“My goal is to improve the enrolment at Brock Corydon. I believe in the educational philosophy, in the teachers’ abilities and in the school as a whole. My plan is to get the word out about what a great school this is through the parents, teachers, administrators and the media,” boasts new Principal Ara Morris.

“Brock Corydon is a small community school with big ideas, excellent academics, plenty of extra-curricular activities and leadership opportunities. We offer an ideal setting for children to grow and learn.  As a UNESCO school, students learn about the local world around them and about the greater global community. We fundraise to support underprivileged communities around the world, focus on Human Rights issues and draw attention to environmental concerns,” continues Morris.

Forty year old Ara Morris was appointed principal of Brock Corydon English/Hebrew Bilingual Nursery to Grade 6 School in River Heights effective September 4, 2012 after the retirement of former principal Ira Udow.

Morris is no stranger to Brock Corydon, having taught Grades 1/2 and EAL there in 2004-2007.  Morris’s background was in elementary school teaching, resource, EAL (English as an Additional Language) support, and math support. Morris has also worked at Centennial School, Margaret Park School, Harrow School, in the Central District and most recently at Isaac Brock School. At Isaac Brock, Nursery to Grade 9 School, Morris was Vice-Principal from September 2009 to June 2012.

“Isaac Brock was an amazing school,” Morris says.

“What makes that school unique for me are the five special education classes they offer and the junior high. It was a rich learning experience for me to be vice-principal there.”

“It has always been my dream to someday be a school Principal. It’s a bonus that I am now Principal of Brock Corydon School. It’s like coming back home for me.”

Brock Corydon attained status as a National UNESCO ASPnet school in September 2006. Both the English and Hebrew tracks integrate Special Education students and diversity is celebrated throughout the school. The school is committed to developing strong academic and social skills in children in an inclusive and nurturing environment. Students are encouraged to consider the well-being of others less fortunate, to learn about local and global issues, and develop plans to make a difference.

Brock Corydon is also a part of the Living Bridge Partnership Together Program that builds a “living bridge” between Jews in the Diaspora and Jews in Israel. Students from Brock Corydon maintain contact with students at their partner school Ramat Korazim.  Through email, letters and pictures, the students learn about each other and each another's countries. Partnership 2gether reinforces and builds the concept of a world Jewish Family. This summer, Morris attended a Partnership 2gether conference in Israel with representatives from Western Canada and Ottawa, working alongside Canadians and Israelis.

Ara Morris is married to Jeff Morris, a Grade 7/8 teacher at O.V. Jewitt School. Together, they have a son, Harlan, in Grade 9 at Grant Park High School and a daughter, Emma, in Grade 6 at Brock Corydon.

Morris looks forward to realizing her plan for Brock Corydon School.