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Signature Programs and Activities: Your Path to Academic Success!

At North Star Academy Laval we provide quality contemporary private school education that enables students to be contributing and connected members of the community through a selection of signature programs. 
Our Signature Programs meet the needs of diverse learners by being forward looking. We prepare our students to compete and be successful in a world of endless information, technology and connectivity.

For success in the new creative economy and society, our students must graduate well rounded with new abilities, or creative capacities, in addition to what high schools have traditionally provided. Choose one of our programs and point your child to academic success.

In an ever expanding technological and socially connected world, students at NSA will have the unique experience of developing their competencies in real life situations through community-based connections. Students must be interdisciplinary in the way they learn and act; engage and are comfortable with complex systems and issues; and navigate a shifting career landscape. They must be technically savvy and capable with social media, and increasingly aware that collaboration is at the heart of their success.

They are less likely to have traditional jobs, and more likely to have regularly changing jobs that are ideas-driven, values-oriented, and entrepreneurial-dependent. Their success may be defined by how well they can integrate ideas, thinking across domains, and draw from carrying expertise and perspectives using socially specific skills they develop though various experiences as connected community members.

What are Signature Programs and Activities?

There are three categories of Signature Programs at North Star Academy:

  1. Signature ACADEMIC Programs
  2. Signature COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS
  3. Signature ACTIVITIES

Academic Signature Programs

Academic Signature programs are a focused approach in a particular field or discipline that allows students to deepen their learning in an area that they are passionate about. These programs provide an opportunity for students to develop their skills, abilities, competencies and to try out activities, tasks and have opportunities to see if this may be the area they will later pursue for a career.

Choice of Academic Signature Programs

French Immersion 
Sports and Leadership 
Music 
Hockey

Signature Program | French Immersion

North Star Academy supports the importance of being bilingual in Canada as way of opening doors for our students. Our French Immersion program is offered in grade 7 where certain academic subjects are taught in French.

Our students participate in French language contests and have placed in the top ten in a regional poetry contest, competing with mother-tongue French language speakers!

French Immersion Signature Program Courses

English 
Français 
Ethics (in French) 
Geography (in French) 
History (in French) 
Science 
Math 
Physical and Health Education 
Art

Economic benefits:

Canadians who speak both official languages earn more, on average, than those who speak only English or only French.

Cognitive benefits:

A number of studies have documented the cognitive advantages that speaking a second language confers. For example, many bilingual people have enhanced problem-solving skills because of their ability to attend to relevant information and disregard misleading information.

Cultural benefits:

French–English bilingualism enhances Canadians’ ability to participate fully in Canadian society.

Signature Program | Sports Leadership

Keeping bodies and minds active, a fantastic blend of sports and leadership! An opportunity to learn and practice leadership skills in context and across a variety of sports. Leadership is weaved throughout the program, with students in this program expected to participate in school-wide opportunities to put their leadership in action, such as refereeing lunch time intramural games, leading groups during events3, taking the lead for student-of-the-day visits, rallying House teams, and so on.

Sports and Leadership Signature Program Courses

Students are provided with an opportunity to have a go at several common and less common sports, exposing them to a variety of new skills, developing individual strengths and growing their leadership in a friendly competitive environment. 
Grade specific course schedule is followed with an additional 3 periods added for sports and leadership. Soccer 
Ball hockey 
Volley-ball 
Kayaking 
Golf 
Rock climbing

Signature Program | Music

Students with a keen interest in music have an opportunity to deepen their knowledge and skill through a music concentration program. Both highly advanced and absolute beginners will appreciate this opportunity. The mechanics of music and history of musical development will come alive through performing classically familiar tunes, current favorite songs and innovative, unique pieces. The creative process is nurtured while composing original works.

Grade specific course schedule is followed with an additional 3 periods added for music.

Musical Activities

(students may choose their instruments*)

*Students are also welcome to bring in instruments of their choice. However, at least one instrument played in real-time and in collaboration with peers, rather than only solo.

Students
The program includes

Signature Program | Somang-NSA Hockey Development Program

North Star Academy Laval is proud to be part of the Somang Hockey Development Program. Somang Hockey prides itself developing skilled hockey players who travel the world to participate in specialized camps, schools, programs and leagues in Canada, the United States, Europe and Asia.

Members of the hockey program benefit from the opportunity to learn and develop under one of the best technical coaches in North America – Francois Landreville. With over 50 games a year and 5 practices a week, these teams are a growing force in the hockey world.

Hockey player students are supported at NSA with a flexible schedule, with all course materials made available online and with after school tutoring available each day for them to keep up with their studies.

Benefits

The Somang-NSA Development Program helps players hone their hockey skills by offering daily training sessions built around their school schedules.

Players are able to further develop their game sense and game management skills from both a physical and mental stamina through a heavy game schedule of over 50 games per season.

Somang also focuses on helping their athletes develop the leadership and fortitude required in both sports and life, so that whether they are face with game losses or difficult times, they have developed positive strategies to push past these moments.

Hockey Signature Program Courses

Please contact Somang Hockey directly for complete details at 514-779-9401 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Signature Student Life

Signature Activities are weaved into high school life. These activities are what brings school spirit into the day-to-day learning, and which are an integral part of social development for teens. Opportunities include a blend of tradition, choice and social responsibility development.

Signature Student ife includes:

Required Activities 
15 Volunteer Hours 
In-house Extra-Curricular Activities (students select a minimum of 1 activity from a list of many offered at lunch or after school).

Member of a school based House team (Sapphire – Strength, Ruby – Knowledge, Emerald – Compassion, Amber – integrity) 

Monday mornings House Assembly

Choice Activities


Community outreach (NSA gives Back; AGAPE Holiday baskets; Year round Clothing Drive; etc. need text on these) 
NSA traditions (Gold Star Show, etc.)

Annual Trips

Although these trips are optional, students are highly encouraged to attend as the activities in class often build up to these trips or require a report or project after the trip. Field trips (local to international)

Grade 7: Morin Heights Camp 
Grade 8: Quebec City 
Grade 9: Boston/New York 
Grade 10: Ottawa 
Grade 11: International Europe Trip

Signature Community Connections

Signature Community Connections are weaved into the day-to-day teaching and learning and are what make North Star Academy stand out as a stellar private education institution. These programs include integrating real-life learning so that our teens can make connections between what they are learning in school and how this is relevant to their lives and to the world. Classroom assignments are developed around these grade specific activities.

Signature Community Connections Activities

Required Activities 
All grades 
Academic Contests 
Academic outings in the local community related to various subjects 
Guest speakers: Mothers Against Drunk Driving, Remembrance Day with the Legion, Specialty workshops 
Hosting local and international visitors