St. John's-Kilmarnock School
Description of St. John's-Kilmarnock School
- Year of foundation: 1972;
- Location: Breslau, Ontario, Canada;
- Students age: 6-18 years old;
- Number of students: 400 people;
- Language of instruction: English;
- Type of education: boarding school of mixed education.
St. John's-Kilmarnock is a leading independent school in and around Waterloo. The school is located on a beautiful, natural 36-acre campus and offers enriched educational programs for junior kindergarten through grade 12 students through an accredited International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum. SJK is proud to be the only IB World Continuum School accredited school in Southwest Ontario. Teachers guide students on a personalized learning path to ensure the development of diverse and confident citizens from around the world. This student-centered approach allows students to identify and develop their strengths. Students finish their studies with self-confident, versatile people, fully prepared for higher education and later life.
Programs and prices, tuition fees in St. John's-Kilmarnock School
Quick overview: Education in primary school is based on the IB Primary Years Program (PYP). International children show free will, actively participate in their own learning. Students acquire basic literacy, numeracy, and local and global issues. Applicants will find happy, curious, passionate students who care about others and the world around them.
Learning fueled by natural curiosity is hands-on and programming adapts to the student's educational path. Extensive experience is achieved through IB's integrated infrastructure.
International students will find different aspects of learning process:
- Collaborative learning;
- Experiential outdoor learning;
- Second language learning;
- Social dining;
- Art classes.
Starting in elementary kindergarten, students have the opportunity to learn French and Chinese with a native speaker teacher as part of the school week. In addition, the school offers Chinese as part of the extracurricular programs offered each semester.
Quick overview: At SJK, the IB Diploma Program (DP) is held in high school for international students in grades 11-12. The IB Diploma Program is a reliable, meaningful academic experience to continue your studies. Students have the opportunity to take part in a strong program designed to develop their interests.
The wide range of courses offered by SJK allows each student to create an individual program that best suits his interests, strengths, goals. With academic breadth, depth and rigor, the IB DP SJK program develops exploration, time management, problem solving, collaboration skills, learners ready for life outside SJK as confident, independent, globally minded learners.
The IB diploma program aims to develop students who have superior breadth, depth of knowledge, to flourish intellectually, emotionally, physically, ethically. Students reflect on the nature of knowledge, conduct independent research, and take on a project that often includes community service. Teaching is hands-on, student-guided, personalized according to the educational route. The extensive experience is achieved in part through the associated IB curriculum. Experiences Beyond the Classroom:
- Leadership Opportunities;
- Community Engagement;
- Service Delivery Initiatives.
Brief information: At SJK, the IB Middle Years Program (MYP) is held in high school for students in grades 7-10. MYP is an expansive student experience, a class without walls, where students are encouraged to use four main approaches to learning:
- Communication;
- Research;
- Thinking;
- Self-management.
It is a program in which students learn that “how to learn” is as important as “what you learn”.
MYP is a challenging program that motivates students to establish practical connections between their studies and the real world. Learning is demand-driven, hands-on, student-centered, tailored to their educational path. The breadth of experience is partly achieved through the associated IB curriculum, but this is only part of the story. Collaborative curricula, experiences outside the classroom, leadership opportunities, community engagement, and passion for the arts all add to the student experience.
An integral part of the MYP is programming associated with the design cycle. Students are encouraged to solve real-life problems by following the design business model. The cycle begins by identifying the problem. Using project management skills, students are encouraged to explore possible solutions, develop solution specifications, physically build or build a solution, and then test and “sell” their solution to colleagues.
Accommodation, meals, prices
SJK partners with the University of St. Jerome and the University of Waterloo to offer a boarding program of co-ed dormitory accommodation for 49 students and five full-time staff.
The city residence is within walking distance from restaurants, shops, libraries. Students receive advanced academic support, social interaction skills.
Activities St. John's-Kilmarnock School
Outdoor adventure is an important part of the elementary school experience. The campus has a traditional playground, natural play elements in harmony with the landscape. The woodlands and pond are used for experiential learning after school, and each spring, students expand their learning to outdoor activities when the entire campus is used.
