French classes are taught for an hour once a day by a French teacher. The aim of the program is to develop basic communication skills in French and an understanding of the nature of the language. Children of the same age/level attend classes together in the traditional format. Text books and work books are used for this class. Overseas or exchange students have English Classes while the other students are taught French.

Students are encouraged to research subjects of particular interest to themselves. There is no limit to the range of projects that can be undertaken, and each student works to her own personal best level of ability.

Through this work students learn how to learn. They continue to build on the methods for finding information, evaluating it, organizing it and presenting it using a range of strategies: tables, graphs, webs, flowcharts, maps, spreadsheets and timelines. They use their language skills to write, edit and proofread their work.

They continue to refine their understanding of the laws of copyright, know how to prepare bibliographies and tables of contents, and use footnotes and subtext. They work collaboratively and are not afraid to share their knowledge since there is no competition or class ranking.

This approach has value for the weak or underachieving student just as well as for the gifted one. They all work towards achieving a personal best. Weaker students will learn from the standards set by those who are more capable while the stronger students will research at a deeper level. No student is restricted by specific curriculum goals that must be met within a grade year.

History in the Renaissance class follows the Ontario curriculum. The students use an interdisciplinary knowledge base in order to research topics of particular interest.

The children have music classes once a week with a music/band teacher. Band is mandatory. They have the choice of learning clarinet, flute, snare drum, trombone or tuba. The children listen to, perform and create music, and compose their own words for familiar tunes using their knowledge of rhythm to ensure the new text fits with the melody. The children are taught to read familiar music that contains whole notes, half notes, quarter-notes and eighth-notes and their corresponding rests in 4/4 time. Children are taught to vocally or instrumentally produce the same pitch as others and identify meters and the corresponding time signatures in the pieces they play or sing. They are taught to play instruments with expression and proper technique and to use correct musical terminology.

Visual Arts
The Visual Arts program at the Renaissance level is taught by an Art specialist who comes in once a week. The program is also integrated into the curriculum by their teacher. The children also produce works for special events and two or three dimensional works of art that communicate a range of thoughts, feelings and experiences for specific purposes and to specific audience. They identify strengths and areas for improvement in their own work and that of others and describe possible strategies for improving their work. Art history is taught in conjunction with creative projects.

Drama
Drama is integrated into the curriculum and is taught by the teacher. The children memorize and present, through drama, a short play based on source material. They select appropriate themes that deal with specific situations and are aimed at a specific audience, and produce work as a member of an ensemble. Children are expected to be able to understand the appropriate use of the voice, gestures and the level of language in different dramatic situations and identify ways of sustaining concentration in drama, focusing on the character's motives in order to stay in character.

Dance
Dance is integrated through the Physical Education program. The children are encouraged to communicate, through movement, their thoughts and feelings about topics. Children are taught folk dancing as a part of the Phys-ed curriculum. At the end of the year, children are expected to recognize and choose appropriate elements of movement for dramatizing their responses to different stimuli or ideas.

Healthy eating is stressed at Blaisdale Montessori School. The children are encouraged to bring fresh fruits and vegetables for refreshments. We discuss the benefits of healthy food choices, allergies, physical activity, healthy bodies and dental health. We discuss safety procedures and practices at home, school and in the community. Personal safety topics such as peer pressure, bullying, road safety, sun protection, evacuations, and fire safety are also discussed. We arrange occasional visits from the Fire Department and Police Department who reinforce this. A Health Nurse comes in once or twice a year to discuss the major parts of the reproductive system and their functions, and relate them to puberty, menstruation, fertilization and birth control. The nurse also discusses the influences of drugs, alcohol and the legalities of them. Generally, all of the students in the Renaissance class attend this discussion, however, it is not mandatory. We expect that the children will be able to use living skills to address most personal safety and injury prevention issues.

Physical Education
The school has Physical Education classes twice a week. A Physical Education specialist teaches the children once a week and the classroom teacher teaches the other day of the week. The children are taught movement skills that are required to participate in the physical activities in the program.

The school has six Physical Education modules it follows throughout the year: