African-Canadian Christian Network invites applicants to its 2023 Independent School Program

BY PAUL JUNOR

It has been over seventeen years since the African-Canadian Christian Network (ACCN) has been at the forefront of providing opportunities for elementary students from African-Canadian backgrounds. The motto of ACCN is “Nurturing Promise, Harvesting Potential.” According to its website: accntoronto.com, its Independent School Program was strategically developed by ACCN to ensure that Black youths are equitably represented at the top private schools in the GTA.

In order to apply for these scholarships, the applicants must satisfy these requirements:

• Demonstrate a strong academic foundation
• Be involved with co-curricular and extracurricular activities
• Have great leadership skills and a healthy sense of community
• Demonstrate good personal and social development
• Be resilient
• Be collaborative/good team player
• Have great organizational skills
• Be well-rounded/balanced
• Have critical thinking skills

Qualified candidates will be interviewed by a committee of educators and volunteers with the ACCN who will review the applications and invite the boys and girls who fit the criteria, along with their parents, to an interview. The names of students who are successful in this initial interview will be forwarded to the schools. The partnered schools will then decide on the students that they would like to interview.

Many of the participating schools expect students to write the Secondary School Aptitude Test (SSAT). Parents should check the schools to find out if it is necessary. It is important the parents secure a date  (online or in-person) when their child will write the examination before the interview date with the school as well as check the school’s website or www.ssat.org for schedules. Virtual SSAT Group training for students who completed the ACCN independent School Application will be available starting November 2^nd, 2022.

Financial aid will be offered to boys or girls who are not able to pay the tuition for these schools. You can learn more about Financial Aid Canadian Students (FACS) from the website: https://www.applefinancialservices.ca/ home

Parents who are interested in applying through ACCN Partnership should:

• Complete the ACCN application
• Send the teacher’s evaluation to your child’s teacher and inform him/her of the completion deadline

I interviewed Cheryl Lewis, Executive Director of ACCN on Wednesday, October 19^th, 2022, about the program. Cheryl has been with the ACCN since it was started in 2005 and she knows first-hand the many Black boys and girls from across the GTA who have benefited from this unique program. She told me that there have been over 100 students who have graduated from these private schools so far. One of them has gone on to become a Rhode Scholar and is studying at Oxford University in England.

She is particularly excited about the widespread response to the program this year. She encourages parents, caregivers, and guardians of Black children to apply early. There is a lot of work that is involved in ensuring that each applicant fulfils all the requirements.

The application submission deadline is Friday, November 11^th, 2022. Qualified applicants will be virtually interviewed by the ACCN on, or before Saturday, November 19^th, 2022. The accepting schools will further interview successful students.

Once the ACCN application is completed, it is important to email: info@accntoronto.com for available SSAT waivers, stating your first pick school. It is important to know that ACCN has no access to applications submitted directly to the schools as they are not considered part of the ACCN’s process.

Parents, guardians or caregivers who are interested in the ACCN can check their website: www.accntoronto.com