Blacksmith Public School's Mission Statement
Blacksmith Public School is located south west of Jane and Steeles in the Black Creek community, a vibrant, diverse, caring and supportive community. Blacksmith P.S. strives to maintain equity to all students in a learning environment that caters to the whole child emphasizing on academic, social, physical, and personal development at each grade level. The staff is committed to implementing the Ontario curriculum expectations with added challenges for each students to excel. Co-curricular activities support and enhance school programs, which help maintain closer links with the community, home and school. Parent support is growing which augers well for the initiatives put in place for all round improvement.
Focus on Programming:
EQAO scores and other school data are used as a means of identifying our strengths in the areas of literacy and numeracy. A needs assessment is done followed by a school plan for K-5 students. The principles advanced by Miriam Trehearne, Debbie Miller, Lucy Calkins and in First Steps guide our literacy program. Key ideas in Mathematics are based on the Ontario Curriculum Guide for instruction, Assessment and Evaluation. Through professional development sessions and the provision of appropriate resources, staff will continue to work to achieve on-going success for all students.
More Information About Blacksmith Public School
Literacy and Numeracy Components of the Curriculum
We work diligently to raise the level of achievement of every student through differentiated practices. All students from K-5 engage in learning experiences that help them to understand content and produce work that is measurable of their competence and strengths.
Safety in School
We empower students to be safe at school. A Safe and Caring Schools Committee is established to ensure the students attending this school, work in a safe and caring environment. Students, teachers, and parents are aware of the Code of Behaviour for the school and we work in partnership to develop a sense of responsibility for all actions.
Special Education
Students who need additional help to be successful in their work receive support in a regular classroom or are withdrawn for intensive support. This helps students to work to their potential and feel successful at what they can do.
Nutrition Program
Two approaches are practised. There is Healthy Tuesdays when students are encourage to bring healthy lunches to school. Then there is our school Snack Program that offers healthy snacks to students daily. Students are introduced to foods from the Canadian Food Guide.
Additional Features
- SEPT program for newcomers
- Homework Club ~ Community
- Cluster Schools Initiatives
- Sports
- Boys' Reading Club
- Girls' Club
- Chess Club
- Ballroom Dancing
Student Life - Where You Belong
GO TEAM
“We are currently preparing students for jobs that don’t yet exist, using technologies that haven’t been invented, in order to solve problems we don’t even know are problems yet.”
- Karl Fisch
- Karl Fisch
Our school has a unique population that changes often. Many of our students speak English as a Second Language, and newcomer students are quickly integrated through the ESL and LEAP programs. However, this quote really sums up the new landscape we face in education today. Our students (whether they were born in, or outside of, North America) are being asked to think creatively, globally and technologically. Though it is a challenging task, our students have embraced the opportunity to experiment with new resources, programs and applications. Through the use of our newly acquired netbooks, our Smart Boards, assistive programs and various web-based applicatons, our students are being prepared to be the global citizens we need for the future.
We show appreciation and tolerance for every cultural group through observances like Black History Month, Asian Heritage Month, festivals and celebrations.
WHAT SETS US APART
Our school recognizes the importance of team planning and we are willing to do whatever is necessary to make it happen. In professional learning communities, the targets are set for the whole school (K-5), and grade teams work together on thier Pathways that specify the teaching tasks, the learning outcomes and the resources to be shared. Literacy coaches and lead teachers in the Family of Schools support teachers in the discussion sessions as well as in the classrooms. Pathways are designed to modify the delivery of education to our 21st century students. It entails planning, collaborating, creativity and outcome-based learning using the many tools for effective teaching. Our staff remains focused on developing the whole child. Much emphasis is placed on the child's social, emotional and physical and intellectual development. So, in collaboration with agencies, the needs of students are met in sports, the arts, technology, performances, and excursions. Families are encouraged to be a part of any, or all, of these ventures.
PARENT AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
We value community involvement at Blacksmith. In order for students to become prepared as global citizens, they need to have access to adults from many disciplines. We have had the privilege of working in collaboration with the Faculties of Education from York, Niagara, UOIT, Windsor and Tyndale Universities as well as Ryerson Nursing Students and George Brown Behavioural Science students. Our staff, students, and parents are fully involved in co-curricular activities such as the Terry Fox Run, Community walks, Heart and Stroke Foundation, Family reading and math nights, Book Fair, Science Fair, Fun Fair in addition to supporting school programs, such as the School Nutrition Program and the Kindergarten Orientation Program. We also work closely with Toronto Public Health and the Settlement and Education Partnership.