CAI FAMILY

After touring many schools in the Vaughan area, I found Delano Academy. There are small class sizes ensuring one-on-one attention from the teacher to my kids. I get a daily report on what they have learned and how they performed in school. Teachers are always reachable and responsive within minutes or hours of my messages.

Cai Family Review

All the extracurricular (PE, Music, Art) teachers at Delano are professionals invited to teach. There isn't a Math teacher teaching subjects like PE unlike some other schools might have. High-tech educational tools, such as iPads, computers, Littlebits, Sphero, etc are implemented in teaching. Delano is one of the 2 schools I have heard that has been conducting all-day live classes online during COVID19. My kids are with their teachers all day every weekday. Their classes are progressing just the same as in school. On top of classes, they also have live social events, such as science presentation, talent show, assemblies, recess, after school care, special event celebrations. I also see teachers posting notifications and materials at night all the time. This is the dedication you see in Delano Academy.

Teaching

The quality of the education is the reason why we came to Delano. Owned and managed by real educators who carries tens of years of experience in teaching. Delano academy is a very academic-focused school. The teachers closely observe each kid and tailor the curriculum to each student. Each kid is encouraged and challenged at the same time. Teacher-student-parent communication is very efficient and effective through many channels, such as daily reporting and messages on LMS, as well as e-mail, phone. The COVID situation gave me the opportunity to observe all the classes live. Teacher's knowledge and effectiveness of teaching is to be applauded. Also worth mentioning is the discipline in class, if the teachers can effectively capture the kid's attention during online live classes, there's no doubt during in-school classes they are far more productive.

Academics

I absolutely think that Delano Academy will successfully prepare my kids for their next step in life. They are constantly being encouraged and pushed to achieve higher. The academic culture in Delano is customized/tailored learning. The teachers observe the strength and weaknesses of each kid, so as to help them overcome obstacles, as well as extending their strength further. Teamwork is strongly encouraged. Throughout the year, there are numerous events and class assignments that involve teamwork and creative thinking. Kids are encouraged to think outside the box. The use of technology is also encouraged in a proper manner with the right amount of time under teachers' guidance and correct focus. With that, they understand how to use electronics properly as assistance to their academics.

Extracurriculars

All the extracurricular (PE, Music, Art) teachers at Delano are professionals invited to teach. We don't have a math teacher teaching PE like some other schools. Extracurricular is very important in kids' health and development. I have to say, this played a very important role in my decision. Perfect example, I play the piano, but I can't teach my kids how they study under a professional piano teacher. I can't tell you how many times I watch them in class and think "WOW! I never would have thought to put it this way". High-tech educational tools, such as iPads, computers, Littlebits, Sphero etc are provided. Their STEM learning involves serious teaching and learning, unlike other schools who might be using low-cost consumables and call it STEM as long as kids are making something.

Students

Delano is a fairly new and small sized school, which gives it a huge advantage in focusing on each student's development. There's a morning assembly every morning. It's led by students and the whole school gets together to discuss a major event or event of significance. Students learn from each other and are encouraged to speak. Students also "operate" school as a virtual financial institution with Delano dollar as the currency. They earn their Delano dollar through academic and social achievements, good mannerism, helping others, etc. They spend their dollar on virtual or physical items including auction, investment, virtual real estate, etc. Through this exercise, students are able to establish value in many aspects of life. They also have house teams, everyone takes part in earning house points for their house team. They help each other conquer obstacles through events and take pride in being a contributing member. Delano also hosts many student-led events and general events that students participate and act in key roles. Through working and helping each other in all these activities, they build a very strong bond with their fellow students.

School Life

My kids absolutely LOVE going to school. They love their teachers and administrative staff. If they lose a tooth at home, the first person they think of telling is their teacher. Sure enough, the teachers get an earful in the morning. I may even get a note from the teacher to let me know the significance of the event and the fun stories they get. Ever since we came to Delano, getting up in the morning is never hard. Kids always wake up excited about what they are going to do, what they want to tell their teacher, what they want to share with everyone, even though the day starts earlier because Delano starts at 8:15 instead of 9 am (like in our previous school). The day always ends with lots of accomplishments. Overall, I simply feel that my kids are very happy at Delano.

