Sarah Phillips, Principal Eastgate Academy (Photo: submitted)
A private school that will offer the International Baccalaureate Program will open in September in Riverview.
Eastgate Academy will introduce the International Baccalaureate (IB) Program, beginning with the Middle Years Program, and then developing the Diploma Program. The IB is found in more than 5000 schools worldwide, and in almost every country.
“We are excited to provide a new educational community in Moncton, which offers parents a choice and students a chance at experiencing a different learning environment. Eastgate Academy is locally grounded and globally minded, and we hope it will serve our community for generations to come” says Dr. Magdalena Berger, President Eastgate Academy.
Eastgate will base its program on the British Columbia curriculum, an international approach to teaching and learning.
Principal Sarah Phillips says one obvious difference is the students will wear uniforms and the program itself is inquiry based and concept driven, “To the idea, it is a students centred learning experience that helps them develop understanding that is transferable from familiar situations, unfamiliar situations, transferable across disciplines so that students are able to apply what they’ve learned in a variety of contexts.”
It is also an admissions based private school, with an annual tuition.
In the first year, the Academy will operate for grades 5 and 6 students, and will expand from there.
“It is not necessarily about gaging academic readiness for students, although that is part of it, it is really about ensuring that the students and families who come to Eastgate Academy have understood what the mission statement is and are interested in that kind of schooling,” Phillips says.
The school will be located in a leased space in the old Gunningsville School on Karolie Drive in Riverview.
Phillips says there is room for 40 students in the program starting in September, but she expects they will have around 20.
Once the school is more established, Phillips says, their hope is to build a permanent location near Irishtown Nature park.
“Our goal is to create a nurturing and engaging environment that motivates students to push the boundaries of their intellectual, physical, social and emotional development. Students will explore their interests, develop a sense of purpose and build the confidence to pursue their goals,” Phillips says. “Attention will be given to supporting student learning, and to ensuring that attention is given to physical, emotional, and social growth, in addition to intellectual development[JM1]”
More information can be found on the Eastgate Academy webpage.
