Tempo School

Tempo School is a Canadian non-profit educational organization providing K-12 private schooling in Edmonton, Alberta. Established in 1963, it operates as a charitable organization under the Tempo School Act, a statute of the Alberta Legislature, with a focus on traditional academic values and intellectual development.

History

Tempo School was founded in 1963 by Dr. George N. Cormack, who was concerned about the erosion of core educational values amid rapid changes and innovations in the early 1960s. Initially, Dr. Cormack started with a Grade 1 class of ten students in the annex of Holy Trinity Church in Edmonton. Over the years, the school expanded by adding one grade each year. In 1967, Tempo School was officially incorporated as a non-profit charitable organization governed by a board including Dr. Cormack, Dr. Charles Allard, Mr. Sandy MacTaggart, and The Reverend Dr. D. L. Leadbeater.

By 1972, the school had grown to ten grades and moved into its own building in the Riverbend neighborhood. The first Grade 12 class graduated in 1976. Since then, the school has undergone multiple building expansions and began offering kindergarten classes in 2000. Today, Tempo School enrolls over 380 students and employs around 30 faculty members[1][3].

Mission and Educational Approach

Tempo School is grounded in the belief that education is primarily the responsibility of parents, reflected in its Latin motto: Tota Edocenda Maxime Parentum Officium ("All teaching is pre-eminently the duty of parents"). The school emphasizes academic rigor through traditional teaching methods aimed at developing students' intellectual abilities.

The curriculum is designed to cultivate strong language and mathematical skills, especially in the early grades. Kindergarten through grade four students focus intensively on English language acquisition, with distinct subjects for reading, writing, and handwriting. French is introduced in grade two, followed by geography in grade three. From grade four onwards, grammar supersedes formal reading instruction, alongside an increased emphasis on mathematics[4].

Tempo School is accredited by the Province of Alberta, meeting all governmental standards for education while maintaining a distinctive emphasis on academic discipline and intellectual growth.

Governance and Status

Tempo School operates as a registered charitable organization under Business Registration Number 108067968RR0001. It is governed by a board of trustees and functions as a non-profit entity dedicated to the advancement of education[3].

This article summarizes the history, mission, academic philosophy, and organizational structure of Tempo School, underscoring its longstanding commitment to rigorous, traditional education within a non-profit framework.