The expanded art program empowers students to explore creative interests. SJK offers age-appropriate classes in visual arts, music, drama, dance in class, and a wide range of extra-curricular activities. The SJK Arts program allows students to gain an artistic experience from early education through high school.
SJK pays great attention to a healthy lifestyle: the school is focused on development, maintaining a balance that will improve the health and well-being of students. In addition to the physical benefits that result from being regularly active, exercising teaches students the importance of collaboration, time management, leadership, and the skills needed to work with others to achieve a common goal. Athletics helps students:
- Enrich their school experience;
- Develop a sense of belonging.
Advantages
- 100% of SJK graduates go to universities, half of them continue their studies in higher education programs focused on science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM).
- At SJK, people are known and valued in a community where all members have a say. Students, teachers and staff, parents, alumni, community partners all contribute to a vibrant and diverse learning environment. The school believes in the power of developing relationships, that students learn best when they engage in meaningful and healthy relationships between teachers and young people.
Facilities and equipment at St. John's-Kilmarnock School
St. John's-Kilmarnock students have access to four impeccably maintained outdoor play areas, a 15,000 square foot Athletics and Health Center with gym, exercise room, fully equipped fitness center, and four changing rooms with showers. There is something for everyone in both university teams and sports clubs.
The university operates an athletic therapy clinic on campus where students can access sports injury treatment.
Admission dates and extra charges
For detailed information about periods of the educational programs and tuition fees please contact to SMAPSE manager.
Entry requirements, how to apply, what is required to enrol
The school accepts and reviews applications on a regular basis starting September 15th. The first offers of admission usually arrive in mid-October, then SJK offers admission to qualified candidates on a first-come, first-served basis until all seats are filled.
Admission to SJK is competitive, so it is best to apply in advance. Once the completed application has been received, the candidate will be contacted by the admissions department.
What should be done:
- Create an account;
- Fill out an online application.;
- Fill in all required fields, sign, submit the form;
- Pay registration fee.
List of necessary documents:
- Copy of student passport;
- A copy of the student's report cards for the previous two academic years, any report cards for the current academic year.
International students can scan or photograph documents and email the attachment.
Submit sample letter according to the following instructions (roughly 500-700 words):
- Describe your educational history and goals.
- What are your strengths and weaknesses?
- What do you like?
- What do you hope to achieve at SJK and after graduation?
International students can use a dictionary, but it is better to write the essay by yourself, without any help.
- All applicants must take an online English test. This test will help understand what level of ESL support student will need.
- Schedule a 30 minute interview with Britt Licking, Director of Admissions, via Skype or Facetime.
Institution on the map
Residence permits, citizenship and other services
- Guardianship services during the studies
- Student supervision
Review about St. John's-Kilmarnock School
Recommendations on when to apply
| Language courses, schools and children's language camps | Primary and secondary education - private schools | Preparation programmes for entering universities - higher education | Higher education (after completing accredited programs A-level, IB, High School) - Bachelor, Master, MBA |
| - we recommend to apply 6-9 months before the start of the course (some camps and schools offer discounts for early booking or for lengthy study programs) - there are some very popular and high demand children's camps, where the applications need to be submitted 1 year in advance (in particular Switzerland , Great Britain , USA , Canada , Austria) | - we recommend to apply one year before the start of the training program, - some schools have a specific time frame (September-November - please specify an individual school) - some schools require tests in several stages (UKISET, internal tests of the school: English, mathematics, logics, subjects, interview, some require a personal visit) | - we recommend to apply one year before the start of the program, - for Foundation and Pathway programs, IELTS and TOEFL certificates are usually required, respectively | - recommended submission one year before the start of the program, - the deadline normally closes in January, for TOP HEIs and, as a rule, in March in other universities - for a bachelor, a Foundation or Pathway preparatory program a completed A-level, IB, High School + IELTS / TOEFL are required - for Masters you need a graduated higher education, in some cases you need a pre-Masters program - MBA requires completed higher education, work experience preferably at least 2-3 years, etc. |
