Westboro: School Life
Being a student at Westboro Academy means being a part of a supportive and nurturing community while developing your leadership skills, having access to special programs and activities, character-defining experiences and service learning opportunities.
Student Activities
Life at school extends far beyond the classroom. Westboro Academy students have many opportunities to participate in extracurricular activities, develop leadership skills, and become engaged in a wide variety of experiences.
Before & After School Programs
Our Before and After School Programs are renowned for excellence, convenience and quality. Westboro families enjoy having their children in our care, knowing they are in a safe, enriching and productive environment. The program can be used on a drop-in basis, making it cost-effective and convenient for families.
Before School Program
Offered daily from 7:30 am to 8:15 am for $9 per use, this program provides a welcoming start to the day. Children engage in a variety of indoor or outdoor activities, which may include games, reading, crafts, and more, tailored to the interests of the participants. At 8:15 am, the children transition to supervised free play outdoors, where they are joined by other arriving students. This time allows all children to enjoy active play and social interaction before the school day begins.
After School Program
Available daily from 3:45 pm to 5:30 pm for $19 per use, the After School Program provides a structured and engaging end to the day. Starting at 3:45 pm, children enjoy a snack before splitting into smaller groups based on grade levels. These groups rotate through a variety of activities, including club time and hands-on activities, ensuring a fun and enriching experience until the program concludes at 5:30 pm when the school closes.
Field Trips
Field trips are an essential part of the educational experience at Westboro Academy. They provide students with hands-on, real-world opportunities to deepen their understanding of classroom learning and connect it to practical experiences. To enrich the curriculum, Westboro Academy aims for each class to participate in a field trip or hosts a guest presentation every month.
Athletics
Outside the regular Physical Education Program, Westboro Academy students can be involved in various athletic events. The philosophy for athletics is to encourage participation and a healthy lifestyle. The focus is on good sportsmanship, enthusiasm, determination and participation. Westboro Academy belongs to the OISAA (Ottawa Independent Schools Athletic Association). Our students compete with other independent schools from across the city through this group. We have competed in soccer, basketball, track and field, and cross-country running.
Choir & Band
In addition to regular weekly music classes, students may opt to participate in the school choir or band. There is a Junior Choir for students in grades 1-3 and a Senior Choir for Students in grades 4-6. Additionally, the band meets twice a week for students in grades 6-8.
Student Leadership
There are abundant opportunities to develop leadership skills in both formal and informal roles throughout the school and community. We recognize and value the importance of fostering these skills for all students.
Student Council
Democracy is an important part of living in our culture, and Westboro Academy students learn about it firsthand from an early age. An elected Student Council represents all of our students. Students from Grades 3-8 can run for class representative each September. Each candidate can make a short speech on why they would be a good class representative, and the class votes, choosing its winning candidate. Each class representative then has a seat on the student council to represent the students in their class.
The school also features two Co-Presidents, a role open to students in Grades 7 and 8. Candidates run campaigns to share their ideas and vision for the school with their peers, culminating in bilingual speeches presented to the entire school community. This process provides an opportunity for students to learn about democracy, and all students participate by voting for their preferred candidates.
Throughout the remainder of each school year, this Council leads the school on many levels. They act as role models and mentors but also spearhead initiatives that will benefit their constituents. Some of these initiatives include charity fundraising, ideas to maintain high levels of school spirit, fun days and global awareness. They also include school improvements and service initiatives.
Having a student council provides wonderful opportunities to demonstrate the democratic process, to emerge as leaders, and to have one’s voice heard.
Admission Ambassadors
The staff and faculty select students to be the school’s ambassadors and represent the school at events and during tours to prospective families. These students then work closely with our Director of Admissions and learn about public relations and diplomacy in preparation for giving tours and being official representatives of Westboro Academy. Up to 16 students from grades 5-8 are selected each year for this vital leadership role.
House Captains
A captain leads each of the school’s four houses. Each fall, members elect their captain for the year to lead them enthusiastically and to role model excellence in citizenship, school spirit and kindness toward others. Each House Captain also has a seat on our Student Council.
Learning Buddies
Older students buddy up with younger students to help build community. Entire classes are paired up for regular formal sessions of reading stories, playing games or doing crafts, but there are also many less formal contexts of the buddy system. A student that needs a hand connecting to their peers at recess or a boost with a particular skill may also be assigned a learning buddy. After school, there are opportunities for peer tutoring or tutoring a younger student. This generates a win-win scenario by developing leadership, enhancing learning and building community simultaneously!
Pride Leadership Club
At Westboro Academy, our Pride Leadership Club is a student-led group that celebrates inclusion, acceptance, awareness, and support for all students and school community members. Open to allies and 2SLGBTQIA+ students alike, this club creates a safe, welcoming space where kindness, respect, and diversity are valued and shared.
Through age-appropriate discussions, activities, and community projects, students in the Pride Leadership Club learn how to be leaders who stand up for what’s right, celebrate differences, and promote a school culture of empathy and unity. Together, we help every student feel seen, heard, and valued—just as they are.
Eco Club
Ecology and environmental stewardship are at the heart of our community, which is dedicated to shaping the citizens of tomorrow. At Westboro Academy, it’s the students who lead the way. Rooted in strong eco-responsible values and a shared culture of sustainability, our students grow up with a deep awareness of the environmental issues our world is facing throughout their academic journey.
Through the EcoSchools Canada program and our own school-based initiatives, we foster lasting eco-conscious habits. Key student-led groups—like the Eco Club and Student Council—bring this commitment to life with impactful actions such as waste-free lunches, a motor-free zone, and our popular eco-citizen market.
Student Uniforms
Westboro Academy students wear uniforms to school each day. Depending on the day’s schedule, students will dress for regular classes, Physical Education or formal events. The uniforms are practical, comfortable, and made to last, and they take the guesswork out of getting dressed each morning!
About Our Uniforms
In addition to the uniforms, all students are required to have a backpack and two pairs of shoes to stay at the school at all times, one pair of polished black shoes and one pair of gym shoes.