Our History
Kenneth Gordon Maplewood School was first founded in 1973 by Ann Rushforth who named the school after her son who had trouble progressing in his public school. Rushforth thought, he needed a school that would teach him the way he learned. Soon after, she began tutoring sessions in the Elementary Tutoring Centre in Burnaby. As the school became more established, the Burnaby campus opened in 1980. It later became designated as a Group 1 Independent School. Once the lease expired at the Burnaby Campus, KGMS moved to the North Shore in 2012. Our school was quickly growing with a building expansion, increased student intake, and our first official graduating class in 2016.
About Us
We provide support services with our counsellors, developmental specialist, occupational therapist, and speech language pathologist. We have one of the lowest student to educator ratios in the province, which allows for better individualized education. Along with completing the BC prescribed curriculum, we ensure that we implement a social emotional curriculum so that we can support our students mental health and wellbeing.
Message from Head of School
Thank you for exploring Kenneth Gordon Maplewood School (KGMS). I am honored to be the Head of School At KGMS, a position that brings me back to a school I love and a student population that is a joy to work with.
At KGMS we believe that every student has the potential for success. With an appropriate education that allows for flexibility in delivery, a program that is tailored to the specific needs of the individual and opportunities for students to communicate their thinking and learning in an environment structured for success, we believe that all students can flourish. As students experience success and feel supported self-efficacy increases, confidence is demonstrated, and students learn to take the necessary risks that drive them to meet their full potential.
A great education should prepare students for the challenges they will encounter, a great student approaches challenges with an open mind and hard work. At KGMS we not only provide an individualized education that meets the developmental needs of the student, but we support the individual in their self-advocacy, social emotional growth and academic development. KGMS follows the BC Ministry of Education curriculum and all students have the opportunity to graduate with a Dogwood Certificate. Our Senior Program ensures that students have the prerequisites they require to apply to their post-secondary institution of choice. At KGMS there is not just one path to success.
We are so blessed to have an amazing staff, a dedicated board of directors and a supportive community that firmly believes in KGMS and the potential of our students.
Suzanne MacLeod
Head of School
Accreditations and Associations
We are grateful to be living, working and learning on the unceded traditional and ancestral lands of the Coast Salish territory of the Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) and sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh) nations.
