Our Curriculum
A Curriculum That Builds Confident, Capable Thinkers
We believe in learning to be, learning to learn, and learning to do. As a fully Alberta-accredited elementary school in Calgary, our curriculum not only meets provincial standards—it exceeds them by empowering young learners (ages 5–11) to think critically, own their progress, and turn knowledge into action.
A Day in the Life: What a Week Looks Like:
- 10–15 hours of real-world, hands-on projects
- 5 hours of Socratic discussions that spark critical thinking
- 15 hours of self-paced, inquiry-based core learning
- Daily movement—outdoors or indoors—to support focus and wellness
- Weekly outings that connect learning to life beyond our walls
- 100% gamified experience—badges, milestones, and fun systems that keep progress visible and exciting
The Skills That Build Their Future
Mastery-Based Learning
Learners move forward only once they’ve truly grasped a skill—not because the calendar says so. This eliminates gaps, builds confidence, and lets each child thrive on their own path.SMART Goals & Individualized Plans
Every learner designs their own learning journey with SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) goals, reviewed regularly to guide growth and celebrate wins.Confidence Through Communication
Our curriculum weaves in leadership, resilience, and emotional intelligence. Through daily Socratic circles and public presentations, learners sharpen their voice, empathy, and clarity.Collaboration & Leadership
Learners practice teamwork, resolve conflicts, mentor younger peers, and co-create the culture in their studio—growing leadership through action.Perseverance & a Growth Mindset
With 360° peer feedback, reflection, and consistent goal reviews, children learn to treat setbacks as stepping stones and mistakes as powerful learning moments.
Start Your Child’s Learning Journey
Our Approach
Building Your Child's Future: Essential Skills for a Changing World
Advanced educational technology empowers learners to master reading, writing, and math at their own pace, building confidence through measurable progress.
Daily, hands-on projects (“Quests”) equip students with the tools and skills to tackle authentic challenges and think like innovators.
Multiple times a day, learners engage in rich, guided discussions on heroes, history, and self-governance, sharpening their ability to think deeply, write clearly, and speak with confidence.
From art and engineering to technology and storytelling, students work with real tools and materials that replace worksheets with meaningful creation.
Written promises and covenants create a close-knit community where learners build authentic friendships and learn to resolve conflicts with honesty and empathy.
The Quest That Matters
Learning That Comes Alive
In place of worksheets, we offer immersive, interdisciplinary Quests—projects that let ideas meet impact:
Civic Engagement Quest: Learn how communities work through hands-on decision-making, mock city councils, and real-world service.
Financial Literacy Quest: Master money through Hero Buck budgeting, savings, investment simulations, and classroom marketplaces.
Entrepreneurship Quest: Build a business from the ground up: budgeting, planning, marketing, and leadership rolled into one real-world experience.
Renewable Energy Quest: Explore science through creating solar models, wind turbines, prototype testing, and hands-on experimentation.
Inspiring learners to own their growth
What Lights Their Fire: Intrinsic Motivation
We believe the deepest learning comes from within, which is why we’ve built a studio culture that makes progress visible, personal, and worth celebrating.
Learners earn Mastery Badges as tangible proof of skills they’ve mastered, creating a sense of achievement they can see and share. Our Hero Bucks System turns responsibility into a playful economy, rewarding effort, kindness, and personal growth.
Through Freedom Levels, learners gain more independence as they demonstrate reliability and leadership. Regular Peer Reviews encourage reflection, compassion, and an understanding of one another’s strengths and aspirations.
Turning milestones into moments
Celebrating Progress, Always
Progress at Acton Central is never hidden — it’s celebrated. Learners reach earned milestones marked by badges in core skills like reading, writing, math, and character development.
Every 5–7 weeks, public exhibitions give them the stage to present their “quests” and share both what they’ve learned and how they’ve grown.
This journey is guided by peer-driven growth, where self-governance and feedback help every learner build responsibility, confidence, and the habits of a lifelong learner.
