Earl Haig Jr.
15 Earl Haig Avenue
Toronto M4C 1E2
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Earl Haig Elementary School
My School Review
Key Facts about Earl Haig:
• Enrollment approximately 359 (330) students. JK –Grade 3 = 223 Grade 4 -Grade 6 = 136.
• 49% of the students have a primary language other than English; 93% of Earl Haig students were born in Canada
• It is a Gold level Ecoschool
• Grade 3 students are significantly ahead of the Board and Province in Reading, Writing and Mathematics standards
• Daycare in school
• Nutrition programme in school – hot lunch available to all students and snack programme for kindergarten students
Earl Haig Community Comments:
School Culture
Strong desire to move to K – 8
Reasons include: Importance of stability and continuity, safety, familiarity,
more mentoring, keep kids in community where they are known
Strong desire to have consistency, sustainability and continuity of programs and the funding to support that.
Desire for schools that have humanistic aspects, including caring and kindness, compassion, a respect for peers, outlook of social responsibility, empathy Conflict resolution needs to be started as early as possible to develop respect. Both sides of this coin, that is “anti bullying” programs AND building self esteem Problem solving, adaptability and flexibility
Earl Haig School community values the process of learning, using evidence base and best practice.
Earl Haig School community hopes to instill determination – perseverance – in students, teaching kids not to give up, so that student effort is encouraged and valued as well. (Another example of valuing process).
Exposure to diversity – age, professions, culture, family structure
Environmental profile of school is a source of pride.
Programs and Structures Presently at Earl Haig
Roots of Empathy, Mentoring –older students with younger students, Recess
Revival, COPA (school-wide bullying workshops), Tribes (social skills
program for community-building), Second Steps (self-esteem)
Cultural Diversity Potluck, Earl Haig Community Festival (spring)
Desired Programs
Peacekeepers and students volunteering in the community (hospital nursing
homes) Assertiveness training programs such as “Huddle Up” (Argos)
Curriculum
While it is important for schools to teach “the basics” of math, science and language, it is equally important to have the performing arts as basic skills. Through them, self expression, confidence, creativity, oral/ written communication are all advanced
Desire guaranteed continuation of the music program with “specialist”.
Dedicated gym teacher.
Exposure to different languages
Study skills strategies
Keep fine intramural program going
Swimming
Promotion of Life Skills
.
Present Programming
Have Artist in education in classroom and desire continuation.
Heritage languages programs Cantonese/Mandarin classes do translation of some documents. Also have a multilingual welcome package in Chinese language. More exposure to French at an earlier age.
Have weekly Homework Program for Grade 5-6 students.
Have Agendas for Grade 3 and up
Diverse Intramurals –clubs both at lunch and after school – chess – badminton- reading club – games club.
Desired Programming
Tutoring programmes – enrichment.
Some interest in JUMP math program and its approach to learning.
Desire for Swimming – could swimming be arranged at neighbouring school Earl Beatty?
Have and value Field trips based on curriculum. Desire for more.
Desire for Promotion of life skills.
• Gardening, cooking, care of animals
• Deal with money management – investment
• Exposure to a broad variety of careers
• Healthy living – healthy eating lunch programme free/ snack program
– important to continue;
• Healthy Sexuality
Technology
Computer training and access to begin with students at a younger age.
Computer skills should be taught in a “fun “manner, with appropriate learning
tools
Desired Programming
Keyboarding skills should be started at an early age.
Exposure to more and wider range of technology – voice recognition – robotics
– scheduling system –
Dedicated computer lab
TDSB to be anticipatory about emerging technologies.
Environment
Eco schools are important in that they make kids more environmentally
aware, by bringing them together with common beliefs and philosophy.
This is another positive aspect of the school which can act as a draw
or magnet for those interested.
Desired Programming
Because the eco school program is being run by a volunteer there is a
strong concern regarding sustainability of program and supports for continuation
of the program.
Community Building
There is a desire to develop the school as a local centre to bring in the outside community use the school as a community “hub” e.g. Homeschoolers, Parenting education Artists. Recognize that there are multiple external contacts that could be developed in the hub concept (e.g. Danforth- East Community Association, Cox well Library, WoodGreen Center, Inter-school cooperation, local businesses add diversity to the neighbourhood.
Concern re physical access to the building
Desired Programs
The artistic community could use the school for various purposes, e.g.
performances for children, for adults and for themselves. It could be
a way to capitalize on synergy of artists with specialized talents which
would benefit the students and the community.
Permits need to be changed – so that the use of school building is more accessible to the community
Desire to connect with other schools and learn from what they are doing. Share with other schools what we are doing well.
Sign outside school to let community know what is going on at Earl Haig
Desire to improve physical accessibility needs to be assessed and changed to allow community members with physical disabilities into the building
School wants to continue to find ways to celebrate what we are doing – a lot of programmes happening at the school- share with the parents what programs are currently offered – Literacy night, newsletters, website.
Parking Lot Concerns:
Loss of VP a significant issue
Physical Accessibility of the school building
K- 8