Community

Parents and grandparents are always welcome in school. The school staff recognizes everyone. Besides the almost-daily communication, we are constantly invited to school events such as father's day, mother's day, grandparent's day, talent show, Christmas party, breakfast, tea events, staking events, and of course graduation. These events are sincerely focused on communication with the parents, showing parents' the kid's achievements. The school gives parents lots of opportunities to participate, but at the same time, not giving pressure to the ones that can not make it due to work schedule. I have had experience in previous schools that trips are canceled because not enough parent volunteers to help to watch the kids. That had never happened in Delano.

MALAVAZI FAMILY

Our son has become much happier and full of life after he started at Delano. It was the best decision we made as parents. He loves going to school, enjoys the activities, the academics, the Teachers and gets along very well with his friends. He gets the support he needs and is always encouraged to think thru a situation, look at the whole picture, develop his skills and move forward. We find that the engagement level at Delano is something very unique. The Faculty and the students are all engaged in each other successes and will not give up until each student has achieved it. Given the fact that every student is different, this is a big challenge, for which everyone at Delano is up for.

MALAVAZI FAMILY Review

School Leadership

The leadership at Delano Academy is outstanding. The Head of the School along with the Faculty and Staff are always willing to answer questions and address concerns, support the parents and the students in any way or form. I feel we have an open communication with the School and this is extremely satisfactory as a parent. I know I can speak to them about anything. They foster a positive and engaging environment for the parents and students, at all times.

Teaching

I feel the Teachers are very engaged and committed to students' success. They are truly passionate about what they do, they are always happy and take the time to direct individual needs and concerns. Students are unique in their needs and ways of learning and expressing themselves. Teachers do make it their priority to ensure each and every student is working towards their success and full academic achievement. Communication with each and every student is done in several ways as it is their goal to ensure that the student has understood what is being asked of them and is able to deliver the expected results. Teacher at Delano go the extra mile for their students, they spend time with them, they work individually when needed and are always offering support and fostering this culture of progressing together.

Academics

I feel the Academics at Delano are very strong. As an IB School Candidate, the students truly have a very rich academic life. They are always encouraged to think and inquire, they are not simply given answers to questions, but rather encouraged and coached to think thru a problem or situation and come up with possible solutions, by using their skills and mentoring. A good portion of the curriculum is hand's on, very practical. Students are often working on several projects at a time and with that, they also develop and refine time management skills. Reading in both Official Languages is very much encouraged at the School and students regularly take books home from the Library to read and add on to their knowledge and expand their vocabulary.

Extracurriculars

The extracurricular activities opportunities at Delano are offered after school hours and tailored to the students, based on their needs and choices. Parents and Students are always encouraged to give suggestions to the School and keep an open communication. School provides options such as robotics, reading program, chess, athletics, etc. Students are always encouraged to do extra-curricular activities and are shown the importance of each one of them, for their personal success and also their groups.

Students

Our soon truly loves being at Delano, he looks forward to going to school every day. Smaller class sizes are excellent and give them an opportunity to learn more, get more questions in and also answered, work as a team and also independent when needed. Students are valued for who they are, their differences make them strong and successful. They all get along very well and are also friends outside the school. I've had the opportunity to watch them interact among themselves several times and it seems like they all complement each other, with their unique characteristics and skills. They realise that by working together they can achieve move and get better results. When one is not as strong in certain area, the rest of the group will support and encourage, so everyone is successful.

School Life

Our son loves going to Delano Academy and is looking forward to starting the school year, for many reasons. The quality of life the school fosters is very high and inclusive. There is absolutely no bullying and no disrespect to anyone. Students always feel welcomed and with a sense of belonging and easily begin to work together on projects and activities. They are always together and working on how to progress, to succeed as an individual and as a team. The school environment is respectful and peaceful. Part of the school life if heathy eating, therefore, each and every student is encouraged to always bring healthy snacks and most of all, healthy lunches. They often question what the other one is eating and are eager to identify healthy foods and good eating habits among themselves.

Community

Parents at Delano Academy feel like family. We get to know each other, we get involved with activities, volunteer in events and above all, we all support out students. Our son has always been in private school and I have never seen such a level of parent engagements like we have at Delano. Parents are always involved and willing to do more, to support the students and the school itself. It's a great feeling to know that we all care and it is our students who will beneficiate from all of this. Opportunities will always be available for Parents and families to get involved and this is always an open door at Delano. Parents know that they can share their ideas or concerns or dislikes with the Head of the School and they will always be taken seriously.

