General Archives

Once upon a time, before I became Ms Julie, the admissions and marketing officer at Touchstone Academy, I spent my working hours as an academic historian. My days were filled with thinking, writing and talking about the 17th and 18th century people who left their familiar European towns and villages behind, embarked on arduous journeys,…

“Flexible learning environments” has recently become a hot topic in New Brunswick. Dominic Cardy, Minister of Education, has proposed that instead of age-grade organization, young students should be combined into classes in more flexible ways, to better meet all academic needs and to balance behavioural challenges and learning needs in each group.  Busy parents are…

The first time I brought apricot muffins into the staff room to share, a few people found them surprising. I hadn’t realized that apricot was an unusual muffin ingredient – I’d been making them for years. The next time there was an occasion to bake, I was asked to make them again. I eventually shared…

The school report card, or “progress report” is such an old ritual of family life that it’s something we rarely take a moment to think about. Typically, the report arrives in our homes on a predictable schedule, presents a snapshot of what has been happening in the classroom and generates a flash of satisfaction, pride,…

Are your kids counting down yet? As the spring weeks slip by, the emerging green grass, warm sun, and bright blue sky prompt most children to start thinking about that happy moment in June when the final school bell will ring, ushering in that magical privilege of childhood: summer vacation. Summer is almost here! It’s…

In recent years, there has been a great deal of discussion about developing “grit” in youth. Grit, a non-cognitive trait identified by Angela Duckworth, is about persevering and achieving success even when faced with adversity and failure. In Paul Tough’s book, How Children Succeed: Grit, Curiosity and the Hidden Power of Character, he describes grit…