For many parents, close proximity to a great school is high on their list of priorities. Sound like you?

As a homebuilder and land developer, it is important to Activa that we consider the ‘home beyond the home’. We carefully design our communities to be located around amenities that help the neighbourhood thrive, such as building around proposed school sites so that our families can enjoy the benefits of the innovative schools in our region.

Check out a few of the elementary schools making waves within our communities:

RIVERWOOD

In our prestigious Riverwood community, all public and catholic schools are less than a 12-minute walk or drive away. Lackner Woods Public School (K-6), St John Paul II Catholic School (K-8) and Chicopee Hills Public School (7-8, which just opened in 2017) are all located within a three to ten-minute walk of our new homes. Grand River Collegiate Institute and St. Mary’s Catholic Secondary School are slightly further out, with a 5 to 12-minute drive.

RIVER RIDGE

Our River Ridge community is in close proximity to schools for children of all ages, from kindergarten up to high school. Lexington Public School (K-8) and St. Matthew Catholic Elementary School (K-8) are both a 20-minute walk and a 3-minute drive from the River Ridge community. For high school-aged children, there’s a choice of attending Bluevale Collegiate Institute or St. David’s Catholic Secondary School.

HURON VILLAGE & THE 124

Huron Village and The 124 communities offer great schools nearby to make morning walks and drop offs easy! Janet Metcalfe Public School (7-8) takes modern approaches to learning environments for their students. The school recognizes that students learn in different ways, so it has implemented standing desks, collaborative tables, individual work spaces, and a comfy corner in every room to complement individual learning styles. Janet Metcalfe P.S. is a short 10-15-minute walk from our homeowners on Seabrook Drive and Woodbine Avenue. Plus, Jean Steckle Public School (K-6) can be found just minutes away from our 124 community. For older kids, Huron Heights Secondary School is just a short ways away.

 

DOON SOUTH

Our Doon South community is home to the new Groh Public School (GPS), a JK-8 public school that is committed to “taking a more creative and open approach to student learning and achievement.” Their goal is to cater to the different learning style and abilities of their students. For example, a typical classroom at GPS includes puzzle tables instead of desks to make it easy for students to learn in teams or individually. Additionally, GPS is designed with several “maker space” areas throughout the school, allowing students to participate in projects such as programming, woodworking or crafts.

Just down the road, our newest community, Ormston at Doon South, is home to a proposed future school site. We’re excited to watch as this planning process starts to unfold!

REFLECTIONS

One of our soon-to-be-built condominiums, Reflections at Laurelwood is located just steps away from three notable schools: Abraham Erb Public SchoolSt. Nicholas Catholic School, and Sir John A. Macdonald Secondary School, which made the news last year for hosting the National Student Leadership Conference while their students took part in a three-day innovative e-learning program at-home.

VISTA HILLS

In our Vista Hills community, kids also have a new school to attend – Vista Hills Public School which opened back in September 2016. Vista Hills P.S. was originally developed to capture the “high tech feel of Waterloo Region” and has taken a 21st century approach to character and community development. In the last two years, they have fundraised for a nature-based play space outside of the school, partnered with a local social start-up to help the students foster happiness and productivity, and have been designated an Ashoka Canada change maker school, promoting empathy as a foundation for learning.

ALSO IN THE REGION

We’re extremely proud that all of our communities, not just those mentioned above, have excellent elementary schools in close proximity. In addition, there are many innovative and highly-rated secondary schools in the Region that are preparing students for whatever their future may hold.

The Waterloo Region is also the proud home of three renowned post-secondary schools attended by a diverse group of students from around the globe – Conestoga College, Wilfrid Laurier University and the University of Waterloo. Stay tuned for a future post on these three community staples.

If you’re a parent considering a move to Waterloo Region, or a local family looking to lay down roots in an Activa community, you’ll find there’s no shortage of excellent opportunities for your children nearby! We’re certainly proud of the fantastic schools in our Region and the work they do to enrich students’ lives.

Want more information?

Check out the websites below: