General Mercer Junior Public School is located near Old Weston Road and St.Clair Avenue. The school was originally built in 1923. General Mercer offers Junior Kindergarten to Grade 6 programs. Classes are supported by French, Music, Literacy Support and Physical Education Teachers as well as a Teacher Librarian. The school shares space with an active Parenting Centre and a Daycare Centre that offers school-age programs. The Daycare will be expanded in Spring 2016 to offer Infant and Toddler programs for September 2016.
Special Education
Our school also contains 7 Special Education programs: Primary DD, Kindergarten Diagnostic, Primary Autism, Primary ISP, Home School Program, Junior Autism and Junior ISP. Our staff are highly trained and have experience and skills to meet the needs of our special education students. Technology such as interactive whiteboards, document cameras and ipads are used to engage the students in different learning environments.
Interesting Feature
The General
Major General Malcolm Smith Mercer, CB. Malcolm Smith Mercer was born on 17 September 1859. As a young man he had served with The Queen's Own Rifles in the 1885 North-West Rebellion. He stayed with The QOR after the rebellion and by the outbreak of the First World War he was a Lieutenant Colonel in command of the Regiment. He became the Officer Commanding the 3rd Canadian Division on 24 December 1915. As General Officer Commanding, Mercer was killed in Flanders on 2 June 1916, in Armagh Wood. He was the highest-ranked Canadian officer to be killed in action.
More Information about General Mercer Junior Public School
Model Schools for Inner City
The TDSB's goal is to make sure all our students succeed. Since September 2011, General Mercer P.S. has been involved in the Model School for Inner Cities program. The Model Schools for Inner Cities program plays a critical part in reaching that goal.
Literacy & Numeracy
Our teachers implement the components of balanced literacy and balanced math programs in all classrooms. In Literacy we are focused on improving critical thinking skills through the use of Differentiated Instruction. Our Literacy support teacher provides extra layer of support to help at risk readers in the primary grade.
Information Technology
The digital age has arrived and is very evident at our school. The interactive whiteboards in our regular & Special Education classes enable teachers to present information in a visual and interactive way that is highly motivating and engaging. Our grade 3/4 class has 15 iPads and our Grade 1's are involved in an exciting Model Schools program involving iPads.
Student Life - Where You Belong
The staff at General Mercer P.S. provide many opportunities beyond the classroom to enrich the lives of the students. Some of the activities and events that have occurred include but are not limited to: girls club, Environment Club, Library helpers, pizza monitors, floor hockey house league, Marlie's hockey trip, Freddie Fusion magic science show, basketball, volleyball, Dance-a-thon, stacking club, French club, annual school wide field trip, Earth Ranger, Scientist in the School, Friends of General Mercer Library, Dovercourt Boys and Girls Club and many more activities.
What Sets Us Apart
Our school has a fully functioning computer lab with over 25 computers. As well each classroom has on average 2 computers. Our school is also leading the way in interactive whiteboard technology. We currently have interactive whiteboards in 10 of our 13 classrooms. Our building is WIFI ready. Our special education classes also use iPads in the class to engage students in other forms of learning. As well our kindergarten classes have integrated iPads into the daily class routine. The grade 6 class has 5 Mac Books that they use on a daily basis. New for 2014, we are introducing the use of class sets of iPad mini's into 3 of our classrooms. We also offer heritage language classes on Monday evenings for students of Vietnamese descent and students wishing to learn Spanish. In 2011, our school opened a games room with 2 tables tennis games, table soccer, air hockey and bubble hockey. The games room is open to students before school, during recess, lunch and for classes to use during the school day.
Parent and Community Engagement
Ways we reach out to the community: Public Health, General Mercer Child Care Centre, Toronto Parks and Recreation Department, Child Development Institute, Children's Aid Society, Metro Police Liaison Officer(Street Proofing, Street Safety, Internet Safety, Youth and the Law, and anti-bullying) Faculty of Education students; active community school council, parent volunteers assisting in the classrooms, on field trips and with the Snack Program; participation in Ward 9 Parent Council, active Parenting Centre, Family Literacy Evenings, use of student agendas to communicate with parents, School community events; Family Halloween dance, Movie Night, Story tellers, Fun Fair, Parent Academy. The Dovercourt Boys and Girls Club provides after school activities twice a week for our students.
