Chalkfarm Public School's Mission Statement
Chalkfarm Public School is proud to be a Model School for Inner Cities in the Toronto District School Board. Our school culture reflects the essential components of the Model School Vision which encompass equity , inclusiveness, community and achievement. Since 1960 Chalkfarm Public School has served the educational needs of the community situated in the Jane and Wilson neighbourhood. The houses and high rise apartment buildings of this urban setting stand in contrast to the wonderful opportunities for environmental studies available to Chalkfarm as it backs onto a lovely natural ravine.
Chalkfarm is a medium sized elementary school serving Junior Kindergarten to Grade 5.
Chalkfarm is a medium sized elementary school serving Junior Kindergarten to Grade 5.
Our school hosts approximately 294 students coming from a rich diversity of backgrounds. More than 60% of our families have immigrated to Canada. We are fortunate to have strong support for our special needs programs, ESL instruction, a Parenting Centre to help our families that are new to the school or country, and a Settlement Worker on site to help families adjust to the rigours of the school environment. We maintain this support for all our students with a Reading Recovery program and rich language arts classroom programming. Our mission in partnership with parents, home and community; is to provide a safe learning environment that promotes the cognitive, physical, social and emotional development of our diverse student body.
Chalkfarm Public School - A Great Place to Be!
Chalkfarm Public School is a caring, and nurturing learning environment in which each student is valued and encouraged. We believe that a focus in developing literacy and mathematics will provide our children with the necessary knowledge and skills to ensure success in further education. We have a highly effective Support Team that reviews student progress and provides support, including Special Education and English as a Second Language. Our school offers the International Languages Program, which gives students the opportunity to learn additional languages, and appreciate other traditions, customs and cultures.
More Information About Chalkfarm Public School
Literacy for Life
Our school offers a balanced literacy program which promotes a focus on reading and writing initiatives. In and After-school programs, Reading Recovery, Running Reading , Family Literacy Night and volunteer initiatives support this goal. Our School Improvement Plan focuses on implementing various strategies aimed at achieving our vision for Literacy for Success.
Numeracy
Our focus in mathematics is on improving our students' skills and understanding by making problem solving an integral part of the curriculum. We implement Math Makes Sense as the math textbook, emphasizing problem solving. Use of homework books reinforce student learning and increase parent partnership.
Our Community of Culture and Caring
Our focus is to continue to build a culture of high expectations for students, staff and parent community. We strive to ensure that there is a respectful, positive, and inclusive learning environment with a sense of belonging for all. Our character education program promotes assemblies and other in school initiatives to highlight a different character trait each month.
Parent and Community Engagement
We endeavour to create a positive and inclusive school culture where parent participation is vital and valued. Our school parent council and parent volunteers work closely with school staff to organize events that include fundraisers, the snack program and special events.
Additional Features
- Host Heritage Language Programs
- Nutritional Snack Program
- Parent & Literacy Centre
- Scientists in Schools
- Scouts About Program
- Big Brothers Big Sisters Program
- Kidsfest: Running & Reading Program
- Settlement Education Partnership
Student Life - Where You Belong
GO TEAM
Students are involved in a variety of co-curricular activities such as sports, clubs and field trips. The varied student life provides links to the outer community and promotes positive social behaviour. Offerings include concerts and performances, dance workshops, artists in schools, house leagues (floor hockey & indoor soccer) and competitive sports teams (volleyball, basketball, cross-country, track & field).
Outside partnership programs include: Kidsfest Running and Reading Program (Grades 3-5) provides an opportunity for students to physically exercise and be supported in their literacy skills. The Scouts About (Gr 1-3) program is run in collaboration with Scouts Canada during the lunch hour. The Aussie X Football program for Grades 3- 5 which promotes physical activity, teamwork and fair play.
Social opportunities include the Big Brothers/Sisters mentoring program and Leaders in Partnership - Jamaican Canadian Association. Leadership opportunities include the student council, student morning announcers and the recycling club. Our student Star Awards program recognizes students who demonstrate positive character traits.
WHAT SETS US APART
Chalkfarm school is a cluster school as part of the Model Schools For Inner Cities Program. The essential components of this program are: Equity, Community, Inclusiveness, and high Expectations. The model schools are one-stop community resource centres to providing students, their families and their communities with the necessary tools to make a difference in the lives of the neighbourhood's children. As a cluster school, Chalkfarm is working with a group of other local schools to ensure the success of their students. In order to engage students in meaningful ways, teachers utilize curriculum units reflective of the diversity of their students.
Our Parent and Family Literacy Centre operates in the school providing our parents with early childhood development education, and a screening process in sight and hearing for both pre-school and school-aged children.
PARENT AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Parents are invited to take an active part in their children's education. Our Homework Policy is designed so that it can assist in reinforcing the skills, knowledge and attitudes taught in the classrooms. A daily snack and monthly lunch is operated by our Snack Volunteers. Parents meet with staff during the year to discuss their child's progress and to help determine future direction. Parent volunteers help in classrooms, snack programs and on school trips.
We work closely with local community agencies which includes: Door Steps, Toronto Public Library, Toronto Conservation Authority, Toronto Foundation for Student Success, Public Health and Community Care Access Centre. We also work with Adventure Place and Hincks Dellcrest Centre. Enhanced classroom support by hosting student placements from Humber College, George Brown college and students from Ontario Universities.