General Crerar Public School's Mission Statement
General Crerar Public School is located near the southwest corner of Kennedy Road and Lawrence Avenue. Our students represent many diversities. Students have access to McGregor Arena and McGregor Public Library. Our school is a 3-track Gold Eco-School. That means we have 3 learning streams blended into one school: English, French Immersion, and Special Education.
General Crerar is also a Model School within the TDSB. As part of the Model Schools for Inner Cities program, we strive to provide our students with an abundance of creative and meaningful learning opportunities in and out of the classroom that many of our students may not be able to experience elsewhere. It is a goal for General Crerar and Model Schools to provide the best possible learning opportunities for our students.
Special Education
At General Crerar, we offer a variety of special education programs and services, including the Community Based Resource model (CBRM) and Primary, Junior and Intermediate Intensive Support Learning Disability Programs. In all of our special education programs, we aim to respond to the specific learning profiles of our students with differentiated instruction. The teachers, supported by educational assistants, define specific expectations and provide achievable challenges through a variety of flexible strategies and learning situations to meet the strengths, needs and skill levels of the students.
More Information About General Crerar Public School
Literacy
We are continuing to focus on improving our students' literacy achievement. We collaborate to develop teaching plans for focused teaching and learning that will lead to deeper understanding of a variety of texts for our students. Our goal this year is also to continue to provide authentic reading and writing experiences across the curriculum.
Numeracy
As a school, the staff is committed to being lifelong learners and as such we strive to stay current in all areas. We always work to ensure that Numeracy learning is our top priority. We are working as a staff to strengthen our practices and also to make mathematics learning applicable to real life. Teaching math in context is our SIP Numeracy goal.
Safe and Caring Schools
We support a positive school culture by focusing on the TDSB Character traits. Teachers discuss these attributes in the classroom and showcase talents and strengths at monthly assemblies by celebrating students who exemplify these character attributes. We reinforce our Crerar Code of Conduct with daily PA reminders and continual staff and student collaboration.
Pathways
At General Crerar, our goal is to facilitate successful transitions for all students through each change in their learning pathway. We provide evening information sessions for new Junior Kindergarten students and for Grade 8 parents. Grade 8 students participate in excursions to local high schools and students from these high schools discuss a typical day with them.
Additional Features
- Intramurals at recess
- Me -To-We Leadership Program
- Red Maple/Silver Birch reading club
- Sports teams / clubs
- Spirit Days
- Student Activity Council
- Right to Play
- Young Women on the Move
Student Life - Where You Belong
GO TEAM
At General Crerar, we believe that extra-curricular activities offer students valuable educational experiences and leadership opportunities that help them to succeed both inside and outside of the classroom. Our “Me to We” Leadership group is actively involved in fundraising projects and providing awareness of both global and local issues. Students support the Canadian Cancer Society through the Terry Fox Run. Furthermore, each spring, a junior class organizes a “Respect Animals Week” during which students participate in activities that raise money and awareness about animal abuse. Students are also able to participate in activities such as our French Choir , Math, Reading, & Checkers Clubs, Skipping Club, House League teams, Kilometre Club and a variety of Athletic Teams (Cross Country, Volleyball, Track and Field, Soccer, Ultimate Frisbee). We also organize special events such as seasonal dances, Wacky Wednesdays, and Winter Carnival to boost school spirit and provide opportunities for students to interact with students at all grade levels. We also link with the Agincourt Community Services to provide after-school programing at times during the year.
WHAT SETS US APART
At General Crerar P.S., we believe all students can reach high levels of academic achievement. The teachers participate in monthly professional development in which they collaborate with colleagues to discuss teaching and assessment strategies and discuss how to best support all learners within the school. We have a primary resource program to support our early learners and special education programs to support our students with special needs. All teachers differentiate instuction to match students' strengths and needs. Teachers use a variety of strategies such as breaking instruction into small steps, minimizing distractions for students, using technology to facilitate learning and providing feedback during and after tasks. Educational assistants in our LD classes work with students to provide one on one support. Students from neighbouring high schools do co-op placements in classrooms and we participate in the Tutors in the Classroom program and host student teachers. We were also very fortunate to receive a Love of Reading grant to build our school library over the next 3 yrs.
PARENT AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
We know that parents and community members have many experiences and skills that they can share with our students. As a school we are always seeking opportunities to connect with the community. We work with the local public library, arena and public health to help support both the curriculum and our families. Our Parents as Partners Council meets regularly and has planned many fun family events for our students and their families (Movie Night, Family Skate Night, pizza day, year-end BBQ). In addition General Crerar Public School has a daily morning meal program which is supported by parents, City of Toronto and the Toronto Foundation for Student Success.