Learn about ACRES

At ACRES our purpose is to assist parents in fulfilling the promise they made at the baptism of their children, namely, to raise them in the ways of the LORD.

Our mission statement says:

"To assist parents with the education of the children of the covenant, so that they may be well equipped to serve the Lord in all of life."

There are many opportunities to become involved at ACRES. At present these committees include the Education Committee, Human Resources Committee, Building Committee, Finance Committee, Promotion Committee, Transportation Committee, IT Committee, Future Needs Committee, Policy & Research Committee. There are also Vouchers, Fundraising, Catering, Springfest, Decorating, Hot Lunch, Library, Book Review, Cleaning and Kitchen committees.

Our school hours are from 8 a.m. to 2:50 p.m, Monday to Friday. Students have two breaks each day, a recess in the morning and immediately after lunch.

At ACRES we are committed to meeting the needs of all God’s covenant children as best as we reasonably can. If your child has special needs, we are most willing to sit down with you prior to the beginning of school and come up with a strategy to accommodate, as best as possible, your child in a classroom setting. Special needs includes students who face learning challenges as well as those who require more learning challenges.  We also have a resource room that can help when and where needed. Please contact our principal and special education teacher for further details.

To begin with, school agendas are a great way to communicate. Parents are asked to check their child’s agenda daily for any notes the teachers may have sent home. Similarly, parents can write a note or ask a question to their child’s teacher through the agendas. The school will be providing every child with an agenda. In addition, ACRES has a log-in area called "MY ACRES" on its website where parents are able to see notices about what is happening in their children’s classroom, as well as access other relevant information. Finally, open communication between home and school is encouraged, so e-mail and/or telephone calls are always welcome.

At least twice each year the Attercliffe Canadian Reformed School Society conducts membership meetings. These are held in the fall and springtime. The agendas are sent out several weeks before the meeting.

Yes, parents are expected to provide their child(ren) with a number of items (labeled where necessary please!) for the first school day in September and replace them as necessary. Don’t worry, we always have a meet-your-new-teacher day before school starts and, if you like, these items can be put in the classroom at that time so children don’t have to lug them all to school on the first day.

An updated list will be linked here soon.

Voucher Program

Held throughout the year, this program is instrumental in raising funds for budgetary relief. Interested people purchase gift cards on a regular basis for vendors that they frequent regularly, such as grocery stores, gas stations, department stores, and restaurants, etc. These gift cards are purchased by the committee at a discount and purchased at full price by the participating people, thereby bringing a profit to the school. Further information is available on our voucher program page, and you can direct all of your questions to our Voucher Committee.

ACRES Fundraising Committee (AFC)

Held regularly throughout the year, this committee raises funds to support our school community. Further information is available on our fundraising page.

ACRES Tuition Reduction Drive

This fundraiser is organized in line with the Scriptural principles of being a hand and foot to each other within the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:12-26) and contributing according to what the Lord has given us (2 Cor. 8:12-15). Of course, anyone may donate to the school at any point during the year; however, each year, ACRES has a more focused drive, specifically to raise funds to reduce tuition.

The Board of the Attercliffe Canadian Reformed School Society operates ACRES. ACRES is a not for profit corporation and is subject to the requirements of the Ontario Not for Profit Corporations Act.  A number of standing committees serve the Board. The Board and committees are elected or appointed by the members of the school society. If you are a member of a Canadian Reformed Church or United Reformed Church, or a church with whom we have a sister-church relationship.

If you are interested in becoming a member of the school society and meet the criterion above and have questions about enrollment, or have further questions that aren't answered on the website, please contact office@acreschool.ca or board.treasurer@acreschool.ca.

Parents and other members of the school society are encouraged and welcome to get involved at ACRES. There are many ways you can do this: help on one of the committees, participate in the fundraisers, or join our team of regular volunteers and classroom helpers. A Volunteer Form will be sent home during the first week of school outlining the various areas of need. Please prayerfully consider being involved.

A significant way you can help what school is by participating in school cleaning and grass cutting.  Since ACRES is considered a community school, all able bodied members of the supporting churches are invited to participate.  These cost-saving projects assist with keeping tuition manageable for the parents of our supporting churches.

At present ACRES uses the services of STC buses for transportation. On the morning route, ACRES buses will pick up elementary students, as well as the high-school students from Guido de Brès High School. After arriving at ACRES, the high-school students will continue to Guido. In the afternoon, elementary students will go home on an ACRES bus and high-school students will go home on a separate Guido bus.

ACRES is committed to providing families with the best busing service it can. At the same time, where a family lives and how many other families are living in that same area are factors that need to be considered. Bus service cannot be guaranteed or given to all members. If you have specific questions about bus service in your area, please contact transportcomm@acreschool.ca.

ACRES’s tuition rates are per family. All tuition paying families pay the same rate regardless of the number of children in school.

Kindergarten is offered for students in the year prior to entering Grade 1. Kindergarten students attend classes 2 days a week for the entire school year. These days are assigned at the beginning of each school year.

ACRES Newsmaker

This brief newsletter is sent out every week to parents via email, posted on the ACRES web portal, and sent home as a paper copy. This publication features many activities and studies planned by the various teachers at different grade levels. Also, in a timely fashion, it includes all information deemed necessary for the parents to be aware of.

ACRES School Magazine

The ACRES Magazine is a larger publication that comes out 6 times per year. It is designed to keep up contact between the school and the entire membership of the school community. It typically includes comments from the chairman of the board, the principal, and the treasurer, as well as committee reports (e.g., transportation,  mission, etc). From time to time, it may also include library and voucher reports and a sample of some of the school work being done at ACRES. Finally, it may also include any other reports or articles deemed appropriate by the board and principal.

The purpose of ‘pre-tuition’ is to help ease young families into the full tuition category and to spread the total cost of their children’s education over more years. Further, it helps to increase the overall revenue for the budget and therefore lowers the rate for the full tuition category. For this reason, before a family sends their first child to grade one at ACRES they are expected to donate the equivalent of three year’s half-tuition before enrolling their first child in school.  Any monies paid during the five years prior to enrolment will be counted toward this pre-tuition.
If you are interested in having your children join ACRES School when your children are older than Kindergarten, you will need to reach out to the Board to apply for this.  Upon approval the Finance and Promotion Committee will follow up with you to make pre-tuition arrangements.

Assemblies are scheduled on or around the first day of school, Reformation Day, Remembrance Day, the start of Christmas holidays, Easter, and the last day of the school year. Other assemblies may be scheduled if there are specific occasions or special guests in the area. Parents, grandparents and any interested guest are most welcome to attend.

Precise times and details are provided on our website, in our weekly newsletter, The ACRES Newsmaker, and regular notices in the church bulletins and email groups.

Yes, you can find the dress code policy here.

No. Bus services are included with tuition.

Each Spring, we host a special day for parents, grandparents, and seniors in our school community. All parents are welcome to visit the classroom and experience a taste of school life at ACRES. Students will also send special invitations to their grandparents, as well as other senior citizens in our community, to come to the school and join us. It is held in the morning with coffee and treats and may also include student presentations. At noon a special luncheon will be provided in the gym for grandparents and seniors. We appreciate our visitors and are privileged to honour our seniors! This event is one of the highlights of the school year for our staff and students. The exact date will be posted each year on the school calendar.