Q: Why should we send our children to your school when we can send our kids to the public or separate schools for free? A: We believe that our school does an excellent job of helping Christian parents raise their children with a clear Biblical perspective. We want children to lean into life knowing that God has a claim on their lives. We help parents and the various churches equip students with a Christ-like sense of purpose and mission
(See Education Creed
for more information).
Q: When and on what basis was your school founded?
A: In 1963, Timothy Christian School (TCS) was founded by parents who felt the urgent need for positive, God-centred education for their children. The parents recognize that they are responsible for what their children learn at school, as this forms part of the overall training of their children, as referred to in Proverbs 22:6 and Deuteronomy 6:7. The basis of the Society
is the Word of God, the Bible, which is held to be the infallible revelation of God.
Q: What kind of curriculum materials do you use? A: Many of our textbooks and related materials are published by
Christian Schools International (CSI) and the
Ontario Alliance of Christian Schools (OACS). These materials present challenging information from a point of view that always points students towards Jesus Christ.
For detailed information on curriculum, please check the following links:
Junior and Senior Kindergarten
Grades 1, 2 and 3
Grades 4, 5 and 6
Grades 7 and 8
Q: How does the Bible fit into your programs? A: We seek to teach all of our subjects from a Biblical perspective. Some subjects allow for more of that than others but teachers make a continuous effort to make connections between concepts and Biblical applications in all subjects.
Q: Do you have French immersion? A: No, but we
do begin a solid program of French instruction in Kindergarten. The French
program is based on the Accelerative Integrated Method (AIM) of learning, which
teaches language with gestures, literature, music and dance. Children
learn how to speak and communicate first, followed by reading and writing.
The AIM program is being adopted by many Ontario school boards.
Q: Will my child be out of step with others if s/he enrolls for the first time in one of the junior or senior grades? A: Probably a little, depending on which school they had previously attended. Usually we find that new students need to work to catch up in a number of areas, but our staff is quite used to this and work patiently with such students.
Q: Is the school involved in any kind of skills testing? A: Yes. Every other year, we test all the students in grades 3-8 using the Canadian Tests of Basic Skills. This comprehensive testing, and the wealth of computer printouts that accompany it, provides the staff with a valuable tool to assess individual, class and full program progress.
Q: Is the tuition fee set on a per child basis? A: No, there
is one family rate. The tuition fee covers all of the
JK-8 school-age children in the family.
Q: How is the financial investment to send our children to your school
determined? A: Our school is financed primarily by parents paying tuition. We are an independent school, outside of the two public systems, so we receive no direct government funding. Tuition fees are determined at the spring membership meeting of the Society.
Q: Are there any incentives for new families to join TCS?
A: Yes, new families enrolled for the first time in a Christian School are
eligible to receive a 10% discount on their first year of tuition.
This 10% will be given back in the form of Shop & Support coupons that can be
selected by the new family to fit their specific personal spending needs.
Shop & Support spending dollars can include groceries, clothing or other gift
certificates.
Q: Are there any other forms of financial support
available? A: There is a bursary committee with limited funds in place to help families who truly desire a Christian education for their children but whose income doesn't allow for the complete payment of these tuition amounts.
Q: Are there any financial incentives available to
parents? A: Yes. Because TCS is a registered charity, a
portion of what parents pay for tuition is treated as a charitable donation.
The other portion, known as the Cost per Student, is not eligible for a tax
receipt. The difference between the amount paid and the Cost per Student
portion is the amount that can be claimed on your tax return as a charitable
donation.
Q: What are the rules and regulations regarding tuition
payments? A:
Tuition Policy 310
outlines our rules and regulations concerning tuition.
Q: What forms of transportation are available to get my
child(ren) to/from the school? A: Most families
drive their child(ren) and/or arrange car-pools with other TCS families.
A group of five families privately organized a vehicle route
covering the Inkerman/SouthMountain/Chesterville area. For more
information, please contact Art Pol at 613-989-3529.
Q: What happens in the case of DANGEROUS weather
conditions? A: There is no school when the busses of
the Upper Canada School Board are cancelled. Their most current
website link showing the transportation status is as follows:
http://www2.ucdsb.on.ca/transportation/viewcancelled.cfm.
Check particularly the St. Lawrence Region. Parents
are encouraged to listen to radio reports. In addition, our school
closing will be mentioned on CHRI (99.1 FM). Parents will not be called
if the Upper Canada school busses are not running. If you do not have
power at home, call the principal at home at 613-360-1867 or at school at
613-535-2687.
Q: Where do all your school families live? A: We
have a huge geographical base. We have families from Kemptville to Cornwall,
Iroquois to Chesterville sending their children.
Q: Is your school controlled by the Christian Reformed
Church? A: No, it isn't. A number of families attend Christian Reformed
Churches and this denomination has been in the forefront of Christian day
schooling in Canada for over 50 years. However, TCS has over ten different
denominations represented in our student body and that number is growing every
year.
Q: Who actually controls this school? A: We are
a society-controlled school. Parents are elected by the society membership to
serve terms on the board of directors. In addition, a number of
committees provide valuable information to the board on a regular basis.
Q: How long has this school been in Williamsburg?
A: Since 1963.
Q: How many other Christian schools are in Ontario?
A: About 75 schools, including ours, make up the Ontario Alliance of Christian
Schools, educating almost 13,000 students
Ontario Alliance of Christian Schools (OACS).
More questions?
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