Maple Leaf International School

Overview

Maple Leaf International School is in its 17th year in Trinidad. In the beginning, local residents wanted to start a Canadian school which would offer an alternative to local educational opportunities. From humble beginnings, the school has become a vibrant educational centre of excellence in which approximately 360 students and over 40 staff members create opportunities for success.

National Model

Our students range from the Junior Kindergarten level through to grade 12. From its inception, MLIS has followed the Ontario curriculum and we are inspected annually by the Ministry of Education of Ontario, Canada. Our school is very similar to those found in the Province of Ontario and our program is second to none.

Joy of Learning

We are first and foremost an academic community with an emphasis on developing the whole student. Pupils are expected to make learning their first priority in an environment which values differences, fosters respect and encourages the joy of learning. Our program and staff prepare students for success now and in the future.

Elementary Education

The elementary school includes grades JK - 8, and is divided into three divisions - Primary (JK - 3), Junior (4 - 6) and Intermediate (7 & 8). At the Kindergarten level the curriculum includes Personal and Social Development, Language, Mathematics, Science and Technology, Health and Physical Activity and the Arts (Music, Drama, Art).

The curriculum for Grades 1 - 8 includes Language Arts, Mathematics, Science and Technology, Social Studies/Geography & History, Physical Education and Dance, Health, The Arts (Music, Drama, Art), and Spanish as our foreign language from Grade 5.

Regional Culture

As 85% of our student body comprises local students, our elementary teachers incorporate aspects of the Trinidad and Tobago culture with the Ontario curriculum whenever possible.

Secondary Education

Our secondary curriculum includes four major fields of study: Language (English and Spanish); Arts (including Visual Art and Music); Self and Society (including Social Studies, Humanities, Physical and Health Education, and Business); and Science and Technology (Mathematics, Science, Computers, and Communications Technology).

Semester System

The secondary school is semestered which means that students study four subjects between September and January and four different subjects between February and June of one school year. Advantages of the semestered system include: in-depth study of material, the ability to re-do a course in a timely fashion, and it is more conducive to continuous entry.

Graduation

Our graduates receive the Ontario Secondary School Diploma and are accepted to tertiary institutions in Canada, The United States, The United Kingdom or wherever they may choose.

Arrival and Dismissal Times

Arrival - The first bell rings at 7:35 a.m. and students are expected to move to their classes. The second bell rings at 7:40 a.m. at which time students are exprected to be seated in their classrooms awaiting the daily announcements. All classes begin promptly at 7:45 a.m. following the announcements. Students are considered late for school if they are not present at 7:40 a.m.

Dismissal - Students are dismissed at intervals:

* JK - 3 at 1:45 p.m.
* Grades 4 - 12 at 2:00 p.m.