FAQ
When was Touchstone founded?
How many students are in each class at Touchstone?
Tell me about your teachers.
Why do your teachers choose Touchstone?
What curriculum is used at Touchstone?
What if a child has a gift in a certain area?
What are some of the themes the students study?
Provide some examples of the creative activities students participate in at Touchstone.
How often do classes go on field trips, and where do you go?
How are parents informed of what their children are learning?
How do parents receive information on their children’s academic progress?
What role do parents play at Touchstone?
What is the daily schedule at Touchstone?
Do your students take provincial standardized tests?
Who should apply to Touchstone?
When was Touchstone founded?
Touchstone opened its doors in September of 2000 with 10 students and one teacher. The school has since grown to its present number of 70 students and 11 staff, including both a French and a Music specialist.
Read Touchstone's History.
How many students are in each class at Touchstone?
Preschool – the Preschool class size will depend on the number of 3 and 4 year olds enrolled at the start of school. There are 2 teachers with this class at all times with a maximum of 17 students.
Junior Kindergarten – maximum 12 children
Senior Kindergarten to Grade 3 – maximum 14 children
Grade 4 & 5 – maximum 18 children
Tell me about your teachers.
The teachers at Touchstone are bright, enthusiastic, innovative, caring, and passionate about education – they go the extra mile for their students. Touchstone was founded for one reason – to give our children a first–rate education. Our teachers are the key to our success. For this reason, we spend a great deal of time finding the right teachers. The teachers we hire are at the top of their graduating class, come highly recommended by their supervisors and cooperating teachers, and go through a rigorous screening process with our Hiring Committee.
Why do your teachers choose Touchstone?
The small class sizes at Touchstone allow our teachers to be creative and flexible and ensure that the majority of instruction time is devoted to teaching and learning, rather than classroom management. There is a strong sense of community at Touchstone – everyone works together to create a positive and dynamic environment. Our teachers have the opportunity to get to know their students and families very well.
Touchstone offers a competitive salary, full benefits package, a savings plan, and professional development opportunities.
What curriculum is used at Touchstone?
Touchstone’s curriculum combines three key areas: Core Knowledge Sequence, student–teacher generated learning, and multicultural and community–based events and experiences. The Core Knowledge Sequence, which makes up 50% of the teaching content, is a curriculum used in over 400 schools. The Core Knowledge Sequence delivers a solid, coherent foundation for learning from an early age when children are most receptive.
The curriculum offered by the Core Knowledge Sequence is challenging, stimulating, and comprehensive. For example, our four and five year olds learn about the continents and oceans and study the art of Matisse; our six year olds learn about Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia, as well as electric circuits; our seven year olds study Greek Mythology and learn about the music of Vivaldi and Beethoven.
The Core Knowledge Sequence is a coherent plan that builds year–by–year. This prevents repetition and gaps in instruction. The Core Knowledge Sequence works well at Touchstone, as it allows our students to learn at their own pace and to be individually challenged.
Read about Learning at Touchstone.
What if a child has a gift in a certain area?
Every child has a gift. Whether that gift is in sports, the arts, or sciences, at Touchstone, we feel that each child’s gift should be celebrated. Touchstone encourages children to learn at their own pace. If a child is gifted in mathematics, for instance, that student can move ahead in the curriculum and feel the excitement of a challenge. With Touchstone’s small class sizes, every child has the opportunity to shine and, therefore, develops a strong sense of self esteem.
What are some of the themes the students study?
Students study about Mesopotamia and Ancient Egypt, Electricity, Canadian First Nations, and The Human Body. The curriculum provides a broad range of exciting, relevant themes of study.
View the full list of monthly themes, here.
Provide some examples of the creative activities students participate in at Touchstone.
Students at Touchstone can be seen making masks for a play, creating a “tornado,” working in small groups to make maps of Mexico, working with a buddy on a “math stumper,” and building bridges that stand up to “severe weather conditions” (a hair dryer). All students are given the opportunity to work individually, with a partner, in small groups, as a class, and on school–wide projects. These groupings simulate team work in “the real world.”
Every fall, each student chooses a country that he or she would like to study. Then in early December, Touchstone holds an “International Night.” On International Night, each child presents his or her model of a landmark from the chosen country. The children wear traditional dress, bring food from their chosen country, and perform music and dances from all over the world. The students' performances have included an Irish Jig, an African drum ensemble, a Chippewa lullaby, the Greek Zorba dance, and a song sung in Korean.
