Despite these turbulent and uncertain times for all of us, we still remain committed to and focused on delivering continuous support to our students. To that end, we are very excited to share the news about the expanded partnership we have forged with the District School Board of Niagara. This more involved relationship with the organization that manages 99 elementary and secondary schools in the Niagara region is important for our goal to provide the students from the emerging markets with a quality education that empowers them with the knowledge and desire to chase their dreams.
Canada has one of the strongest records of student achievement, while Canada’s teenagers are among the best educated in the world. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) reviews and ranks education systems worldwide. In its most recent assessment, Canada was ranked 2nd in reading, 10th in maths and 7th in science, and has the 2nd highest rate of high school completion worldwide. As far as excellence in education, Canada currently ranks 3rd among 15 of its wealthiest peers.
Publicly-funded schools are managed at the local level by elected school boards. Our partner, the District School Board of Niagara (DSBN), employs about 3,000 teachers and more than 1,300 support staff. It operates 79 elementary schools and 20 secondary schools in the 12 municipalities of the Niagara Region.
The Regional Municipality of Niagara in Southern Ontario lies on the west side of the Niagara River, between Lakes Ontario and Erie. The Niagara Region provides a safe and peaceful living environment, high proportion of native-English-speaking students in schools, magnificent natural beauty including the famous Niagara Falls, many historical sites, and close proximity (one hour) to/from Toronto’s international airport and to the USA international border. Your child will benefit from this environment whether he/she attends for long-term academic study, high school exchange program, or for short-term cultural learning.
In Ontario, the public education system delivers a consistently high-quality education that is respected worldwide. The Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) is rated in the top 15% of high-school diplomas among developed countries around the world, according to the PISA results (OECD, 2014), and is widely recognized for admission to universities and colleges across Canada, the USA, and worldwide.
Secondary schooling in Ontario is comprised of Grades 9-12 (equivalent to grammar/high schools years 1-4) and student ages are typically 14–17/18 years. Courses are offered at different levels to suit the needs of students depending on their future plans, whether for university, college, or the world of work.
DSBN’s high schools offer programs that are internationally renowned for their excellence, are staffed with government-certified, highly dedicated teachers and have superb facilities.
Why should you enroll your child to study at the DSBN in Niagara, Canada?
- Top, yet affordable education.
- The high-school diploma gained in Ontario public schools is widely recognized at universities and colleges across Canada, the USA, and around the world.
- Classrooms have a high representation of native-English-speakers helping international students improve their English quickly.
- A comprehensive level of English-as-a-Second-Language support provided by the schools.
- Smaller, safe community that has good bus transportation services, up-to-date medical facilities, retail name-brand shopping centers, extensive outdoor recreation venues, and a variety of sports teams.
Each secondary school has a variety of curriculum and specialized facilities to provide courses at different levels in subject areas such as English, mathematics, the sciences (biology, chemistry, physics), technological studies, fine and performing arts, and physical and health education. In Grades 9 and 10, courses are offered at 2 levels (Academic and Applied) and in Grades 11 and 12, courses are offered at 5 levels (University, University-College, College, Open and Workplace) to prepare students for different post-secondary destinations: university, college, or the world of work.
English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) support services are offered at all secondary schools; however, there are four secondary schools that provide comprehensive ESL support services for international students – St. Catharines Collegiate (St. Catharines), Sir Winston Churchill Secondary School (St.Catharines), Westlane Secondary School (Niagara Falls), and Welland Centennial Secondary School (Welland). For students who are at the beginning to intermediate stages of learning English, we advise to attend one of these four schools. Please contact your PRODIREKT academic advisor for more information and guidance.
Welland Centennial Secondary School
Two years ago, we visited Welland Centennial Secondary School and talked to their students and teachers. It was a great experience! We were able to see the students in action and witness some of their classes. Take a look at the amazing creativity showcase of the Welland Centennial students and teachers:
Dance Showcase Video at Welland Centennial
If you are looking for a very friendly and healthy environment for your child that offers a top quality education which is also affordable, then we strongly recommend this school.
We invite you to contact us here to help you select the right school and show you how your child can live and study in one of the most scenic parts of the world that is home to the magnificent and famous Niagara Falls.
PRODIREKT is a leading academic consultancy and education group, specializing in satisfying the needs of students coming from emerging markets to study abroad. PRODIREKT’s academic consulting helps families and students find the most appropriate high school or university, confidently navigate the often complex application process, and in the end, gain admission to the desired schools/colleges.  PRODIREKT enables the individual and corporate clients achieve their objectives in international communication through the Verbalists Communication Network, dedicated to language studies and professional training.