Q. Who are the teachers?
A. All our teachers are Ontario Certified Teachers and are in good standing with the Ontario College of Teachers. Our teachers are dedicated individuals committed to the success of the school. They are trained in Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) and Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT) and have previous experience working with children with special needs.
Q. Is transportation to and from Oak Bridge Academy available?
A. Currently, transportation to and from school is the parents' responsibility however there may be availability in our current parent arranged carpooling groups.
Q. Does Oak Bridge Academy offer before and after school care?
A. Oak Bridge will offer before and/or after school care if there is enough interest from OBA families. This is an additional fee.
Q. What are the criteria for admissions?
A. We assess each student individually once we have received their application and supporting documentation. We will consider any child who could benefit from a small classroom size and individualized programming, and who is academically ready.
Q. What are the grades at Oak Bridge Academy?
A. Oak Bridge Academy currently offers grades one to nine.
Q. Does Oak Bridge Academy offer Speech Therapy?
A. Currently, Speech Therapy is available at Oak Bridge for an additional cost. We have a wonderful Speech Therapist that comes in weekly to work with some of our students. We would also be willing to work with a student's own private speech therapist and implement his or her recommendations.
Q. How are the students chosen?
A. We select students through an admission process, where they are assessed based on the best fit for the school and their readiness to access all components of the curriculum.
Q. Will the school expand going forward?
A. We will continue to assess school expansion plans on a yearly basis and dependent on community need.
Q. My child has fetal alcohol syndrome, can they apply to Oak Bridge Academy?
A. We assess each potential student, regardless of a diagnosis, based on their readiness to access all components of the curriculum.
Q. Is there a discount for siblings?
A. Since we are a charitable organization, discounts for siblings will largely depend on the success of our fundraising efforts. At this time, we can not provide a definitive answer.
Q. Is there a sensory room?
A. Yes, thanks to Forward Church, Oak Bridge Academy has access to a sensory room.
Q. What does the interview/assessment process look like?
A. The assessment will be play-based, getting to know your child's strengths and needs and ensuring they can get the most of out being a student at Oak Bridge Academy.
Q. How is tuition paid?
A. Tuition can be paid in full or in monthly instalments.
Q. How is tuition calculated?
A. Currently, tuition cost covers only staffing expenses. We continue to seek donations and engage in intensive fundraising efforts to meet all the school's additional expenses. You can be confident that tuition is fair, and all academy funding will support the students. Tuition is annually discussed with the Board of Directors.
Q. Is there any funding available to help with pay my child’s tuition?
A. If you receive OAP funding, it can be applied to your tuition. Currently the Ontario government does not subsidize private school tuition.
Q. Who do I ask about the Ontario Autism Program (OAP)?
A. You may contact your regional provider to find out where your child is on the OAP waitlist.
Q. Does Oak Bridge Academy offer bursaries?
A. We make every effort to offer bursaries for our students through donations and fundraising efforts.
Q. What are the school day hours?
A. The school day runs from 9am to 4pm.
Q. What is the calendar school year?
A. The school calendar runs from September to June.
Q. Do PD days, Winter Break and March Break fall on the same days as the Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB)?
A. Yes, Oak Bridge Academy generally has the same PD days and holidays as the WRDSB with exception of an additional week of March Break and some Closed Days. Please see our current calendar.
Q. Are there additional PD days throughout the school year?
A. Yes, given that our school day is longer, we have additional non-teaching days or closed days. Please see our current calendar.
Q. Does Oak Bridge Academy offer any summer programming?
A. Oak Bridge Academy does not offer summer programming however we typically run 2 weeks of summer camp for OBA students only.
Q. How will I receive progress updates on my child throughout the school term?
A. We issue two report cards per year (and two Individual Education Plans if required). Teachers and parents will be in regular contact, and we will facilitate regular meetings throughout the year.
Q. Does Oak Bridge Academy follow the Ontario Curriculum?
A. Yes, Oak Bridge Academy follows the Ontario Curriculum. We are able to modify or enrich subjects as well as offer alternative programming as needed.
Q. My child is non-verbal but uses a communication device. Can we apply to Oak Bridge Academy?
A. Yes, we will assess each potential student for their readiness to access all components of the curriculum.
Q. My child is currently unable to use the washroom independently, can we apply to Oak Bridge Academy?
A. It is our expectation that children are toilet trained, however, if they require assistance with the washroom routine, this can be worked on as a targeted goal.
