OUR VOICE

OUR VOICE

STUDENT EXPERIENCE

"I am the mom who met you this morning in the library (during the October 2022 Open House). Just wanted to thank you for taking the time to speak with me. I have agonized over choosing a school for my children for about a year. I have visited almost every single one and asked countless people about their present and past experiences, where they send their kids, where they went, what they have heard, etc. I can honestly say that I was blown away by the school. The staff was really incredible, but the students were equally impressive. Their confidence and ease, and pride in the school was exceptional. Even though I went to a different (QAIS school) and drove by the Priory each day, I didn't realize what a hidden gem it is."

“Very small class sizes ensure that every student is well attended to and that the children are not only able to become friends with their classmates, but they are also able to learn the names and interact with students from all grades. Our very favourite inter-grade activity is the "reading buddy" program where students from a higher grade will help to teach and practice reading to kindergarten students. The children are encouraged to befriend their classmates and other students in the different grades.”

“Our son's experience at The Priory was outstanding from beginning to end. The Priory curriculum and culture provide a nurturing, inspiring and confidence-building environment. With each grade, from kindergarten to Grade 6, the teachers, principal, and the administrative staff at the school ensured that all of the students felt safe and empowered to learn not only their subjects but also the art of public speaking, music through the school's band program, how to present in front of a class as well as the entire school, the importance of teamwork since they have collaborative events that involve the older students working with the younger students, and the importance of sports. There is a lot to be impressed with at The Priory, but for our family, the fact that the students are constantly engaged and introduced to new aspects of science, technology, art, community work and more, and that they want to go to the school every day - was outstanding. It's hard to find a Priory student who wants to stay home from school!”

“My daughter loved The Priory. She flourished because she felt safe and loved by everyone, her teachers and friends. As she grew up, she learned to take care of the younger grades and loved to read to her Reading Buddy. She would always come home happy to share what she learned at school that day. She was well prepared for High School, and most importantly, she learned values that will stay with her forever.”

SCHOOL LEADERSHIP

“The Priory School's principal and administration excel at fairly and thoughtfully addressing any problems that may arise (and very few do) for the students at the school. No knee-jerk reactions here. When necessary, students are made to feel that they can safely and comfortably share their "versions" of any incidents and parents are consulted whenever necessary. Parents are always kept abreast of any troubling issues and are encouraged by the school to work with the principal and teachers to help students rectify any adverse situations. The school and its administration are greatly admired by the parent body for how judiciously it handles all student issues.”

TEACHING

“The best example of how "school life" is at The Priory is best illustrated by the students NOT wanting to go home at the end of the day. The majority of parents are having to beg their children to leave the grounds. The students want to stay in the after-school program so that they can remain with their friends and engage in all kinds of activities including completing their homework assignments. If you are seeking a school with an administration and faculty that focuses on grooming a student to be kind, confident, advanced scholastically, technologically savvy, excel socially, enjoy sports, be enriched by music, art and drama and be incredibly well prepared academically and socially for the high school years, The Priory is that school.”

COMMUNITY

“While at The Priory, the school did a great job of encouraging the students to be involved in different initiatives such as fundraising for charitable causes by holding bake sales, craft sales, etc. or joining the Student Council which helped impoverished families at Christmas by collecting for food baskets, etc. What is beautiful at The Priory is that if a parent, student or teacher has an idea to introduce an activity, initiative or outing, it is rare that the idea will not be thoroughly assessed and then implemented. The school's administration is most open to all kinds of creative ideas that will help the students, i.e. etiquette lessons, cooking lessons, a drama club with annual plays, history project competitions, "Shark Tank"-like competitions - there is something for every student.”

SCHOOL LIFE

“The Priory has exceptional teachers. We, along with other parents, were amazed at how every teacher worked extremely hard to learn what made each student tick. They would go to the trouble of making sure that in order for their students to absorb, be interested in and enjoy their subject matter, the students could use or integrate something that was of personal interest to them. It is hard to capture how incredibly caring, passionate and genuinely interested the teachers are in seeing each student succeed to the best of his or her ability. The Priory's teachers - and the principal - exude a passion for what they do daily.

“The child's innate curiosity needs to be guided in a way that keeps that curiosity alive to grow into a life-long intellectual curiosity. And this happens only in an atmosphere not of drudgery but of joy in the act of learning-experiencing what Bernard Lonergan has termed 'the pure desire to know'. This is the image I have always noted in the Priory's school agenda." ~J. Martin O'Hara, Former member of the Board of The Priory School, Retired Professor of Education, McGill University, and Vice-president (Academic) Thomas More Institute"

EXTRACURRICULARS

“The beauty of The Priory School is that it is really a Priory Community. Each and every parent is welcome to be involved in helping to enhance not only their child's experience at the school but other children's as well. Parents automatically become members of the PPA (the Priory Parents Association) once their child is enrolled. In addition to this, parental involvement is encouraged so that the school and parents can work in partnership to ensure a wonderful elementary school experience. Parental involvement is definitely welcomed at this school and your child's experience will be richer with your involvement.”

"The Priory has been a second home for my children, providing them in their formative years with a truly unique learning experience. Under the loving guidance of a dedicated staff, my children achieved academic excellence and developed intellectually, morally and socially. Countless generations of children, including myself, have passed through its doors on the way to leading successful and meaningful lives."

The Priory is a CAIS accredited school. What that means is that our school is part of a community of the best schools in Canada. Through the all-encompassing accreditation process, the Chair of the CAIS visiting committee reported that “The Priory School is a remarkable independent elementary school. It is a school that believes children should be allowed to be children, to play, sing, perform, discover and explore their world in a caring and nurturing environment.” In a crowded Montreal/Westmount independent school setting, The Priory holds a special place. It is a vibrant environment that nurtures deep connections through personal growth. The Priory community should be proud of their school.” ~David Thompson, Chair, CAIS Visiting Committee

SCHOOL LOCATION

“The school's location on The Boulevard behind the gates is one that is adored by parents and students alike. Students and teachers often walk to Mount Royal for different activities, field trips are easy because of the school's central location but the actual grounds are fantastic for school activities such as races, skating, soccer, ping pong games, fairs, and more. The security of closed gates and ample space on the grounds including the playground is not only greatly appreciated by the children but by parents and teachers as well. “