Sir Adam Beck Junior School

We Feature

Welcoming and Nurturing Environment

Our staff work alongside our parents/guardians to ensure that each child receives the attention and care from the day they enrol in Year One of Full Day Kindergarten to the day they Move On in Grade 5. Each student is asked to identify a minimum of two caring adults that act as mentor, coach and advocate throughout the year. The caring adult model helps to guide our students on a journey of leadership and global citizenship as they prepare for middle school.

Each year we engage in a process to determine a learning focus in three areas: achievement, well-being, and equity. This process will include identifying these three focus areas, engaging in the learning that will allow our school to support student improvement in these areas, determining the evidence/data the school will collect, monitoring progress, and reflecting on what is happening in an ongoing way to support next steps.

Sir Adam Beck Junior School's Mission Statement

Ecole Sir Adam Beck...a great place to be!

École Sir Adam Beck Junior School is located in the Alderwood community just south of the Gardiner Expressway and west of Browns' Line. The school is a partner in the Alderwood Centre along with the Toronto Public Library, Toronto Parks and Recreation and the Alderwood Daycare. École Sir Adam Beck Junior School is a dual track school offering both Early French Immersion and regular English programs in an exciting learning environment for kindergarten (French senior kindergarten) to grade five. Our mission is to promote a community of learners who demonstrate self- confidence, academic proficiency and social responsibility within a supportive environment.

At École Sir Adam Beck Junior School the school and community has embraced a commitment to using technology to enhance student learning. Currently there are three initiatives that are supporting this focus. 1. Interactive white boards are in use in all classrooms and each classroom has access to Chromebook laptops as well as our Media Room. 2. We have moved toward introducing an inquiry and problem based method of teaching in learning in all of our grades.. 3. Most recently the focus has shifted to include our primary students whereby a team of primary teachers are currently exploring the benefits iPads as teaching tools as part of the iPad Project.

Character Counts

Students are recognized daily for their commitment to character by recognition announcements and Caught You Caring acknowledgements. The development of character is further reinforced by adopting a school wide commitment to

Bucket Filling. Random acts of kindness (bucket filling acts) are acknowledged, rewarded and recognized regularly. Character assemblies bring the school community together to celebrate the accomplishments of our students.

As educators, we work with parents and students to respond to the census data on students’ emotional well-being and insights into students’ school experiences. This data informs the development of well-being goals, and responds directly to student needs and success.

More Information About Sir Adam Beck Junior School

Literacy

The school wide goal of ensuring that every student is reading by the end of grade 1 is supported by ever team at our school. Our early years team establishes the child's prior engagement in literacy, programs for literacy behaviours and learning throughout the day in an engaging and stimulating environment.

Numeracy

Our grade teams work collaboratively with our learning coach in Professional Learning Communities to learn about, plan and discuss best practices for mathematics instruction and assessment. Key components include the 3 part lesson, inquiry in mathematics and the collaborative model of learning for our students.

Parent/Guardian Partnerships

Our school is enriched by the commitment and involvement of our parents/guardians. Parent involvement goes beyond the many activities supported by the School Council and include volunteer readers, Parent Safety Patrols (for the Kiss n Ride), Lunchroom Supervisor opportunities and so much more.

Student Life - Where You Belong

GO TEAM

Students at Sir Adam Beck have the opportunity to participate in many co-curricular activities. There are a variety of intermurals as well as varsity team sports that compliment the ongoing skating and swimming programs that are offered through the partnership with Parks and Recreation. All students from Kindergarten to Grade 5 have the opportunity to participate in a unique arts based or physical activity program that is supported by the school council. Students have the opportunity to showcase their talents at assemblies as well as the school concerts.

WHAT SETS US APART

At Sir Adam Beck Junior School we have embraced a commitment to using technology to enhance student learning and increase the level of student engagement. The School and School Council budgets work together to ensure that the technology we use remains functional and up to date:

1. Interactive white boards are in use in all classrooms

2. A mobile lab of 5 Chromebooks to assist all students in accessing the curriculum in each classroom

3. A fully functional Chromebox media lab accessed by all grades FDK - 5

4. Our new Library Learning Commons - a place for students and staff to collaborate, create and learn.

We are also unique in terms of our setting as we are part of the Alderwood Centre, a shared use facility. This partnership allows our students to access the swimming pool and skating rink on- site throughout the year. We have established a partnership with the Toronto Public Library whereby our students share space in the local Public Library Branch.

PARENT AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

We are active partners in the Alderwood Centre with the Toronto Public Library, Toronto Parks and Recreation, and Alderwood Action Daycare. We are partners in a unique shared library facility with Alderwood Library. We host Humber College Child and Youth Worker (CYW) pre-service students, as well as co-op students and pre-faculty student teachers from may neighbouring schools. Parent partnership and parent engagement is key to student learning and student success. We offer many opportunities for parents to meet and participate in their child's learning. Communicate with parents occurs through monthly t newsletters and via the school council website.We encourage parents to join and participate on supportive School Council and its committees. We welcome regular parent volunteers who assist in classrooms and extra-curricular programs.