Fern Hill School has been an integral part of our son's life since age two. Seven years later, he continues to delight in the school's warm but challenging environment. Fern Hill provides a solid academic education supplemented with fabulous art, music and phys ed specialties. Its small size gives children the comfort and special attention they need to soar. We are so lucky we found Fern Hill. 

Katie Macmillan

Arriving to a new posting is never easy. Finding a house, a school and new friends. But Ottawa has been an easy one due to many different factors, among them - deciding the right school for our children aged 3 and 6. 

When we first visited Fern Hill we knew right away that this was the school we were looking for. Especially, due to it's highly qualified staff who, not only, take very good care of our children but also help them grow in knowledge, values and self-esteem. We highly recommend this school, hoping that our wonderful experience will be that of others to come.

Antonio Torres-Dulce
Deputy Head of Mission- Embassy of Spain

We were initially attracted to Fern Hill by the small class sizes, solid academic curriculum, and cozy atmosphere. Over the years, Fern Hill's professional and dedicated staff has continuously exceeded our expectations. Our two children, Derek and Kyle, are thriving in the unique learning environment. We have also had the privilege of developing a personal relationship with many of the staff, students, and parents. They have become part of our extended family!

Jean and Janice Champagne

My wife and I enrolled our daughter Isabel at Fern Hill in 2003 when she was two. It didn't take long to realize how right we were in our choice. The facilities are child-friendly, the atmosphere welcoming, and the teachers as mindful, as patient, and as stimulating as one can possibly expect. We've been able to follow the development of her intellectual and social skills all along and cannot but be full of praise for Fern Hill's methods.

Our daughter leaves home every morning with a big smile on her face. She has made many little friends since her first weeks at school and still keeps them today. Incidentally, we have made very good friends at Fern Hill too!

Valdemar Carneiro Leão
Ambassador of Brazil

One week after moving to Canada and starting Fern Hill School, my children got up at 6.00 am and could not wait for school to begin.

We breathed a sigh of relief: the move from Germany had gone extremely well for Hannah (6) and Toby (4). That was three years ago. Since then, we all have become part of the Fern Hill family.

Our children have thrived in this warmhearted and nurturing international school that makes learning enjoyable and teaches children values and respect for others.It is hard to imagine a better start point for a child recently arrived in Canada than Fern Hill.

Sabine Sparwasser
Chargé d'Affaires a.i. German Embassy

My boss has a great expression when he is expected to do, learn and absorb just too many things at once: "It's like drinking out of a fire hose," he says with an exasperated smile. 

When my husband and I moved our family from South Carolina to Ottawa last summer following a very sudden and never-expected diplomatic assignment, we found ourselves drinking out of that fire hose. We were overwhelmed! It was only the three "F's" - Faith, Friends and Fern Hill - that kept us from drowning that August!

For any parent who has ever tried to find a new school - let alone a new school in a foreign country - you know what I mean. It is excruciatingly stressful. But faith and the advice of wonderful new friends led us right to Fern Hill's doors and as the saying goes; the assistant principal had us at "hello." Even in the depths of summer in the echo of silent hallways, love and warmth poured out from this place. The staff was eager to help us in our transition north, reassuring us as we worked out a payment schedule, answering our mundane questions on everything from uniforms to our concerns about differing language styles.

Fern Hill is a small school with a huge heart. Our children have thrived under the dynamic instruction of the staff. One of the first things our 9-year-old said about his teacher was, "She's tough, but fair." That is exactly what we want for our kids - teachers who challenge but encourage them every step of the way.
We are especially delighted by the international flair at Fern Hill. It's a place where diplomatic families feel welcome. I was touched when our son learned first hand about the tearing down of the Berlin Wall from a classmate's mom. What an incredible life lesson that he'd never glean in the same way from a text book. Our 4-year-old comes home enthusiastic and excited about school every single day. That's a gift she's receiving today that will have life-long positive implications.

Fern Hill is a precious gem in the heart of our community and I feel so fortunate that for a time in their lives our children get to experience it.

Christy Cox
Chief of Staff to U.S. Ambassador David H. Wilkins