False Creek Elementary School
900 School Green
Vancouver, BC, V6H 3N7
Canada
One of the Kitsilano Secondary Family
Principal: Bruce Murton
Phone: (604) 713-4959
Fax: (604) 713-4961
from Vancouver School Board: School Plan 2010-2011
MISSION STATEMENT
At False Creek Elementary, we are committed to providing a friendly, nurturing environment as part of our neighbourhood. The school provides a supportive, challenging educational setting offering diverse opportunities and emphasizes basic skills in intellectual, social and physical development.
SCHOOL COMMUNITY CONTEXT
• approximately 250 students from grades Kindergarten to 7
• undergoing renovations to add extra room for full day kindergarten
• undergoing renovations to add extra room for full day kindergarten
• located in a densely populated urban setting near the False Creek seawall and Charleson Park
• most families reside in condominiums, apartments, townhomes, cooperatives, or on boats moored in the area
• many students walk to school via Laurel overpass from Fairview Slopes, Lameys Mill Road, or the seawall
• bus #50 stop is half a block away, to reach the Olympic Skytrain station is about a 10 minute walk
• many students walk to school via Laurel overpass from Fairview Slopes, Lameys Mill Road, or the seawall
• bus #50 stop is half a block away, to reach the Olympic Skytrain station is about a 10 minute walk
• 31% of students who have a first language other than English; however no language group is predominant
• 24 language groups in the school student population
• 8% of our students have a Ministry Designation that represents their specific learning requirements
Fairview statistics in 2006
• Population who moved since the last census 60.3%
• Number of private households 17,395
• One-person households 54.1%
• Average size of household 1.6
• Median household income $52,458
• Population in low income households 19.2%
• Number of families 6,890
• Children living at home 3,560
• Single parent families 14.1%
PARTNERS in the Community
• Arts Umbrella is located on Granville Island and about a 10 minute walk from the school. This non-profit arts organization offers a various programs on all the arts (dance, drama, and visual)
• Science World is about a 20 minute walk along the seawall. The science centre offers a wide variety of school programs
• Fire Hall Library is the closest public library located on 10th and Granville, about a 15 minute walk
• Vancouver International Writers' Festival is also located on Granville Island, annual readings and special events take place for elementary students
• H.R. MacMillan Space Center
Programming, exhibits, and activities inspire and evoke a sense of wonder about the Universe, our planet and space exploration
• Vancouver Maritime Museum
The museum offers rich maritime history and traditions of the Pacific Coast
• Museum of Vancouver
Museum of Vancouver offers a range of fun and educational programs that connect with the provincial curriculum
• False Creek Community Centre is less than a 10 minute walk along the seawall. Here, the centre has after school care and a youth lounge
Fairview statistics in 2006
• Population who moved since the last census 60.3%
• Number of private households 17,395
• One-person households 54.1%
• Average size of household 1.6
• Median household income $52,458
• Population in low income households 19.2%
• Number of families 6,890
• Children living at home 3,560
• Single parent families 14.1%
PARTNERS in the Community
• Arts Umbrella is located on Granville Island and about a 10 minute walk from the school. This non-profit arts organization offers a various programs on all the arts (dance, drama, and visual)
• Science World is about a 20 minute walk along the seawall. The science centre offers a wide variety of school programs
• Fire Hall Library is the closest public library located on 10th and Granville, about a 15 minute walk
• Vancouver International Writers' Festival is also located on Granville Island, annual readings and special events take place for elementary students
• H.R. MacMillan Space Center
Programming, exhibits, and activities inspire and evoke a sense of wonder about the Universe, our planet and space exploration
• Vancouver Maritime Museum
The museum offers rich maritime history and traditions of the Pacific Coast
• Museum of Vancouver
Museum of Vancouver offers a range of fun and educational programs that connect with the provincial curriculum
• False Creek Community Centre is less than a 10 minute walk along the seawall. Here, the centre has after school care and a youth lounge
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
• PAC presentations/speakers
• Early learning support programs (e.g. Ready Set Learn)
• Articulations meetings with secondary schools
• Student newsletter contributions, bulletin board displays to celebrate achievement
• PA announcements, assembly presentations, parents invited to attend all assemblies
• Organize a school-wide book exchange yearly (coordinated by parent volunteers)
• Fundraising activities set by parents (e.g. annual lemonade stand weekend on seawall)
• Vancouver Parks, the school’s playground is on city properity
SCHOOL GOAL
To strengthen students’ connections between literacy skills (reading, writing, and oral language)
LIBRARY – the physical space
Librarian: Ms, Berney
This school was built in the 1970s in an open-space concept design. It would be hard for any Librarian to supervise students in this oddly shaped library. There is a loft with intermediate fiction, some teacher resources, and a couple of computers. On the ground floor, the remainder of the library is shaped like a capital L. People must walk through the library to get to the office. However, in the easy fiction storybook section, many couches are found for read-a-louds. Round tables dot about the non-fiction/reference area. Also, the computer lab has it’s home in the library. As well, Ms. Berney teaches choir to all grade four and five students in the library. Since primary grades are optional, she only teaches music to some of them. A piano keyboard is also housed in the library.
