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Recent Projects

students singing

Playgrounds

SSA recently added a new playground, sports court, and mural to the Main Campus, and a new preschool playground to the Amiel Early Childhood Centre.
Our school yard has recently been enhanced with a play structure designed specifically for 3 to 5 year olds.
The new sports court features a basketball court, soccer, champ, and hopscotch areas, all designed with a special, non-slip surface. The mural showcases with pride the values of the Academy.

Music

A young girl with long brown hair is sitting at a keyboard, smiling and playing the instrument in what appears to be a classroom or music studio setting.
Learning the piano helps to build self-confidence, enhances complex reasoning, develops music appreciation, and focuses listening skills.
The image shows a smiling young person wearing a school uniform and holding signs that say %22Thank You!%22 in multiple languages.
We look forward to seeing our students in Grades 1, 3, and 5 express themselves and grow, through this musical outlet!

Robotics

Two young girls, one with glasses and the other without, are sitting at a desk and smiling at each other. The background includes a computer screen and various classroom items, suggesting this is taking place in an educational setting.

Students of all ages are benefitting from SMART Floor robotics kits! This major upgrade was made possible thanks to the generosity of donors to our annual giving campaign.

LED Lighting

A bright and colorful classroom with various desks, chairs, and storage units, along with a large window providing natural light.
Each year, our SSA families make a gift to the Building Fund to help improve our facilities. We are proud to announce that SSA upgraded all traditional lighting throughout the school to LEDs.
A brightly lit and colorful classroom with various desks, chairs, and educational materials arranged in a structured manner.
In addition to improved energy efficiency, cost savings, and the reduction of CO2 emissions, LEDs are much easier on the eyes than fluorescents. This investment will help our students and teachers perform better, improving focus and learning in class and around the Academy.

Active Learning Classrooms

Over the past two years, Solomon Schechter Academy has begun major renovations on our classrooms to provide flexible seating with a whole-child approach to learning. These Active Learning Classrooms offer our students three major benefits: movement, choice, and differentiation.

Flexible seating means that when students are learning, they have the freedom to find comfortable spaces around the room to work. It is a concept rooted in educational research that encourages students to choose their type of seating based on their learning preferences. Some students prefer to stand while learning, others prefer to sit, either on a chair, the floor, or on their knees. Many students need to move while working - just like many adults do. Our classroom “work spaces” look different from traditional rows of desks or tables. Instead, students are provided with a variety of seating options to choose from. 

One of the three pillars of Flexible seating is movement. It is a known fact that everyone needs to move, especially children. Flexible seating allows all students to do so, while learning and doing what is expected of them. Students can wobble, rock, bounce, lean, or stand, all which increases their mental and physical strength. By being able to move, students' minds are more alert and focused, which, in the end, has a direct correlation with their success.

When students can move around while learning, a more active, engaged, enthusiastic, and relaxed classroom environment is created. Studies have also shown that movement while learning allows for better academic performance and improved behaviour over time. It is clear that flexible seating helps to make learning fun!

The second pillar of flexible seating is choice. Anyone who understands the benefits of flexible seating knows that it empowers students. Our active learning classrooms provide students the opportunity to make choices within their environment. They also permit students the choice of where to work, and with whom. They provide opportunities to easily work individually, in pairs, in small groups, or as a whole class. Students may also choose to change their spots and positions when they need (with the teacher's discretion). All of these important decision-making moments provide students with good practice to help them learn how to make choices that are most beneficial for them. As Dr. Robert Marzono, a leading researcher in education, beautifully wrote in his blog: "Choice in the classroom has been linked to increases in student effort, task performance, and subsequent learning."

The third pillar of flexible seating is differentiation. Flexible seating in the classroom promotes differentiated learning in a variety of ways:

1- Allows for individualized learning: By providing students with a variety of seating options, they can choose the environment that best suits their needs. For example, some students may prefer to work independently in a quiet space, while others may thrive in collaborative groups. Flexible seating allows for this type of individualization.

2- Accommodates different learning styles: Students have unique learning styles (kinesthetic, visual, auditory, read/write), and flexible seating can accommodate them. Kinesthetic learners may prefer to sit on the floor in a scoop seat, or stand at a work table, while auditory learners may opt for a desk. By providing a variety of seating options, students can choose the one that is best suited for how they learn.

3- Increases engagement: When students are comfortable in their environment, they are more likely to be engaged and responsible for their learning. Flexible seating provides a comfortable, inviting, active learning space, which can lead to increased motivation to learn!

 

"Flexible seating gives me independence, and also allows my friends to take responsibility for their choice of seat."

"Flexible seating allows us each to learn the same lesson, but in different ways."

Sondra & Martin Schwartz Family Gymnasium

The new gymnasium is a bright and modern space for our students in Grades 1-6 to enjoy during physical education class, extra-curricular activities, and while playing on our sports teams. A mini rock-climbing wall, retractable basketball nets, and gymnastics and dance features are welcome additions.
Important upgrades include the new gym floor and ceiling, which feature new LED lighting and ventilation. New scoreboards and screens, school logo, as well as a place to display our winning banners help us share the pride of the SSA Bears sports teams!
The Assaraf Family Gallery provides a great view for students, parents, and guests watching our SSA Bears basketball and dodgeball teams take the court. This multi-purpose space also accommodates students working in small groups or doing homework.

Studio Parole d'élèves

The Ligue nationale d'improvisation (LNI) (or "National Improvisation League") is an improvisational comedy theatre company created in Montréal, whose rules imitate those of hockey, and whose "matches" are fought on a skating rink. As part of the French curriculum, students compete in teams through improvisation on various topics, styles, and lengths of time. The referee keeps the game in check and the audience awards points for each winning match.

Three individuals, two females and one male, are seated at a table in a recording studio or podcast setting, each using a laptop computer and surrounded by microphones and audio equipment.

The podcast zone allows students in Grades 5 and 6 to record their own podcasts in French. Students work in small groups to research, narrate, and converse on topics within the French curriculum, as well as to record, edit, and publish podcasts. A field trip to CBC-Radio Canada complements the program.

Kamishibaï (meaning "paper play" or "paper theatre") is a traditional Japanese storytelling art using illustrated cards displayed in a wooden stage, where a storyteller reveals a new image with each turn of the card to tell a story. Students write their own stories, create original artwork to accompany them, and then are challenged to share their work in front of an audience.

 

The custom illustration designed for the Studio by Brandon Harrar’s team at HRVST features a tribute to esteemed educator Chella Abadi, along with important elements in the life of a Solomon Schechter Academy student - developing leadership and critical thinking skills, a top-tier athletics program, and the heart of our school, a strong Jewish identity. Can you spot our mascot, Solly the Bear?

 

In the discussion and debate zone, students watch short videos that serve as a starting point for group discussions. Together, they share their ideas, exchange points of view, and reflect on different topics related to language, culture, or everyday life. This environment encourages personal expression, active listening, and the development of critical thinking.

The listening station is a comfortable space where students can settle in to listen to stories, songs, and various content in French. By discovering new words and expressions, they enrich their vocabulary while having fun. This space also promotes listening comprehension and the joy of learning through listening.