"Things are only impossible until we decide that they're not anymore." - David Suzuki
Elkhorn Public School is located in the Bayview Village community. We are a Kindergarten to Grade 5 school where the partnership of home, community and school is thriving and helping our students to flourish. The academic program is balanced in all areas of the Ontario Curriculum. Elkhorn services approximately 430 students representing almost 20 different language groups. Prevalent languages spoken by students in the school, other than English, include Mandarin, Cantonese, Romanian, Korean and Farsi. At Elkhorn, every child is encouraged to achieve the highest standards, to grow emotionally, intellectually and socially, and to become successful within a global community.
History of Elkhorn
In 1955 Sheppard Avenue was a dirt road with just a few homes on it. Bayview Village was nothing more than a farmer's field. As the area began to grow the Board of Education planned the building of a new school - Elkhorn. The official opening of Elkhorn took place on May 5, 1958. In June of 1985 due to declining enrollment, Elkhorn's doors closed, marking the end of 27 years of education at the school. Students moved to nearby Bayview Elementary and Middle School. In September 1996, Elkhorn proudly reopened its doors and the elementary population continues to grow to this day.
Community
We pride ourselves in being a community-centred school. The positive, welcoming community is evident the moment you walk in the school and see the beautiful mural that all students, parents, and staff created. There are many opportunities for students to learn to be positive contributing members in the school community. Parents are actively involved in their children's education. Our teachers are lifelong learners who care deeply about the students. We will continue to foster and develop strong partnerships with parents/guardians and community agencies. For our students, it is our goal to create and maintain a safe learning environment.
More Information about Elkhorn Public School
Special Education
Children have unique needs. We endeavor to meet the needs of all students through our excellent special education team. Our Special Education team works closely with homeroom teachers to provide programming that helps our students to continually improve. Math and language blocks are aligned so that students are learning similar curriculum at the same time as their peers.
English as a Second Language (ESL)
We have many students who are new to Canada and are an important part of our school community. Our ESL teachers work with the homeroom teachers to provide programs to support students in their continued learning. Our ESL programs are determined based on the needs of the individual students and services are provided accordingly.
Music
Students from all grades participate in a well-balanced music program which encourages the development of musical skills, creativity, and performance practice. There is a yearly concert for Grades 1-5 and a mini-concert for the Kindergartens. Our students also participate in events such as singing at the Legislative Assembly of Ontario and the Toronto Blue Jays game.
Integration of Technology
The use of technology to accommodate the different learning styles of our students has proven to be a valuable tool in promoting academic achievement and successfully engaging all students. SmartBoards, Promethean Boards and iPads are some of the resources available to support teaching and learning.
Additional Features
● Various Clubs
● Boys' and Girls' Sports Teams
● Initiatives - e.g. 9 Days of Giving
● Character Assemblies
● Play Days, Fun Fair, Dance-A-Thons
● Fundraisers - e.g.Terry Fox
● Autism Awareness Campaign
● Student Voice Action Committee
Student Life - Where You Belong
Students at Elkhorn are encouraged to strive for excellence, to celebrate success, and to just enjoy being kids. There are many opportunities for students to be involved in extra-curricular activities at lunch and after school. While we believe it is important to offer these opportunities to our students, we also believe that students learn a great deal from play and unstructured social interaction (recess). Coupled with the excellent direct teaching of social skills in the classrooms, our students are often complimented on their kindness, manners, consideration, and general awareness of social norms when they interact both in and out of the classroom.
What Sets Us Apart
Five aspects set us apart: Community, Staff, Special Education, Music, and Students. Elkhorn is a positive and nurturing community where staff and parents work together to provide the best education for each student. Parents and community members are welcomed for their sharing of knowledge, outstanding levels of volunteerism, and participation throughout all aspects of school life. Our staff is knowledgeable, caring, and always striving to improve professionally. They are consistently provided with opportunities to enhance their teaching practices. The special education department is second to none, providing assistance to all students with special needs using focused teaching and assessment methods. The music education program focuses on developing choral techniques in students, but there is also an Orff and recorder component to music instruction. Our students are given ample opportunities to demonstrate their strengths in academic, athletic, leadership and character building forums.
Parent and Community Engagement
Parents are recognized as an important partnership in student learning. The School Advisory Council (SAC) has many active and supportive parent members. The School Council has played a vital role in providing financial and personal support to advance the cause of student learning and enhance the availability of resources. Our very vibrant school council organizes various fundraising initiatives to enrich the lives of our students. Our students have benefited greatly from the fundraising the Council has initiated. There is regular collaboration with community and social agencies to assist many students and families with special needs.