How often do classes go on field trips, and where do you go?
At Touchstone, we believe it is important for children to learn outside the classroom. They do this by visiting historical, cultural, and scientific sites that relate to the work they are doing in the classroom. Every class goes on a field trip once each month. On average, 9 or 10 parents attend each field trip. Our past field trips have included: Science East, Government House and the Ducks Unlimited Center in Fredericton, the Huntsman Marine Museum in Saint Andrews, the Geology Lab at UNBSJ, and the Imperial Theatre.
How are parents informed of what their children are learning?
At Touchstone, there is a great deal of communication between teachers and parents. Parents have a chance to speak with the teachers every day. Each week, the school principal emails students’ parents to update them on the activities and highlights of that week. Plus, teachers send home a list of topics and concepts about which parents can ask their children. This gives parents the opportunity to talk to their children about what they learned. The students really enjoy reviewing their week with their parents.
How do parents receive information on their children’s academic progress?
At Touchstone, extensive and comprehensive progress reports are provided two times per year. Each progress report has two sections. The anecdotal section describes the gifts the student possesses, the concepts and skills he or she will focus on over the next few months, and recognition of what makes the child special. The second section contains a complete list of every outcome of the Core Knowledge curriculum, as well as every outcome of the Atlantic Canada language arts and mathematics curriculum. At Touchstone, every child works at his or her own pace; therefore, students master concepts at different times.
Read Progress Report Checklists
What role do parents play at Touchstone?
All families are expected to participate in at least one of our parent committees. As with any group, our parents come from many different backgrounds and have different areas of expertise. Parents can choose from the following committees: Admissions, Building, Communications, Field Trip, Finance, Food, Fundraising, Special Events, Teacher Recruitment, and Technology.
On Wednesday afternoons, teachers work with their students in one–on–one reading sessions. This weekly one–on–one time with students is extremely beneficial, as the teachers have the opportunity to chart the progress of each student. During one–on–one reading time, parents have the opportunity to come into the classroom to work with the students. Some parents choose their own topics and plan their own activity. In the past, parent–chosen topics have included the following: the skeletal system, drama, art, veterinary work, law, music, photography, chess, and soccer. Through these visits to the classroom, parents are able to see their children in action, and the students see that their parents believe school is important enough to volunteer!
What is the daily schedule at Touchstone?
Classes begin promptly at 8:25 a.m. and end at 2:30 p.m. for the younger classes or 3:00 p.m. for the older classes. Because our classes are small and no bells ring at our school, our schedule is flexible. It is occasionally modified to explore and respond to students’ questions and interests, and to allow extra time for special experiments and activities.
In a small school such as Touchstone, little time is wasted on such things as waiting in lines, administrative tasks, and classroom management. Our students’ time is well spent.
A general outline of the day is as follows:
| 8:25–8:40 | Choice time or Class Meetings |
| 8:40–9:50 | Language Arts |
| 9:50–10:00 | Snack |
| 10:00–10:30 | Physical Education |
| 10:30–11:00 | French |
| 11:00–12:00 | Mathematics |
| 12:00–1:00 | Lunch and recess |
| 1:00–1:15 | Silent Reading |
| 1:15–2:30 (3:00 for older students) |
Science and/or History and Geography |
Note: Music and Art are often integrated into other subjects. In addition, there is 1 1⁄2 hours scheduled for Music and Art classes each week. This time is spent singing, learning an instrument, studying composers, learning music theory, working with an art specialist, studying the lives of famous artists, or doing individual or group art work.
Do your students take provincial standardized tests?
Yes, our students take provincial standardized tests, and we have consistently been extremely pleased with the results. Though our students perform well on the provincial standardized tests, our primary focus is not on preparing for these tests. We believe in a well-rounded approach to our students' education.
See how we compare to other schools.
Who should apply to Touchstone?
Touchstone is an alternative education choice for parents who believe in the philosophy of our school and who are committed to assisting in a practical and meaningful way. It is also for teachers who have the skills and passion necessary to effectively deliver the curriculum, using the teaching methods upheld by the school. Together, with our children, we strive for academic excellence.
