Norma Rose Point School: A Parent's Perspective on Growing Up at UBC
For families considering a move to UBC, one of the things worth looking into is the local school system. Having lived at UBC for over 20 years, I've had the opportunity to experience the neighbourhood not just as a resident, but also as a parent.
My daughter attended Norma Rose Point School after transferring from a Catholic school in Grade 7 in 2016. She's now a student at the University of British Columbia, so it's interesting to look back at her school years and how growing up in the UBC neighbourhood shaped our family's experience.
Our Experience as Parents
When we first visited Norma Rose Point, the school was still relatively new, having opened just a year or two earlier. The building looked bright, clean and modern, with an open-concept design that was quite different from a traditional school.
One of the advantages of living at UBC is having schools within walking distance. From our home in Hawthorn Place, Norma Rose Point was an easy walk, making the daily school routine very convenient.
We also found the parent community welcoming. We got to know other parents through the school and made some good friends along the way. Many of the families we met were connected to UBC, including professors and university staff.
A Student's Perspective
I also asked my daughter to reflect on her time at Norma Rose Point now that she's older and attending UBC.
One of the things she remembers most is the school's open-concept classroom design. She enjoyed the layout and particularly liked the natural light coming through the large walls of windows. She found the learning environment refreshing compared with more traditional classroom layouts.
But beyond the physical surroundings, it was the friendships that made the biggest impression.
She made several good friends at Norma Rose Point and still keeps in touch with some of them today. She also remembers getting along well with the other students.
Although she already knew some children from growing up on campus and attending daycare at UBC, she quickly settled into the school and made even more friends. Many of those friendships have lasted to this day.
She also remembers the teachers being enthusiastic and committed to the school's teaching approach. Their involvement made a positive impression on her.
Looking back, she feels attending Norma Rose Point helped prepare her for the transition to University Hill Secondary (UHill). She was already familiar with many of the students who moved on to Grade 9 there, which made starting high school a little easier.
Growing Up at UBC
Looking back, we're happy with our decision to have our daughter attend Norma Rose Point. Having a school within walking distance, being part of a welcoming parent community and seeing her develop friendships that have lasted well beyond her school years were all positives.
For families considering living at UBC, schools are naturally an important part of the decision. Norma Rose Point is one of the neighbourhood's important community features and worth looking into if you're considering raising a family here.
Having experienced it ourselves as parents, we're glad it was part of our daughter's time growing up at UBC.
If you're considering moving to UBC, you may also be interested in my article about grocery shopping in the neighbourhood, comparing the convenience and prices of No Frills and Save-On-Foods.
Thinking about moving to UBC? Take a look at the latest homes and condos currently available in the neighbourhood.
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