Our Curriculum
School Curriculum
Enriched Math
Problem Solving
Logic
Enriched English
Enriched French
Enriched Russian
Social Studies
History
Geography
Science & Nature Studies
Health and Gym
Chess
Visual Arts
Music
Drama
Enriched Math
Roots Private School offers an enriched Math program. Our program was created to develop and expand students’ understanding of content through real-world applications, project-based learning, and student discussions. It consists of Math, Problem Solving, Logic, and Chess classes. Our curriculum is built to fit the instructional needs of students and fosters a positive environment to help build up their confidence and esteem in mathematics. We model multiple methods of solving problems so that students can find the method that best suits their needs. Those who demonstrate content mastery early on are enriched through additional challenges.
Our students build their knowledge and enhance their skills working with a variety of practice books, such as Math Smart, Primary Mathematics, Singapore Math etc. Every year they participate in Math contests and design their own Math projects.
Advanced Language
English Language & Literature
We offer an enriched English program. We prepare students to be lifelong readers and writers. Students learn reading and writing strategies that facilitate them to succeed in a literacy-driven world. Students master various forms of writing, including summaries, letters, short stories, and text-based analysis paragraphs. This gradually deepens students’ literary skills. An emphasis on vocabulary and composition skills and the development of critical reading and writing skills is a major goal of the course and is an on-going part of the program.
Students work on developing their communication skills by participating in discussions on a broad range of literature, both fictional and factual. Our students develop a great passion for reading and exploring one of the most compelling forms of human expression. We dive deep into the elements and genres of literature and conduct character analyses.
French Language & Literature
French and Francophone literature is a key area of focus at RPS, in keeping with our enriched Languages curriculum. The core of the program is language learning through the lens of French culture—literature, art, music, and architecture. From exposure to French poems and short stories in earlier grades to the more in-depth study of its culture and traditions in later years, including projects that necessitate advanced oral and written language skills, our goal is to set students up for success in Canada’s bilingual climate. By immersing students in the richness of French culture, we build and enhance speaking, reading, listening and comprehension, all the way from grades one through eight.
With the help of these factors, our students develop genuine comfort and dexterity with the French language. Our goal is for our students to emerge from their education truly bilingual (and in many cases, trilingual).
Russian Language & Literature
Students study the Russian Language as a part of the regular curriculum from Grades 1-8. Students not only learn grammar, speaking, and writing, but also Russian and World Literature, novels, poetry, and short stories written by or translated to Russian.
Russian is a mother language for many Roots students and knowing Russian makes it easier to communicate with family members for whom Russian is the first language.
RPS students are encouraged to learn Russian, among other languages, as it will help in their future endeavours to remove communication barriers, open new career horizons, encourage traveling, preserve family ties, and make new friends.
Multilingualism helps to achieve multiculturalism and embrace the world's differences, and raise understanding, acceptance, and respect on a global level.
Sciences
At Roots Private School, our science department is committed to fostering a profound comprehension of scientific principles and their real-world applications. Our classes seamlessly integrate comprehensive written materials with hands-on practical information. We are devoted to elevating students' skills through experiential learning, utilizing hands-on experiments and engaging projects that empower them to broaden their intellectual horizons. At Roots Private School, our aim is to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary for the future of scientific exploration. With exceptional projects and a highly effective curriculum, we are dedicated to nurturing the next generation of accomplished scientists.
One of the Science & Technology resources that we use is on the Trillium list for Grades 1-8 of all publishers in Ontario. The Trillium List contains the titles of textbooks approved by the Ministry of Education for use in Ontario schools and is widely used in some public and many private schools all over Ontario and for international private schools in various countries in the world.
Social Studies
Social studies deal with human behaviour, resources, and institutions. Therefore, the primary use of this subject is to help young people make informed and reasoned decisions for the public good as citizens of a culturally diverse, democratic society in an interdependent world. The subject tackles very specific knowledge regarding history, economy, sociology, political science and history, all aspects that humans are required to interact with since they are children. They are connected to the real world, understand their environment, and help them achieve their goals within that society.
Geography
Geography is extremely important in our world. Understanding our physical world is essential to achieving better outcomes for our environment, farming, and overall improvement of our living conditions. We rely on our environment for our crops, water, livestock, and power. Studying geography helps us make decisions regarding agriculture, residence, damns, available natural resources, and so many more aspects of our daily lives. Students begin learning about those features, learn to interact with them and use them from a very early age.
