Principal's Message

If you are a free-thinking family that values creativity and self-exploration over structured learning, Alpha II Alternative School might be right for you. Our school is based on a free-school model that originated with the famed Summerhill school in England over one hundred years ago.

Our mentees (students, in other schools) are free to explore areas of learning according to their personalities and interests. The mentees direct their learning journey completely. That said, the mentors (teachers, in other schools) support mentees in defining learning goals, obtaining resources, and staying on track as they move toward achieving their goals. The mentees participate in running the school as they partake in democratic, consensus-based decision-making around community behavioural norms, school-wide activities, and resource acquisition.

Mentors make mentees aware of new possibilities, experiences, professions, resources, and art forms to broaden their worldviews and choices. Mentees assume responsibilities within the community so, although they have complete freedom where their skills-based or academic learning is concerned, they contribute to the community based on community needs. There is no public school in Canada that operates like this one and we are immensely proud that Home Schoolers, Un-schoolers, and families opting out of more traditional forms of education have a government-supported place to go.

Janice Gladstone

Principal of ALPHA II Alternative Free School