Program seeks to build up student performance

Steve Lee hopes to transform today’s junior high and high school students into the Ivy League scholars of tomorrow.

The founder of A4 Academics, an after school academic school on Yonge Street near Glebe Road, wants to get students ahead of the curve in the classroom.

“We want to make students globally competitive,” Lee says. He cites Korea and Japan as countries where after school academic
programs have become the norm.  

“We believe kids should be going to extra schooling at least two to four hours a week.”   

A4 Academics offers a writer’s craft class for students in grades 7-12, and math and spelling bee classes for elementary students. Teachers at A4 are also designing a money management course.

The curriculum is based on small class sizes and interactive teaching methods, offering an alternative to traditional extracurricular activities.

“We’re trying to create a program that not only stresses academics, but also stresses social development, social skills, and presentation skills,” Lee says. “The idea is to generate self-confidence.”

Teacher Rika Lewis says she takes what the kids know and brings it to another level.

“Because classes are small, we can determine where we can enrich and challenge students more,” she says.

The direct interaction with the teacher makes students more comfortable asking questions.

“Kids in public school don’t always get a chance to participate or offer an opinion,” says Lewis, who also teaches students at a Catholic elementary school.

Lewis has so much confidence in the program she has enrolled her son Nathaniel in the writer’s craft course. She says that students are enjoying the program and seem genuinely excited to be there.