Q. Will my child require 1:1 help at Oak Bridge Academy? Is there an additional cost for this?
A. Most students are able to work independently in an OBA classroom due to smaller classroom sizes and the 1:3 ratio of students to specialized teaching support. For students who continue to need the 1:1 support at OBA, it does come at an additional cost to families and will be discussed during admissions, One-to-one support is reviewed throughout the school year.
Q. Does OBA offer online learning?
A. Oak Bridge Academy is in-person learning only.
Q. Would my child need to attend full-time?
A. Yes, students are expected to attend all day from 9:00am to 4:00pm.
Note: arrival and dismissal times have had various changes due to COVID. Currently there are staggered arrival times – students arrive from 8:45 to 9:05am and dismissal is 3:50pm.
Q. My child has food issues, will someone be able to support my child while they are eating during nutrition breaks?
A. Yes, we are able to support your child during their nutrition breaks and implement programs to help with food issues if necessary.
Q. Do you have lunch programs?
A. Currently we have pizza day every Thursday through the LunchBox Orders Program with Pizza Pizza.
Q. My child has dexterity/fine motor skills issues, will someone be able to support my child in getting properly dressed for going outdoors?
A. Yes, we will support the journey of dressing independently and will assist with buttons, zippers, and anything else needed so your child is appropriately dressed at all times. We can help with shoe-tying and implement programs to support this as well.
Q. Oak Bridge Academy is in a church. Is it a religious school? Will my child learn about religion?
A. No, although we have a wonderful relationship with Forward Church, Oak Bridge Academy is secular. Religion is not taught as our school.
Q. Is there ABA therapy during the school day?
A. No, there are no specific therapies during the school day. The Ontario curriculum is taught in a therapeutic environment with support from Behaviour Therapists who have ABA and ACT training as well as Educational Assistants. There are private speech language pathologists and occupational therapists who come in on various days to work with various students during their school day. We are able to arrange that for families, but it comes at an additional cost and is paid for or funded outside of Oak Bridge Academy tuition.
Q. My child has a service dog, can they bring the dog to school?
A. Yes, with proper documentation and advanced preparation, OBA students are welcome to bring their service dog to school each day.
A. All our teachers are Ontario Certified Teachers and are in good standing with the Ontario College of Teachers. Our teachers are dedicated individuals committed to the success of the school. They are trained in Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) and Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT) and have previous experience working with children with special needs.
Q. Is transportation to and from Oak Bridge Academy available?
A. Currently, transportation to and from school is the parents' responsibility however there may be availability in our current parent arranged carpooling groups.
Q. Does Oak Bridge Academy offer before and after school care?
A. Oak Bridge will offer before and/or after school care if there is enough interest from OBA families. This is an additional fee.
Q. What are the criteria for admissions?
A. We assess each student individually once we have received their application and supporting documentation. We will consider any child who could benefit from a small classroom size and individualized programming, and who is academically ready.
Q. What are the grades at Oak Bridge Academy?
A. Oak Bridge Academy currently offers grades one to nine.
Q. Does Oak Bridge Academy offer Speech Therapy?
A. Currently, Speech Therapy is available at Oak Bridge for an additional cost. We have a wonderful Speech Therapist that comes in weekly to work with some of our students. We would also be willing to work with a student's own private speech therapist and implement his or her recommendations.
Q. How are the students chosen?
A. We select students through an admission process, where they are assessed based on the best fit for the school and their readiness to access all components of the curriculum.
Q. Will the school expand going forward?
A. We will continue to assess school expansion plans on a yearly basis and dependent on community need.
Q. My child has fetal alcohol syndrome, can they apply to Oak Bridge Academy?
A. We assess each potential student, regardless of a diagnosis, based on their readiness to access all components of the curriculum.
Q. Is there a discount for siblings?
A. Since we are a charitable organization, discounts for siblings will largely depend on the success of our fundraising efforts. At this time, we can not provide a definitive answer.
Q. Is there a sensory room?
A. Yes, thanks to Forward Church, Oak Bridge Academy has access to a sensory room.
Q. What does the interview/assessment process look like?
A. The assessment will be play-based, getting to know your child's strengths and needs and ensuring they can get the most of out being a student at Oak Bridge Academy.
