Presteign Heights Public School is located on St. Clair Avenue East in the Parkview Hills community. The school first opened in 1951. With its large playground and soccer fields the school has become an important meeting place for our community, friends and neighbours. Working in collaboration with our community, parents and educational partners, the staff of Presteign Heights supports and motivates students as they strive to achieve their intellectual, physical, social, emotional, and moral potential. We deliver excellent educational programmes characterized by relevancy and accountability in a safe, peaceful and nurturing environment where individuals are respected, valued and expected to make a contribution.
Character Development
Character Education has continued to be a focus at Presteign Heights Elementary School. By focusing on the TDSB's Character Education Program the staff have integrated these attributes into their regular planning. This has established a positive culture for learning and human development throughout our school community. As a result the students have a greater understanding of their environment and the community around them. This establishes a safe and co-operative environment in which everyone is able to work, learn and play.
Interesting Feature
Active and Supportive Parent Association
The Presteign Heights SAC Association and Home & School continues as a merged group. Our many active parent members plan, organize and fundraise for our students. They also support the students with additional activities such as a yearly Writing Contest, Art Exhibition, and Earth Day Festivities. Several SAC subcommittees such as the executive and the Safe and Caring Schools committee also exist and continue to work collaboratively with the principal in an advisory capacity providing input on a variety of issues.
More Information about Presteign Heights Elementary School
Teaching and Learning
The Presteign Heights teaching staff have participated in a variety of professional development opportunities in order to provide evidence-based effective programming for all of our students. Our Staff have continued to focus on our Inquiry Model which promotes higher level thinking skills through learning goals, success criteria, differentiated instruction.
Supporting Student Needs
Presteign Heights continues to work closely with our parents and community to support the physical, social, emotional, and cultural needs of our students. In order to help our children thrive we offer International Languages Programs and After Four programs run by our SAC/Home & School Association.
Technology
We are making continued improvements in our acquisition of technology. We now have four interactive whiteboards and multimedia projectors for classrooms. Also, as part of a pilot project with the TDSB our Extended French classes have the use of thirty notebooks for their classes. We have also just purchased six new classroom computers and three printers.
Sports at Presteign Heights
Our students have been actively involved in a variety of supporting events throughout the school year. We annually participate in the Terry Fox Run and in the Board's Fall Cross Country Meet. A number of our students have also participated in Soccer tournaments as well as the Board's Track and Field meet.
Additional Features
- Scientists in the School
- Walking Wednesdays
- Earth Day Activities
- Safe and Caring Environment
- Literacy Games
- Chess Club
- Inclusiveness
- Art Exhibition/Writing Contest
Student Life - Where You Belong
In continuing to build a respectful school climate our objective is to nurture these characteristics through the Toronto District School Board's character education program. In order to foster attributes such as respect, responsibility, empathy, caring, sharing and teamwork we provide sports teams, clubs and assemblies. In-class dialogue and the integration into the daily learning of the students are becoming the foundation for student appreciation for the needs of others. We also provide our students with opportunities to shine and serve as leaders within our school. Our junior students serve as announcers as well as reading buddies to our primary students.
What Sets Us Apart
There is a strong sense of community that has developed between the students, parents, staff and the community at large. We believe in addressing the needs of the whole child and engaging our families and community in this effort. We continue to work with our community to provide rich experiences for our students both inside and outside the school community.
Parent and Community Engagement
There is a very strong focus on parent and community involvement within the school through fundraising and program enhancement. Presteign Heights in the past has offered programs that serve the local community such as ITLC, the Intergenerational Program and Junior Achievement, business skills for our Grade 5 students. Furthermore the school is involved in the Terry Fox Run, New Christmas Toy and Food Drive and the Winter Clothing Drive. Other events and activities have included trips to the National Film Board, the Star Lab presented by the ROM and Downsview Park sponsored by our Home and School. Regular parent volunteers assist in the library and in the office with Safe Arrival. There are also monthly Pizza Lunches, Fall Fair, Turkey Lunch, Dance-a-thon, Kindergarten Orientation and End of Year BBQ all supported by the SAC/Home and School Association.
