STAGE 1: THE ONLINE APPLICATION        

Part A is basic contact information for the potential mentee and parents/guardians.   

Part B is to be completed by the mentee candidate and should reflect the candidate’s own ideas.  Parents/guardians can help the candidate by clarifying questions, discussing responses to aid in developing of their thoughts, and if needed, by acting as a scribe to write or type the responses of the candidate given orally. The open format application form may also be used. Part C is to be completed by the parents/guardians of the mentee candidate. 

Part D is the references section, where two people outside of the mentee candidate’s friends and family speak to the candidate’s academic interests, abilities, and fit for the school.

The purpose of parts B and C are twofold.  First, the questions act as prompts for the candidate and their family to reflect on their values and experiences with school and to consider why they are looking at Alpha II as a school to attend.  Second, the responses give the mentors at Alpha II an understanding of what is important to the candidate and the candidate’s family with regards to schooling and education.  This helps us to understand the ways your past experiences with education shape your hopes and expectations.

Mentors will review your application and selected mentees will be invited for an interview.  If it is felt that we need additional information or clarification of responses on your application, we may contact you. Either way, we will let you know our decision to interview via email. If we do not offer you an interview and you would like to have more information or suggestions for other schools, please feel free to contact us back, as our aim is to ensure that everyone finds a school that they are happy with.

You can submit your application using any one of the following options: 

1. Complete the Online Google Version of the Form

2. Drop it off in person - the ALPHA II office is on the third floor of Central Tech 

3. Scan and send it to us here, or to the mentor you are already in contact with.

If you have any questions while completing the application, you can reach us at ALPHAIIAlternativeSchool@tdsb.on.ca.

STAGE 2: THE INTERVIEW              

If, from the application, it seems that Alpha II might be a good fit, we will schedule an interview with the mentee candidate and their parent(s)/guardian(s).  The purpose of the interview is to have a conversation about what the mentee candidate and their family are looking for and to explain how we work and what we can offer.  During the interview we will ask questions that help us to know you better and you will be able to ask questions to better understand how Alpha II works (and whether or not the school will be a good fit for you).  

After the interview we will contact you via email.  If you are still interested, and the mentors and administration decide to proceed, you will be offered a 5-day trial period.

STAGE 3: THE TRIAL PERIOD  

During the trial period, the mentee candidate will attend Alpha II so they can see first-hand what learning at the school looks like. The Alpha II environment is very different from a regular school and can be confusing and challenging to understand.  We want to make sure you feel welcomed, at ease, and able to get into the flow of things as quickly as possible.

During the trial period, you will be assigned a mentee ambassador who will welcome you into the community, introduce you to other mentees, and support you in finding your way around.  You are able and expected to participate fully in everything, just like any other Alpha II mentee.

Daily check-ins with the mentee also help everyone through the trial week, and clarify how things are going, what you have noticed, and what we have noticed about how you are adapting to the free-school environment.  We will also talk to your ambassador to hear what they have observed. At the end of the 5 days, one of the mentors will have a conversation with you about how it went, what you enjoyed or found challenging, and what we have seen.

Following this conversation, the mentors will meet as a group to decide whether or not we feel that Alpha II is a good fit for you and if you are a good fit for Alpha II. We encourage you to have the same conversation with your family, as we will then contact you and your Guardian(s) to arrange a final meeting. If everyone believes you will thrive and benefit from being here, and that you can take advantage of the freedom while managing the responsibility of self-directed learning in community, then we will offer you a place at Alpha II.  If it’s decided otherwise, we can offer our thoughts and reflections about how you might be better served.

Either way, we make the decision together based on what we observe in you and what we know about the Alpha II experience, as we want to make sure that attending Alpha II is a positive growing and learning experience for everyone.