Reviews of The Booker School (School)

Matt Boudreau

We have one child at Booker. She has been transformed from a painfully shy 4 year old into a 6 year old willing to do a presentation in front of the entire school upon returning this fall. With any young institution there are hiccups and turnover, but I am thoroughly impressed with the organization and programming under the new Head of School this year. Would recommend Booker to anyone!

Lost Mollusc

As a relatively new community member, I am so appreciative of the optimism, enthusiasm and professionalism shown by teachers here at the school. They truly care for their students, and place student learning and wellbeing above all else. It is a small school, a young school, and as such has experienced many changes over the past couple of years as it finds its place within the community. This year's team includes a combination of new and returning staff, with new leadership, who together are passionate about bringing the International Baccalaureate programmes to the East Coast and offering an alternative educational approach to families in Nova Scotia. As a previous reviewer said, if you are interested then come and visit the school with your eyes and mind open, and make your own choices based on the connections you make with the community.

william cooper

What an amazing little school. The children who attend Booker are some of the luckiest kids in the world. This is not an institution but a family, where each student's individual needs are met and everyone is encouraged and enabled to pursue their interests. If every school were like Booker, the world would be a much better place.

Jen Wheeldon

We sent our daughter to The Booker School because we wanted her to have a learning experience that focused on critical thinking and exploring the natural world. We've been overwhelmed with the growth, confidence and creativity we've seen in our daughter. Its much more than a school, its a community and its amazing to be a part of it.

Kathryn Himsl

I have two grandsons that go to Avonport School but they have totally loved all of the special events and camps that they have attended at The booker School. The wonderfully creative ways of instilling a love for learning in this school make it a tremendous asset to our community. I wish The Booker School all the success it so richly deserves.

Tyler Bent

It’s terrific that we have this option in our community. There have been many positive developments at the school this year and we will be sending our children there when the time comes.

Natalie Wrighton

I love the fact that each time I visit this school, there is always something new happening on campus and something exciting to discover. The students are enthusiastic; they’re big thinkers. The staff are passionate; their energy inexhaustible. It’s impossible not to be pulled into the learning!

Hilary Drummond

I am very glad to have had the opportunity to work with students and teachers at the Booker School. Their youth outreach programs contribute an enormous amount to our community. I hope that one day it will be possible for every school in Nova Scotia to provide the standards of excellence in education that the Booker aspires to every day. Kudos to all the teachers and staff who are making a difference in the lives of their students.

Taryn Stevenson

Our son started attending The Booker School at the beginning of his grade 4 year. Not even one semester in and his attitude towards school has done a complete 180! He is happy and engaged and shares what he is learning with us. Small classes provide opportunity for the teachers to get to know the children and provide individualised instruction as well as ample communication with families. There is a focus on personal development (both academically and socially), lots of outdoor time, art and drama, french, a realization of community responsibility, a global perspective...We can't say enough good things about Booker!

James Weekes

After a year of working with the team here at The Booker School, I think it's time I shared a review from my perspective as the current and continuing Head of School. I came to this school during a key transition period, where the school was trying to add clarity to its mission, its identity and its pathway. With the Founder stepping back and the Board bringing in an educator to lead the team forward, change was happening. I was attracted to this school for multiple reasons. The philosophy of education and the drive to bring something else to this community was key to me. With a province also having a turbulent time within its education department, democratising education and giving families an alternate option was deemed necessary. In my end of year address to the community, I shared that our school is in an old family home, and family is what we must be. We support each other to become the best versions of ourselves; sometimes we have to give each other constructive criticism, but we are in this together. Every student is valued and they must value one another. Policies are built on respect, trust and growth, and are helping us to pave the way forwards. We are fortunate to have an incredible team of educators, role-models and lead-learners in the school. Every teacher arrives at school with a positive mindset, with a common goal, and with the children's well-being at the centre of what they do. There is zero turnover going into our next academic year and this is representative of the dedication to the school's mission. Our students are happy and growing as individuals. Nothing is more satisfying than reflecting on a student's growth over the year and sharing how far they have come. Our students care about themselves, each other, their community and the wider world. Embedding the United Nations' Global Goals for Sustainable Development has given meaning and context to their learning. Our students are risk-takers, presenters, listeners and inquirers. They learn through an intrinsic drive to know and be more, and this is something we continue to encourage. The school's Board has helped me immensely in this first year. Together we have approved policies and put strategies in place to take the school forwards. Sustainability is at the core of what we do and it can only be attained through collaboration. I am proud of what the school has achieved during the academic year of 2017-18 and I eagerly anticipate the years to come. If you want to find out more, please visit our website, our social media, or arrange a time to come in and see it for yourselves. Our family is always open to growth. - James Weekes

