September 2, 2008

Message from our Prinicipal

Welcome Back!

I hope that everyone has had a relaxing summer with their families.

We are all looking forward to a year full of learning and fun a Reesor Park.

Please welcome our new staff members:

Ms. Erin Steele          Primary SERT

MS. Tina Elliot           Primay Prep Teacher

Welcome back

Mrs. Bilkas                Grade 2

This year we will be continuiing to focus on:

• Enhanced Student Achievement: Literacy
• Effective Schools:  Daily Physical Activity
• Increased Parent and Community Engagement

Literacy, building community partnerships and developing healthy habits in our students are central to our school goals.  Parents are encouraged to continue reading and writing with your children at home as well as monitoring homework, volunteering, attending School Council and regularly communicating with the classroom teacher.  We will be tapping into your knowledge base and interests through a variety of innovative measures throughout this year.

Throughout the coming year, staff will receive in-service to further enhance their skills and strategies used to improve student achievement across all curriculum areas.

We will be continuing to focus on Character and on Bully Prevention through a variety of activities this year.  Special emphasis will be placed on the prevention of cyber bullying in our upper grades.

Should you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to cntact me at 905-294-6558 x182 or by e-mail at lisa.dilworth@yrdsb.edu.on.ca .

Lisa Dilworth

Principal        

School Profile

Reesor Park P.S. is named after an older, well established original family from the town of Markham. A park and road are also named after the Reesor family.

Reesor Park P.S. was officially opened in 1972, primarily as an open-concept school. Additions were made in 1978 and 1992.  Our Reesor Park School Council is reflective of the community, where the majority of our families speak English.  Reesor Park’s population has risen and fallen dramatically over the past 33 years.  Reesor’s current enrolment is 361 pupils.
 
The majority of our students are within walking distance of the school.

Markham’s water tower is just north of the school. The tennis courts, soccer field, baseball diamond and playground equipment are an integral part of the municipal park adjacent to the school yard.

We strive to make Reesor Park an attractive and inviting place.  Our caretaking staff, teachers, administrator, students and support staff value our school’s appearance. 

The YMCA provides a Before and After School program. The York Region District School Board also issues a number of permits to Scouts, Guides and Parks and Recreation for evening use of the school.

We provide programs for students from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 8.  We plan our programs carefully to meet the needs of our students.  A full spectrum of support programs are offered, including Student Support Centres, a Special Education class, Reading Recovery for Grade 1 students and a Primary/Junior/ Intermediate Literacy Collaborative Project. 

Our parents are very supportive, particularly of programs directed at academic improvement.  Parents and community members fulfill a vital role by volunteering to assist in the library and becoming reading partners for our young readers.  Literacy, parental and community involvement, and building a climate of high expectations for student success are our priorities.  Character education initiatives are implemented through our Student Council. The Reading Recovery program continues to promote early literacy. Three reading resource rooms with levelled books for all grades are effectively utilized to support programs.  We are continuing to make every effort to dedicate resources and staff for our programs and individual student’s needs.

Reesor Park also actively participates in community partnerships to enhance education in the classroom with experience-based learning opportunities such as:  Scientists in the School, author and artist visits and Tutors in the Classroom. Our recently formed Healthy Schools committee, in collaboration with staff, parents, students and our public health nurse is implementing initiatives to enhance physical fitness and the emotional/social well-being of all students.

We are proud of the variety of programs offered through our library and the daily support of parent volunteers.

Everyone has the right to feel safe and be safe at school.

We have a duty to work together to solve our problems in a peaceful way.

Everyone has the responsibility to pay attention to one another and to do their best work.

We must respect everyone’s learning time.

Everyone has the responsibility to work and play with one another in a polite, kind and co-operative manner.

Everyone at Reesor is important. We are expected to learn about and accept our racial, cultural and religious differences.

We are responsible for our actions and understand that there will be fair and consistent consequences for these actions.

Everyone has the responsibility to show respect for the environment, school property and the property of others.

We believe in:

• effective, open, honest, courteous and genuine communication between staff, students and parents
• the power of collaboration and working effectively with others
• respect for self, others and the environment
• personal responsibility, ownership, accountability and work ethic
• the responsible use of resources
• inclusion, understanding, acceptance of differences and equality of opportunity
• learning that is real life based
• the benefits, enjoyments and satisfactions of life-long learning and
• celebrating our successes.

The following leadership characteristics are important to the Reesor Park P.S. community:  

• Student success focused
• Flexible and professional
• Approachable and inviting
• Holds high expectations
• Promotes parental involvement

Mrs. Lisa Dilworth - Principal
Mrs. Beth McKenzie- Head Secretary
Mr. Greg Thomson - Lead Caretaker
Mr. Doug Reid - Caretaker
Mr. Blaine Lee - Caretaker

       
This School Profile has been reviewed and updated by the Staff and School Council of Reesor Park P.S., October 2005.