This fall has been an amazing experience for the staff and students of the Academy. Not only is our current group of students performing well academically, they have been a delight to work with. They have created a very friendly, family-like community in which everyone is valued and respected. It has been a real pleasure watching these students as they became increasingly familiar with us and with each other. Most of our students already understand the cultural context of our social interactions; they "get" our sense of humour and even laugh at our jokes! We are very much looking forward to the rest of the year; it will be fun!

Applications will continue to be accepted for new students interested in attending Fulford Academy or Fulford Preparatory College in the New Year. Apply online or contact our admissions team at admissions@fulfordacademy.com if you have any questions and we'd be more than happy to help.

- Admissions Team  

The Fulford Academy schedule of Winter Activities is now available! To ensure that your child is able to take part in these exciting and educational opportunities, please complete and return the Permission and Consent Forms that have been emailed to you before your child returns on January 5th, 2014.

- Admissions Team  

Like an early Christmas gift, some letters of acceptance have already arrived at Fulford Academy for students who have shown great improvement in their English language abilities and will continue to study hard until the end of their program. By the time they are leaving Fulford Academy they will be ready to be successful in a traditional North American boarding school this Fall.  Congratulations to those recipients! Your hard work has been already rewarded. Keep up the good work.

For students still waiting to hear back, please don't lose hope, we are still expecting letters to arrive in the New Year. We know that you will continue to study hard, ensuring that you will be ready for your next big step. Every student has their own educational pathway and we will continue to support each one of you in the New Year, discussing with you the options that you have and what the best plan will be for you.

In January, we still have many more schools that will be coming to Fulford Academy to present. These include: Lakefield College School, Appleby College and St. Johnsbury Academy. We will also continue to visit school campuses to make sure that our students know which options are available for their next step. Please let admissions@fulfordacademy.com know if you are interested in a specific school for your son or daughter. Some of the schools we will definitely be visiting include: Ridley College, Appleby College, Upper Canada College, Branksome Hall, Stanstead College and Bishop's College School. Others will be added as well upon request.

- Admissions Team  

- Admissions Team  

On November 11th, the students had the opportunity to experience a very important Canadian tradition; Remembrance Day. Each November the 11th at 11:00 AM, Canadians observe a moment of silence to honour the memory of all of the members of the Canadian forces, Peacekeepers, and Aid workers who served to protect people around the world in. As well, Remembrance Day is seen as a day to reflect on the mistakes and sacrifices of the past in hopes that they will never happen again.

The students from Fulford Academy attended the National Remembrance Day ceremony held in Ottawa at the National War Memorial. During the service the students observed a moment of silence, listened to speeches and songs remembering all of those people, military or civilian, who have been killed in wars around the world. Students watched as the governments of Canada and many International delegations placed wreaths on the steps of the War Memorial in appreciation for everything Canadian citizens have done in the name of Peace and Protection. While many of the students had never experienced a ceremony like this before, all were very respectful, and full of questions following its conclusion.

Following the ceremony at the National War Memorial, students went to the Canadian War museum to take a look at just how Canada has been shaped by conflicts both inside Canada and around the world. Students also had the opportunity to touch and look at many different warfare artifacts from medical equipment, to native arrow heads, all the way up to modern tanks.

I would like to personally thank the students for this interest and respect, because only by learning about each other and the mistakes that we have made in the past can we ever hope to truly bring peace to our planet.

Mr. Murray - Director of Academics 

On November 2nd, a large group of Fulford Academy students set out to Kingston, Ontario for a Saturday afternoon full of fun playing mini putt and laser tag. There were many smiles as students enjoyed a round of glow in the dark mini putt inside and away from the rainy weather. They found out quickly that mini putt isn't as easy as it may look. Nevertheless, we saw a few hole-in-ones and a couple of golfers emerged from amongst the students.

After our 18 holes, students lined up to strap on their vests and prepare for a laser war. We had enough people to create three teams; red, blue and yellow. Everyone seemed excited and fought hard for their respective colours. In the end of the games, it is was clear that the blue and yellow teams were no match for red. Win or lose, everyone seemed happy and satisfied with their laser tag performances so we decided to stop by the mall for some shopping and dinner.

By 7pm, the students were back at Fulford Academy and there were many tired teens ready to call it a night after a full day of fun.

Summer came in late autumn one weekend at Fulford, when a group of students went surfing in Montreal!  Despite the chilly temperatures outside, we put on our bathing suits and headed to the indoor waves for over an hour of surfing fun.

The students were instructed on the basics of surfing the simulated wave at Maeva Surf.  They learned how to surf with their elbows on the board, and how to surf standing up.  After a quick warm-up it was time to hit the wave!

All the students started out with their elbows on their surf boards, but soon  all were ready to try surfing like the pros.   They caught on to the surfing groove pretty quickly, and there were many splashy wipe-outs, but nothing could stop them from getting back on those boards.

