This historic school was established in 1861, six years before Confederation and was the school of the first Canadian born Governor General, Vincent Massey. The school was S.S. No. 8 York Township built and operational by 1883. This school served parts of what was North York, Scarborough and East York (Queen Street East). The second school was created in 1872 to add to the original school. The third school was created in 1876 and the school was referred to as Dawes Road School or The Town Line School. In 1952 Victoria Park School was built, replacing 3 previous country schools that had served the children in this neighbourhood. The school has had a number of additions and in 1996, all classrooms and the office were refurbished.
Current Information
Our school serves approximately 150 students from many different ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds. We also have 3 Special Education classes to serve students with Developmental Disabilities. Victoria Park was formerly named one of the Schools on the Move by the Literacy and Numeracy Secretariat. Our school exemplifies what a school can accomplish when a professional learning community engages in careful and focused improvement planning around student learning. The collaborative efforts of staff and the community at large translate into the identification and deployment of strategies that contribute to the good of the whole school.
Interesting Feature
Supportive Parent Community
Our Parent Council is very active. They support school activities and programs that enrich the school experience for students, e.g. organizing a community-based fun fair, class field trip volunteers, etc. Their fundraising provides integral features of school life at Victoria Park, for e.g., Scientist in the School, transportation for trips, graduation photos, etc. Meetings take place monthly in the school library and babysitting is provided. All parents are welcome to join and take part in our council. It is a very important dimension of our school community.
More Information about Victoria Park Elementary School
Special Education
We have 3 Intensive Support Programs in our school. They are a Diagnostic Kindergarten, a Primary and a Junior program for students with developmental disabilities. When it is appropriate, these students are integrated into regular classrooms to enable our entire school to experience a rich school life.
Respect, Responsibility, and a Readiness
To Learn This is our daily motto at Victoria Park is we foster respect for each other through team building and cooperation. Anti-bullying workshops and in-class dialogue continue to be the foundation of student appreciation for the needs of others. A positive school climate is based on the tenets of the TDSB Character Education program.
Technology
We are making gradual and steady improvements to our acquisition of IT mandated by life in the twenty-first century. We have interactive whiteboards and multimedia projectors. Recently, we have purchased 6 Mini iPads and new desktops for each classroom. We are hoping to move towards wireless internet in the near future.
Embracing the Arts
To enrich our students' lives with the Arts, we have scheduled performances by Prologue for the Performing Arts, Native drummers, and visiting school bands. Teachers collaborate to organize spirit assemblies, folkfest, and whole school art activities.
Additional Features
- Bright classrooms
- Committed support staff
- Safe and caring environment
- Dedicated teachers
- Inclusiveness
- Library / Computer Lab
Student Life - Where You Belong
We honour student performance each term with awards for: Arts, Academics, Athletics, and Attitude. At Victoria Park, we offer a rigorous academic program with opportunities to participate in co-curricular activities (cross-country, track and field, kilometre club, speed stacking, scooter boards, chess club, library helpers, KG helpers, Healthy Tip Tuesday announcers, etc.) We have school assemblies to celebrate special days throughout the year. Fundraisers such as Laps for Lung and the Terry Fox Run develop student awareness for large charities. Grassroots fundraisers help the students to make a difference for children less fortunate than themselves.
What Sets Us Apart
We are very small school with a genuine sense of community developed among all the stakeholders: students, staff, and community members at large. Older students are give the opportunity to work with a variety of younger students. Special Needs students are involved in all aspects of daily school life. Scientists in the Schools make science a very real and enjoyable subject area through hands-on interactive workshops throughout the year in each class. Diverse learning experiences complement ministry curriculum goals.
Parent and Community Engagement
Local visits: Public Library, Fire Hall, Grocery Stores Student teachers Partnerships with various schools Police Safety Programs Partnerships with local business An active School Council (Home and School Assoc.)involved in fundraising and student activities Inter-generational Teaching and Learning Communities: an activity where grandparents teach craft skills (Gr. 4 & 5) Community and Parent Volunteers.
