Courses for homelearners (kids), events...

Montreal Free School - NDG. A new network of people aiming to organize free courses for adults and/or kids. Contact by email or at (514) 357-2090. They also have a Facebook page.

Swim & Gym for Homeschoolers - at the Aquadome in Lasalle. Wednesday afternoons, for ages 3-12.

Swim & Gym for Homeschoolers - at the Malcolm-Knox Aquatic Centre in Pointe-Claire. Tuesday afternoons. Contact Angie.

Drawn & Quarterly - A Mile-End comic book store and publisher, offers weekend courses for kids in drawing, making comics, and silkscreening.

Art Workshops at the Museum of Contemporary Art - Downtown. Sunday afternoon workshops for ages 4-14. No reservation required.

Art Classes at Concordia University - Downtown. Groups for ages 3-5 and 6-12. Info (514) 457-2359.

Art Classes at the Visual Arts Centre - Westmount. For ages 4-5. Info (514) 488-9558.

Drawing, Painting & Sculpture at the Visual Arts Centre - Westmount. Groups for ages 6-8 and 9-12. Info (514) 488-9558.

Figure Drawing at the Visual Arts Centre - Westmount. For ages 13-17. Info (514) 488-9558.

Saidye Bronfman Centre for the Arts - Snowdon. Courses for young people in painting, drama, drawing, cartooning, hip hop and more.

Jewelry Making Workshops - For all ages. Info (514) 817-2322.

Henna Tattoo Workshops - For ages 11-18. Info (450) 689-9493.

Montreal Children's Library - Three branches: Atwater, Richmond & Jean Rivard. Science club, arts & crafts, games club, chess club and pre-school storytime. All free.

Bird Watching on Mount Royal - Saturdays until March 22, 2008. Meet at the Smith House at 1pm. Ages 6 and up (or able to walk 2.5 km). Free. Info (514) 843-8240.

Learning centres, tutoring, correspondance courses, ...

Advance Tutors - Downtown. Reading, Math, French & English.

Oxford Learning - Dollard-des-Ormeaux.

ESL & Lifelong Learning Centre - English as a second language tutor with a humanistic liberal philosophy.

Schools:

French public alternative elementary schools. These are the most "child-centred" public schools in Montreal, and there is nothing similar offered in the English system. They have multi-aged groups, allow students to manage their own time, and encourage projects based on the student's interest. (However, they still follow the Quebec curriculum, they still have desks and chairs and bells and tests and many of the other trappings of regular school.) Parents are expected to be very involved, coming into the classroom as well as participating in outings and events. These schools are not zoned like most neighbourhood schools: anyone living within the school board's zone may apply and you are given no priority for living close by. Every year there are more applicants than spaces, and there are only new spaces for kindergarten and grade 3. Most of these schools allow you to pre-register (get on the waiting list) a year and a half in advance.

Ecole Albatros - Pointe-de-l'ile School Board, Anjou.

Ecole Arc-en-ciel - Commission Scolaire de Montreal (CSDM), Plateau.

Ecole Atelier - CSDM, Ahuntsic.

Elan - CSDM, Plateau.

Etoile Filiante - CSDM, NDG.

Jonathan - Marguerite-Bourgeoys School Board, Ville St-Laurent.

Nouvelle-Querbes - Marguerite-Bourgeoys SB, Outremont.

Rose-des-vents - CSDM, Rosemont.

 

French public alternative high schools:

Le Vitrail - CSDM, Hochelaga-Maisonneuve.

Paul-Gerin-Lajoie-d'Outremont - Marguerite-Bourgeoys SB, Outremont.

 

French private alternative schools. An interesting alternative if you can afford it. The Waldorf school is partly subsidized and costs about $5000 a year (compared with most private schools at $10,000 to $15,000). The Montessori school costs $6000 to $8000 a year. Read more about Waldorf and Montessori methods on Wikipedia. (Note: some people have criticized Waldorf schools, claiming them to be too rigid and even cult-ish. Read more here.)

Rudolf Steiner de Montreal (Waldorf) - PreK to grade 8. NDG.

Montessori International - Elementary. Ville St-Laurent.

 

French public specialized schools. These schools are much like regular public schools with an enriched area (arts, science, etc). They are not zoned like most neighbourhood schools: anyone living within the school board's zone may apply and you are given no priority for living close by.

Ecole Cardinal - High school. Culinary, computers, electrical, plumbing, auto mechanic, carpentry. Outremont.

Ecole Edouard-Monpetit - High school. Professional dance training. Hochelaga-Maisonneuve.

Ecole MGR-Richard - High school. Sports. Verdun.

Ecole Pierre-Laporte - High school. Music. TMR.

Ecole Saint-Laurent - High school. Science and sports. Ville St-Laurent.

FACE - Elementary & high school. Visual arts, music, drama. Downtown.

 

English public specialized schools. These schools are much like regular public schools with an enriched area (arts, science, etc). They are not zoned like most neighbourhood schools: anyone living within the school board's zone may apply and you are given no priority for living close by.

FACE - Elementary & high school. Visual arts, music, drama. Downtown.

Holy Cross - Elementary. Hockey and arts. Ville St-Laurent.

Royal Vale - Elementary & high school. Math and science. NDG.

Lester B. Pearson - High school. Science and sports. Montreal North.

Royal West Academy - High school. Math and science. NDG.

Vincent Massey Collegiate - High school. Math and science. Rosemont.

 

English public alternative high school: Definately worth checking out.

MIND (Moving In New Directions) - Grades 9 to 11. Plateau.