Headwaters Academy students benefit from an educational experience founded in

authentic problem solving, critical thinking, and constant contribution to the local,
national, and international community.



Beaver Valleys Educational Advantage



INFORMATION PACKAGE




2014-2015






beavervalleyschool@gmail.com
www.facebook.com/headwatersacademy





Headwaters Academy students benefit from an educational experience founded in
authentic problem solving, critical thinking, and constant contribution to the local,
national, and international community.

TABLE OF CONTENTS


1. Principals Letter
2. Founding Principles
3. Academic Program
4. Technology, Physical Education, and The Arts
5. Our Location
6. The Team









Headwaters Academy students benefit from an educational experience founded in
authentic problem solving, critical thinking, and constant contribution to the local,
national, and international community.

Dear Parents and Students:

It is my distinct pleasure to introduce you to Headwaters Academy.

When I contemplate the future for our children I quickly realize that todays
schooling, while adequate for my generation, may not meet the needs of
tomorrows leaders. The world our children will inherit will most assuredly
have complex problems where simple solutions based on yes/no answers
wont suffice. However, most schools prepare students only to find the
correct answer and dont provide problems intriguing or authentic enough
for further contemplation and thought. At Headwaters Academy we believe
that the strongest education our students can have is one founded in real-
world problems requiring the outside of the box thinking that is so valued
by todays employers and critical for tomorrows entrepreneurs.

Each day at Headwaters Academy begins with a personal greeting from the
school principal upon student arrival. Upon entering the classroom our
students immediately begin work upon a challenge inspired by student
interest or the community. For our youngest students it may be to find the
fastest toboggan design for use on our hills. Our middle students may be
engaged in studying the true impact of the wind farms planned and highly
opposed in many townships of Grey County by sorting through the rhetoric;
reading studies; contacting the Niagara Escarpment Commission, Hydro
One, and other experts. Our oldest students might be engaged in
independent study or preparing, with reference to food science, the weekly
lunch menu for the Academy (prepared in house). Regardless of the topic
of study a Headwaters Academy education is differentiated from the
traditional in that there is always reason, beyond its on the test, to study
and in turn gain the academic knowledge foundational to understanding
these issues.

Our master teachers provide each student with the best opportunity to meet
or exceed the expectations in the Ontario curriculum. A Headwaters
Academy day includes authentic problem solving and experiential learning,
the acquisition of integral skill, and daily physical education, French
instruction, and exceptional community supported music and arts
programs.

Headwaters Academy students benefit from an educational experience founded in
authentic problem solving, critical thinking, and constant contribution to the local,
national, and international community.


Our location at the top of the Beaver Valley Ski Club near Markdale,
Ontario, makes us ideally situated to engage our students in the types of
active learning that are the foundation of the Academy. The Beaver Valley
Ski Club is a leader in sustainability and our students actively engage with
the Club and local community in continuing the development and promotion
of sustainable practices. Modestly speaking our classroom is a
breathtaking location that provides opportunities unimaginable in the vast
majority of schools.

My career as an educator has allowed me the opportunity to see the
worlds finest schools and work alongside some of the worlds most
inspired (and inspiring) educators while maintaining a strong connection
with my Beaver Valley community. During my years working in schools a
simple truth has become evident this generation of children is
extraordinarily able, inspired, ready to learn, and can contribute to the
broader community - they just need the opportunity to do so. Headwaters
Academy will provide that opportunity.

We believe that the landscape of education must adapt to allow children to
try new things, do work that matters, fail on occasion, and be drivers in their
own education. For this reason we are founding Headwaters Academy. I
invite your further questions and discussion and hope that your children will
become members of Headwaters Academys opening class in September
2015.

Sincerely,


Mark Brown
Principal



Headwaters Academy students benefit from an educational experience founded in
authentic problem solving, critical thinking, and constant contribution to the local,
national, and international community.

Founding Principles

1) Education is a partnership

The difference between schooling and education is that education is
something that the student, teacher, family, and community create
together. School is something that is predefined and delivered to the
student. Headwaters Academy is, first and foremost, a learning
community.

2) Learning involves doing at least as much as it involves knowing
about

Students will be engaged in authentic learning and problem solving. There
is no such thing as too hard for our students. Learning will be, by and
large, embedded in the task at hand.

