Meadowridge School

We are honoured to welcome an accreditation team this week from the recently amalgamated CAIS/CESI. The Canadian Association of Independent Schools/Canadian Educational Standards Institute (CAIS/CESI) is the largest, non-profit, national accrediting organization in Canada with a mission to develop and promote educational excellence in independent schools.

One of just three schools in BC to be granted membership by CESI in the fall of 2007, the accreditation visit is the culmination of a two year process of internal evaluation and planning by the Meadowridge School Society Board and staff. The essence of this process is that the school examined all aspects of their programs and operations, seeking to discover their strengths, weaknesses, and future strategic plans, examining how well their program fulfils our mission, and measuring ourselves against the CAIS/CESI standards of accreditation.

Led by Principal Ian Robinson of Stirling Hall School in Ontario, a twelve member Visiting Committee will be working from the school’s Internal Evaluation over the next three days, meeting with the entire community. The team will then offer objective comment on the school’s findings, and make suggestions and recommendations to contribute to the on-going growth of the school.

Schools which have completed a CAIS/CESI Evaluation invariably find that the processes of school improvement and the setting of strategic goals and directions are greatly enhanced by the process. The accreditation process ensures an arm’s length evaluation of the school and enables each school to be more accountable to all of its constituents.

A CAIS/CESI accreditation is also a symbol of stability and best practices that families can rely upon when seeking out independent school options for their children.

This is the first accreditation visit to take place since the merger of CAIS and CESI and as such is of extreme interest in independent schools across the Canada and International Baccalaureate Schools around the world.

A testament to this level of interest is the presence of both Anne-Marie Kee, Executive Director of CAIS/CESI, and Marta Rodger, Director of Accreditation for the International Baccalaureate who will be observing the visiting committee in action.

For more information on CAIS/CESI, please visit www.cesi.edu