Located in the heart
of beautiful Old Oakville lies an 1856 historic mansion that now houses 370 day students from kindergarten to
Grade 12. MacLachlan College, founded in 1978, blends the principles of traditional learning with dynamic,
new teaching techniques and equipment.
As a candidate school for the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IB PYP), MacLachlan
students from kindergarten to Grade 6 are taught an enriched Ontario curriculum within the program framework
of the IB PYP. Through a program of inquiry, students are guided to think critically, going beyond the
confines of learning only within subject areas. The internationally recognized IB PYP acts as a powerful
launching pad, giving MacLachlan’s youngest students a solid foundation to achieve success in the greater
demands of the intermediate and senior grades.
MacLachlan’s intermediate and senior academic programs are taught within the framework of the school’s MCI3
philosophy: Inquiry, Integration and International Awareness.
Student knowledge is developed through an inquiry-based approach to learning: student-centred and
teacher-guided. The teacher acts as a facilitator and guides students to arrive at an understanding of
concepts through their own investigations and by taking responsibility for their learning.
All facets of the MacLachlan education are similarly tailored. Recognizing the unique abilities and strengths
of each student, the school offers its Everest Programme, which includes units for gifted students, elite
athlete programs, direct instruction modules and enrichment modules.
Senior students are provided with the opportunity to take advanced placement university credits, which gives
them a competitive edge on other university applicants and allows them to jump-start their post-secondary
education.
MacLachlan students enjoy a techno-logical advantage in addition to their superior education. Teachers are
equip-ped with laptops, and with the help of fundraising efforts of the MacLachlan College Parents’
Association, the school has purchased new Apple iPads to be used in the classrooms.
Every classroom is also equipped with a SMARTBoard. “The SMARTBoard is participatory technology used at
MacLachlan. Teachers and students use this technology to present subject material and interact during class
discussions. Everything that gets written on the SMARTBoard can be converted into a PDF and emailed to the
students and used as part of their course notes,” says Michael Piening, head of school.
MacLachlan students are dedicated to their community. Working in conjunction with the Me to We program,
students are taught the significance of the “we” — their impact in spreading awareness. “Our high school
students put together a no-logo, casual dress day to spread awareness of child labour,” says Piening. Next
year, Piening will be accompanying a group of MacLachlan students on a service trip to Arizona and Mexico.
Students will participate in leadership training in Arizona and then travel to a Mexican village to
assist with underprivileged children.
MacLachlan College is proudly accredited by Standards in Excellence And Learning (SEAL). The SEAL
accreditation process is internationally recognized and reflects the best standards in education. SEAL is a
unique collaboration among 95 of Canada’s finest independent schools, three of which are in Oakville.
How does a school achieve the mark of excellence? MacLachlan College achieves the mark of excellence by
having at its core A+ teachers who deliver A+ curriculum. •
