H A Halbert Junior Public School's Mission Statement
H. A. Halbert Jr. Public School, built in 1951 and named after a school inspector, is nestled in a park like setting in the Cliffcrest Community. A TDSB Model Inner City School, Halbert students, benefit from access to a variety of programs and services including vision and hearing screening. With the help of a Community Support Worker, parents participate in a variety of workshops geared to their expressed needs and interests. Teachers work to assess and evaluate students, plan and implement classroom programs which utilize high yield teaching strategies and where instruction is differentiated to address the specific needs of all students.
Our students are proud to have a Certified Platinum Eco School here at HA Halbert. Each year, we choose an inquiry theme around some aspect of stewardship of the earth. For the 2019-2020 school year, our theme is "BE ...".
Library
We are continuing our efforts to make the library a central hub of the school. A well-equipped library is an invaluable school wide resource for promoting literacy. We continue to add to the collection with the best and most up-to-date materials available. Partnering opportunities between the librarian and classroom teachers exist to deliver integrated and cross-curricular programming for students. Every year, our students participate in the "Forest of Reading" program which encourages students to read recently published Canadian books. This program generates enthusiasm for reading and concludes with a celebration at Harbourfront.
We have an Early Reading Intervention program at the school that supports our emergent readers and we also have a Reading Intervention Teacher that supports our Grade 1s building confidence, stamina and fluency in reading.
More Information About H A Halbert Junior Public School
Early Learning Program
Halbert offers 3 classes of full-day kindergarten. Our "Kindergarten Suite" is a bright, attractive and well-equipped space with its own entrance foyer and washrooms for the children. The program provides a focus on inquiry and play-based purposeful learning focused on literacy and math skills as well as the development of social skills.
2016 Premier's Award for Accepting Schools
At Halbert, we know that a safe and caring school culture is built on a foundation where students, parents and teachers have a shared understanding of school expectations and where caring and mutual respect are evident in our daily interactions with one another. That respect extends to our school and playground environment.
School Council
We welcome and actively encourage an active partnership between home and school. Being involved in your child's school can take many forms from attending school events, assisting with field trips, classroom volunteering, participating in school fundraising and shaping the priorities of the school in consultation with the principal and school staff.
Technology
Integrating technology into all curriculum areas is a focus at H.A. Halbert. Our school wireless and working to update our computers. Our grade 4-6 students use chromebooks regularly in their programs and we are working towards being paperless by using google classroom.
Additional Features
- welcoming office
- large playground area
- warm & inclusive environment
- upgraded library/computer lab
- bright classrooms
- variety of clubs, teams, activities
- music program: band & strings
- wheelchair accesible washroom
Student Life - Where You Belong
GO TEAM
Not only do our students work hard when they are in the classroom, but they are quite busy with the variety of clubs, teams and activities that are offered at H.A. Halbert. Basketball, soccer, slo-pitch, volleyball and cross-country provide an opportunity for students to develop their level of fitness and also to practise skills of teamwork and cooperation. The students in grade 5 and 6 participate in either the band or the strings ensemble and they enjoy taking part in music festivals and performing for our parents. Choir groups and recorder clubs round out our musical offerings. The Student Leadership club plays a very important role at our school throughout the year. Our teachers enjoy working with such an energetic and creative group of students.
WHAT SETS US APART
We are fortunate to have talented and enthusiastic teachers who provide an excellent learning environment and a variety of learning opportunites for our students. Although we are a small school, we are certainly very busy! Excursions help to extend the learning outside of the classroom - visiting the Toronto Urban Studies Centre, the local Fire Station, various events and performances around Toronto, are all ways to enrich student learning. Every year, we host a number of special evening events that bring families together at the school to celebrate student success. Our students are creative and energetic and they enjoy taking part in a variety of projects. The photograph features our primary students who created their own "Olympic Torch" that was selected to be displayed at Toronto City Hall. Our school has been selected as a location for a guest presentation by Canadian children's author and illustrator, Barbara Reid. Her plasticine picture books have won many awards and we are thrilled that she will be visiting our school and meeting with students.
PARENT AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Many of our classes regularly visit Cliffcrest Library, our local public library, conveniently located minutes away in the Cliffcrest Plaza.
Parent volunteers are actively involved in projects such as homework bookbags, Reading Around Scarborough and various student clubs. Monthly pizza lunches are organized by Council members.
Every year, H.A. Halbert hosts ECE (Early Childhood Education) students from Ryerson University so they can complete their school placement and benefit from the expertise of our staff.
Neighbourhood walks and visits to the local Fire Station are important in the primary grades.
Every December, students and their parents contribute to the Halbert "Food Train". Canned and dry goods are donated to local charities.
The Terry Fox Walk is our annual charity event to raise money for cancer research.
We welcome regular visits from our Community Liaison Officer.