She has the basic library equipment but no Smartboard. She has a computer available for students to find resources on the catalogue databases. On Wednesdays, there is a teacher who teaches computers to many of the grades. Ms. Berney admits she is far behind the technological advances and has left most of the digital literacy lessons to the computer teacher.
LIBRARY – the program
The Library program embraces the school goal of strengthening students’ connections between literacy. Ms. Berney knows her collection very well and is continually assessing the collection for scope and relevancy. PAC helps with funds to purchase various materials for the library. Ms. Berney provides extra library or reading initiatives such as the Chocolate Lily and Red Cedar reading programs/clubs to encourage literacy.
Ms. Berney welcomes the community families with pre-kindergarten children to use the facilities. It is important for her to have the families become acquainted with the library’s resources. Likewise, she becomes aware of the new students and their needs. She believes that developing an interest in reading is important as well as nurturing an early connection with the local literacy community.
The hours of the library are longer than stated – at a minimum it is open thirty minutes before and after school. During this time, she takes time to speak to the children and recommend books but also to find out what their interests are.
Ms. Berney is also very welcoming to colleagues to use the library and her expertise. She is available to co-teach as well as help plan units/lessons. Regarding teacher requests, she replies to a teacher needs usually the same day or by the next day at the latest. Willingly, she retrieves teaching resources for colleagues.
CURRICULUM
Two classes of grade two - science: life cycle
A refined search of the words ‘life cycle’ in the school library catelogue yielded only 37 sources, however, searching the 599 shelves I discovered much more. Another search on a specific species such as the wolf gave 75 entries to peruse. Many of the resources in the library belong to series that date back over a decade. Some of the collection is ‘tried and true’ while others need to be replaced.
LIBRARY – the physical space
Librarian: Ms, Berney
This school was built in the 1970s in an open-space concept design. It would be hard for any Librarian to supervise students in this oddly shaped library. There is a loft with intermediate fiction, some teacher resources, and a couple of computers. On the ground floor, the remainder of the library is shaped like a capital L. People must walk through the library to get to the office. However, in the easy fiction storybook section, many couches are found for read-a-louds. Round tables dot about the non-fiction/reference area. Also, the computer lab has it’s home in the library. As well, Ms. Berney teaches choir to all grade four and five students in the library. Since primary grades are optional, she only teaches music to some of them. A piano keyboard is also housed in the library.
She has the basic library equipment but no Smartboard. She has a computer available for students to find resources on the catalogue databases. On Wednesdays, there is a teacher who teaches computers to many of the grades. Ms. Berney admits she is far behind the technological advances and has left most of the digital literacy lessons to the computer teacher.
LIBRARY – the program
The Library program embraces the school goal of strengthening students’ connections between literacy. Ms. Berney knows her collection very well and is continually assessing the collection for scope and relevancy. PAC helps with funds to purchase various materials for the library. Ms. Berney provides extra library or reading initiatives such as the Chocolate Lily and Red Cedar reading programs/clubs to encourage literacy.
