Mary Ward Catholic Secondary School

Mary Ward Catholic Secondary School was quite a highlight for my high school years.The teachers themselves are really nice, able to help the students with whatever subject they teach. This is especially noteworthy for most electives, as that is where I get my best memories from.The school can be quite overwhelming with three floors, but after a few days, you'll remember this place like the back of your hand thanks to the help of some hall monitors.The administration team was also kind, having an expression that makes you feel welcome should you ever get on their good side and follow the rules like any other teacher.The biggest downside comes into their self directed learning system. Having the ability to plan out your schedule is great, but the risk of slacking off and trying to not focus on your schedule can really be tempting and can force bad habits should you ever fall into this temptation.The self directed system boasts on how it helps you prepare for university, but not in a way you think it would. While yes, it can help with managing your scheduling skills, but what this system does help with is that it can improve social interaction and diminish the fear of interacting with others. It insists that you go out of your way to talk with your teacher and peers if you want to aim for a good grade, which is a key factor in universities, and has definitely helped me in the long run.Mary Ward is a good secondary school and I highly recommend it for anyone contemplating whether they should enroll here or not.Also should you ever enroll into the school, treat yourself to one of their cookies. They are really good.

The school does have a lot of enjoyable content, such as the clubs and the ability to choose which classes to go to for a period. However, if you don't have good time management or you have poor attention to your work, you may have a hard time here. Also, a lot of the students at this school, while being fun, can be quite disrespectful and immature a lot of the time. The teachers on the other hand are extremely nice, and really care about whether you pass or not.

This school provides you with best experiences of learning, since one is not confined by the pace of one’s class". It really depends on what kind of person you are

Overall a great school. The teachers are nice and so are the students. The learning program may not be for everyone but it is very good of you get used to it. Only wish that the school would have more connection between its students. Other than that I enjoy it a lot here.

This school is exemplary. If you want a 'private school' experience without the price, look no further. The full title of the school is: Mary Ward Catholic Secondary School - Centre for Self-Directed Learning. The system puts the onus back on the student to achieve their academic goals making success at the school nearly entirely up to the pupil. Teachers, staff, and counsellors are available to guide and prod in the right direction, as well as give support and answer questions, but the system of self-direction develops a child's sense of responsibility towards their own education. There is no 'hand-holding'. The full four years prepares students completely for the 'seemingly free' environment of a university/college system.Traditional schools have a 'Day 1, Day 2' scheduling. This is the case at Mary Ward for the first 2 weeks of school at maximum. After this period, they have 'Day 0' every day. This means students decide what they will do all day every day for the remainder of the school year. Students are given an agenda book in which they schedule their own days and make note of due dates using their class syllabus. The teachers have floor times for their availability to answer questions, and students can schedule their own time to visit that department to see their teacher accordingly. Seminars are also scheduled throughout the year in each course by teachers as needed/required. For example, an English teacher might schedule a seminar for the readings of Shakespeare to ensure all students are understanding the material.Class work is divided into Units. There are up to 18 units per course. Each unit contains instructions for work that is to be done for the completion of that unit. The agenda contains target dates for when each unit number should be completed in all courses. The spacing is approximately 1 unit in every 2.5 to 3 weeks. This helps students remain mindful of the target dates for success.Each morning, students have home room through a T.A. (Teacher Advisor) system. This is apprx 15 mins with a small group of pupils of every grade who are something of a small family at school. You receive school annoucements and any messages from your own teachers at this time. Pupils meet several times over the course of the year with their T.A. to catch up on academic progress and set goals to be achieved before the next 1:1. These meetings help keep students accountable for the bar they set for themselves in each meeting, and help them see their own academic progress. Encouragement from their T.A. helps motivate them toward success.This school is detrimental to any pupil who might view the system as simply free; hall-walking the entire day away without achieving any work (remember, this is self-directed!) will result in failure and an absolute mess of their academic career. Hall monitors encourage students into classrooms, and there are 'no-movement' periods where switching from one class to another isn't allowed (usually period 3, and periods 4 and 5). All this to help and encourage students to focus.In truth, many students aren't disciplined enough for a self-directed system; they fail their first year and transfer to another school to start 9th grade over again. However, there are many examples of success for those with the right mindset, including several students who have graduated with honours within 3 years rather than the traditional 4.As we who have graduated say, 'You work at your own pace, just make sure it's all done by June!'

dawggg im in gr 10 rn and moving bcz im failing half my courses & most ppl in my grade that i know r failing AT LEAST 1-2 classes. im too lazy for this school but i feel like most ppl now a days are.

Ward is a good school. Students can explore and have freedom in what they want to invest in - and some teachers are flexible to students' ideas and opinions. Managing time, school work, and extra curriculars is difficult - but cubicity is key. The work load is a lot and takes a lot of time away from u - but it helps u learn to work hard. Also, math in the self directed system is not good - it's better when it is taught for most students. And students are really nice btw

I think Mary Ward is a great school. I've only been there for two years but the experience was great. Their Self Directed System definitely has its pros and cons. In a nutshell, allows students to work at their own pace, giving them control over when they complete assignments and tests, with TA's (Teacher Advisors) watching over you as you progress. It has the benefits of giving you more control over your time and schedule, but that's quite a responsibility and from my experience your bound to procrastinate quite a bit. Also, if you do fall behind, it can be hard to catch back up. The community, for the most part, is pretty chill, and the staff are generally supportive and flexible. The Guidance Counsellors are especially noteworthy and make things like changing courses simple. There are a good amount of clubs, and I'm sure at least one will be of interest. Overall a great school, and if you ever enroll please try the cookies they're fantastic.Also if your Guidance Counsellor (or even better, your TA) is Mr. Wong just know your in good hands cause he a real one.