John Henderson Elementary School is named after John Henderson (1880-1968) who was a Vancouver engineer and School Trustee. With deep gratitude and respect, we acknowledge the school is located on the ancestral and unceded lands of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm(Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nation. The school grounds are shared on the west side with Sunset Park, and this allows the students to have access to additional green space, a rock theatre, a larger playground and a large grass playing field. Also, the school has its own smaller playground on the east side and a space net climbing area.

The school building is mostly one level but has a second floor on the south side and is wheelchair accessible. Henderson school has a population of just over 520 students. The population comes from diverse socio-economic backgrounds and has a multi-ethnic composition with over 31 languages other than English being spoken at home. Henderson has a part-time literacy teacher focusing on literacy development and early intervention. There is a highly active and well attended StrongStart Centre that works with caregivers and children under five. A full-time Youth and Family Worker and full-time School and Student Support Worker support the community with food security, community programing, and social-emotional learning. Henderson is fortunate to have onsite before and after-school care provided by the South Slope YMCA. Many families also use the school-age care program provided by Sunset Community Centre.

Henderson celebrated progress toward the Education Plan goals of student achievement, self-regulation, equity, student engagement, and reconciliation in 2023/2024 by continuing to build community by class collaborations across grade groups and intentionally supporting SEL programming and social justice. Research shows that social emotional learning positively impacts the overall well-being of children and youth. There are many events at Henderson that are organized to connect us as a community such as the Scholastic Book Fair, the annual winter concert, the garden club, the drama club, and extra-curricular sports teams, including cross country, volleyball, basketball, badminton, track and field, and ultimate. Students continue to strengthen citizenship by participating in many of the leadership activities offered which include Student Council, Hawk Helpers on the playground and in the lunchroom, library monitors, and assembly leaders.

Henderson has a devoted staff who provide inclusive, inquiry-based, hands-on learning opportunities for all students to develop their many talents and strengths. Staff also work closely with the community to further connections. The Firefighters Snack Fund and Food4Schools Lunch Program, Little Mountain Neighbourhood House, South Vancouver Neighbourhood House, Sunset Community Centre, the One-to-One Literacy Volunteer program, and the Artist in Residence Program (AIRS) are well established in the school. Henderson is also supported by the John Oliver Community Schools Team, which provides programs after school and during school breaks such as the Schools Out program. To further build community and connection, the Henderson Parent Advisory Council (PAC) offers many exciting events including pizza days, family movie nights, and seasonal community building activities like a school-wide family skating afternoon at Sunset Ice Rink. We have an active supportive parent community that volunteers to support school projects such as garden club, the Nest’s Story Studio (library) and updated diverse book collections for our primary classes.