Scott King

We are profoundly disappointed in the Booker School and have withdrawn our child. After three years of watching this school struggle and pouring tons of support in, we give up. I agree completely with the previous review from Mr/Mrs G L. The school has amazing potential and has had great teachers but there are some current factors that doom it to failure. I wish all the great teachers there lots of success in their future jobs. If you decide to go to Booker, keep your eyes wide open, ask lots of questions, and ask past families about their experiences if at all possible. I really hope this school pulls it together since it could be a great place under the right circumstances.

Valley Yoga

As the Recreation Director for the Village of Port Williams, it has been a pleasure working with The Booker School on community events and initiatives, and I look forward to more collaboration in the future!

Carlee MacNeill

My review is based on my perspective as a long term volunteer at the school, and as a university student of the 21st century. It is in my opinion that the learning methodology of The Booker School (TBS) will (and should) eventually become the status quo for all stages of learning. Furthermore, this process can not unfold fast enough! At TBS, students' comprehensive approach to problem solving suggests that they will be prepared to succeed in any field of study. An increasingly complex world warrants increasingly integrative approaches to how we come to understand it. Personally, it seems that science, as an academic domain, is failing to produce thinkers who are anything other than rigid problem solvers. We need more contemplative thinkers who consider the philosophy of science and its implications as much as the empirical work. TBS' holistic style of learning produces attentive and collaborative thinkers who are destined to become leaders in any field they pursue. THIS is an education system adequately preparing youth to achieve success in tomorrow's world!

Belinda Jardim

"Release the spark; Honour the quirk; Cultivate the joy; Commit to the risk; Invite the doubt; Encourage the love; Inspire the quest; Find the beauty; Become the solution" ... These are words on the stairs at The Booker School and when I first read them I knew I had enrolled my son in the absolute best school for him. They are not just words on stairs, they actually come to life everyday on this school’s campus through skilled teachers who encourage, support, and celebrate inquiring minds. Their integrated, inquiry based curriculum makes learning tangible and tied to real world. It’s a place that truly transforms its learners ❤️ I see this everyday in my son and I am confident that long after he has graduated from Booker this transformation will continue, grow, and evolve ... Love this school & its faculty!

G L.

Where to begin... this school has so many issues. This is definitely our last year at this school. The fact they have massive staff turnover several years in a row, several board resignations in the 2016-17 school year, and a large number of families leaving this year and last should give you a hint to it's troubles. Also, watch out for the whole IB spiel... they have no affiliation with IB and are a very long ways away from ever being IB accredited, if they ever manage to attain it at all. Behavioural issues also seem to be out of control. I don't know if they will manage to pull it together but at this point it's looking highly doubtful. The past and present teachers were/are absolutely wonderful but they don't stay very long and I can hardly blame them. It's a badly needed resource for the valley that should be insanely successful but the leadership seems to have no idea what they are doing.

Karen Shepard

We are building a collaborative relationship between The Booker school and the L'Arche community. This relationship has been evolving over many years, and it is exciting to watch the deep connection and level of respect that both sides share. We have been fortunate to watch the students weekly, as they carve out a range of wonderful activities- that take into account so many individual needs. This type of real world, hands-on experience is what makes the Booker School and its students shine.

Katrina Millett

My son began his first year at Booker School this fall. He was struggling before in both his classes and at home with confidence and academically. For the few months he has been attending the school myself and family friends have noticed a huge difference in him. He is more outgoing and has more of an interest in learning and everything around him. I am so thankful for the opportunity and can not wait to see where he goes from here.