Withrow Avenue Public School is situated in Riverdale. The school has rich history and celebrated its 100th Anniversary in 2003. The school's current building was constructed in 1972, and was designed around the open-concept model that was commonplace for the times. We are a dual-track school, offering both an English and Early French Immersion program to approximately 600 students. The building also houses the Withrow Childcare Centre as well as Quest Alternative Senior School. Withrow is also a focal point for the community and is used by community groups outside school hours.
Withrow's Mission Statement
Withrow Public School is a dynamic community of lifelong learners working together towards equity and excellence through trust, mutual respect, co-operation, and critical thinking in the pursuit of knowledge.
To this end:
-We accept the challenge of working for positive change.
-We foster an inclusive environment where the contributions of all are encouraged.
-We take responsibility for our learning, actions, and interactions.
-We seek to become confident decision makers and socially responsible citizens.
Interesting Feature
Withrow's Song
Words and Music by Mauro Bellotto As we stand at the door, With a plan, books in hand. And we walk down through the halls of Withrow, Little hands for little toys, Shaping dreams of girls and boys. We are led to believe in ourselves, "W" a wish for each and all, Red and white remind us to stand tall. Thoughts we share, we want to know, We are members of Withrow. In the school, out the door, at the gate forever more, Withrow is my second home. What we learn will make us strong, As we move on.
More Information about Withrow Avenue Junior Public School
Promoting Stewardship
Withrow is an ECO school promoting stewardship through Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. We have implemented and sustained practices in staff and student leadership, reducing impact, developing ecological literacy, and building healthy communities. We also have a teaching garden, bringing the curriculum to life and promoting stewardship.
Integrating the Arts
At Withrow, we integrate the arts into many aspects of our program. Our students also have opportunities to explore the arts with specialist teachers in Music and Drama & Dance. We work collaboratively with Learning Through the Arts on projects that integrate art forms into core curriculum areas, and parents and community members share their artistic talents.
Withrow's Rich History
The need for a new school for the Riverdale area became apparent just prior to the turn of the century. The present site was approved for purchase on June 7, 1900. The location was on Withrow Avenue and the school was named for the avenue which received its name from John J. Withrow, former alderman and founder of the Canadian National Exhibition.
More Historical Perspectives
Fascinating stuff! The grounds of Withrow Avenue Public School on Bain Avenue used to be an aboriginal encampment. A 1988 Toronto Historical Board plaque giving the details is attached to the school.
Student Life - Where You Belong
Withrow offers our students many ways to explore their talents and interests. Our sports program offers opportunity to experience a wide range of sports at both the competitive and non-competitive levels. Our team, the Withrow Wildcats, competes against other schools in a wide variety of sports, including soccer, basketball, volleyball, baseball, badminton, and track and field. We also have intramurals to help develop skills in a fun and non-competitive atmosphere. Our Library runs an engaging Forest of Reading program. Our Music program has an award-winning choir. The arts flourish at Withrow with artists in the school, Learning Through the Arts, art auctions, gallery shows and school-wide performances. Withrow has a variety of clubs for students to engage in, such as Me to We, School Newspaper, Technology Team, Ukulele, Drawing, Chess, Lego, Mad Science, Quantum Kidz, Robotics, Pawsitively Pets, DIY Emojis and Raising Readers. We have Winter and Spring concerts to showcase talents, as well as a talent show at our annual Fun Fair. At Withrow, student life is active, fun, and rewarding.
What Sets Us Apart
At Withrow, we are proud of our holistic approach to education. We believe that all stakeholders (students, staff, parents, and community members) bring a wide range of experiences for us to draw upon in helping to construct meaningful learning experiences. These opportunities support the concepts and skills necessary to become productive and responsible citizens in our world. Our parents' active involvement helps build the bridge between home and school, providing our students with a sense of community in the learning process. Close to our hearts is our annual Withrow Cares Campaign. This school-wide initiative supports those in need in our broader community by providing all at Withrow an opportunity to give back in some way to help those in need. Past campaigns have helped provide personal care kits for the homeless, food and necessities for those alone during the holidays, and gifts for families who are in transition due to unfortunate circumstances. Each year the campaign's success is evidence of our caring community spirit as Withrow.
Parent and Community Engagement
Our parent community is actively engaged in many aspects of school life here at Withrow. From their contributions in the classroom as volunteers and experts, sharing their knowledge and experience, to providing resources that enrich the educational experiences of our students through programming enhancements, our parent community demonstrates the positive results that strong home and school relationships build. Our School Council provides leadership and organization in many of these aspects, through such activities as Community BBQ, Fun Fair, Art Auction/Gallery, school performances and Artists. We are also proud of our community partnerships which enrich the learning experiences of all members of the Withrow community. Some of our community partners are: Toronto Public Library, Parks and Recreation, community agencies, and artists in the community.
