Knoxdale Public School is a French Immersion Centre located in a well-established community in Ottawa's west end. The school is situated on a large property adjacent to serviced parkland which offers our students access to soccer pitches, tennis courts and a community rink. Currently in our 49th year of high academic standards and overall excellence, we are proud to offer English/French Kindergarten, Early French Immersion to Grade 6, Middle French Immersion (Grades 4 to 6) and a Specialized Gifted French Immersion program (Grades 5/6). At Knoxdale, staff, students and parents work together toward common goals - academic excellence, social and emotional development, and positive attitudes.
Knoxdale has an enrolment of 670 students from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 6, representing perse cultures and languages. We are in our first year of implementing English/French Full Day Learning. Knoxdale students exude incredible school spirit and pride. They are well behaved and demonstrate the character traits required for a safe, caring and positive learning environment.
Our students are instrumental in initiating fundraisers. Knoxdale students realize that they are part of a larger community and that their efforts do make a difference. Our students are encouraged to become lifelong learners and responsible citizens. Upon completion of grade six, most students attend Greenbank Middle School.
Knoxdale Public School proudly boasts a dedicated and hardworking team who work closely with one another and with the parent community to offer a rich and well-rounded learning environment for the students. Our team consists of 31.5 full-time equivalent teachers, including a full time principal and a 0.5 vice principal, 2 educational assistants, a 0.50 library technician, an office administrator, an office assistant, a chief custodian, along with a team of evening custodians. Our staff is highly dedicated to the pursuit of personal and professional growth opportunities. The staff models a professional learning community through co-operative learning and team building. Our team is committed to supporting every child reach their full potential.
Knoxdale P.S. serves several well-established communities. These include Craig Henry (partial), Briargreen, Qualicum, Graham Park, Leslie Park, Trend Arlington, and Cedarhill/Orchard Estates, Estates of Arlington Woods and Valley Stream. Our Middle French Immersion and Gifted communities encompass a larger geographical area.
Parental involvement in our school is extensive and includes reading to children, preparing learning materials and assisting with field trips. Parents fundraise extensively to provide resources and programs to support and enhance the curriculum. The Knoxdale School Council works closely with teachers and administration in the pursuit of excellence for our students.
An up-to-date technology, media carts with projection capability, and a smart board.
A community skating rink adjacent to our schoolyard that is well used in the winter months.
As an extension of the Knoxdale team, we have access to the following special services: a school Social Worker, a School Psychologist, a Speech and Language Pathologist, and a Learning Support Consultant.
Knoxdale offers a English/French Kindergarten Early French Immersion program grade 1 to 6 and a grade 4 to 6 Middle French Immersion program. We are also home to a Specialized Gifted Early Immersion class at the grades 5/6 level. Kindergarden is a half English and Half French program. Early French Immersion children study in French for all subjects except Math in Grade 1. With the introduction of English in grade 2, In MFI, and EFI the students are immersed in French for most of their day. Math and English arr the only subjects not in French. Although French is the language of instruction, the children study the same curriculum content and meet the same expectations as their peers in the English program.
Knoxdale has 15 classes of children in the Early French Immersion program from Kindergarten to Grade 6. We have 6 classes of children in Middle French Immersion from Grade 4 to Grade 6. Knoxdale is also home to one grade 5 / 6 Early French Immersion Specialized Gifted Program class and 2 Full Day Junior Kindergarten classes.
We have a full-time Learning Support Teacher and a 0.5 Learning Resource Teacher who collaborate with the teaching staff to support our students with special needs through the integrated model. We also have two Educational Assistants who provide support for students in the classroom. We have a Specialized Gifted Early French Immersion program at the grades 5/6 level. We have access to the itinerant ESL teacher who provides assistance and support to staff and students.
Organized sports activities include: Cross-country running, Basketball, Soccer, Borden ball, Volleyball, Track and Field and Ballon-quilles.
Students are given opportunities to demonstrate leadership and citizenship by working as lunch and Kindergarten monitors, peace makers as well as participating in charitable events such as UNICEF, FAMSAC, Snowsuit Fund, Terry Fox walk, Jump Rope for Heart, Pass the Baton for Parkinson's, Child Haven, Canadian Legion poppy sales and emergency relief fundraisers.
Parents and visitors access the school through a buzzer system. Upon arrival, they sign-in at the office and carry an identification badge before proceeding to classrooms.
Safe School Team, Character Development Committee, Presentations by our School Resource Officers to review student safety and important life skills, four adult crossing guards, Ottawa Safety Council's School Zone Traffic Safety presentations.
Knoxdale's Code of Behaviour, developed by students, staff and parents, is printed in the student agenda and on the school website. It is regularly reviewed and reinforced by all staff members.
Character education is at the heart of what we do. The Community of Character Wheel is referenced regularly and specific information about each attribute is included in the student agenda. Assemblies focused on character are held in the "Eagle's Nest". We take pride in being a part of the OCDSB's Community of Character and celebrate excellent character at Knoxdale.
Our students are supervised from the time they get off the bus or enter the schoolyard at 7:45 a.m., until they leave at 2:30 p.m. Teachers wear fluorescent, orange sashes when they are outside on yard duty. They also carry MIKE phones which link them to other teachers in the yard, and to our central office. Grade 6 students help younger "Eagles" in many ways, such as bus monitors, Peace Makers and lunch monitors during the nutrition breaks.