What Makes us Different

At UC we pride ourselves in providing a cutting edge, interactive curriculum and programme enhancements for our students. We understand that learning is never static. Thus our research and innovation team is continually working to ensure that the Montessori elementary programme provides growth opportunities to our students as per the 21st century learning environment. Some of our programme enhancements include:

Montessori elementary Program Enhancement
Montessori elementary Program Enhancement

UC was one of the first private schools in Canada to offer a one-to-one iPad programme for elementary students. Continuing our innovative momentum, in 2021 we launched our one-to-one device initiative with Chromebooks beginning in grade 4. This programme provides our students an interactive learning experience that supports our tradition in classroom learning.

Each year, UC students in grades 6-8 compete in a national mathematics challenge which requires them to use higher order thinking skills to excel. Despite over 285 participating schools, UC has ranked consistently amongst the top schools across Canada.

UC has procured access to Learning A-Z websites and resources. Spanning three key content areas — reading, writing, and science — Learning A-Z’s websites deliver leveled books, printable worksheets, projectable activities, and interactive online classroom resources. These are designed to meet the unique needs of every Pre-kindergarten to grade 6 student. Learning A-Z helps our teachers to differentiate their instruction with customized online learning solutions from Casa up to grade 6 students.

Reading A-Z.com is well-known for its vast library of printable and projectable readers with 27 levels of difficulty. There are also books in many genres and formats, fluency passages for timed reading, customizable worksheets, poetry, reader’s theater scripts, French resources, and dozens of other classroom tools. Our teachers are able to benchmark individual reading levels and create individualized solutions which include printable books, worksheets and lesson plans.

Raz-Kids.com is an award-winning resource which provides hundreds of interactive, leveled books spanning 27 levels of difficulty, covering a wide range of subjects. This student-centric site engages kids at their reading level and in their area of interest, while giving them 24/7 Web access to the practice they need to become better, more confident readers. At the same time, teachers can customize assignments, view reports, and track student progress every step of the way.

ScienceA-Z.com offers a wide range of leveled, downloadable materials and printable worksheets, activities and lesson plans for four key categories of science — Life, earth, physical, and process science. Blending literacy with dynamic science content, ScienceA-Z.com is designed to ensure every student can learn key science concepts while improving their reading skills.

UC was one of the first schools to introduce financial literacy into their curriculum. Grade 6 and 7 syllabi dedicate one of their mathematics units to financial literacy. Students learn about key financial concepts including budgeting, setting personal financial goals, savings, borrowing, the stock market and investing, banking, etc.

This is a self-paced, individualized, computer assisted reading programme. Students choose a book suiting their level and read it at their own pace. The students take a computerized, multiple-choice quiz that measures their comprehension of the book. Students and teachers are able to get immediate, individualized feedback.

Regular exercise is essential to children’s overall health and positive development. Students participate in formal Physical Education classes comprising a variety of intramural and competitive sports teams. Our competitive teams compete against other local schools. Under the guidance of our specialist teachers, Physical Education classes follow and exceed the Ontario Health and Physical Education Association curriculum. These classes provide more than just an opportunity to our students to be physically active. They also work on developing their self-esteem, learn about good sportsmanship, and develop positive exercise habits while having a great deal of fun! The Montessori Elementary programme also offers students many sports teams, such as basketball, volleyball, golf, swimming, soccer, cross country, floor hockey, and many more.