Free to be... the best of me.
Mary Shadd P.S. opened in 1985 and was enlarged in 1992. Our motto is "Free to be...the best of me" and is intended as a tribute to the spirit of Mary Ann Shadd, after whom the school was named. In the 1830's, Mary Ann Shadd and her family helped slaves escape via the Underground Railroad to Canada. Our school has adopted the train as our symbol. Mary Shadd P.S. is a large, active school whose students from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 8 participate in a variety of co-curricular activities involving many disciplines. Our students represent 18 nationalities. 76% speak another language as well as English. We offer an after school heritage language program for our Tamil community. We take these factors into account in our school planning.
Language
Our focus is to teach students to be good readers through the development of critical literacy skills, and have a life long love of reading. Our teachers work together to provide a consistent language program with a school wide focus on reading. Teachers have access to a literacy resource room. Every student is welcome in our well stocked library with a full time librarian. We offer remedial support in literacy for intermediate grades. For additional support of students with special needs, we have a half time ESL teacher, a full time HSP program and 1 & 1/2 special resource teachers. Students participate in a Spelling Bee Canada event.
Mathematics and Science
Our focus is on problem solving and the application of mathematical and science skills in real life situations. Our students participate in math congress and use computers for math skill development. There is an intermediate Gauss Math club. We also offer a junior math club. This year we are hosting another School Science fair.
What Sets Us Apart
The opportunities we provide for our students' academic, social and emotional well-being is what sets us apart. Mary Shadd is a school where students are "Free to be the best of me". Each child is encouraged to work hard to achieve their goals and to take on new challenges with the knowlege that our teachers and support staff are right there behind them. We have many supports for our students including a Boys Book Club for boys who are struggling readers, a Boys 2 Men group that teaches respect and dignity, a Grade 8 girls club focused on building confidence, a Student Council in which students can build upon their leadership skills, an Intermediate Band where students can express their love for music just to name a few. We are also offer full time kindergarten. We are proud of our school and our students feel that each and every day!
Parent and Community Engagement
We offer links to the community through: volunteers, co-op students, university and high school students who work in the classrooms. We have a partnership with Malvern Town Centre for special events i.e., Spelling Bee, Earth Day. We work with local Police to provide educational programs in street safety, bullying and internet safety. Fridays we host the Heritage Language program: Tamil. Afterschool, Malvern Family Resource Centre provides daily afterschool programs in our School: grade 1-6 for homework support and grade 7 & 8 for leadership. We visit the recreation Centre for skating and the library for research and literacy programs. We link with outside support agencies i.e. Big Brothers & Sisters, Early Years Resource Centre, Future ACES. We have an active School Council which fundraises and offers community social events e.g., School BBQ.
