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How much does it cost?The cost is $850 per child per month (or $8500 per year) plus a one-time registration fee of $500 due upon acceptance. We receive no government funding for this program and are not bound by the government curriculum or attendance requirements.
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What ages do you serve?The Acton program serves children aged 4-18, however in our first year we will be accepting a limited number of learners aged 5-10.
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Do you offer a part-time programYes! We're able to offer a 3 day/week program for $650/month, as well as a 4 day/week option for $725/month.
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Where are you located?We're located at 71 Caledonia Avenue, in the heart of downtown Nanaimo. Nestled on the quiet end of the terminus of Caledonia Ave, this idyllic location boasts nearly one acre of green space, mature oak trees, and is bordered on two sides by a gentle section of the Millstone River.
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Will children be grouped into grades?We believe that children learn best when working with children younger and older than themselves rather than split up into groups based solely on age. In addition to individualized curriculum, all ages of students work together in groups.
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How do you use technology in the studio without having too much screen time?We believe in the power of balance. Using the incredible, self-paced eLearning tools now available, we are able to provide the rigor needed for learning math, vocabulary, spelling, and grammar in about 90 minutes each day, while freeing up the rest of the day for engaging, project-based learning. The two are highly complementary.
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Are you accredited?We are accredited by the International Association of Learner-Driven Schools (IALDS). While not accredited within B.C., our program works smoothly in conjunction with many accredited public or independent programs. We currently have several families that have enrolled their children with Acton and an accredited indenpendent program and we are happy to chat more with your family about this.
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How are you affiliated with Acton Academy?Acton Academy Nanaimo is part of the network of over 300 Acton Academies around the world. We follow the same exact Learning Design (curriculum) and learning model that Jeff and Laura Sandefer helped create at the original Acton Academy campus. As an Acton affiliate we have access to their comprehensive selection of learning resources and lesson plans. We also engage in regular meetings with other Acton Academies worldwide to learn from each other's experiences.
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Do you provide after school care?Yes, we're able to offer an after-school program (from 3:15pm - 5pm) for an additional $10/day.
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Is Acton Academy a religious program?We are open to Believers, Searchers and Non-Believers alike. We expose children to the importance of mindful spirituality and stress the historical importance of religion to the development of society, but we are not a religious program.
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Do you serve children with special needs?We are not trained to serve children with serious learning disabilities but have been able to serve young heroes with dyslexia if they receive special training and believe that many minor learning disabilities are commonly misdiagnosed.
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What is an "independent learner"?Someone who can research questions, follow instructions, solve problems—admit that they don't know something and figure out a solution when they hit a roadblock without asking an adult for help — participate in discussions, and strive for mastery.
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What does "Acton" mean (i.e. Who was Lord Acton?)?Lord John Emerich Edward Dahlberg Acton (1834-1902) was a Victorian scholar of Freedom who saw liberty not as a license, but as the freedom to do what was right. He was suspicious of power for the sake of power, which led to his most famous quote: "Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely." At the Acton Academy, we celebrate his defence of economic, political and religious freedom.
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What do you mean by a Hero's Journey?We believe that each of us has a special calling in life, and a series of trials and tests that must be faced with integrity and purpose, in order to live a satisfying and fulfilled life. Our mission is to prepare your child for his or her special journey.
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