School Location

The location is excellent. School is located within a couple of minutes from a beautiful outdoor park, with lost of space for the students to do outdoor activities and interact with nature, while breathing fresh air. Parents drop off their children directly at the School's private entrance and there is never a doubt that the students are not safe.

Admissions

The admission process for us was a true pleasure and very informative. I was not expecting such a level of professionalism and commitment from a School, to ensure that our child would be a fit for the School and vice-versa. Mrs Palombo does take the time to go thru the School Portfolio and also answers during the process. Each part is explained in its entirety and this gives us, the parents, an opportunity to decide whether our child will be a good fir for that school and vice versa, or not. Also the school tour is very comprehensive and we get a true feeling of how the day-to-day activities are, how the school life it. There is absolute nothing I would change about their admissions process. It is very professional, detailed and welcoming!

BARTOLINI FAMILY

My kids love the one on one attention. They feel that their needs are met and understand the material easily. Whenever my kids aren't sure about a topic they feel very comfortable asking their teachers for help. The teachers have been accommodating and very attentive. This provides them the opportunity to overcome their timidness and gain confidence in their abilities.

BARTOLINI FAMILY Review

Student Experience

The material is presented in a way that is interesting and most importantly, applies to real world situations. For instance, my kids love their rewards system. Delano dollars are used to teach students the value of a dollar, responsibility, organization and reliability. They each are assigned a job each month, they are paid an imaginary income. Using this income they can use it to pay off the "mortgage" on their lockers. The kids love earning their Delano dollars so they can purchase prizes at the end of each month. I love it because it teaches them the value of a dollar and how to budget their money.

School Leadership

Very loving staff, they treat your child like their own. It is very evident from they moment you walk in the door that each child is loved and respected. Every student is taught the IB principles. I feel very comfortable when leaving my children in the morning as I know that their needs are being met. If there any concerns, both teachers and administration keep parents informed. Also, if you have concerns do not hesitate to speak to the staff. The leadership ensures that the staff meet the standards of the school.

Teaching

My children's teachers have been a great influence to my boys. They quickly respond to any concerns and follow through if they need to go over a topic. They make my children feel like they can always go for help. All children meet challenges at some point and I feel that the teachers welcome questions from their students. My children have always felt that they can ask their teachers questions about a challenging topic. The work is broken down into steps so that they can achieve sometimes what appears to be very difficult tasks. For instance, they build rubrics and checklists to tasks for speeches, their portfolios and Maker Faire projects. If the pace is too quick, each student's progress is individualized and students are challenged yet complete work at a manageable pace so it doesn't appear overwhelming.

Academics

I appreciate the IB program and never had really understood how the program worked. It encompasses the IB learner traits which simply means that all children work on and incorporate into their daily learning to be lifelong learners. They learn to be communicators, knowledgeable, inquirers, thinkers, principled with integrity, open minded, caring, reflective, balanced, risk takers. The culture of the IB learner profile is reviewed daily during morning assemblies and during the school day. My children came from the public system and I had noticed that over the course of just a few months they were speaking with more maturity and aware and owning their responsibilities at school. My children have excelled this year and I feel it has much to do with the close attention they receive in their small class of 14 and the IB program. It has made the world of difference coming from a class of 30 to a class of 14. The kids are enjoying their success.

Extracurriculars

They offer extra curriculars based on student interests. Because the school is small, the activities are geared towards the interests of what most kids would want to do. They weren't able to offer all the activities listed when we did an orientation before joining the school. This year they offered activities such as: soccer, basketball, coding, chess club, hockey/skating for instance. The extracurriculars are an additional cost. They run for approximately in 3 month increments.

Students

The kids and staff have developed a family type of environment. All the students get along and show each other respect (which are the qualities that the school emphasizes). There are many opportunities for children to work collaboratively and build community. Events such as Anti-Bullying Day, Mother's Day High Tea, Remembrance Day Assembly, Father's Day Activity Day, Holiday concert and the Year End Celebration have provided the kids of all ages to connect and appreciate one another. My children have forged new friendships this year - despite the small school size. The school is small but it is not to be underestimated because it's spirit is loud and big! A great leadership opportunity for my kids this year was working with younger students weekly to help them in their classes. They felt like valued contributors to the school community.

