CAIS Accreditation Peer Review Report Summary, June 2026
Dear Bayview Glen Community,
As the 2025-2026 school year draws to a close, I am pleased to share the results of Bayview Glen’s Canadian Accredited Independent Schools (CAIS) accreditation review.
Accreditation is both a moment of reflection and an opportunity for growth. It invites us to consider who we are as a School and how we continue to live our mission with intention and care. I am deeply grateful to our students, faculty and staff, alumni, families, and Board for the collective effort, engagement, and pride you brought to this process.
The CAIS Peer Review Team affirmed many of the strengths that define Bayview Glen: a strong sense of community and belonging, a deep commitment to student well-being, and dedicated educators who know and care for their students. At the conclusion of the visit, Chris Shannon, Chair of the CAIS Accreditation Committee and former Headmaster of Lower Canada College, shared that “Bayview Glen is exemplary of what a high-achieving CAIS school should look like.” This affirmation reflects the everyday experience of our School, one grounded in curiosity, connection, and purpose.
The accreditation process also challenges us to look ahead. The recommendations align closely with our Be Bold Strategic Plan, reinforcing our focus on belonging, academic excellence, and innovation. As noted in the Peer Review Report, Bayview Glen is a “proud learning community” led by a “true culture of care,” which will continue to guide our progress in the years ahead.
Most importantly, this work ensures that we continue to provide an environment where students are known, supported, and inspired. Guided by our mission, “Whole Child. Purposeful Life. Better World.” we move forward with clarity, confidence, and gratitude.
Thank you for your continued trust, partnership, and belief in what we are building together.
James Lee Head of School
CAIS Accreditation Visit*
*Photo: CAIS Peer Review Team, Bayview Glen Senior Leadership Team, and Internal CAIS Self Study Team.
Summary of Commendations and Recommendations by Standard
Standard 1 – School Purpose
Commendation:
Bayview Glen is to be commended for the thoughtful and collaborative redevelopment of its vision, mission, and values, which are clearly understood and meaningfully reflected across the School community. The “Be Bold” strategic plan further brings this purpose to life, demonstrating strong alignment between intention and action. With clearly defined priorities and measures of success, the School has established a shared sense of direction that supports both current excellence and future growth.
Recommendation:
No recommendations were identified by the Peer Review Team (Team) for this standard.
Standard 2 – School Leadership
Commendation:
The Peer Review Team recognized Bayview Glen’s leadership as clear, inclusive, and forward-looking, with the Head of School fostering a culture of collaboration and trust. The School’s thoughtful and multi-layered approach to risk management reflects a proactive and well-considered leadership model that supports both stability and innovation.
Recommendation:
No recommendations were identified by the Team for this standard.
Bayview Glen is exemplary of what a high-achieving CAIS school should look like.
Chris Shannon
, Chair of the CAIS
Accreditation
Headmaster
Committee and former
of Lower Canada College
Standard 3 – Governance
Commendations:
The Board is commended for its strong and steady governance, particularly in its attentive financial oversight and its thoughtful stewardship during a successful leadership transition. The care taken to support the new Head of School during a period of meaningful organizational change reflects a highly engaged and responsive Board, further strengthened by the addition of an independent member with educational expertise.
Recommendations:
The Peer Review Team provided recommendations to further strengthen Board governance, including enhancing Board engagement in philanthropy, refining Head of School oversight and evaluation, strengthening Board meeting practices, implementing clearer term limits, and creating more time for generative strategic discussions.
Standard 4 – Education Program Foundation
Commendations:
Bayview Glen is recognized for clearly and consistently communicating its education program, alongside a strong and evident commitment to student safety. The School’s investment in well-maintained, thoughtfully designed learning environments enhances the student experience and reflects strong alignment between facilities and program delivery.
Recommendations:
As the School continues to build on these strengths, there is an opportunity to further strengthen consistency and shared understanding across the community. This includes ensuring that safety policies and procedures are widely understood and formalizing processes for evaluating thirdparty providers. In the longer term, a review of elements of the Lower School structure and schedule may help optimize learning time and support program effectiveness.
Standard 5 – Learning and Teaching
Commendations:
The School is commended for offering a rich and engaging learning experience grounded in pedagogical approaches that reflect students’ developmental stages. A wide range of academic, co-curricular, and leadership opportunities ensures that students are both challenged and supported, while varied reporting practices enhance communication and understanding of student progress.
Recommendations:
The Team encourages the School to build on this strong foundation by continuing to strengthen coherence and shared understanding across divisions. Opportunities include deepening the use of data to inform teaching and learning, as well as further developing clearly articulated scope and sequence documents and frameworks to support consistency and alignment school-wide.
Standard 6 – Student Well-Being and Support
Commendations:
A deep commitment to supporting the whole child is evident throughout Bayview Glen, supported by a strong learning support model and ongoing investment in Student Services. The enhanced focus on individualized guidance for academic pathways and post-secondary planning reflects a thoughtful and studentcentered approach that benefits both students and families.
Recommendations:
To further build on this important work, the Team suggests continuing to strengthen internal capacity to support the socialemotional needs of the community. Over time, developing a more unified, data-informed approach to student care across divisions may enhance continuity and alignment with the School’s broader strategic priorities.
Standard 7 – Essential Concepts
Commendations:
Bayview Glen is to be commended for fostering a culture in which students are seen as capable, confident, and engaged learners. The School’s strong commitment to belonging and pluralism is evident, complemented by a wide range of formal leadership opportunities that contribute meaningfully to students’ personal growth and sense of agency.
