A Heartbreaking Journey at Wesley Christian Academy: Failing to Uphold Christian Values…read more As a parent, I feel compelled to share our family's painful experience at Wesley Christian Academy. I do so not to shame, but to advocate for the well-being of other children who may walk the same halls. By shedding light on what we endured, I hope to spark honest reflection, accountability, and change. Our children, especially Black and Brown children, deserve better. --- AN UNWELCOMING ATMOSPHERE From the moment my 7-year-old Black child entered Wesley Christian Academy, it became painfully clear they were not readily accepted. Though they were excited and eager to begin the school year, they were met with subtle exclusion and social isolation by both peers and some faculty. (The only exception being Mrs. Wong, who showed kindness and care.) The school's lack of diversity was glaring. The overwhelming cultural homogeneity bred discomfort, hesitation, and in some cases, outright disregard for anyone who didn't fit into the dominant mold. The unspoken message was clear: You are not one of us. ---   MENTAL HEALTH NEGLECT This environment did more than alienate...it harmed. My child began coming home withdrawn, hurt, and increasingly unsure of themselves. They questioned their value, their identity, and even whether they belonged in the world around them. It broke my heart to watch their light dim. Despite repeated efforts to engage with the school and raise our concerns, our cries for help were met with indifference. Over time, the emotional weight became unbearable. The neglect, microaggressions, and silent rejection led to a mental health breakdown, a terrifying and devastating moment for our family. LEADERSHIP THAT LOOKED AWAY We reached out. We did everything a responsible, concerned parent should do. And yet, the administration, especially the head of the school, Serio, chose to look away. When I requested a meeting, she initially refused, directing me to speak with the teacher, something I had already done multiple times. When she finally agreed to meet, what she said stunned me. Instead of offering support or accountability, she shared that her own brown grandchildren once "tried to rub the brown off their skin." She said it casually, as if it were a normal childhood phase, not a clear sign of internalized racism and psychological trauma. There was no reflection, no empathy, just an anecdote that further exposed how little racial awareness and emotional understanding exists within the school's leadership. It was at that moment I realized that they are not just unequipped....they are unwilling. This wasn't just disappointing. It was dehumanizing. The school's silence, deflection, and spiritual bypassing made one thing heartbreakingly clear: my child's pain was invisible to them. A NAME MISALIGNED WITH ITS VALUES Wesley Christian Academy boldly brands itself as a Christian institution. But where was the compassion? Where was the love? Where was the inclusion? What we experienced was not reflective of Christ-like values. It was reflective of exclusion, racial ignorance, and emotional abandonment. If you preach Christian values, but fail to live them, especially when it matters most, then what is the point? A CALL FOR URGENT CHANGE This school must do better. It is not enough to claim faith, it must be lived. Wesley Christian Academy must Implement anti-racist education at all grade levels. Provide mandatory cultural competency training** for all staff and leadership. Create safe spacesfor students of all backgrounds to feel seen and supported. Commit to racial diversity in its student body, teaching staff, and leadership. Foster open dialogue with families, particularly Black, Brown, and immigrant families, about their lived experiences in the school These are not radical demands. These are the bare minimum steps needed to begin repairing harm and rebuilding trust. OUR CHILDREN DESERVE BETTER Our experience at Wesley Christian Academy was marked by microaggressions, racial exclusion, colorism, classism, emotional neglect, and deep disappointment. Our child deserved safety, joy, and belonging....not trauma. To every parent of a Black or Brown child considering this school, be cautious. Ask the hard questions. Don't be swayed by branding alone. To the leadership of Wesley Christian Academy: your silence is loud, your inaction is violent, and your faith, without works, is dead. Our children are not collateral damage. They are image-bearers. They are worthy. And they deserve a school that sees them, protects them, and loves them in action and not just in scripture.