School Life

My kids are very happy and are getting an excellent education. My children love the school because of the attention they receive - their needs are met both academically, socially and emotionally. My children feel a great loyalty to their new friends and they love their teachers. There is no homework for students after school up until Grade 5 which has been incredibly important for our family. Our family has had more time to spend together in the evenings. During the day, the students work hard and they need to time to rest as well. Another aspect is the effective communication online with staff and students with their teachers. There is great emphasis on communication and collaboration using 21st century tools. My kids really enjoy working on their computers and especially their after school class, coding.

Community

Parent involvement is definitely encouraged and welcome. There is a parent advisory council. Parents can join the council at the beginning of the school year. Parents play an integral in many of the school events, including the Delano Academy Gala. The staff are courteous and have always welcome my comments or questions. The online learning platform for students is accessible to parents. Parents are able to view their children's assignments, marks, attendance and correspond with the staff/administration. There is an online forum for admin to communicate to parents and parents can communicate their ideas and share information with other parents as well. Administration provides a weekly newsletter with upcoming information about the school and dates Lastly, both parents and grandparents are always welcome to school events - Grandparents Day, Mother's Day, Father's Day and all other school events.

Admissions

I would recommend calling the school and scheduling an appointment for a tour. Ms. Palombo (Head of School) has always been gracious and welcomed myself and my husband for a meeting for whatever our concerns. She spent a lot of time with us and her one-on-one attention along with our kids enthusiasm for the school is what helped us decide to send our children to Delano. We just had a good feeling of Ms. Palombo, her passion for students and her school. The meeting was not stressful at all. Our children were given the opportunity to spend a day at the school to see how they liked the school. They spend the day in all the classes of their grade with a student leader to show them around and truly get the feel of being a student at Delano. After this day, your child will know if they want to be there and then it will be easy to sign up. Our kids were convinced and so so excited after that day. I'll never forget their excitement about them telling me about their day. Loved it.

SPROVIERI FAMILY

As one of the founding families, Ms. Sporvieri has two children that currently attend Delano Academy, in Grades 3 and 7. They both love school and think of their school community as a second family.

SPROVIERI FAMILY Review

Below you will find a review provided by Ms Sprovieri during an interview with OUR KIDS for a school review.

My boys have become very independent and I think Delano Academy has a lot to do with the fact that our kids spend 90% of their time at school. They're hardly ever home. They're always at school. I think that has a lot to do with the school itself, the teachers, and everybody that works there.

I think that you have exceeded my expectations right now. Delano Academy is awesome. I think you are great, and the kids love it, and you can see it. It makes a big difference.

I have to tell you that even when there's no school, my kids ask, ‘Can we go to school?’ That's how much they love Delano Academy. I thought after the pandemic, and after being online for classes, they would have been done. I thought they would have said, ‘Oh, my God,’ but you guys were so awesome with them that every morning they get up and run downstairs.

My kids were so excited that they went out and told everybody what an awesome school, what great teachers, what great friends they have. It's like they have a big family, and they love the work, even though they say it's challenging. That's what makes it so great, because they listen to their friends talk about their schools, and they say, ‘You don't know what you're missing at Delano.

Obviously, we want Delano Academy to grow much bigger, but my boys say what makes you so special, is that the connection that you have, and the size the school is right now is so unique to every individual. The school knows so much about every single child that comes there. They love that Delano Academy caters to everybody.

Whether they stay until Grade 8 or move on in Grade 12, basically Delano Academy is setting them up to what life is going to be when they leave through the learning and the teaching with technology and all the programs that you guys have to offer.

Whatever you guys are doing, I'm sure the kids are loving it, because they're happy no matter what. You really would think they would not be happy right now because of COVID, but they are.

Everyone’s so caring. They try to make everybody feel comfortable. Everybody's nervous on the first day of school, if you're new.

KIR FAMILY REVIEW

Delano Academy is a great school, for my boy... just the best.

We tried few schools in the past. Delano really know what they are doing!

My boy changed in just one month! There are too many good things to mention - good program, kind teaches, great spirit, easy drop off-pick up procedure,
professional approach when dealing with kid's needs and attitude,
special attention to things never mentioned in other schools.

Great uniform, makes kids feel proud and disciplined and very durable in
quality.

The whole approach is more advanced compared to other schools.

Thank you so much for doing such a great job for our kids!