Lots of laughs, lots of smiles, and lots of tired and happy kids got back into the van for the trip back to Fulford.  It was an experience they won't soon forget! You can see more photos of us enjoying indoor surfing online. 

Most of our students are starting to think about their next step and which school they'd like to attend in the near future. We are helping them to find the right school and on top of having our partner schools come to us and present to our Fulford students about their school, we also make sure that our students can see the schools that they are interested in. We take our students to see our partner schools so that they can get a feel for their next step and the school they are applying to.

Our first trip was on November 15th and we took 12 students to see Trinity College School (TCS) and Lakefield College School (LCS). It was a great day. We first visited TCS. They took us on a great tour of the campus and interviewed the students who are applying. Then we had the great opportunity to see some our former Fulford Academy students and have lunch with them. It was a really great experience and thanks to the TCS team everyone felt home.

After lunch we headed to LCS where again we received a warm welcome from the admission team and were toured by one of our former students and another grade 12 student. It was amazing and students could learn lots about the school from a student's perspective. At around 4 pm we left campus and headed back home with lots of new impressions and students who smiled and are excited now applying to those schools.

There are a few things I really liked about TCS.

I liked how the students who guided us had great attitudes and were really friendly. Also thanks a lot to those teachers who welcomed us to TCS.

I think facilities of TCS was great, I really liked the chapel because I could imagine students having fun singing there. I also liked how the students were involved in each other through different house groups. It was so much fun talking to some of students from Fulford Academy who I've known, at lunch time, and I was glad to know that they were all enjoying their life in the school and getting along with lots of other students there. I think I had an amazing time on this trip.

-Junna Ishiwatari

During the tour of LCS i saw that they have a lot of sports and art programs, i really liked that, they are always active doing something productive!!

For me it seems to be a good place to study where you can share you thoughts without being judged, they are like a big family and the seem very happy, I would really like to be part of that community.

The location is beautiful, specially the lake, it is such a gorgeous view, the fields are all green and it is full of nature that is what i enjoyed the most, i enjoy to be outside.

- Daniela Curzio

On Saturday November 16th, a group of Fulford Academy students went to Montreal for an indoor rock-climbing activity at Centre d'Escalade Horizon Roc. Most of the students had not tried rock climbing before, and were eager to learn and challenge themselves. We were also all excited once we were told that the location we were climbing at was the largest indoor rock climbing center in the world.

Prior to trying out the rock climbing, we got to try out their parkour course, which was a series of "games" involving climbing and tight-rope walking, while tethered to a harness, of course. This activity was challenging, but introduced us to the ideas behind climbing, and got us over any nerves we had about heights.

Then we got to try the actual rock climbing. Our instructors were very nice and helpful. They showed us how to be safe, what to expect, and gave us some pointers. Some students, like Miguel, had tried rock climbing before, and were able to get up the wall very quickly.

It was clear that the students enjoyed themselves, and that many would like the opportunity to go rock climbing again in the future.

On November 20th, six Fulford Academy students (Akina, Hannah, Junna, Ksenia, Shirley and Tommy) along with Mrs. Johanna Ziegler and Mrs. Jessica Edgley from the Admissions Department made the hour-long journey to Ashbury College in Ottawa, Ontario. They were greeted by the school's staff and provided with a wonderful tour of their facilities, which will soon include a new 27,000 sq./ft. building with four art rooms, two music rooms and an expanded library. After a yummy lunch in the cafeteria, each student had the chance to speak individually with the Ashbury Admissions team. Good luck to all of our students that applied!

The visit to Ashbury was pretty good. We visited the dorm, that was awesome, because the rooms are big and in each room, there is a bathroom, especially in each girl's room, there is a bath. We had a tour around the school, too. The campus is beautiful, students there seem like always busy but happy, and they are friendly. The lunch was good. The school supports students an amount of food and students can choose what they want. In their leisure time, they can go to the dinning hall for a snack or study there. After, we had our interviews. Those interviewers are very nice and friendly. We had a great time in Ashbury.

- Hannah Zhao

I liked the boarding system there, every rooms were really clean and I think students would be able to relax a lot there. There were so many natures around the school so when you want to refresh your feeling, you can always just go outside and have some fresh air. The dining hall in Ashbury college was pretty big and was spacious. I liked how the school is located near downtown of Ottawa and it only takes 15 minutes to get there. I think the trip to Ashbury made me know more things about Ashbury college. It was a good trip.

- Junna Ishiwatari

Mr. Besharah then demonstrated turning a bowl out of walnut which was in a green state. It had been  cut from the tree earlier this morning and was still moist. Those students that did not move further away from the lathe found out how wet and messy it still was as he turned the wood. The entire class was quiet  for the demonstration which showed how interested they were in the demonstration. After the demonstration, the students were given the bowl as homework to finish after the Christmas break. It must dry inside a paper bag for three weeks then will be sanded and a finishing oil applied. The bowl will be given to the school as a decorative feature from the class.

