Mennonite Brethren Collegiate Institute (MBCI) is a Christ-centered middle and secondary school that offers extensive programs across multiple areas.

One is their athletic programs, such as basketball and volleyball, where 25% of their students are involved. In fact, we are impressed that their men’s and women’s volleyball teams have won provincial championships.

We are also fascinated by their STUDIO program, featuring a three-credit course engaging students in a creative, interdisciplinary learning environment. This includes photography, graphic design, journalism, software and more — exploring niche interests.

However, it’s a shame that they don’t accept kindergarten to grade four students, which means students can’t start their primary education with MBCI.

We are also a bit iffy about reports of some teachers using religion in everything, making some students uncomfortable and confused.

Regardless, from our survey, most students and parents are happy with the teachers because of their caring nature and their hands-on approach to ensuring the students learn and develop well.

Another thing we appreciate is their bursary programs and transportation services. We like how MBCI prioritizes the accessibility of their education to more students, both in financial and transportation means.

Lastly, should you consider MBCI, you can visit their website and easily fill out an online application for a convenient admission process.

To build up and develop your children’s skills, intelligence, and values, Casa Montessori & Orff School Inc is one of the best schools to help you.

They primarily focus on the formative years of a student offering an enriched learning environment that has, at its core, an appreciation for the importance of cultural and creative activities. 

We also like that they promote multi-aged classroom settings where younger children are stimulated by what the older children are doing and absorb a great deal from observing them. Likewise, older students can share what they know and become role models.

On the downside, it only offers up to elementary education, with little influence on a student’s chances to have many university prospects. Give or take, the foundation a student can develop in Casa Montessori will be carried out throughout the years.

It’s also worth noting that they have excellent learning and extra-curricular facilities, such as music classrooms and instruments, and natural outdoor classrooms and playgrounds.

In addition, they have defined classroom areas that include practical life, sensorial, math, language, cultural geography, botany, zoology and art, which we believe accommodates a student’s imagination and learning curve effectively.

Although there’s always a price to pay for these types of facilities. We noticed that Casa is slightly pricier than other schools, considering their grade levels.

Nonetheless, we believe Casa Montessori & Orff School Inc is the go-to school for an enriched and holistic experience for a student’s formative years.

What stood out the most to us about Balmoral Hall School is that it’s a private all-girls day/boarding school established in 1991.

We like that whether the student is an artist, athlete, budding scientist or future lawyer, they take the time to engage and encourage growth. 

Notably, their boarding experience promotes self-discipline and unlimited learning, like participation in school activities and organizing special events. 

As for their academic curriculum, we are impressed by the quality of their STEAM program, which emphasizes science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics. 

That said, we are pleased that their teaching prepares students for post-secondary interests. Plus, we saw the successful results of their accelerated programs from their alumni.

Unfortunately, Balmoral is not co-ed, so if you plan to enroll all your kids together — boys and girls — you’d have to decide whether to go to different or separate schools.

And just a heads up, their tuition fees are relatively higher, especially for those who wish to have a boarding life. So, we encourage parents and guardians to read the contract regarding the fees well since we noticed most have misunderstood it and were blindsided by the expenses.

Regardless, Balmoral Hall School has an excellent culture that builds and develops the student’s confidence and leadership.

St. John’s-Ravenscourt School (SJR) is a co-ed boarding school open for kindergarten to grade 12 students.

We are in awe of their 23-acre campus with some of the best facilities of any independent school in Canada. And you can explore and see more of what they can offer by registering for an open house or a school tour.

Our top picks facility-wise include their robotics and drama room, lunch hall, student lounge, fitness centre and ice hockey rink. These are just a couple of the many facilities they provide!

It’s also a plus in our books that they have separate male and female residences with excellent amenities.

However, we think they need to improve student monitoring during and after class hours since we noted some reports of school drama and the like.

We are also bummed that SJR does not offer full scholarships for their students. But, you can still opt for their other tuition aids and scholarships, which can reach up to a 50% grant.

Another thing we are impressed by is that 100% of their graduates attend university, and 97% are offered their 1st choice.

Lastly, we love that SJR doesn’t fall behind co-curricular activities, athletics programs, and even world-class debating programs — it’s a holistic experience.

St. Boniface Diocesan High School is a co-educational English high school serving students from grades 9 to 12. With high academic standards, their students are well-prepared and successful in post-secondary studies. 

On that note, we are impressed to know that 90% of graduates pursue post-secondary education. It’s also neat that students can take courses to earn university credits in partnership with the University of Winnipeg and/or the University of Manitoba while still in high school. 

But note that this is an additional fee on top of the regular tuition, so expect a slightly lower course fee than actual university rates.

What we like about most of what they offer is their apprenticeship program, allowing students to start apprenticeship training while still in high school. For us, this program further develops their skills and exposes students to the real world early on — students also get paid, too!

It’s also worth mentioning that they have excellent business and technology programs in place, from accounting and entrepreneurship to animation and computer science. In addition, 16% of graduates receive Business and Computer Technology Certificates.

Lastly, we’re glad that St. Boniface Diocesan High School offers financial aid and scholarships to make their school more accessible for students.