The Kengard School has been a part of SD 58 since the 1970's, and originally opened its doors as an “open space school,student-centered classroom design. In this experimental elementary school design, the architecture plans so that the physical walls separating classrooms were removed. This was done to promoted movement across class areas by teachers.
“The idea of this open concept classroom was that a large group of students of varying skill levels would be in a single, large classroom with several teachers overseeing them. Rather than having one teacher lecture to the entire group at once, students are typically divided into different groups for each subject according to their skill level for that subject. The students then work in small groups to achieve their assigned goal. Teachers serve as both facilitators and instructors.”[i]
This idea that students 'should be allowed to learn in ways suited to their individual differences,' as opposed to traditional classroom boxes with desks lined up in rows has been a constant set of values in this building till this very day. Today the building runs three unique and exciting programs, a Distance Education program, an Alternative Education program and a Continuing Education program.
Distance education or distributed learning (SCIDES) is a mode of delivering education and instruction, often on an individual basis, to students who are not physically present in a traditional setting such as a classroom. Distance learning provides "access to learning when the source of information and the learners are separated by time and distance, or both."[ii]
Alternate education programs (CLC) focus on educational, social and emotional issues for students whose needs are not being met in a traditional school program. An alternate education program provides its support through differentiated instruction, specialized program delivery and enhanced counselling services based on students’ needs.[iii]
Continuing education (CLC) is a program for adults who have not graduated (non-graduated adults) may take courses leading to the British Columbia Certificate of Graduation (the Dogwood) or leading to the Adult Graduation Diploma (the Adult Dogwood). It is also for adults who have graduated (graduated adults) may take specific courses tuition-free under certain conditions.[iv]