WHO WE ARE
Lyndhurst is a vibrant and inclusive Kindergarten-Grade 7 community with 90 students. Our student population is comprised of students from various cultural, linguistic, and socioeconomic backgrounds, including English Language Learners, Indigenous students, and students with complex needs. Each one of our students brings unique perspectives and experiences that enrich our school learning environment.
WHAT WE ARE DOING WELL
At Lyndhurst, our priority is to have a school environment where students feel supported, valued, and cared for. Our daily announcement, Be Kind, Be Safe, and Be Respectful, reminds students of our focus each day. To further develop this focus, Lyndhurst students participate in a variety of curricular and extra-curricular activities. We are committed to supporting the needs of our students, from academic to athletic to social-emotional so they may further enrich their learning experiences.
Literacy: We create a love of literacy through push-in and pull-out support from our non-enrolling staff as well as our literacy programs and initiatives (e.g. RAZ KIDS, LEXIA, Battle of the Books, home reading) and home/school literacy connections.
Numeracy: Our students are engaged in many numeracy activities both in and out of the classroom using hands-on material and manipulatives, real life applications, and problem solving.
Parent Advisory Council (PAC): Our PAC is very supportive and plays a crucial role in fundraising and supporting both staff and students. From creating our outdoor learning to space to organizing hot lunches 3 times a week, to movie nights, to silent auctions and hot chocolate sales, their efforts help provide resources and opportunities that enhance the educational experience for everyone.
Enrolling and Non-Enrolling Staff: The staff at Lyndhurst are committed to supporting all children, both inside and outside of the classroom. Our staff does their best each day to provide all students with the tools, support, and encouragement they need to succeed academically, physically, emotionally, and socially.
Extracurricular Programs: Lyndhurst offers a wide range of extracurricular activities, including:
- Sports: Basketball and volleyball teams to promote cooperation, teamwork, and physical fitness.
- Clubs: Dance Club, Art and Crochet Club, Weaving Club, and Dungeons & Dragons Club to meet the diverse interests and talents of our students.
Student Leadership: We encourage leadership development through opportunities and responsibilities such as primary lunch monitoring, assembly set up and MCing, and announcing our morning messages.
Community and Spirit: Our school hosts Spirit Days and other school wide events (e.g. assemblies, performances) that bring the community together, creating a fun and engaging atmosphere for students, staff, and families.
Overall, Lyndhurst is a student-centered environment where many opportunities exist for students to explore their interests, develop leadership skills, and celebrate their unique identities. Staff, PAC, community, and student collaborations help to make Lyndhurst thriving school.
HOW DO WE KNOW?
- Classroom teachers meet with the School Based Support team in the fall to discuss class profiles, strengths and stretches of the group as well as individual learning needs.
- We conduct a formal literacy assessment in the fall and the spring to give us baseline data so that teachers may plan instruction/lessons to meet the needs of the students during the year and inform us of the progress.
- We conduct ongoing informal assessments, observations, and discussions to track student progress, to guide instruction, and to reassess targeted instruction.
- We collect data from the following sources to inform our teaching practices, next steps, and possible targeted interventions and support: Report Card Assessments, observations, Attendance, vulnerability index, FSA scores, ELL testing, Kindergarten intake meetings, LSS assessments, and PM Benchmarks.
OUR FOCUS AND OUR STRATEGIES
GOAL #1 – social emotional learning
Continue to develop a positive, supportive, and inclusive school community that focuses on being kind, being safe, and being respectful (be kind, be safe, & be respectful).
- staff survey of student behaviour in the fall and spring (heart and mind well-being survey) to guide our teaching and interactions
- explicit teaching through daily interactions of empathy, conflict resolution, growth mind set, self-regulation, and teamwork
- support through push-in and pull-outs from LSS, ELL, and EA’s
- regularly scheduled school-based team meetings
- regular check-ins with staff (e.g. staff meetings, EA meetings, pro-d days) to monitor the overall progress of students
- counselling support as needed for small groups or one-on-one
- morning announcements that focus on being kind, being safe, and being respectful and showing gratitude towards others (Lyndhurst Lions Roar)
GOAL #2 – numeracy
Continue to nurture and improve numeracy skills, mathematical thinking, and problem-solving skills so that all students develop more confidence in their mathematical abilities.
- targeted instruction delivered one-on-one or in small groups in-class
- support through push-in and pull-outs from LSS, ELL, and EA’s
- regular check-ins with staff (e.g. staff meetings, EA meetings, pro-d days) to monitor the overall progress of students
- Big Buddies from neighbouring high schools
- ensuring all staff have the appropriate resources to support students
- encouraging a growth mindset in staff and students by embracing challenges, learning from mistakes, and persevering