Wonderful school. Great teachers, dedicated principal, and good kids. Highly recommended.read more

I've been at this school for over 10 years and I have to say that the management was better when…read morethe old owner was still in charge. Mrs. Remtulla, the previous director of education, was more "in-touch" with the school. You can see how truly she loved the school and she genuinely cared. On the other hand as soon as her daughter, Ms. Remtulla took over, things started going bad. Once the high school was added, grade eights had no graduation because they expected you to continue on to the high school. When asked about the graduations teachers and the principal said it was the director's idea and we couldn't do anything about it. My parents have paid for over 10 years of tuition and uniforms only to be told there was no graduation. This school is not worth the tuition especially if you are in middle school and thinking about going here. If you are in grade 7, you will be in the Stouffville campus and there the campus is trash. Sometimes the water doesn't work, sometimes the heating doesn't work and sometimes the water isn't clean. I strongly advise you to go to a public school instead to save the money. Some teachers genuinely don't care about you and most of the good teachers have left. Some of the teachers I had had no idea what they were teaching and they wrote tests based off of things they don't even know. Some teachers have clear favourites and a lot of them get mad at some other students for no apparent reason. One teacher I had yelled at one of my classmates when they were correcting her about their name. She called him one name and he was trying to tell her that wasn't his name and then she sent him to the office. To get to the gym, you need to take a hike to get there. The gym is secluded behind a bunch of trees. We had to hike in the snow there for gym classes. Overall, this school isn't worth the cost especially for the higher grades. Good luck.

This school has great facility for it's price. Both for the CASA and Elementary…read more They even have their own theater, playgrounds with two different play structures, Library and Music rooms. Great selection of After School programs. Parking is a little over crowded during peak pick up and drop off hours. They do realize that and are planning an underground parking in the future. Like all schools, having the right teacher who gets along with the child and parent is the best fit. And to be realistic, this cannot always be the case. We did encounter some teachers that did not fit well with my children, but the administrators can take care help if you voice out. Overall, this is a good school. Children are very happy here and have made a lot of friends of all classes.

This public school has Junior Kindergarten to Grade 8. A family friend's child attends grade 3…read morethere. She loves the school. Some of this review is from the grade 3 student. How cute is it to interview a grade 3 student! She has attended that school from JK to grade 3. There are two Buddy Benches. This is where you sit if you want a buddy at that time. There are around 500 students. The teachers are nice. They have nice activities. There are winter concerts. There is a big gym inside the school. They play badminton, soccer, dodgeball, and basketball. Every Wed, they serve popcorn and ice cream. Every Fri, they serve pizza. In the past 5 years, there have been 2 different principals and 3 different vice-principals. There is a big driveway for pickup/dropoff and school buses. There is a large park behind the school, but students are not allowed to use it while attending school. Review 2023-041

This is a very progressive school board and one of the only growing ones in the GTA. They provide…read morespecial assistance to students with identified needs. They have primary, elementary, and high schools including the IB program that requires an application process.

I am thinking of coming to this school because it seems like a amazing school. I am currently in…read morefourth grade I'm really thinking about coming to the school because I heard a lot of great reviews and seems like a awesome school so maybe next year I'll be coming?

This is a great school with a good cultural mix. A large proportion of students are of Italian and…read moreHispanic background. Parents are involved and there are some very innovative programs at the school. The school is next to St. Bartholomew's church and also down the street from Agincourt (Glen Watford) community Centre which has all kinds of fantastic programs. The classes are small and the teachers, especially the Kindergarten team are very involved with the children's learning. The children begin to socialize and connect from Junior Kindergarten and begin learning all sorts of real life skills. If you're after the small community feel and experience within Agincourt (Midland and Sheppard area) this school is the one to send your children to. If you're going to apply, make sure that you go to the TDSB website and follow their registration instructions, then print off the forms and take them to the school.

My k-6 from almost 15 years ago. Honestly the school hasn't got through too many changes in that…read moretime everything seem smaller but that just different time. Don't know about the staff now but it was a good school when I did go.

They care about their students. Small classes, and the teacher invest a lot in making sure every…read morestudent succeeds. I would recommend to any high school student.