Signature Academics

Signature Programs

Developing Skills, Abilities, and Competencies

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

 

Academic Contests

Every year our students take part in Academic Contests in a variety of academic areas. These contests enrich what is taught in the classroom, challenge the students and allow them to compete on a provincial and national levels.

Academic Outings (Educational outings)

Through our Community Connections, North Star Academy Laval seeks to create well-educated individuals who become active citizens of the world- starting with the communities around them.
Bringing the world to our students and our students to the world is a key focus of the Academy.
As part of this initiative to inspire critical thinking and global citizenship within our students, educational field trips are an important part of our teaching practices. Through these outings, students experience real life applications of their in class pedagogy allowing them to make connections that make learning all that much more meaningful and long lasting.

French Immersion

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.

Sports and Leadership

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 events, 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
Music

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*)

  • Acoustic Guitar
  • Electric Guitar
  • Piano
  • Keyboards (variety of sounds)
  • Bass Guitar
  • Percussion
  • Drums (full set)
  • Voice

*Students are also welcome to bring in instruments of their choice.

Students
  • Choose songs to play
  • Write songs to play
  • Perform
  • Record
  • Train their ear
  • Learn to arrange
  • Benefit from professional musicians sharing their experiences
The program includes
  • 3-4 practices a week
  • 3 practices per cycle
  • Local performances at school events
  • 1 public concert performance a year
Hockey

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 faced with game losses or difficult times, they have developed positive strategies to push past these moments.

Hockey Signature Program Courses
  • English
  • History
  • Music
  • Français
  • Advisory/Ethics
  • Geography
  • Art/Drama
  • Science
  • Math
  • Physical and Health Education

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.

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