Work Hard, Work Smart, Work Together! Be Kind, Be Gentle and Take Care of Each Other!
In 1989, Essex Senior School and Christie Junior School were twinned and became Essex Jr. and Sr. Public School. The school was built in 1964. Essex is located north of Bloor Street and west of Christie Street. It is a JK to Grade 8 school with full rotary in Grades 7 and 8. The number of students currently attending is 270. The Essex Community is committed to providing a safe and supportive learning environment for everyone involved in the school community.
The Parenting Centre runs a very active program for about 90 families.
School Vision
At Essex, we believe that students come first. Students must feel safe, must be challenged and must have a balance between academic learning and stimulating co-curricular activities. These beliefs are the key to the relationships that develops our safe, caring and trusting school community.
Character Education
Essex PS creates a school wide culture that promotes a common understanding of the TDSB Character Traits and celebrates positive behaviours and attitudes at Essex. As a school, we celebrate each character trait at our monthly Celebrating Character Assemblies. TDSB Character Traits: Respect, Responsibility, Empathy, Kindness and Caring Teamwork, Fairness, Honesty, Co-operation, Integrity, Perseverance.
More Information about Essex Junior and Senior Public School
Special Education
Special Education programs and services are offered to meet the needs of all students. At Essex, we have three Mild Intellectual Developmental programs; two Intermediate Developmental Disability programs; and, a Home School Program where students receive a modified program in Mathematics and Language. We also have Resource support for grades 1-8 in language and math.
Assessment and Evaluation
The primary purpose of assessment is to improve student learning. Teachers assess student progress towards achieving the Ministry expectations on an ongoing basis. Essex teachers actively participate in Teaching Learning Critical Pathways and Professional Learning Communities allowing them time to reflect on best practice to improve student success.
Technology
Technology plays an important role at Essex P.S. Students use technology to both consume and produce pieces of literacy with a emphasis on media literacy. As well, students are learning the purpose of using technology through the use of wikis and blogs to promote the use of higher order thinking to enable students to become better critical thinkers.
Design and Technology
Our Design and Technology programme offers Grades 7 and 8 students the opportunity to solve problems in a hands-on way. Working with wood, metal and plastics, students design and build models in order to solve problems such as: build a vehicle that will carry a load safely down a ramp using gravity to propel it.
Additional Features
● Full Day Kindergarten
● Arts Club
● Student Council
● Student Ambassadors
● Glee Club
● Athletics
● Choir
● Year Book Club
Student Life - Where You Belong
Essex - A Fun-Filled Place with Diverse Learning Experiences
Students are provided with hands on experiences in Science and Technology in our Design and Technology room. They further their experiences using new computer programs for our Media Studies program. There are regular assemblies and performances, intramural sports, workshops for music and dance, school dances, sports teams, visiting Artists, Outdoor Education, Pizza Days, Spirit Days and Borrow-a-Book program. for students to participate. We have ESL classes for English Language Learners, Yearbook, Skills Trades Canada Competition, Field Trips, Silver Birch and a Computer Lab. We have Junior Achievement and high expectations for learning. We have caring committed teachers who make a difference in their students' lives and an active Student Council.
What Sets Us Apart
Our students, staff and community are invaluable to our school. The focus at Essex is on academic excellence for all. We work hard to create an inclusive, safe, friendly and stimulating environment where students, staff, parents/guardians and others are valued and respected for their diversity and uniqueness. We are dedicated to providing exemplary programming for our students. Our programs foster academic excellence, critical thinking, self-discipline and a love of learning. We believe that all children can learn successfully and attain high levels of academic and social success. There is a strong focus on Numeracy/Literacy that includes access to Technology; Family Literacy/Numeracy Events; and, Toronto Public Library visits. For Personal Development, there are social skills programs for all age groups; Office/Library Helpers; Hearing and Vision Screening Co-curricular activities include: Eco Schools; Choir; Music and Drama; Concerts/Performances; Earth Day; Chess Club; skating; Heritage Month celebrations (Black History, Asian Heritage); Month Assembly; and luncheons
Parent and Community Engagement
Some of the activities include: Public library class visits; students placements from local High Schools, Colleges and Universities that support classroom programs; collaboration with community/social agencies: St. Albans Centre for special events; and; outreach of Student Council. Essex School that meet regularly to plan school events such as: parent workshops, year-end barbecue and other school related events. The School Council also advises administration concerning curriculum, school improvement planning and safe schools issues. Parents also volunteer to assist in classrooms and with special events. The Parenting and Family Literacy Centre in the school has about 90 families participating in this program.
