Orleans Wood ES

Our Students

There are 210 children currently attending Orleans Wood. After completing Grade 3, our children continue their education at Terry Fox Elementary School before proceeding on to Cairine Wilson Secondary School.

Our children are co-operative, courteous, and intellectually curious. They are committed to “making a difference” in our school, community, and in the world through participation in a wide variety of charity projects. Our students come from diverse backgrounds and represent a variety of nationalities, religions and languages. We are proud of their achievements and the high rate of participation in school events.

Our Staff

A staff of 25 caring individuals are working together to ensure the best possible educational experiences for each and every child. Staff members bring a broad range of experience, interests, expertise, and qualifications to our school. Some of these qualifications include expertise in music, literacy, special education, and physical education - to name a few. Our staff models a belief in life-long learning through commitment to ongoing professional development and inquiry. The welcoming environment created by the staff, parents and community makes Orleans Wood Elementary School a great place to work and learn.

Our Community

Parents play an active role in all aspects of life at Orleans Wood E.S. Parents support an innovative and successful fundraising campaign which provides significant dollars to enhance student learning as well as a wide range of activities to promote school spirit. Our hot lunch program organized through our School Council continues to be very popular with children, parents and staff. In addition, we have a milk program where children can receive milk on a daily basis.

Our attendance area consists of single family, semi-detached homes and townhouses. In the area there are a variety of mature trees, beautiful parks, bicycle and walking paths. The Orleans Wood School Advisory Committee is a dedicated and active volunteer group that welcomes the involvement of parents, staff and community members.

Mission Statement

We are committed to living the mission of the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board to challenge all students to achieve personal excellence in learning and responsible citizenship within a safe, equitable, diverse, and caring environment.

Facilities and Resources

Our school is surrounded by a large school yard bordered with beautiful trees and park benches adjacent to a city park. The school officially opened on November 22nd in 1983. Inside, the building is bright and attractive and wheelchair accessible. In addition to the full-size gymnasium, there is an exercise room and a large library containing over 12 000 books. Recently, we also have added several new play structures and as well an outdoor classroom. Our two new kindergarten classrooms are complete with cubbies and child- sized bathrooms. In total, the school has three kindergarten rooms to accommodate the full-day kindergarten being offered at our school. The school also has a well-equipped literacy room for resources, a Smartboard located in the library and one in a classroom, and a conference room for meetings. Our conference room contains a variety of parent resources that can be signed out for reading. In addition, our school offers an on-site recreation program for school-aged children as well as daycare for kindergarten students before and after school.

Programs and Services

Academic Programs

Two year Kindergarten program is offered full days with a 50% French/English split.

Regular English program with 40 minutes of Core French daily.

Early French Immersion program for grades 1- 3.

Classroom Organization

Orleans Wood is a JK – 3 dual-track community school.

Currently, there are 1 English class, five Early French Immersion classes, one Primary Language Disability class and one Autism class. Most of our classrooms do not have more than 20 students in each classroom.

Special Education and ESL Programs

Orleans Wood has a multidisciplinary team comprised of teaching staff, an Educational Assistant, a Learning Support Teacher, a Learning Resource Teacher and school administration. Support services are also provided by central board staff through a psychologist, social worker, and a speech and language pathologist. All students who are identified with needs remain in the regular classroom where their program may be differentiated through accommodations and/or modifications. Sometimes small groups of children are withdrawn from classrooms through targeted interventions. However, this is a short term approach with a specific goal. Our school continues to offer the Empower Reading Program which is a targeted reading intervention program developed by The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. In 2014, we will also be implementing a Levelled Literacy Intervention Program for our struggling readers. In addition, our school offers a system class for students with language learning disabilities.

Clubs and Activities

Sports programs include intramural soccer, soccer baseball, and cross-country teams.

Every year, students are able to participate in a skating program (grades 1-3) and the Swim to Survive Program

(Grade 3). Our school also encourages students to participate in choir club.

All students are encouraged to contribute to their community by supporting causes such as the Terry Fox Walk, the Education Foundation, the Angel Tree of Giving, the Heart and Stroke foundation and The Food Bank.

Students demonstrate leadership through reading buddies activity cart helpers, lunch helpers and student announcers.

At the end of each month a special assembly is held where students are recognized for their achievements and are able to showcase their special talents.

Other activities in our school include: a wide variety of experiences in the Arts, Volunteer Appreciations Breakfast, Holiday Store, Summer Celebration, Lunch Lady and Hot Lunch Program, popcorn days, musical performances, Jump Rope for Heart, Remembrance Day Ceremony, Holiday Assembly, Earth Care initiatives, Scholastic Book Fair, Milk Program, Spirit Days and the Big Buddies Program from Cairine Wilson S.S.

Safe Schools Initiatives

• A school-wide commitment to character development and anti-bullying programs.
• Radio-equipped staff on duty in yard.
• Students, staff and parents have refined the Code of Behaviour.
• Student recognition through month-end assemblies, Character Program and Restorative Justice Practices.
• Programs to encourage tolerance, personal safety and appreciation for all cultures through presentations and assemblies.
• Safe Arrival Program and Visitor Sign-In Procedure.
• Leadership development opportunities for students.
• Partnerships with school nurse Irene Reid and School Resource Officer Michelle Baird
• Anaphylaxis and Diabetic Protocols.
• Fire drills and Lockdown practices.
• Safety presentations offered through the City Of Ottawa.