Gables

We removed our child from this school because we found it authoritarian, provincial, and they do not walk the talk - children are asked what adults (especially admin) fails to provide. Narratives are skewed to fit the goals of certain people. The school uses media as propaganda, they will promote themselves through green initiates to obtain accolades but their end of the year ceremony stage will be decorated with hundreds of balloons. They make students and teachers dress in certain colors so their media looks nicer, everything is about looks with little to no real purpose. This year they had students build worm farms but their campus is carpeted with artificial turf which has successfully killed all the worms on earth, it is ironic. They also use plastered the chain link fences with plastic vines. When parents tried to provide natural plantings the principal said the fence could not be covered. The education we sought does not align with the message, we want our children to be confident and feel safe at school. The school scores very well in standardized test because they receive public funds for doing so - but that comes at a cost. Science and social studies classes are skipped, and some students are made to leave. There are great public schools but parents must be willing to drive a little further - 15 minutes away. This school thrives because it is located in an area where there are not many A rated choices and because of political affiliations.

The school left my child feeling neglected and stifled her eagerness to learn. The principal is unresponsive and indifferent, rarely, if ever, returning emails or calls. My child's teacher was absent for most of the year, forcing a revolving door of substitutes making it impossible to establish any structure or routine for the children. The school had no ability to control the students and foster a nurturing and supportive learning environment. Instead, teaching the children they cannot rely on the administration for anything meaningful. The class became a self governed group of children trying their best with an adult present offering no support.

As a current teacher and Alumni of CGHS, this is, without a doubt, the worst school I have ever taught and studied at. The primary factor for this is the teachers, especially Diana Van-Wyk. She is the "IB Coordinator" of the school, who demonstrates clear favoritism, laziness, apathy, and sexism. As a counsellor and coordinator of such a prestige program such as the IB, I would expect her to care for her students and support them fully through their academic journey, as would most people. However, since she has joined this school years ago, I have seen a noticeable decline in student mental health, overall happiness, and communication with teachers. This is what inspired me to become a teacher, so I could be everything she isn't. Furthermore, I have received multiple student complaints about her, and her failure of communication as well as her stubbornness. I don't think she understands that the students she deals with are socially maturer than most, perhaps indicating why she refuses to admit she's wrong. It is in the best interest of the school to remove her as a faculty.