3) A sustainable future is our only future.

Our students will learn to be self-sufficient in a world that needs to be
green.







Headwaters Academy students benefit from an educational experience founded in
authentic problem solving, critical thinking, and constant contribution to the local,
national, and international community.

Academic Program



Headwaters Academy students meet or exceed the standards of the
Ontario curriculum. Our talented faculty, small class sizes, and multi-age
classrooms ensure that each student is ideally challenged for optimum
learning.

A Typical Day at Headwaters Academy

Though no day could be described as typical at Headwaters Academy you
will find all of the traditional academic disciplines here. The difference is
that our students experience these lessons through a rich tapestry of
experiential, entrepreneurial, and environmentally inspired learning. Our
students are motivated to come to learn each day and contribute to their
world.

Working from the innovative model put forth by the Green School of Bali
our school day has three main components:

The Inspirational Frame

Typically found in the morning the inspirational part of the school day
greets students with a challenge. The authenticity of the problem,
combined with our master teachers ability to weave it across the academic
disciplines ensures that our students are physically, spiritually,
intellectually, and emotionally engaged.



Headwaters Academy students benefit from an educational experience founded in
authentic problem solving, critical thinking, and constant contribution to the local,
national, and international community.

The Instructional Frame

The instructional frame is our opportunity to practice those academic skills
that require repetition, practice, and hard work. Our teachers use multi-
level teaching, individualized instruction, and collaborative problem solving
to maintain student engagement.

The Experiential Frame

During the experiential frame our students are fully immersed in their
learning. This part of the day may include field trips, working in the kitchen,
tending our bees, physical education, outdoor exploration, musical
immersion, and entrepreneurial endeavors.





Headwaters Academy includes a full suite of robotics equipment.






Headwaters Academy students benefit from an educational experience founded in
authentic problem solving, critical thinking, and constant contribution to the local,
national, and international community.

Technology, Physical Education, and the Arts





Headwaters Academy students benefit from:

Daily physical education taught by a physical education specialist.
An arts program that utilizes the strengths of our local community.
Students enjoy instrumental music, drama, and a visual arts program
anchored by expert local instructors.
A full robotics suite; 3D printing; video game programming and
design; instruction in coding; and woodworking shop opportunities.


One of Mr. Browns students working with Queens University
surgeon/technologists.

Headwaters Academy students benefit from an educational experience founded in
authentic problem solving, critical thinking, and constant contribution to the local,
national, and international community.


Our Location


Headwaters Academy is located at the top of the Beaver Valley Ski Club.

Our students benefit from:
A ski-in, ski-out location at one of Ontarios top ski resorts
Access to hundreds of acres of forest, rivers, and streams right at our
doorstep.
The opportunity to work in beekeeping, maple syrup production, food
preparation, and organic farming and gardening.
Access to the Bruce Trail and the Beaver Valley Nordic Clubs trail
system.
The opportunity to enjoy outdoor education as an integrated, integral,
and regular part of our academic program. Our students are
connected to nature.


Headwaters Academy students benefit from an educational experience founded in
authentic problem solving, critical thinking, and constant contribution to the local,
national, and international community.

Our Team

Our teachers are fully qualified members of the Ontario College of
Teachers. They are well-rounded individuals selected to our faculty for
their ability to inspire, engage, and educate our students in a manner that
ensures deep learning and skill development.



Principal Mark Brown with his students receiving a national award.

The Advisory Team

Headwaters Academy is supported by an advisory team that brings
diverse skills to the Academy to ensure its continued success and growth.

Richard Fletcher Teacher Georgian Bay Secondary School, Meaford

Catherine Smart - President Smart Move Leadership Coaching &
Project Management Clarksburg

Michael Medved Teacher & volunteer with Embracing the World,
Toronto.


Headwaters Academy students benefit from an educational experience founded in
authentic problem solving, critical thinking, and constant contribution to the local,
national, and international community.

Tuition Schedule 2015-2016


Annual Tuition (in one instalment): $15,300

Annual Tuition (three instalments): $5,275 per term

Sibling Discount: $500 per student

Early Commitment Discount (by November 30
th
, 2014): $500

Deposit (due upon acceptance): $2,000




Please contact us for admissions or with any questions.






beavervalleyschool@gmail.com
www.facebook.com/headwatersacademy