Blake Street Junior Public School is located between Pape and Donlands, at the eastern end of Riverdale. We are a true reflection of the great diversity of Toronto, and strive to be a place where all voices are heard and valued, and where students and families feel safe, respected and welcomed. The school was built in 1970 as an open concept learning space, which serves as a symbol of our commitment of working and learning together as a larger community. Co-teaching models are embraced as is collaboration. We continue to build on our French immersion program. As a multi lingual school, we value the enriched opportunities all our students enjoy.
The Heart of Our Community
As a Model School, we work to build relationships with our community, whose diversity, pride of neighbourhood and voice are embedded into our learning focus and vision. We are home to nearly 40 different language speakers as well as diverse cultural and faith groups. We are committed to providing an inclusive and equitable learning environment. In unpacking curriculum, and investigating learning, students and staff alike are asked to think about whose voices are heard and represented, where is bias, and how can we ensure that all individual student experiences are validated.
Learning through Inquiry
As a school, we are committed to the process of inquiry, a process that encourages students to discover and explore, to engage in rich personally relevant learning, and to think through problems and questions to uncover solutions themselves. An inquiry approach encourages students to be active and creative problem solvers and deep thinkers, and to come up with their own conclusions; all the while meeting the learning styles of all our children.
More Information about Blake Street Junior Public School
Self Regulation and Mindfullness
Self Regulation is a school focus, and can be defined as the ability to monitor, maintain and change the level of alertness so that it is appropriate to a task. We continue to identify how our "engines are running" and change our speeds to meet our tasks; and when needed, engage in strategies to regulate ourselves, including: breathing, yoga, and sensory activities.
OPAL: Outdoor Play and Learning
Originally implemented at the kindergarten level, OPAL is now part of our Kindergarten to Grade 6 outdoor learning times. We believe that play is the foundation for early learning. Play builds imagination, safe risk management, resiliency, and healthy well beings. We use "loose parts" to enrich and diversify play.
Teachers as Life Long Learners
Our teaching staff meet regularly to share best practices, collaborate on curriculum planning and implementation, and investigate student work. Teachers continue to set their own learning goals, reflect on their teaching, and improve their practice. At Blake Street we are all committed to learning!
Active and Engaging School Council
Blake has a dedicated School Council, who work in partnership with staff and community to enhance our students' educational experiences. They are responsible for many community building events, including our annual Welcome Back BBQ and Pot Luck, movie nights, and our Fun Fair in the spring.
Additional Features
● Nutrition Program
● Inclusion and Community Building
● Restorative Practices
● On site daycare
● Many extra-curricular activities
● French Immersion
● Parenting Centre
● Community partnerships
Student Life - Where You Belong
We believe in promoting the well being of the whole child at Blake Street. We offer a variety of extra-curricular activities for students to get involved in. There is choir, arts club, knitting, board games, softball, volleyball, basketball, soccer, and Folk Fest to name a few. There are also many leadership opportunities. Students may choose to participate in our Eco Club or We Club, serve as an office helper, conduct morning announcements or support outdoor learning times as a student ambassador. Although we are a smaller school, the staff at Blake does their very best to provide students with exciting and challenging opportunities inside and outside of the classroom. We are a small school with a big heart!
What Sets Us Apart
What sets us apart at Blake is COLLABORATION! We have a clear focus across all grades. As a staff, we plan, set goals and review the achievement data of our students regularly. We have Professional Learning Teams in each grade where teachers plan and assess together to ensure that we have common expectations. Every staff member views every students at Blake Street as their own, whether the child is in their class or not. Our collaborative spirit extends to our School Council where they work hard on initiatives that directly enhance the programs for our students. Blake Street is a happy place where team work is embraced by everyone!
Parent and Community Engagement
We value the positive involvement of parents and caregivers at Blake Street. Parent volunteers run school events such as our Fun Fair, Pizza lunches, Movie Nights, Clothing Swaps and Family Dance Night. Our School Council meets monthly to support school programs and provide active and positive parent advocacy responses to educational and school community issues. Parents regularly assist in school classrooms, on field trips and the library. Our Nutrition programs, run by parents, ensure every students has a nutritious breakfast and snack to start their day. We have well developed partnerships with Blake Street daycare, an on site daycare servicing kindergarten to school-age children, as well as our drop in Parenting Centre for families with pre school children, and Eastview Community Centre that offers after school programming to many of our students through their Boys and Girls Club.