Q. How is tuition paid?
A. Tuition can be paid in full or in monthly instalments.
Q. How is tuition calculated?
A. Currently, tuition cost covers only staffing expenses. We continue to seek donations and engage in intensive fundraising efforts to meet all the school's additional expenses. You can be confident that tuition is fair, and all academy funding will support the students. Tuition is annually discussed with the Board of Directors.
Q. Is there any funding available to help with pay my child’s tuition?
A. If you receive OAP funding, it can be applied to your tuition. Currently the Ontario government does not subsidize private school tuition.
Q. Who do I ask about the Ontario Autism Program (OAP)?
A. You may contact your regional provider to find out where your child is on the OAP waitlist.
Q. Does Oak Bridge Academy offer bursaries?
A. We make every effort to offer bursaries for our students through donations and fundraising efforts.
Q. What are the school day hours?
A. The school day runs from 9am to 4pm.
Q. What is the calendar school year?
A. The school calendar runs from September to June.
Q. Do PD days, Winter Break and March Break fall on the same days as the Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB)?
A. Yes, Oak Bridge Academy generally has the same PD days and holidays as the WRDSB with exception of an additional week of March Break and some Closed Days. Please see our current calendar.
Q. Are there additional PD days throughout the school year?
A. Yes, given that our school day is longer, we have additional non-teaching days or closed days. Please see our current calendar.
Q. Does Oak Bridge Academy offer any summer programming?
A. Oak Bridge Academy does not offer summer programming however we typically run 2 weeks of summer camp for OBA students only.
Q. How will I receive progress updates on my child throughout the school term?
A. We issue two report cards per year (and two Individual Education Plans if required). Teachers and parents will be in regular contact, and we will facilitate regular meetings throughout the year.
Q. Does Oak Bridge Academy follow the Ontario Curriculum?
A. Yes, Oak Bridge Academy follows the Ontario Curriculum. We are able to modify or enrich subjects as well as offer alternative programming as needed.
Q. My child is non-verbal but uses a communication device. Can we apply to Oak Bridge Academy?
A. Yes, we will assess each potential student for their readiness to access all components of the curriculum.
Q. My child is currently unable to use the washroom independently, can we apply to Oak Bridge Academy?
A. It is our expectation that children are toilet trained, however, if they require assistance with the washroom routine, this can be worked on as a targeted goal.
Q. Will my child require 1:1 help at Oak Bridge Academy? Is there an additional cost for this?
A. Most students are able to work independently in an OBA classroom due to smaller classroom sizes and the 1:3 ratio of students to specialized teaching support. For students who continue to need the 1:1 support at OBA, it does come at an additional cost to families and will be discussed during admissions, One-to-one support is reviewed throughout the school year.
Q. Does OBA offer online learning?
A. Oak Bridge Academy is in-person learning only.
Q. Would my child need to attend full-time?
A. Yes, students are expected to attend all day from 9:00am to 4:00pm.
Note: arrival and dismissal times have had various changes due to COVID. Currently there are staggered arrival times – students arrive from 8:45 to 9:05am and dismissal is 3:50pm.
Q. My child has food issues, will someone be able to support my child while they are eating during nutrition breaks?
A. Yes, we are able to support your child during their nutrition breaks and implement programs to help with food issues if necessary.
Q. Do you have lunch programs?
A. Currently we have pizza day every Thursday through the LunchBox Orders Program with Pizza Pizza.
Q. My child has dexterity/fine motor skills issues, will someone be able to support my child in getting properly dressed for going outdoors?
A. Yes, we will support the journey of dressing independently and will assist with buttons, zippers, and anything else needed so your child is appropriately dressed at all times. We can help with shoe-tying and implement programs to support this as well.
Q. Oak Bridge Academy is in a church. Is it a religious school? Will my child learn about religion?
A. No, although we have a wonderful relationship with Forward Church, Oak Bridge Academy is secular. Religion is not taught as our school.
Q. Is there ABA therapy during the school day?
A. No, there are no specific therapies during the school day. The Ontario curriculum is taught in a therapeutic environment with support from Behaviour Therapists who have ABA and ACT training as well as Educational Assistants. There are private speech language pathologists and occupational therapists who come in on various days to work with various students during their school day. We are able to arrange that for families, but it comes at an additional cost and is paid for or funded outside of Oak Bridge Academy tuition.
Q. My child has a service dog, can they bring the dog to school?
A. Yes, with proper documentation and advanced preparation, OBA students are welcome to bring their service dog to school each day.