Recommendation:
As a natural extension of this work, the Team encourages the exploration of additional informal leadership opportunities, allowing students to further develop and apply leadership competencies in a broad range of authentic contexts.
Standard 8 – Custodial Care (Boarding, Homestay & Exchange)
Not applicable as Bayview Glen does not operate Boarding, Homestay, or Exchange programs.
Standard 9 – Recruitment and Community Engagement
Commendations:
The School is commended for its thoughtful and student-centered approach to admissions, guided by a strong emphasis on “best fit” and a commitment to equity. Clear internal communication practices, along with notable growth in annual giving, reflect a well-coordinated and increasingly strategic approach to community engagement.
Recommendations:
Looking ahead, there is an opportunity to further refine and align marketing, communications, and advancement efforts with the School’s strategic priorities. This includes strengthening planning and timelines, aligning advancement practices with sector standards, and ensuring that community and parent-driven initiatives complement broader institutional goals. Continued reflection on the impact of the tuition model will also support long-term accessibility and sustainability.
Standard 10 – Human Resources
Commendations:
Bayview Glen demonstrates a thoughtful and comprehensive approach to human resources, with strong practices supporting recruitment, onboarding, and retention. A clear commitment to professional growth, pluralism, and community belonging is reflected in both policy and practice, further strengthened by a strategically aligned Professional Development program.
Recommendations:
As these initiatives continue to evolve, the Team encourages ongoing attention to clear communication of policies. Continued review of staffing, compensation, and professional growth will support alignment with strategic priorities. This includes ongoing refinement of the Competency Model and Professional Growth Program, supported by feedback, tools, and targeted training to ensure consistency and impact.
Standard 11 – Finance
Commendation:
The School is commended for maintaining a comprehensive framework of financial policies and procedures, supported by consistent and transparent reporting to the Finance Committee and Board, reflecting strong oversight and fiscal responsibility.
Recommendation:
To support long-term sustainability, the Team recommends scaling Advancement functions and continuing to implement the tuition strategy to strengthen financial stability and support future strategic priorities.
Standard 12 – Facilities and Infrastructure
Commendations:
Bayview Glen is recognized for maintaining a clean, safe, and well-managed campus, with reliable transportation and strong operational systems. Notable strengths include robust disaster recovery protocols and a rigorous app authorization process that ensures alignment with pedagogical standards and data privacy requirements.
Recommendations:
The Team recommends developing a more comprehensive and measurable approach to environmental sustainability. In addition, it encourages the implementation of a structured professional development program focused on cybersecurity, data privacy, and regulatory compliance to further strengthen institutional practices.
About CAIS Accreditation
Bayview Glen is proud to be a CAIS-accredited school, reflecting our commitment to the highest standards in education, student well-being, and school operations. CAIS accreditation is a rigorous, ongoing process that ensures continuous improvement and accountability. Learn more about CAIS and explore the Accreditation Standards: www.cais.ca
Acknowledgements
We extend our sincere gratitude to the many individuals whose time, expertise, and thoughtful contributions made this accreditation process both meaningful and impactful. Their insights, collaboration, and commitment to excellence have helped strengthen our School and guide our continued growth.
Peer Review Team
CHAIR - Christopher Shannon, retired Head of School, Lower College Canada (Montreal, QC)
Blayne Addley, Head of School, St. John’s School (Kitsilano, BC)
Eliza Bianchi, Executive Director of Advancement, Holy Trinity School (Richmond Hill, ON)
Peter Buzzi, Board Chair, University of Toronto Schools (Toronto, ON)
Sarah Fleming, Head of Preparatory School, Upper Canada College (Toronto, ON)
Darren Jones, Assistant Head of School, Southridge School (Surrey, BC)
Geoffrey Kalil, Chief Operating Officer, Lower Canada College (Montreal, QC)
Andrea Nauf, Executive Director of H.R., Ridley College (St. Catharine’s, ON)
Matt Perrault, Director of Information Technology, Elmwood School (Ottawa, ON)
Mary Ellen Ryan, Elementary School Principal, Sacred Heart School of Halifax (Halifax, NS)
Alessandra Warkentin, Deputy Head of School, Wellness, West Island College (Calgary, AB)
CAIS Accreditation Team
Patti MacNicol, CAIS Peer Review Facilitator
Brenda Montgomery, CAIS Director of Accreditation
Holly Potter, CAIS Accreditation Coordinator
Internal CAIS Self Study Team
Brittany Camilleri, Lower School Learning Strategist
Troy Hammond, Dean of Student Life, Upper School
Gareth Jones, Lower School Educator
Rikki Landau, Upper School Educator
Board of Directors
Tracey Wong, Chair
Dan D’Alessandro, Vice Chair
Eric Borromeo
Christine Cruz-Clarke ’98
Jeremy Edwards
Jennifer Fiddian-Green, Chair of Finance Committee
Jason Fung, Chair of PRM Committee
Paul Mand ’92, Chair of Facilities Committee
Vineeta Nathan
Lisa Reikman, Chair of Advancement Committee
Frederick Strahle, Chair of Governance Committee and Board Secretary
James Lee, Head of School (Ex-Officio)
Scott Moore, Chief Operations Officer (Ex-Officio)
Senior Leadership Team
James Lee, Head of School
Dina Astrella, Head of Prep School
Rosa Colucci, Director, Human Resources
Jesse Denison, Head of Preschool and Lower School
Fiona Fenili, Head of Upper School
Scott Moore, Chief Operations Officer
Gillian Potts-Hemingway, Director of Preschool
Ryan Rodrigues, Executive Director, Advancement and External Relations