Fallingbrook Community ES

Our Students

The September 2013 enrolment at Fallingbrook was 400 students. This year we welcomed 86 junior and senior kindergarten children to our full day early learning kindergarten program. Approximately 40% of our population is registered in the Regular English Program and the 60% in Early French Immersion. Here are some comments from class representatives:

• “In my class we are all friends.”
• “We have lots of volunteers.”
• “I think that our school has friendly children and nice teachers.”
• “We welcome newcomers.”
• “I think a lot of people like it here because it is nice and clean and fun.”
• “I think that this is a great school to go to and learn.”

Our Staff

Our dedicated staff of approximately 40 professionals includes teachers, educational assistants, early childhood educators, custodians, office administrators and the administrative team. They all work together in a professional learning community directed at promoting academic excellence for every student. Additional staff expertise in Special Education, English as a Second Language, computers, athletics and music further enrich the learning experience of our students.

Our staff members continually upgrade their skills by attending summer courses, school, board and ministry initiative workshops and seminars and other professional development opportunities. Our school community also benefits from the services of a Library Technician, School Resource Officer (SRO), and a Public Health Nurse.

Our Community

We are proud of the level of parent participation at Fallingbrook. We have a School Council and a Parent Teacher Association (PTA) which provide opportunities for parents and teachers to work together in order to improve the social and academic programs for all students.

Two meetings are held each month, one for School Council and one for PTA. Parents are welcome to attend at any time. During the 2013-2014 school year, School Council has formed two sub-committees: the Safe and Caring School Committee and the Communications Committee. Recommendations are submitted for approval by Council and forwarded to the school administration. An annual report containing Council recommendations is published and distributed to all families in the school community in June of each year.

For the past 24 years, PTA fund-raising has enabled us to enhance the curriculum by purchasing early literacy books, library bookshelves, audio visual equipment, media carts and projectors, Smartboards, climbers, physical education equipment, an electronic scoreboard, stage lighting for the gymnasium and True Sport banners. In November, 2003 the Junior Fitness Play Structure, fully funded by the PTA, was installed on the Junior Yard. Parent participation in PTA and School Council directly benefits every child at Fallingbrook.

Mission Statement

“We at Fallingbrook Community Elementary School believe that our school should be a safe, challenging and effective learning community with a positive and healthy school climate that will nurture responsibility, excellence and respect for our surroundings and the rights of others.”

Our school motto is proudly displayed in our school office: Become part of our team. Together everyone achieves more.

Facilities and Resources

 The main building includes a divided double gym, a community room, a music room, a fine arts room, science and design technology labs, a large automated library resource centre with over 20,000 books and computer software, and a computer lab. Each classroom is equipped with one or more computers for student use. Global Child-care Centre is also on-site to provide an extended day program for JK to Grade 5 students, before and after school.

Programs and Services

Academic Programs

Fallingbrook is a dual-track JK to grade 8 school. Our solid regular program from JK to grade 8 parallels an equally solid SK to grade 8 Early French Immersion program. Fallingbrook’s instrumental music program is offered in grades 7 and 8.

Classroom Organization

This year Fallingbrook Community E.S. has 8 Regular English classes and 10 Early French Immersion classes. We also have a junior/intermediate program class for students with Learning Disabilities.

Special Education and ESL Programs

Our special education team includes a Learning Support Teachers (LST), for Junior Kindergarten to Grade 8 and two, part-time Learning Resource Teachers (LRT), as well as a special education teacher who teaches 8 junior and intermediate students in a system OCDSB Learning Disability class. This exceptional team works collaboratively with staff to provide specialized support to our primary, junior and intermediate students in language arts and mathematics. As an inclusive school, we value and respect the contributions that each student can make to our learning environment.

Clubs and Activities

• School choir -primary, junior, and intermediate students
• Handball club
• Grade 7 and Grade 8 bands
• Junior intramural games for grades 3-6
• Acro-roping for junior and intermediate students
• Many inter-school teams at both junior and intermediate levels (cross-country, soccer, football, basketball, badminton, volleyball and track)
• Three intermediate Winter Activity Days in February for downhill skiing
• School-wide skating program at the outdoor rink in the winter and a baseball program in the spring season.
• Students can participate in the Blue Spruce, Silver Birch, Red Maple and Tamarack (French books) reading clubs and a Primary Bookworm Club.

Safe Schools Initiatives

We are proud of the students, teachers and parents at our school. Through partnerships between home and school, teacher and student, students will acquire the skills and attitudes that will help them to meet with success in a safe school setting. In keeping with the OCDSB policies and procedures surrounding Inclusive, Safe and Caring Schools, our expectations for student behavior will contribute to their success through the positive attitudes learning and interaction with others. Teaching our students to be caring and contributing members of a diverse society, with a focus on character development, is a priority for our school team.

An on-going focus is supporting our students in the area of Character Education. The OCDSB Community of Character traits are highlighted through reminders and assemblies. Through the efforts of our Inclusive Safe and Caring Schools team, we work through a progressive discipline approach to student management and a consistent model of expectations and routines is implemented in all grades. This year we are also supporting students in restorative practices and helping them to understand how their actions have an impact on others in our school community. Teaching our students to solve conflict in a positive way is an area of focus this year. Our staff members have been trained in WITS (Walk away, Ignore, Talk it out, Seek help) and our students are learning to apply these skills in their daily interactions with their peers.

This year junior and intermediate students have been trained as PALS (Playground Activity Leaders) and these students teach co-operative games to our grade one, two and three students on the Primary playground.

The Intermediate “TEAM” reinforcement program has operated successfully for many years. Grade 7 and 8 students participate in a “TEAM Token” system in which students earn recognition for excellence in academics, athletics and citizenship. Once each term the students are involved in a TEAM Token assembly, which recognizes and rewards student achievements over the term.