Gledhill
“Enriching Programs”
6 key areas of interest:
Life Skills
• Links to parenting centre, school kitchen – cooking club: currently have a deal with daycare to use their kitchen on Tuesdays – could negotiate to use on other days as well
• Gardening – cooking
• Roots of Empathy – ongoing, teacher-driven, not very year –need outreach to find volunteers with babies
• SNAP: anger management strategy, agency driven – in progress
• Scientist in the school – twice a year – paid for by council, hands on learning
• “You can do it” – council involvement, make toys, cars etc. Could be expanded to other life skills ie. Meal in a basket

Peer Mediation
• Learn more about program models – Peacemakers, Peace keepers etc.
• Mentorship
• Ambassadors

Intergenerational Visits
• Seek an organization to pair with, invite into school, participate in programs, initiate skill based programs

School Spirit
• Create a slogan, chant, song
• School spirit, prefects, “houses” (build camaraderie)
• Awareness” themed events i.e. cultures
• Student Council
• Reading buddies – weekly with class teachers, strong, excellent pairing opportunity

Art
• Need more in class, guests, PD for staff
• Jeff the Drama guy –paid for by parent council
• Instrumental and Vocal music – full time vocal; Band, Strings, ORF
• Parent s request itinerant

Parent
• Parent Workshops - Helping your French Immersion student

“Bolstering Student/Community Safety”
Swimming
• Lessons available? Link with D.A. Morrison pool?

Bike Riding
• Promote physical activity, tie in with Eco-school initiative
• Bike rodeo/rally, focus on safety, link with community police
• Install bike racks on school property for students, parents

Addressing Street Proofing, Anti-bullying, Anti-racism, Homophobia
• Age appropriate school-based programs that involve parents
• Interactive, role playing programs
• Make use of guidance counsellors and social workers

School Appearance
• Yard improvements currently underway
• School appearance: invitational vs. Institutional
• Increased supervision during lunch hour
• Re-route public walkway for community use – currently runs through school yard
• After hours supervision of school yard by community members

“School as Community”
A summary of ideas that encompass the notion of school and community:

• “Latch Key” Program – Norm Rudd
• Bring Seniors into the school – lunch time programs – knitting, chess, computer and other skills
• Alumni students come to Gledhill for sports and other activities
• Gledhill students reaching out to community – choir to visit seniors home, foodbank, MPP’s office, 5050 Younge, City hall
• Expand the Parenting Program – offer guest speakers at night
• Use the space – no permits required btw. 3:30-6 pm daily – evenings, weekends, summer : homework club, babysitting course, flu and blood donor clinics. Affordable life skills programs – sewing, cooking, cheque book balancing offered in school spa. Need to address barriers – ie. Union issues.
• ESL – offer childcare

“Eco-School Initiative”
Gledhill is an “Ecoschool”. The following represent ideas to grow with:
Solar Panels
• Tie in with curriculum

Paperless
• Greater electronic communication
• Recycled paper, double sided paper, reduction of paper use

Garden
• Water play structure – look at Franklin’s also garden on Toronto Island
• Involve daycare
• Veggie garden – growing “pizza” ingredients
• Building a pizza oven

Eco Tigers
• Consulting with small businesses
• Written business case to go on from the business
• Workshops for local business or others by an eco expert
• Eco inspectors
• Mentoring the community, other schools
• Eco-fair – coffee night
• Eco/green section of the library

Living wall

Cleaning Building
• Natural products

Car Free Zone
• In front of school
• Surrounding parking lots
• Walking school buses

Skills and Values of Importance
to the
Gledhill Community

Flexibility Leadership Self-Awareness

Adaptability Self-motivation Optimism

Tolerance Citizenship Cultural
Awareness
Physical Health

Coping

Teamwork Life skills Street Smarts –
Computer Safety
Communication Skills

Problem Solving Empathy Creativity

Critical Thinking Conflict Resolution Social Skills

Interactive/Experiential Learning Connection with Nature