Ms. Berney welcomes the community families with pre-kindergarten children to use the facilities. It is important for her to have the families become acquainted with the library’s resources. Likewise, she becomes aware of the new students and their needs. She believes that developing an interest in reading is important as well as nurturing an early connection with the local literacy community.
The hours of the library are longer than stated – at a minimum it is open thirty minutes before and after school. During this time, she takes time to speak to the children and recommend books but also to find out what their interests are.
Ms. Berney is also very welcoming to colleagues to use the library and her expertise. She is available to co-teach as well as help plan units/lessons. Regarding teacher requests, she replies to a teacher needs usually the same day or by the next day at the latest. Willingly, she retrieves teaching resources for colleagues.
CURRICULUM
Two classes of grade two - science: life cycle
A refined search of the words ‘life cycle’ in the school library catelogue yielded only 37 sources, however, searching the 599 shelves I discovered much more. Another search on a specific species such as the wolf gave 75 entries to peruse. Many of the resources in the library belong to series that date back over a decade. Some of the collection is ‘tried and true’ while others need to be replaced.
COMMUNITY RESOURCES - science: life cycle
• Science World:
Go buggy! This workshop is crawling with live insects and assorted bugs. Students will study mealworms and discover what makes an insect an insect. They will become a caterpillar as it transforms into a butterfly. Along the way, a giant Madagascar hissing cockroach will scurry over for a hands-on visit.
• Grouse Mountain:
Animals in Their Environment - Local animals have developed a variety of fascinating characteristics that enable them to stay alive and reproduce. Students will identify some of BC's most interesting wildlife and discover how they meet the challenges they face.
and
híwus First Nations Cultural Program - The Pacific Northwest Longhouse becomes a meeting place for students of all ages to interactively discover the ancient customs, legends and rich history of the First Nations People.
Go buggy! This workshop is crawling with live insects and assorted bugs. Students will study mealworms and discover what makes an insect an insect. They will become a caterpillar as it transforms into a butterfly. Along the way, a giant Madagascar hissing cockroach will scurry over for a hands-on visit.
• Grouse Mountain:
Animals in Their Environment - Local animals have developed a variety of fascinating characteristics that enable them to stay alive and reproduce. Students will identify some of BC's most interesting wildlife and discover how they meet the challenges they face.
and
híwus First Nations Cultural Program - The Pacific Northwest Longhouse becomes a meeting place for students of all ages to interactively discover the ancient customs, legends and rich history of the First Nations People.
LINKS
• Arts Umbrella
http://www.artsumbrella.com
• False Creek Community Centre
http://vancouver.ca/parks/cc/falsecreek/website/
• False Creek Elementary
http://www.artsumbrella.com
• False Creek Community Centre
http://vancouver.ca/parks/cc/falsecreek/website/
• False Creek Elementary
http://falsecreek.vsb.bc.ca
• False Creek Parent Advisory Committee
http://falsecreekpac.ca/
http://www.vpl.ca/branches/details/firehall_branch
• Grouse Mountain
http://www.grousemountain.com/
• H.R. MacMillan Space Center
http://www.spacecentre.ca/
• Museum of Vancouver
http://www.museumofvancouver.ca/
• Science World
http://www.scienceworld.ca
• False Creek Parent Advisory Committee
http://falsecreekpac.ca/
http://www.vpl.ca/branches/details/firehall_branch
• Grouse Mountain
http://www.grousemountain.com/
• H.R. MacMillan Space Center
http://www.spacecentre.ca/
• Museum of Vancouver
http://www.museumofvancouver.ca/
• Science World
http://www.scienceworld.ca
• Vancouver International Writers' Festival
http://www.writersfest.bc.ca
• Vancouver Maritime Museum
http://www.vancouvermaritimemuseum.com/
DATA LINKS
• City Census
http://vancouver.ca/commsvcs/planning/census/2006/
• Vancouver School Board: False Creek School Plan 2010-2011
http://www.writersfest.bc.ca
• Vancouver Maritime Museum
http://www.vancouvermaritimemuseum.com/
DATA LINKS
• City Census
http://vancouver.ca/commsvcs/planning/census/2006/
• Vancouver School Board: False Creek School Plan 2010-2011
