Sunnylea Junior School's Mission Statement
The mission of Sunnylea Junior School, a small, community-oriented public school that is committed to excellence, is to ensure that our students achieve their academic, physical and social potential. Sunnylea is a safe and caring school. We act in cooperation with our community partners and encourage extensive parental involvement. Sunnylea Junior School has been serving local families since 1942. With teachers who work cohesively and collaboratively to set goals for student improvement, Sunnylea is ideally suited to create academic excellence for each individual student.
The school Code of Conduct is for students, staff, parents and visitors. Teachers model a high level of co-operation, open communication, respectful relationships and pride in doing a job well. Sunnylea actively promotes allergy awareness for students, parents and staff. Facilities are shared with a non-profit childcare centre. We encourage a strong partnership between parents and staff.
Safe, Secure Learning Environment
Sunnylea Junior School provides students with a safe, secure learning environment. Consistent routines and expectations for behaviour create a calm, focused environment for student learning. Staff and parents nurture respectful and caring relationships with a focus on student wellbeing. A focus on self-regulation, using Zones of Regulation curriculum, help our students develop a self-awareness about their zone, as well as strategies to regulate their moods and behaviours. Woven into classroom discussions are the Seven Grandfather Teachings, Social Justice, Wellbeing and Equity.
More Information About Sunnylea Junior School
Excellent Extracurricular Program
Sunnylea teachers volunteer many extra hours while offering a wide range of extracurricular activities. These activities include: Chess Club, Primary and Junior Choirs, Computer Club, Silver Birch Reading Club, and many competitive sports teams including cross country running, soccer, volleyball, baseball, basketball, track and hockey.
Computer Lab and Technology
Sunnylea students benefit from access to technology in their classrooms. Classrooms have interactive whiteboards and document cameras and all have Chromebooks or iPads. This provides for a more hands-on and constructivist approach to learning, and motivates students to participate in interesting and highly visual web-connected lessons.
Use of Data for School Improvement Planning
Sunnylea staff use data collected from working with students to set individual, classroom and school improvement goals. Rich learning tasks are evaluated for student comprehension, and classroom programs are adapted to meet the needs of student. Larger scale assessments such as E.Q.A.O. provide further information and direction for teaching and learning.
Community Involvement and Charitable Contributions
Sunnylea models global citizenship by contributing to a variety of charities, including the Terry Fox Run, Food and Toy Drives, Winter Clothing Drive, Out of the Cold, Valentines for Vets. Students participate in the Community Cleanup, Jumprope for Heart, Earth Hour and many others.
Additional Features
- Active and Involved School Council
- Family Fun Fair each Spring
- Dedicated, Collaborative Teachers
- Parent Volunteers in the School
- Sunnylea Childcare Partnership
- Host to Co-op and Faculty Students
Student Life - Where You Belong
GO TEAM
Sunnylea provides extensive opportunities that make for a rich school life. Activities, clubs, choirs, leadership opportunities and athletic teams are provided to enrich and enhance student life at Sunnylea.
Students are encouraged to build on their strengths as well as to try activities outside of their comfort zone, including experiences with the arts, social justice, athletics and leadership.
We partner with community experts in the area of health, arts and science, and our students have opportunities to gain experience through workshops with them.
Our students benefit from a variety of experiences outside of the classroom, with excursions that augment understanding in science, social studies and the arts.
We also work with local community charities, including Out of the Cold.
Our daily community partner is our onsite daycare. About half of our students attend the Sunnylea daycare.
WHAT SETS US APART
At Sunnylea, we have an embedded culture of high academic expectations. We expect students to try their best, to work hard and to learn. As a small community school, students develop the comfort that comes when working with staff who know them and support them. The halls and classes are rich with examples of student work in language, math, the arts, science and social studies. Sunnylea teachers spend time working together to share instructional strategies, to assess student work, and to set goals for student achievement. Teachers work collaboratively, and although each teacher has a unique approach to the art of teaching, all Sunnylea teachers are focussed on sharing Learning Goals, setting Success Criteria with their students, and providing on-time descriptive feedback that allows students to monitor their own learning. When students know what is expected and how to get there, they have a much greater chance of success.
PARENT AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Sunnylea parents work closely with school staff to ensure that our school remains a vibrant and supportive place for students to learn. The functions of our School Council include providing feedback on school programs, fundraising, input on staffing, budget, communications, co-ordination of volunteers, environmental initiatives, school yard greening and political response. Regular volunteers help in the library, our classrooms and in the beautiful gardens that surround the school. Parents also organize Pizza Lunches, Parent Social, the Sunnylea Talent Show, our annual Book Fair, and other special events. Parent volunteers attend Ward Council meetings. Each spring, parent volunteers organize the Sunnylea Family Fun Fair and Silent Auction, which is our main community building and fundraising event of the year.