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Showing posts from 2019

Dynamic School Partnerships

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Nimbus is blessed to work with some incredible educators from across Ontario. Our dynamic partnerships with various private schools enables us to positively impact students while effectively supporting teachers. A few weeks ago, we introduced one of the 15 schools that has been partnering with Nimbus to help students maximize their learning potential. Today we are pleased to highlight another dynamic school partnership. Discipleship Christian Secondary School (DCSS) As a private christian high school, DCSS is dedicated to academic excellence with a focus on spiritual growth and outreach. The school is intentionally small and takes pride in the family oriented environment. At the beginning of each school year, DCSS hosts an annual camping trip to encourage bonding between students and teachers. This tradition continues to set the tone of the school and embraces the advantage of being a tight knit community. In 2016 DCSS began partnering with Nimbus by using the courses as a...

Maximizing Students’ Potential Through Academic Partnerships

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Nimbus has been blessed with tremendous partnerships with various schools and educational professionals. These unique opportunities allow students to maximize their learning potential within their classroom or homeschool. Currently there are 15 private schools across Ontario partnering with us. While each school may be different, the goal remains the same: effectively supporting students to achieve success. Periodically we will be highlighting our partnerships to showcase the extraordinary work of these educators. Vianney Academy of Learning  - A Small School Making a Big Difference Karen Uschold began homeschooling after her oldest son, despite being gifted, struggled socially at school and required speech therapy. One year later her daughter was diagnosed with dyslexia followed by her youngest son being diagnosed with autism three years later. Unwilling to accept the bleak future predicted by the doctors, social workers and therapists, Karen researched teaching techniques an...

Meet Our Team!

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As Nimbus Christian Education continues to grow, we have been blessed with some incredibly talented professionals to balance out our team. From teachers, administrators and technical staff, we have a stellar group of people who are passionate about quality Christian online education. Now we’d like to shine a light on our unsung heroes! Over the next couple of weeks we’ll be featuring a member of our team so you can get to know them a little bit better. Meet Our Math Teacher - Matthew Bean For over 12 years Matthew Bean has been an educator working with teens and adults in the private education sector, both locally and globally. His experiences include teaching a broad spectrum of courses, including business, economics, math, geography, psychology, music, sociology, psychology, anthropology and careers. Matt earned his Bachelor of Science degree at Trent University, and his Bachelor of Education degree at Queen's University. Matt joined Nimbus this year and is currently teachin...

A Productive Start to a New Academic Year!

Students, parents and educators across the province have spent the last couple of weeks adjusting to the new school year. Shaking that summer feeling hasn’t been easy, but entering a new season is always a blessing. It’s been an incredible start to this academic year and we’re thankful for another opportunity to provide quality online Christian education. Here are some highlights we’re excited about so far: Increased Registration We’re thrilled to report that registration has increased by 100% from this time last year! In addition, there are now over 400 students using our online courses as digital textbooks in traditional classrooms. Academic Partnerships Nimbus has a unique partnership with 15 private schools across Ontario. While the teachers are still present, our resources simply help to enhance the students’ learning in the classroom. Home Educators There are also a number of home educated students that take advantage of our full time online courses. Currently there is a homescho...

Exciting New Developments for the Upcoming School Year

To say it’s been a busy couple of months at Nimbus Christian Education would be a gross understatement! It’s been a transformative year and our team has been diligently working to meet the growing need for quality online Christian education. Another school year is upon us and we’re excited about our new courses and the additional staff members joining the Nimbus team. New Courses for 2019-2020 Grade 11 Physics (University track) Students in this hands-on learning course will receive a unique kit in the mail with various components to help them study electricity, sound waves, electromagnetism, forces, and more.  New Courses for 2020-2021 Grade 9 French (Academic) Students in this interactive french class will meet with their fully bilingual teacher in real time to build on core french skills in addition to exploring their faith in french. Grade 9 Science (Academic) In this general science course, students study basic concepts in biology, chemistry, earth and s...

Supporting Students with IEP’s and Special Needs

Learning new concepts can be difficult for any student, but there are some unique challenges for those diagnosed with a learning disability. However, there are many opportunities for students of all abilities to excel on their academic journey.   Whether your child has been diagnosed with a learning disability or is a struggling learner, it’s natural to feel uncertain about their future. Some learning challenges are not as obvious as others, so students may suffer in silence and become lost in a traditional classroom. With the right tools and environment, students with various learning abilities can experience academic success. Making educational accommodations for students with special needs is essential to maximizing their learning potential.   Here are some common examples of accommodations: Providing extra time for tasks Simplifying and/or re-phrasing instructions Answer questions orally (scribing when needed) Frequent breaks throughout the day At Nimbu...

Understanding Provincial Diplomas

High school graduations seem like the end of an era for many students and parents. Needless to say, being awarded a diploma for achieving the required credits for secondary school is certainly something to be proud of. While the road to graduation will have triumphs and challenges, it’s essential to understand the purpose and requirements of obtaining a high school diploma. Students are awarded the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) upon successful completion of 30 credits as outlined by the Ministry of Education. These credits are meant to reflect a vast amount of courses that broaden your student’s understanding of academics as well as the world around them. There is also some flexibility in course selections to encourage students to choose courses of interest. In addition to compulsory subjects like Math, English and Science, there are various electives available, such as: business studies, art, technology etc.. Prior to completing high school, a student’s academic pro...

An Optimistic Response to the Conservative Government Online Education Announcement

Recently the Conservative government made a number of announcements about education in Ontario. Here at Nimbus Christian Education one in particular caught our eye: "Secondary students will take a minimum of four e-learning credits out of the 30 credits needed to fulfill the requirements for achieving an Ontario Secondary School Diploma. That is equivalent to one credit per year, with exemptions for some students on an individualized basis. These changes will be phased in, starting in 2020-21." (Taken from this website: https://news.ontario.ca/edu/en/2019/03/education-that-works-for-you-2.html ) We don’t know all the details of how this will be implemented yet, but we are cautiously optimistic about this announcement. You might be wondering why we are hesitant. Shouldn’t we, as an online school in Ontario, be gleefully excited by this? We do have some concerns about the implementation of this concept. But let’s begin with why we think that this is a move in the right ...

How to Choose an Online Course

How to Effectively Choose an Online Course Choosing online courses for your children can seem like a daunting task in the 21st century. As technology advances, so do the options. Parents from all walks of life are looking for alternative methods of education to meet their student’s academic needs. But, how do you know which online course to choose? As parents, we know that the decisions we make for our children today will have a lasting impact. Needless to say, we put a lot of pressure on ourselves to provide the best. At Nimbus Christian Education, we understand how overwhelming this process can be; and, we want to give you the tools to effectively choose an online course. Begin with Values Keeping God at the center is always the best way to begin. What values will the online course you are considering promote in your children? Are they values that will support what you seek in your home? At times you will wish to choose an online course that contradicts a student’s faith in or...

Customized Education for Future Success

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Just like the faces of each child is different, so are their needs. Physical, emotional, spiritual and even their academic requirements vary within the same age group. Tailoring your child’s education to their needs is an essential part of their academic journey. How your child is educated can eliminate learning gaps and strategically position them for future success. At Nimbus Christian Education we take great pride in providing quality education that makes sense for each student. As educators, we understand the importance of working with students according to their abilities, needs and their potential. Some students may require more help, while others may prefer or need less assistance. Learning abilities can vary amongst students just like personalities. That’s why we work with parents and teachers to determine the best course of action for each student. Our new Tiers of Service reflect practical options to provide support based on needs and goals. For your convenience, the fo...