Wilclay Public School strives to have vibrant, welcoming and inclusive learning environment. We believe that all students can be successful in all areas of their school life, including academic success and personal well being. To ensure that our students have the knowledge, skills and attitudes to flourish as 21st Century citizens, we provide them with opportunities to use technology as they learn from and with each other. Wilclay offers our students a wide variety of extracurricular and leadership activities that allow students to further develop and grow as individuals. We have three main areas of focus: differentiated instruction; bully prevention and inclusion; and parent and family involvement.

Our School

History

Wilclay P.S. and street are both named after the community developer’s two sons, Will and Clay. The school serves a multicultural community in which there are more than 20 different languages spoken. We embrace the rich heritage of our community, value equity and anti-racist education through our school policies, initiatives and committees.

Our school motto is Together in Harmony. 

Our school mascot is the wildcat. 

Facilities

Wilclay P.S. was officially opened in September 1987 with a staff of 27 and 616 students registered from kindergarten to grade 6. Wilclay’s population has risen and fallen dramatically over the years since the school was built. It has been as high as 850 students (where we currently stand) and as low as 350. The 10th School Anniversary was celebrated by the community in the spring of 1998 and was a tremendous success attended by former staff, students and parents. During the 1998-1999 school year, the Markham Parks and Recreation Department redesigned Wilclay’s playground area and park just north of the school. A two-story fifteen classroom addition including a second gymnasium opened in 2006 to complement the existing school facility. This addition was constructed to meet the increased student population growth Wilclay P.S. has seen over the past several years.

Programs

As with each school in the York Region District School Board, Wilclay 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:

• is a Performance Plus school, which aims to improve student social and academic achievement. Support is provided through building community connections with public and private agencies, health and social service providers, businesses and centres of faith. Two principles that guide the Performance Plus program are: every child can learn and will learn with the proper support and the school has both the responsibility and capacity to be part of each student’s network of support. Our Performance Plus motto, “Because a little extra can make all the difference”, motivates us to strive for excellence
• promotes a safe and supportive learning environment. This is done through the Board’s Safe Schools Policy and Procedures and the Character Education initiatives
• provides Special Education programs

We are also very proud to offer the following programs to our students:

• Wilclay Way Character Recognition
• Anti-Bullying programs
• Guest speakers and workshops
• Ongoing and informal social skills counselling (CYW)
• Student Leadership program
• VIP program
• Track and Field
• Basketball
• Volleyball
• Cross Country
• Recorder ensemble
• Junior / Intermediate band
• Choir
• Spring Concert

Safe and Supportive Schools/Character Education/Antiracist and Equity Education

Every student has the right to learn in a safe and supportive environment. The York Region District School Board has a Safe Schools Policy and a defined procedure to implement the policy. Both the policy and procedure support the view that student discipline involves a continuum of support including prevention, intervention and appropriate consequences. 

In addition, Wilclay P.S supports the development of character education in the York Region School Board. Wilclay’s Character Education initiatives are implemented through the Wilclay Way Pillars. Integral to the school culture, it reflects our quest to model and further develop character in each one of our students and ourselves. The goals of this program are to prepare our learners to be responsible, caring and contributing citizens. 

In embracing antiracism and enthnocultural equity, we commit ourselves to positive and equitable outcomes in all education programs and services. Through our daily actions with each other and in programming we believe in the intrinsic worth of all students, staff and community members. Some specific initiatives include:

• Equity Committee
• Asian/South Asian month
• Chinese New Year
• African Heritage month
• Tamil Heritage month
• Islamic Heritage month
• Spring Concert
• Multicultural Fair
• Parent/Staff volunteer translators
• Translating Parent Surveys and important messages
• Parent Engagement Round Table speakers
• Chai and Chat with parents and translators