Kind Words, Kind Actions, Helping Hands
Donwood Park Public School is the place to be, home of the Donwood Dragons! Donwood Park is located in east Toronto, north of Lawrence Avenue, between Midland and Brimley Avenues. The school opened in 1956 and has since had two additions. We are a Kindergarten to Grade 8 school and what makes us truly unique, is our two Campuses. In the main two-story building (Donwood Campus) you will find our Kindergarten to Grade 3 classrooms, a gymnasium, our school library (The Learning Commons) and NYAD Daycare. Our Grade 4-8 classes are located in Highbrook Campus, just a short walk from Donwood Campus. Highbrook Campus also has a music/band room, STEM lab, a gymnasium and a lunchroom. Each Campus also has an office.
Who are we?
We have a large and diverse school community and each year we welcome many students who are new to Canada. The predominant languages spoken in the school community are Gujarati, English, Urdu and Tamil. Through the S.E.P.T. program, we have an on-site settlement worker to assist our newcomer families with their needs. As well, NYAD daycare is located in Donwood Campus, serving pre-school and school age children. As a Model School, we have a Community Support Worker who helps to connect the school with community partners and plan parent engagement initiatives.
Technology
Our school's focus is on integrating technology into the curriculum from Kindergarten to Grade 8 to allow for varied experiences at the different grade levels. In the primary grades, our students have access to iPads as a tool to support their learning and teachers' classroom programming. In the junior/intermediate grades, students have access to laptops to support student learning. These shared resources allow students to have access to technology on different platforms. When there is access to technology the possibilities for teaching and learning are without limits!
More Information about Donwood Park Public School
Building a Respectful School Climate
A caring and safe school environment is important for student learning. Our Character Education program is a shared responsibility between the home and school. Our school motto is, "Kind Words, Kind Actions and Helping Hands" which guides our students in their decisions. School wide steps to problem solving are also used.
Environmental Initiatives
We are extremely proud to be a Platinum Eco School! Our Eco Team organizes many environmental initiatives such as Boomerang lunch, gardening, composting, Energy Audits and recycling. Our Eco team is comprised of student ambassadors from Grades 1-8 as we know that many hands make light work! Our initiatives continue to expand through student voice and leadership.
The Arts
At Donwood we have specialty teachers that teach our students music, art and drama. Students in grades 6-8 also have the opportunity to join band. Co-curricular clubs reinforce the importance we place on the arts. Our annual Spring Celebration of the Arts which highlights our students and staff's many talents, is always a well attended and fun event enjoyed by all!
Our Vision
Our vision is to develop programs that support the physical, intellectual, emotional and social needs of the students entrusted to our care, while working in partnership with our parent community. We set high expectations for all of our students and are dedicated in our efforts to ensure that each student reaches their potential.
Additional Features
● Morning Meal Program
● Volunteer Reading Program
● Student Council
● Community Support Worker
● Parent Workshops
● On-Site Settlement Worker
● Family Math and Literacy Nights
● Student Leadership Programs
Student Life - Where You Belong
At Donwood Park the staff is committed to enriching students’ lives both inside and outside of the classroom. Our staff offer a variety of co-curricular activities for students of various ages such as Student Council, Eco Club, Photography Club, Gr. 1-8 Choir, Robotics, Silver Birch Reading Club, Blue Spruce Reading Club, Folk Dancing, Step Dancing, Basketball, Cricket, Yearbook Club, Cooking Club, Origami and Soccer. Students in grades six to eight also have the opportunity to participate in band and work with a band itinerant teacher. Leadership opportunities are an integral part of the culture at Donwood Park. Our student leaders are involved around our school in many different ways: Student Council, prefects, safety patrollers, school ambassadors and office helpers. Students fundraise in the fall for the Canadian Cancer Society through the Terry Fox Run and smaller fundraisers are held throughout the year to support student and school selected initiatives.
What Sets Us Apart
High expectations and a culture of caring is evident throughout the school. We believe that students are the responsibility of the entire staff and we all take ownership for the students at Donwood. Our staff is committed to moving students along their learning continuum and supporting each individual student so they can work to their full potential. It truly does ‘take a village to raise a child’ so we work in partnership with parents, students and our fellow colleagues to ensure success for all. Staff and students pride themselves on the fact that "Donwood Park is the place to be!"
Parent and Community Engagement
Our parents support our school by volunteering in the classrooms, at special events and on excursions. Each school year, we have a number of committed coop students, ECE students and faculty students who are a great addition to our school. Our School Council is meets on a regular basis to discuss ways to best support our students and families. At Donwood Park we are fortunate to have an on-site settlement worker who is readily available to assist our newcomer families in accessing resources. We also have a Community Support Worker, who helps to link the school with community partners and organize parent engagement initiatives. We work in partnership with Toronto Police Services, Toronto Public Health, Toronto Public Library, The Toronto Foundation for Student Success Program and Big Brothers Big Sisters.
