The Fernie Academy

About

The Fernie Academy is located at 451 Second Ave., Fernie, BC V0B 1M0 (mailing: P.O. Box 2677, Fernie, BC V0B 1M0). The school serves students in Kindergarten through Grade 12 and follows the BC Curriculum with certified teachers and instructors. It describes its approach as blending a rigorous curriculum with diverse extracurricular opportunities to foster well-rounded individuals, supported by a positive and supportive environment where students, families, and staff work together so children can develop their full potential and aim for excellence.

At a Glance

School type: Independent School (Southeast Kootenay)

Education language: The website notes that the school offers French, Spanish, and German as languages. The sources do not explicitly state the language of instruction for the core curriculum, and they do not describe an immersion or bilingual program or English-language learner (ELL) support.

Religious affiliation: None / Secular

Grades: K-12

Phone: 250 423-0212

Email: office@thefernieacademy.ca

Principal: Jocelyn Sombrowski

Education Languages

The website notes that the school offers French, Spanish, and German as languages. The sources do not explicitly state the language of instruction for the core curriculum, and they do not describe an immersion or bilingual program or English-language learner (ELL) support.

Programs and Services

**Academics (BC Curriculum)** The Fernie Academy is guided by the BC Curriculum, with core academic subjects including Language Arts, Math, Science, Social Studies, and Health and Career Education (HCE). The school also highlights increased instructional time and smaller class sizes. **Arts (visual arts, music, choir, dance, drama)** Students participate in art, music, dance, and drama. The school describes visual arts instruction (including visits from local artisans and trips to the Arts Station), music instruction (including ensemble work, reading music, and singing), weekly voice/choir, regular dance, and drama offered twice a week. **Languages (French, Spanish, German)** The school offers French, Spanish, and German; it notes that students in Grades 8–12 take one language each semester. **Athletics and extracurricular sports** The school also describes daily Physical Education for K–12 using community facilities, plus Friday afternoon recreation and fitness (including skiing, snowboarding, swimming, golf, skating, and hockey). **Accessibility & support (barrier reporting and accommodations)** The school provides an “Accessibility & Support” process for reporting accessibility barriers or helpful supports related to accessing programs, the building, school information, or receiving services/supports. Families can contact the school directly if accommodation is needed for a student, and an Accessibility Committee reviews feedback for future planning.

• Volleyball (Grades 6–12 extracurricular program)
• Hockey (U18 high-performance team; Hockey Skills Academy)
• Rugby
• Badminton
• Basketball
• Track and field
• Indoor soccer
• Rock climbing

School Culture and Expectations

The school emphasizes “rigorous curriculum” alongside “diverse extracurricular opportunities” to support well-rounded development. It describes a positive and supportive environment created through collaboration among students, families, and staff, aimed at helping children develop their full potential. The school also states that its community fosters a secure and inspiring learning environment and encourages students to aim for excellence in all aspects of their lives.

Enrollment

The Fernie Academy invites applications for admission at any point in the year. Families apply by submitting a completed application form, copies of the student’s most recent report card, and a $25 fee. Upon acceptance, additional documentation is required (including medical and identification records), and the school notes it reserves the right to refuse admission or re-admission based on student or parent conduct.