Our school has a long history with many rich traditions. For almost 60 years our staff and families have worked together to help our students grow into caring, responsible and well-rounded members of our community; in our classrooms and through the many athletic and arts-based experiences offered beyond the classroom.
As proud as we are of our rich traditions; as a school community we are working together to evolve and grow to meet the needs of learners in the 21st century. The world has changed and our Park Avenue staff and students are re-imagining and re-visioning our school to face these challenges through our focus on inclusive and innovative practices; accessing secure on-line learning environments like Google Apps for Education, the use of student personal technology as tools for learning and the development of a school mobile app to engage and enhance communication between school and home.
As important as all these things are; the essence of a school is the energy and enthusiasm that children reveal when they feel safe, challenged and supported and it is the passion and compassion of caring adults (parents and staff) that provide this support. Our school motto, "Learning to make our dreams come true" is a reflection of our belief that a great school is a place where all children have the opportunity and resources to make this happen.
Mission
We strive to provide a well balanced academic program that supports individual students as they develop into independent life long learners. Our programs also include active and varied co-curricular activities that engage students in school life and provide an avenue for the expression of athletic, artistic, musical and dramatic interests. Service learning, in which students help others, is also strongly supported by staff and the community and fits well with our emphasis on the promotion of equity and character.
History
Park Avenue P.S. is named after the street on which we are located and reflects the historic connection to Riverdrive Park which is a community developed on the bank of the Holland River near Queensville Sideroad and Old Yonge Street. Our school mascot is a Black Panther.
Facilities
Park Avenue P.S. was officially opened in 1955. From its modest beginnings, with 6 classrooms in 1957, it has grown through 7 expansions and additions to the point where it now houses 32 classrooms.
Programs
As with each school in the York Region District School Board, Park Avenue P.S. supports student learning through the curriculum standards set out by the Ontario Ministry of Education and many other co-curricular activities.
Our school promotes a safe and supportive learning environment. This is done through the Board’s Safe Schools Policy and Procedures and the Character Education Initiatives.
Park Avenue provides:
- Special Education Programs - Students are placed in specific classes to maximize instructional impact.
- on going Professional Learning for staff in areas affecting student achievement, i.e. Reading Recovery, Early Intervention, Instructional Intelligence, Tribes, math and language literacy workshops, all divisions. Our most recent professional learning has been in the area of gender and learning. We have looked at what instructional strategies are most effective for our students to reach their potential with an aim of reducing the academic achievement gap between our boys and girls. Additionally we have investigated what instructional strategies are most appropriate to use with our boys when teaching writing. As a staff we have also implemented the resource Ontario Writing Assessments for grades one through 8.
- timetabling specifically designed to maximize academic achievement, i.e. learning blocks with one 20 minute morning recess break and a 60 minute lunch break
- a Social Adjustment Community Class supports 7 to 8 junior/intermediate aged students from a number of York Region Schools. They receive academic and behaviour support from a teacher and CYW's, (Child and Youth Worker).
- a Community Communication Class supports 5 to 6 primary/junior students who have been diagnosed with autism and/or other communication disorders. A teacher and Educational Assistants teach and support these students in a nurturing classroom environment.
- We are also very proud to offer the following programs to our students:
- Anti-Bullying Programs, Mental Health Association presentations, Rainbows groups, peer groups.
- A very active co-curricular program which may include: Boys and Girls: 3 Pitch, Cross Country, Volleyball, coed soccer, flag football, Basketball, Relays, Track and Field, Instrumental bands, choirs, Clubs, Drama, Cheerleading, Winter Electives and House Leagues.
- Regular guest speakers and workshops
- Ongoing and informal social skills counselling: Student Services operated by Child and Youth Workers
- Progressive Discipline Model: A focus on classroom management, incentives for appropriate behaviour, Student Services (counselling), parental support, progressive consequences
- Student Leadership program: Student Council, Conflict Managers.
- Service Learning Programs i.e. Peer Tutors, Kindergarten Helpers, Lunch Helpers, Bus Helpers, Reading Buddies.
- VIP program (York Regional Police sponsor and operate workshops for grade junior/intermediate students)