After months of planning, design, construction, and preparation, the moment has finally arrived. We have opened the new Maple Bear Olomouc elementary school building. Located at the BEA Centre on tř. Kosmonautů, the new space is much more than a new home for our students. It represents an important step towards what we have envisioned for Maple Bear Olomouc from the very beginning – a complete elementary school that will grow alongside our students.
When we opened the first Maple Bear bilingual kindergarten in the Czech Republic in 2024, we already had a clear vision for where we wanted to take our school. One year later, we welcomed our first Grade 1 students, and this year brings another major milestone.
We are opening our very own elementary school building.
For us, this means much more than a new address or additional space. It is proof that our school is growing. That our vision is becoming a reality. And, above all, it marks the beginning of a new chapter in which we want to build a complete nine-year elementary school together with our students and their families.
A School Designed for Children from the Very Beginning
We did not want to simply fill a new building with classrooms. We wanted to create a school that reflects the way we teach and learn at Maple Bear. That is why we worked closely with SOA architekti and the entire Maple Bear team on the design of the building. Together, we were guided by the principle of “the classroom as the third teacher” – the idea that the environment in which students learn can itself influence how they learn, behave, interact, and collaborate. The result is a modern and flexible space designed to encourage curiosity, independence, collaboration, and creativity.
Our classrooms allow us to move between different forms of learning – from individual work and pair activities to group work and project-based learning. The school also includes a library, dining area, and shared spaces where children can spend time together, connect, and relax. “When creating new schools, we build on the experience we have gained from previous projects. This allows us to continuously improve and further develop the quality of the learning environment across Maple Bear schools,” says Iveta Navas, Real Estate & Development Manager at Maple Bear Czechia.
And this opportunity to keep moving forward is one of the greatest benefits of the entire project for us. “The opening of the new Maple Bear school building in Olomouc is a significant milestone for us, not only in terms of the school’s continued growth, but above all because of the environment in which children spend their days and learn. We believe that a school is more than a place where teaching takes place – it actively contributes to education itself and becomes a kind of third teacher. We want our students to feel comfortable in their new school and for its environment to naturally inspire them to explore, collaborate, and learn,” says our Principal, Mgr. Lukáš Ondruch, LL.M.
From a Growing School to Our Own Educational Campus
The new building also represents something even more important for us – it gives us room to keep growing. We currently offer education from kindergarten through Grade 2. With each new school year, we plan to add further grades and gradually build a complete elementary school covering both the primary and lower secondary levels.
This means that our students will be able to remain part of the Maple Bear Olomouc community throughout their entire elementary education. Children who join us in kindergarten can gradually continue through Grade 1 and all the way to Grade 9. And our new building gives us the space and facilities to make that vision a reality.
“From the very beginning, we wanted to create a school that combines high-quality bilingual education with an individual approach to every child. Our ambition is to gradually build a full elementary school that will accompany children from their first years of education all the way through the completion of lower secondary school,” adds Lukáš.
Bilingual Education Designed to Prepare Students for the Future
While our spaces may be new, the most important thing remains the same – the way we educate our students. At Maple Bear, we build on bilingual education rooted in Canadian educational methodology. We do not see English simply as another subject. Students also use English when learning selected areas such as science and mathematics, gradually developing the ability to learn and communicate in two languages in authentic educational contexts.
Alongside strong academic foundations, we focus on the competencies children will need in the future – critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, communication, independence, and problem-solving. Our new building allows us to bring these principles to life even more effectively in the everyday life of our school.
We Celebrated the Opening Together
We officially marked the beginning of this new chapter on 27 August during our Back to School Barbecue. The celebration brought together our students and their families, teachers and staff, friends, project partners, and representatives of Maple Bear Czechia and Maple Bear Central and Eastern Europe.
We were also honoured to receive a video message from Her Excellency Emily McLaughlin, Ambassador of Canada to the Czech Republic. “It is wonderful to see the Maple Bear Olomouc community taking this next step and beginning a new chapter in its beautiful new home. A school is so much more than a building – it is a place where children gain not only knowledge, but also the skills and confidence they need for their future. I am delighted to see Canadian education here in Olomouc bringing students, families, and educators together,” she said in her message.
And this shared celebration was particularly meaningful to us. Because we did not open this school alone. Our entire community opened it together.
This Is Only the Beginning
When we look at our new building today, we see much more than modern classrooms and shared spaces. We see the journey we have taken over the past two years. From opening the first Maple Bear kindergarten in the Czech Republic, to welcoming our first school students, to opening our very own elementary school building. And at the same time, we see the future.
The future of our students, who will move into a new grade each year. The future of our teaching team. And our long-term vision of building a school in Olomouc that provides high-quality bilingual education from the preschool years through the completion of elementary education.
Come and See for Yourself
Would you like to experience our school for yourself? We invite you to our Maple Bear Olomouc Open House. Come and explore our new spaces, meet our teaching team, and learn more about bilingual education, Canadian educational methodology, and our vision for the years ahead. Visit our website and social media channels for current Open House dates and further information.
