With deep gratitude and respect, we are honoured to be learning and unlearning on the ancestral and unceded lands of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) & səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh Nation).

Sir Wilfred Grenfell Elementary is in East Vancouver in the Collingwood Neighborhood (Joyce Station). The school has a population of approximately 345 students and is ethnically diverse with respect to both staff and students. Many students are learning English as an additional language and there are many staff who speak multiple languages.

The school integrates and supports children with a variety of learning needs and strengths. We have a Music program taught by a Music specialist teacher. To enrich our students’ learning experiences, Sir Wilfred Grenfell has a wide range of programs sponsored by teachers that are available before, during and after school: a Valentine Cards Project, Salmon at School Project, BC School Fruit & Vegetable Nutritional Program, Outdoor Education and School Garden Project, Intramural sports coached by staff, buddy system providing opportunities for primary and Intermediate students collaborate on various projects and initiatives, Junior Achievement Entrepreneurial Program, walkathon and Terry Fox Run. In addition, the staff sponsors many clubs and projects at school. We have many noon hour clubs run by the staff, including the Chess Club, Knitting Club, Noon Hour Running Club (Grizzly Run), Safety Patrol, Gender Sexual Alliance Club and Girls Plus Group.

In addition to the extra-curricular activities sponsored by school staff, Grenfell School is proud to work with our community partners to offer programs for students. Students can access programs offered by the Windermere Family of Schools Community Link Team such as the Arts Umbrella after school Art Program and Dance Program. We work with Collingwood Neighbourhood House to provide on-site before and after school childcare and the Newcomer Pre-Teen Program. We partner with VSB Early Learning to run onsite StrongStart for preschool age children and their families. In the past two years, Grenfell has participated in a partnership program with the Sarah McLachlan School of Music. Students from Grade 3 and up receive in-school percussion lessons taught by staff from the music school. In addition, students are offered an opportunity to attend free lessons at the music studio outside of school hours.

The school staff work as a team to support students’ wellness and social emotional learning. We have a Sensory Room for students who need sensory breaks. We use various programs such as Open Parachute, Zones of Regulation, TAPS (Talking About Personal Space), Second Step and Mind Up to support student learning.

Our Parent Advisory Committee (PAC) supports the school through fundraisers by organizing various school community events and support us in different ways.

The Grenfell staff is committed to collaborative planning, goal setting and assessment in an ongoing effort to work together and share our knowledge and resources to support student learning and to create a safe, caring and inclusive learning environment in which every learner can reach their full potential. Adding to many activities that staff have worked to support student learning, the primary teachers recently worked with the VSB Literacy Mentor to complete an

eight week-long Literacy Residency Project on Story Workshop. We have a Pro-D Committee that actively seeks out opportunities to support our staff ‘s professional development to support learning in the classroom.