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Bedford Academy Celebrates
its 20th Anniversary
By Ian Robert Ross
This fall’s semester begins the 20th
anniversary for Bedford Academy and to help commemorate the occasion,
the school has been celebrating with increased facilities and the
opening of Academy Hall, a brand new gymnasium. Not only does the gym
offer greater benefits for students but it also highlights the
academy’s commitment to offering enhanced education across a complete
course of study.
The idea of starting a private
school first came to owner Nancy Wallace after moving to Bedford from
New Brunswick, where she had taught in the public school system. Her
daughter, Megan, was then in Grade 2. Being a devout educator,
Wallace wanted to take an active role in her own daughter’s
education. Mary Poppins Early Learning Academy was born, then on
Windrock Drive.
Wallace received good marks from
parents who wished their children could continue to learn in the same
environment. It encouraged her to expand and, after juggling some
financing, she was able to move from Windrock Drive to a larger
location on Shore Drive. Later she opened a second location at
Champlain Court. Then in 2000, the first sod was turned at Brookshire
Court and Bedford Academy began a much more ambitious expansion which
now sees the school offering classes up to Grade 9. Each time,
expansion came at the request of parents, a mark of pride for the
school and a solid endorsement of its success.
Natalie Abraham is one such parent
who offers praise for what the school provides. Her daughter, Zoe,
began with Mary Poppins Academy at age 4, continued into Primary, and
is now in Grade 2 at Bedford Academy.
“We looked at numerous schools. This
school provided a nurturing and safe environment, and a place where
she could be her own unique self,” Abraham said.
Since the standard of education for
students was derived from Wallace’s personal desire to provide her own
daughter with the best education she could, that take-charge attitude
has gone a long way in winning the confidence of parents who desire
the best for their children.
“I felt like it was an extension of
me,” said Abraham. “The care Zoe would get would be the same as the
care at home from me. We met all the teachers and every one takes
interest in the kids,” she said. “Nancy is full of life and energy
and knows every kid by name. She greets every student with a hug and
it’s the same with every kid.”
School spirit is likewise high
amongst the children. With a maximum of 20 students per class,
extracurricular programs like the choir, or sports like running,
soccer, hockey, or basketball, and one-on-one classes such as those
for students taking up musical instruments, low class sizes help
students get more attention than they normally would in the public
system. Students also build spirit as members in one of the academy’s
four houses: Lanark, Fife, Moray, and Argyle.
Bedford Academy focuses on “an
enhanced and integrated curriculum.” In an era where public schools
are cutting back on physical education, arts classes, and other
non-core studies, the academy is expanding their offerings as is
evidenced by Academy Hall.
Coach Andy Cotter, teaches both
Physical Education and Technology classes. While a University of New
Brunswick Basketball star in his own right, he is also son of a former
N.B. Sports Hall of Famer and Athletic Director at Fredericton High,
Rick Cotter. He is one of the many special teachers that Wallace
recruited personally to ensure her students learn from the best.
Cotter points out how happy the
students are with the new gym.
“The kids love it,” he said. “They
take a lot of pride in it. Sometimes I even see them get down on
their knees, cleaning scuff marks off the surface.”
Bedford Academy is also the only
school in the area to field a basketball team (the Bedford Broncos) in
the city league, which normally includes just community teams.
Malik Ali, captain of the Broncos
agrees that it’s a “good school” and the teachers have “good teaching
methods.”
Laura Flemming, captain of the girls
basketball team agrees that the school provides “really, really good
education.” She adds, “I’ve made a lot of great friends.”
Other students echoed their approval
of both the teachers and school but also safety. Student Katy Kells
of Moray House, pointed out that the school, “doesn’t have any
bullies” where as before, in public school, she “used to be bullied a
lot.”
“The focus is on safety, happiness,
and creating an environment children want to lean in,” says Wallace.
“I have yet to meet a child that doesn’t want to learn.”
In addition to hand-picked classroom
teachers and professional physical education instructors, the school
has French instructors for both elementary and junior high, and a
full-time music teacher. On Fridays, the school brings in senior art
specialists, such as artist Golumba Kim, to further nurture the
students in gaining a well-rounded education.
In the school’s computer lab, where
children learn about computers from Primary on, students as young as
Grade 3 are learning to craft PowerPoint demonstrations and each class
has its own web page so that even students who are out sick or on
vacation can keep up with their classmates. Junior High students also
benefit from individual laptops and also have science labs built right
into the classroom so as to continually surround the children with
reminders that all of their studies are truly connected.
A lot of learning also occurs
outside the academy as students participate in the community or enjoy
field trips to further their education. Wallace is especially proud
of her “Apprentice Program” which she crafted long before Donald Trump
made waves with his own, with an almost identical version.
“The students did activities, formed
a company, marketed a product and sold a product,” said Wallace.
“They even made a profit, but like all good companies, we taught them
to donate a share of their profit to charity—in this case, the War
Amps.”
Students from Bedford Academy also
made the trip to Halifax Airport to greet children’s author Robert
Munch on his trip to Halifax.
“His plane was
one-and-a-half hours late but when he got there we greeted him and
sang, “Now is the Time to Seize the Day.” The author rewarded the
dedicated students with a special half-hour reading, right at the
airport.
Starting in January, under the
direction of music teacher Kevin MacDonald, the academy will also be
forming its own performance group, the Centrestage Players, also open
to members of the community.
“There will be four components:
drum, improv, music, and comedy,” said MacDonald. “We will be opening
out of the school on Sunday afternoons.”
Recently, the school has taken in
its first international student as well, which led the school to seek
and be awarded accreditation from the province for its curriculum.
After twenty years, Wallace is happy
to see former students coming back to visit, proud to see that they’ve
become “amazing young adults.” Alumni include engineers, lawschool
students, and many even come back to work at summer camps the academy
hosts. Perhaps greatest, is that daughter Megan Wallace, now known as
Ms. Wallace Jr., has grown up and is a teacher in this same school, to
the current crop of students.
Students, alumni, and parents, and
interested members of the community are invited to help Bedford
Academy celebrate its 20 years in a general open house and guided
tours, Monday, October 17. A party for the students will follow with
entertainment by Tasty Squid.
- Published in "Bedford Magazine", October,
2005 |
Owner and director of Bedford Academy,
Nancy Wallace,
with several of the school's students.
(Ian Ross photos)
The academy's new gymnasium, and
home to the Bedford Broncos.
Children mix their studies with recreation
at Bedford Academy's playground.
• Writing
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• Cartoons
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