Two Years at Maple Bear: An Interview with the Vacek Family

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Choosing the right school is an important decision for every family. For the Vacek family, originally from the Czech Republic and currently living in Bulgaria, Maple Bear Elementary School was a clear choice. We asked them why they chose Maple Bear for their son Matěj’s education, how satisfied they are with the school, and what they see as the main benefits of the Canadian curriculum, educational system, and overall quality of teaching at Maple Bear.

Hello, thank you for taking the time for this interview! To begin, could you briefly introduce yourselves to our readers?

Hello, and thank you for having us. My name is Martin Vacek, I’m a lawyer originally from the Czech Republic, and currently living in Bulgaria. My son Matěj is a first-grade student at Maple Bear Elementary School in Sofia. This is his second year at a Maple Bear school, as he also attended Maple Bear Sofia Vitosha Preschool. We’ve been very happy with the quality of education and the overall environment of both institutions.

What led you to choose Maple Bear for your son’s education?

My partner and I were looking for a preschool where Matěj would feel safe, respected, and at the same time be supported in his social and emotional development. We also wanted him to learn English from an early age. Both of us come from a corporate background, so we understand how important this is from a young age. Luckily, Maple Bear Preschool had just opened in Sofia at that time, and we managed to secure a spot for him.

English and social skills were our top priorities for his education, and Maple Bear met both of those perfectly. That’s why we were excited to continue his journey by enrolling him in the Maple Bear Elementary School as well.

We also see great value in the Canadian curriculum, which is based on real-life contexts. It integrates with the Bulgarian national program, so our son is also learning the local curriculum. He’s now essentially fully trilingual.

How satisfied are you with Maple Bear, both from your perspective as parents and from your son’s point of view?

I can see Matěj making progress every day, and the best part is that he truly loves his school and his teachers. His journey started at Maple Bear preschool and is now continuing in the elementary school. I really appreciate the variety of teachers he’s had. It’s helped him encounter different personalities and become an adaptable person, which is such a valuable life skill.

How has Maple Bear supported your child’s academic and personal development?

As I mentioned, the Canadian curriculum is dynamic, stimulating, and full of hands-on learning. It connects to real-life situations, making the content relevant and engaging for students.

At preschool, we especially loved the concept of learning centers. These centers gave Matěj the opportunity to engage in activities with his classmates, independently or with teacher guidance. We found this approach very enriching for his development.

At the elementary level, he takes part in different projects and presentations and learns about the world in creative and engaging ways, through inquiry and exploration. This has had a strong impact on his academic growth, and we’re especially pleased with his progress in English.

Can you describe a typical school day for your child at Maple Bear?

Matěj loves having some extra time with friends before class starts, so we always try to arrive a little early. Once at school, he follows his daily schedule. As parents, we’re kept well-informed through the school’s parent app, which gives us updates on his learning, schedule, and daily activities.

How does Maple Bear involve parents in the school community?

There are many opportunities, we’re invited to meetings, student presentations, and events throughout the school year. The school calendar is full of art exhibitions, concerts, and celebrations that honor both Bulgarian and Canadian traditions.

We especially enjoyed participating in the Global Connections for Sustainability program. Through this initiative, Matěj had the chance to connect with peers from other Maple Bear schools around the world. In my opinion, it’s a truly unique project that offers students a fantastic opportunity to learn from and with one another across the globe. We also appreciate Maple Bear’s emphasis on teaching children about sustainability. It’s a great way to pass on important values and prepare students to become responsible global citizens.

In your experience, what sets Maple Bear apart from other educational institutions you’ve encountered?

In our view, it’s the Canadian curriculum at Maple Bear that makes the difference. It’s child-centered and inquiry-based, with a strong bilingual approach. As parents, we also really value the fact that the teachers are trained by Canadian education experts. We even had the chance to meet some of them ourselves. That gave us insight into the high quality of professional development they receive. These regular trainings are not only a fantastic growth opportunity for teachers, but also reassuring for us as parents, knowing our children are being taught by well-prepared, dedicated educators.

Based on your experience, would you recommend Maple Bear to other parents looking for high-quality education for their children?

Absolutely, and we already have. Several families have enrolled after we recommended both the preschool and the elementary school. And I have to say, I’m really excited that Maple Bear is now opening a school in the Czech Republic, since I’m originally from there. I’m confident it will be just as successful as the one here in Bulgaria. We would definitely recommend other parents to secure a spot early. Here in Sofia, it’s already becoming quite competitive.

Thank you so much for the interview!

And what does Matěj think about studying at Maple Bear?