Star Academy

It is with great excitement that we celebrate our 21st year of developing children into lifelong learners with our ‘Learn to Love to Learn™ philosophy at Star Academy. Star was founded by Belinda Bernardo in 1997, when she addressed the needs of the “whole child”, by setting Academic, Social, Emotional, Physical, and Global goals, which later became the school’s Pillars of Child Development.

With the encouragement of caring and devoted teachers, Star continues to provide an environment that equips students with transferable skills, growth mindsets and the confidence they need to take academic risks in a safe learning environment.

As an educator with 20 years of experience, and as a parent of two children who attend Star, I consider it my vocation to foster an environment where all children are enthusiastic, confident and engaged learners. Listening to my children recount the ‘Ah-ha’ moments of their day, the many occasions their teachers have helped them make meaningful connections, or having them point out the ‘everybody knows everybody’ nature of our small and tightknit school community reminds me of the very things that make Star Academy such a nurturing place to grow and learn. It is my sincere hope that you will choose to join the Star community and be able to discover this for your yourself.

Star Academy is a small private school with small class sizes, on average ranging from 10 to 14 students. Our teachers know every student and therefore challenge them as individuals both inside and outside the classroom. Our Pillars of Child Development guide our classroom teachers. They address the whole child and guide our philosophy of a rounded development for each student. The Academic Pillar guides the curriculum, the Social Pillar guides ‘social intelligence’, the Global Pillar looks outward into our community, the Emotional Pillar focuses on self-image and confidence, and the Physical Pillar develops a sense of physical wellness through daily Physical Education classes. Our alternative school year at Star sees an 11-month learning programme, enriching student’s lives and learning from September – July.

Star Academy opened in September 1998, founded by Belinda Bernardo. In 2017, when Belinda retired she was succeeded by Julie Benneyworth and Heather Rees, who have a combined experience of over 40 years in education. Mrs. Bernardo developed the school’s Five Pillars of Child Development, and they are the embodiment of our commitment to holistic education. Small class sizes, flexible learning programmes, project-based learning have always been, and remain at Star to ensure that all children develop to their full potential.

Decades of educational research have confirmed the need to develop children in a holistic manner. Academic achievement is vital, yet children truly flourish in an environment where social, emotional and physical development are considered essential.

Star Academy practices a multidimensional approach to child development. We address your child’s academic, social, emotional, physical and global needs. We also believe that children—even at the earliest age—should develop an awareness of the larger community. At Star Academy, students are given meaningful opportunities to apply their emerging talents to enrich the world around them.

Star Academy runs a mixed-age Kindergarten programme. Our programme is structured and includes daily French and Physical Education with specialty teachers. Art, Music, Drama, Technology, Field Trips and Outdoor Education all further enhance the experience of our Kindergarten students. We foster the love of learning in Kindergarten with thematic, project-based experiences that enrich the natural curiosity of children. Our school days include a balance of structured exploration time, academic time, and creative play time.

Star students in Grades 1-6 benefit from small class sizes of 10 to 14 students. Flexible programming to individualize and challenge each student are a key component of our academics. While following the Ministry of Educations guidelines, children are enriched and programmed at a level that provides them with an appropriate challenge to always perform their best. Learn to Love to Learn™ is the foundation of our programming, firmly believing that before children are open to learning, they must love the experience.

Daily Physical Education, daily French, and weekly Art, Drama, Music, Technology, and Outdoor Education enrich the experiences and facilitate the school’s philosophy. Developing our student’s independence and creativity, while guiding them with structured lessons and skills, create confident students who are willing to take to risks. With a focus on our Five Pillars, our teachers consider the Social, Emotional, Physical, Academic and Global components of a child’s development in their daily teaching and learning experiences.

Star Seniors are challenged in small classes while developing independence and organizational skills in preparation for high school. The low student-teacher ratio ensures that students are meeting their academic goals and taking responsibility for their learning. Leadership opportunities for the Senior students abound in a small school, and students are encouraged to initiate ideas for clubs and activities in our school. Our older students facilitate clubs and activities for younger students and also mentor them during house team activities. Our close-knit community develops confidence and encourages risk-taking for students in the classroom. Our students consistently demonstrate these skills in the classroom, developing as individuals in the middle school years.