News

Question : What do the Harry Potter series and Kells Academy have in common?

Answer : Trinity Library, Dublin, home of the world famous Book of Kells

Who knew that around the same time author J.K. Rowling was imagining the story of a young wizarding student named Harry Potter, Kells Academy founder and director Irene Woods was drawing inspiration from what would become one of the movie franchise’s most recognizable locations when naming her own school? It’s true!

Kells Academy takes its name from the Book of Kells, which is archived in the breathtakingly beautiful library of Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland. It’s little wonder that this architectural masterpiece was chosen by the Harry Potter movie location scouts as the setting for the student library at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Known as The Long Room within the Old Library, the 65-metre 300 year old wood panelled chamber houses over 200,000 of Trinity College’s oldest books, the Book of Kells among them. It is the longest single-chamber library in existence.

Arguably Ireland’s most celebrated book, and dating back to the 9th century, the Book of Kells is the World’s most famous illuminated manuscript. Written entirely in Latin, this medieval 160-page Gospel features stunningly elaborate illustrations. A new page is displayed by its caretakers at Trinity College every day, to the delight of visitors.

The Book of Kells is considered to be one of history’s most significant works, and representative of how Irish monks carefully transcribed ancient texts left behind by the Romans and being destroyed by Germanic invaders elsewhere, effectively preserving them for future generations. These included the works of Greek and Latin writers, both pagan and Christian, including the writings of Homer, Virgil, Demosthenes, Cicero. It is said that, in this way, the Irish ‘saved civilization’.

It gives us great pleasure to announce that Mrs. Linda Leiberman has been selected as the new incoming Head of School of Kells Academy. Following an intensive search and a rigorous interview process by the Search Committee, Mrs. Leiberman was selected from a pool of talented professional educators. We are thrilled that she has accepted our offer and look forward to welcoming her into the Kells team.

Kells grade 11 participants came in third place in the Euclid Math Contest, a math competition from the University of Waterloo for college-level students.
Our advanced students studied Calculus this year and were ready to take on the challenge and make Kells proud.
Thank you Sarina M. , Qisen Q. and Kexin Z. for your enthusiasm and hard work to take part in the math competition.
Special thanks to Ms. Ungureanu for preparing the students.

Nothing can stop us now!

As we race to the finish of another academic year and classes, activities and events wind down, it is a valuable exercise to take a moment and reflect on the triumphs of the past year.

In retrospect – it has been a year like no other. The pandemic and its impact on all aspects of life was the overwhelming global concern. For educational institutions like ours, that translated into a number of issues and challenges. From a mandated shutting down of all classroom learning to ensuring the safety and return of our international students to their respective countries and then back again, we were constantly navigating between ministerial dictates and the responsibilities towards our students. It is a testimony to our resilience and the dedication of our staff that student performance this year has been outstanding and one of the best in the history of Kells Academy.