One important part of our students' education here at Fulford is the opportunity that they to give back to the Brockville community while earning volunteer hours that go towards the completion of their high school diplomas. Many of our students do this by volunteering at Loaves and Fishes, a special local restaurant that provides hot, tasty and filling meals for only a dollar to those who want or need a nutritious meal and a place to rest. According to their website, Loaves and Fishes was founded on Perth Street, Brockville in 1999 with the belief that 'in the sharing of bread a community is built, where barriers between people vanish, where dignity and respect flourish, where service and acceptance unite, and where warmth and understanding prevail'. They turn away no one, and serve close to a hundred people a day, five days a week. They fill a vital role in Brockville, and recently, I was recently lucky enough to accompany a group of Fulford students who were volunteering there.

Every month, twice a month, groups of students go to Loaves and Fishes for an hour to assist and support the community there. Some of the students I went with had volunteered before, but for others it was their first time, and after we arrived, we quickly reviewed all the necessary procedures and tasks we would have to complete as part of our shift (making coffee, bringing drinks, offering choices from the menu, bringing and clearing plates, etc). Some of the students were working in the kitchen, preparing soup, drinks, and dessert, while other students and I were waiting tables and bringing meals to those who had ordered them. The Loaves and Fishes staff were very helpful in explaining our jobs and what they entailed. At four o'clock sharp, patrons started to enter and take their seats. The students and I were suddenly very busy, going from table to table and assisting each customer in turn. An hour goes quickly when you're serving others, and before we knew it, our hour was up! Nothing was left to do but take off our aprons and turn matters over to the next shift of volunteers.

Afterwards, back at Fulford, the students and I took a little time to reflect on our volunteer experience and how good it felt to help others. For our students, it is not just an opportunity to meet new people and practice their English skills, but often their first time performing volunteer work, and a real opportunity to learn about the importance of giving back to the community. Loaves and Fishes serves a vital need in the Brockville community, and our students are privileged to be able to recognize and contribute to their efforts.

On Saturday December 14th, thirty Fulford Academy students, accompanied by three Residential Advisors, left in a bus to visit Canada's Capital for a day of Christmas shopping at the Rideau Centre.  Students boarded the bus with great anticipation to explore Ottawa's biggest mall.

Students dove right into as soon as we arrive at 1:30pm.   The thirty students and three RAs utilized the four and a half hours at the mall purchasing gifts for loved ones, the Fulford student gift exchange, as well as finding a few treasures for themselves.   

Students were excited to see Santa at the mall, and one took the opportunity to stop with a picture with jolly ol' Saint Nick.  We were also fortunate enough to meet up with two past students; Olga and Haruka.  Students enjoyed their time catching up with the two girls.  By the time we boarded the bus at 6pm, students were ready for some time off their feet.

One of the big parts of celebrating Christmas is putting up decorations that help to set the mood of the season. One Saturday in December we spent the morning decorating the Christmas tree at Fulford. Many people in Canada will either use a tree that has been cut down or will use an artificial tree and then decorate with different kinds of decorations and Christmas ornaments. Later we decorated some different area's of the school to help get everyone in the festive spirit.

Later in the afternoon we all walked down King St. to take in the Santa Claus parade. A Santa Claus parade involves different businesses, community groups, clubs, volunteers, and other members of the community take part in a parade to celebrate the Holiday season. These different groups will often be playing music, handing out candy, marching bands and staged holiday scenes. It had just snowed a couple days before so everything was covered in snow and gave it a good winter feeling.

You can see more photos of our winter fun on Flickr.  

At that day, RAs played popular Christmas songs for students, and some of us sang the songs together. The ambiance was very warm and happy!!! We enjoyed decoration of gingerbread houses. You can see more photos of us building our gingerbread houses on Flickr. 

- Hannah Zhao, student

On the last day of school before the Christmas holidays, the school gathered together and had a wonderful Christmas celebration. With only half a day of classes, a wonderful Turkey dinner was served at lunch in the Dining Hall that was specially decorated for Christmas with red, green and white tablecloths, Christmas centerpieces and yummy candies on the table. At Fulford, we are like one big family and so the staff and students all sat together like a traditional family dinner and had a wonderful meal to start the Christmas festivities.

Next, all of the students gathered in front of the tree in our Great Room to get a "family photo" before our Christmas show. We started off our show with Daisy Qian playing "Fur Elise" on the piano. Next, we had the grade 7 and 8 class play little drummer boy on the recorders with Annie Ren singing along. Hannah Zhao played "River Flows in You" on the piano. To end our festive show, the staff put on a skit of 'Twas the Night Before Christmas which received a bunch of laughs from our students. You can  view this skit on our Facebook Page.