MY SCHOOL REVIEW 2008
Vision Document
Presteign Heights Elementary School

A bit about Presteign…
• Many grandparents in the community who take and pick up students to and from school (intergenerational)
• Throughout the year have events for families (Turkey dinner and skating night)

VISION:
The following outlines the visioning and hopes for Presteign.

1. To think of and use Presteign School as a community-like centre for extra curricular activities.

This idea and vision is 2-fold as follows:
• To have AFTER-SCHOOL care and programs for students with a hope of offering multiple choice of programs. Some examples include: House League and physical activity, Arts and Crafts, cooking club, chess, science club

• To have AFTER-SUPPER programs for adults/seniors with a hope of bringing the community together (particularly for members of the community who do not have children currently at Presteign)

* this visioning considers the unique multi-generational community of Presteign School (and those living nearby) where seniors and grandparents would not only be included in programs, but also maybe of assistance in some aspects of the care and programming for children in after-school activities *

2. To create and develop a Music-based program at Presteign.

* this has been an identified ‘wish’ for several years from the community *

Additional points from brainstorming sessions:

The skills that children/students will need to function in the future and the kinds of things need to be in place in this school to enhance the community in the future

• better language skills (to learn to articulate verbally)
• research skills (how to organize information)
• Critical thinking skills & independent thinking skills
• flexibility and adaptability
• intrinsic self-discipline
• media skills in a changing world
• skills in ‘playing’ (unstructured time)
• up to date technology and literature skills
• keeping up with the changes in the cultural environment in the city
• character development and ethics, ie: a sense of caring for others, politeness, consideration for others
• Environmental awareness
• Physical Activity and Nutrition

The programs that need to be put in place to address these visionary wishes? Ie: How do we make this happen?

• after-school care programs
• evening programs
• school could become more of a community centre for extra-curricular activities
• extra-curricular activity league
• daycare programs
• idea of marrying life experiences of adults with kids’ knowledge of technology in a kind of interactive situation
• healthy body image promotion program (a program with a focus on ‘the science behind it…and not just about appearance)
• Reinstating Rate Payer’s Association

My School Review is a project sponsored by Trustee Sheila Cary-Meagher www.trusteesheila.com and the Toronto District School Board.