About SMYS
SMYS Mission
Our mission is that SMYS students will develop self-respect, value learning, and cultivate an understanding of others through a school experience which fosters high expectations for academic, social, and emotional development in a global community.
School Community
At SMYS, parents, staff, students and alumni form a close-knit community through events, traditions and our common mission. Among the most important lessons students learn at SMYS is what it means to be part of a community. We start with the community of each classroom then expand out to our school, and finally, reaching into our neighborhood, city, and world.
Class Size
Stratford Middle Years follows a cross-curricular approach using a small class format with an exceptional student-to-teacher ratio never exceeding an average of 12 to 1. The individual attention that each student receives makes a huge difference in allowing our students to reach their full potential. By keeping our total enrollment low and having the freedom to focus on each student's abilities, we are able to nurture and coach personalized learning strategies, and do so in a supportive engaging atmosphere with a unique community spirit.
Safe Environment
Our school is a place of friendship and esteem, where students feel safe from bullying and negative peer pressure. Our students have daily interaction between different age groups and work closely together on academic projects and artistic initiatives. Our learning environment is caring and enriching as are the relationships between the students themselves. Our school is a welcoming and safe place with a beautiful huge grassy yard and lots of space to run and play.
French Program
Compared with other school systems, we have more daily instruction in French with bilingual teachers - including the AIM program and French drama. Unlike traditional French immersion, our math, sciences and other core subjects are taught in English, which allows for full comprehension and accelerated learning.
Drama Program
Nothing builds the confidence of children and youth more quickly than direct involvement in the performing arts. Our productions, at least two plays or musicals a year, are always sold-out performances and conclude with standing ovations. It is wonderful to witness our students working together as a close-knit team to successfully perform a challenging feature-length production. We see an important part of our vocation as developing the innovation and creativity within each of our students.
Students
We feel privileged to know each and every student and we are proud to have them as part of our school family. Their academic, athletic and artistic talents are quite simply amazing. Their respectful, positive attitude is evident, whether at school or during our 3-day ski trip, 3-day summer camp, trips to Toronto or visits to the Stratford Festival Theatre. Watching their inquisitive natures, compassion and social awareness blossom is a constant reminder to us of why we love what we do: providing our students with the best of all worlds and helping them build their future.