They are also able to identify places, follow directions in order to locate and pinpoint different areas in the world, name oceans and also land features. In addition, students study different natural habitats, specifically fauna, flora, and climate conditions. This corresponds with our Nature Studies program, which teaches students about protecting the environment and lets them explore the beauty of nature.
This program is conveyed throughout the first three grades and develops in a spiral progression. This means that many of the topics repeat throughout the three years, however, it expands further according to the grade and maturity of the students.
History
What we are today has been shaped in our past. Learning from that, history is extremely important so we can avoid making the same mistakes over and over. It also helps students understand why and how society works today as it was shaped in the very same past. It is not only about studying culture, politics, or habits in the past. The most important thing students can learn in class is to compare and contrast that past with today. Not only will they better understand who they are, but it also gives a clearer view of what could happen in the future. It can also help students better understand citizenship and patterns of behaviour.
World history focuses on ancient, medieval, and modern eras which give the student a great overview of very different civilizations which molded the history we are living today.
This course begins in Grade 4 and is built upon up until the very end of Grade 8.
From the training of fine motor skills to a developed sense of beauty and aesthetics, visual art is an important part of the general education program at Roots Private School.
Throughout the learning process, students are introduced to the basics of drawing, painting, composition, and sculpting. They study art history, artistic forms and genres, and get acquainted with famous paintings and sculptures.
A variety of art mediums are used in class: acrylic and watercolour paints, oil pastels, coloured pencils, clay, salt dough, coloured paper, wool, and more. In addition to gaining academic knowledge, students will get to practice other forms of creativity, such as: quilling, wool painting, decoupage, and salt dough modeling.
Arts
Visual Arts
Music
Music is a well-researched way to enhance skills far beyond the musical. The study of music has been implicated in the development of numerous qualities, from mathematical reasoning to empathy.
Our students study various musical genres, from classical to modern, develop their sense of rhythm with hands-on percussion practice, memorize and learn songs in English, French, and Russian, and learn about the structure of an orchestra. They become familiar with the compositions of renowned classical musicians and study the works of composers from different eras. They study music theory and the elements of musical expression: melody, rhythm, tempo, timbre, and dynamics.
Students have the opportunity to apply their skills by performing at our school events.
Drama
Drama at Roots Private School is more than a creative outlet for our students. It's an opportunity for students to develop their memory, self-confidence, sense of responsibility, ability to work as a member of a team, and to utilize the skills they've learned in their language studies (English, French, Russian).
Of course, it's also an important creative and literary exercise, since students have the freedom to transform into different characters, many from classic theatrical works. We believe that the focused work on voice and body that happens in drama class fortifies our students for healthy communication and social interactions in the rest of their lives.
Interested students also work on costume creation, and drama students prepare performances for our themed school celebrations, such as the Winter Concert and June show.
Chess
"Every Chess master was once a beginner."
Chess is a mental and cognitive sport that exercises students’ focus and improves their concentration. A child taking part in a game of chess forms critical thinking skills, logic and reasoning abilities, and improves their memory. Each lesson provides students with opportunities to practice interpersonal skills, such as good sportsmanship, patience, and respect for others. Repeated gameplay also works on students’ intrapersonal communication skills by establishing a confident inner monologue that contributes to positive self-esteem. At the end of the year, students participate in a Chess Tournament where younger students have the opportunity to play in a tournament against older students depending on their skill level.
Health and Physical Education
Becoming active, healthy, and socially responsible individuals enables us to increase personal productivity and satisfaction, boost morale, decrease anti-social behaviour, become more resilient, and better cope with stress throughout life. We prepare students to be both health literate and physically literate in an inclusive learning environment that is both physically and emotionally safe.
Much of our physical education program occurs at the community centre gymnasium, a three-minute walk from our school. In the case of inclement weather, we are amply equipped to teach light yoga and stretching in our building.
Students participate in skating in the winter and Track and Field in the spring.
Contests & Tournaments
Students have many opportunities to broaden their perspectives and showcase their talents in various subjects by participating in national and school-level contests and tournaments.
Some of our regular contests include the CEMC University of Waterloo Gauss contest, Canadian Math League, Beaver Computing Challenge, Speech Week, Short Story Contest, Poetry Contest, Spelling Bee, Science Fair, Chess Tournament, Wonders of Nature drawing contest, and others.