieve desired learning outcomes.
Southridge is a leader in the implementation and use of school technology. All students from Grade 5 to graduation have laptops that they use as part of the school’s one-to-one program. The majority of classrooms are equipped with SMART Boards, which allow teachers and students to interact with educational software, digital media, and the internet in a dynamic and user-friendly manner.
Southridge understands that through the use of technology in the classroom, the boundaries of learning are extended beyond the physical location of the classroom and the hours of the school day. Using the school’s learning platforms, students are able to check for homework, join educational discussions, review and preview lessons through uploaded teacher videos, and take ownership of their learning in a variety of other ways. Educational technology enables teachers and students to connect with others locally and globally for the purpose of collaborative learning.
Southridge teaches the skills and ethics necessary to thrive in an increasingly technology-rich world. Because technology sometimes outpaces moral and legal considerations, a solid framework for ethical use of technology is taught to our students. Students are empowered to use technology in a safe and ethical manner to enrich their understanding of themselves and their community, both locally and globally.
Southridge believes that educators need to help guide our students in the ethical and responsible use of technologies such as laptops and smart phones. The virtual world (which is more a place than a thing) that today’s teens inhabit is largely run by social rules that the teens themselves have created over the past few years. Southridge directly addresses this by openly teaching students and the school community about ethical and responsible use of social media, email, and other online activities.
Below are the policies which guide our student behaviour with cell phones, mobile devices, and our computer network.
