Our School
General Vanier Public School was named after the former Governor-General of Canada, His Excellency Major-General Georges P. Vanier. It was formally opened on November 21,1963. This year marks our 53rd Anniversary. Our school is an English language primary school which provides a safe, supportive environment for all. Student learning is the focus of a partnership between the staff, parents, and the community. It is important that everyone who enters through our doors feels welcome. Open lines of communication are achieved through school and class newsletters, parent interviews, telephone conversations, communication books and report cards. In addition to academic excellence our goal includes student wellness. Our positive school climate is enhanced by an extensive volunteer program, “How full in your bucket” assemblies and spirit days. We are a community school.
Our Students
Our average enrollment is 145 students each year. Our students are from diverse backgrounds and represent many nationalities,religions, and languages. General Vanier serves students in Junior Kindergarten-Grade 3. This year we are thrilled to once again offer the Full Day Learning Program in Kindergarten. We were one of the first schools in our area to offer full day learning for four and five year olds. When our students leave General Vanier Public School, they go to Fielding Drive Public School for Grades 4 to 8 in the English program or Featherston Drive Public School for Grades 4 to 8 in the Middle French Immersion program.
Our Staff
The General Vanier staff is committed to providing an effective program which meets the wide variety of educational needs of our students. Our dedicated staff possesses a wide range of experiences and expertise. They work collaboratively to develop student’s interests and skills. Our staff participates in professional development throughout the year, as well as, summer courses. Their dedication to educating children to become responsible citizens is evident in their daily teaching.
Our Community
Our parent community is very active in our school. Parents volunteer their talents in many ways, from baking bread for our International Bread Festival to reading with students. We have a growing School Council which meets monthly. We are fortunate to have community volunteers who also bring their talents to General Vanier School. We have several retired teachers and ONFE volunteers who come in regularly to help in the classrooms and in the library. We are associated with Ottawa Reads who provide us with corporate volunteers in our JK classroom. We are particularly proud of our association with Sanders Geophysics, a local company whose employees come weekly to read in the Kindergarten classes. We deeply appreciate the importance of volunteers in our school.
Mission Statement
“Together, in a positive, secure environment, the General Vanier School Community fosters the development of respectful, caring, responsible, interdependent, self-directed learners.”
Facilities and Resources
General Vanier School is located in attractive parkland setting immediately adjacent to Pauline Vanier Park. We have access to an outdoor skating rink and baseball diamond as extensions of our schoolyard. The school has a very well-equipped library/resource centre, new computer lab, multi-media equipment, and a full-size gym/stage. Our school is wheelchair accessible. Our school has a fully operational community kitchen used for our Breakfast Snack Program. Our yard is equipped with play structures in the kindergarten and primary yards. We offer and extended day program form 7:00am-9:00am and again from 3:45pm - 6:00pm, allowing for a ‘seamless’ school day for students in our school community.
Programs and Services
Academic Programs
General Vanier is a single-track primary school offering:
- Full Day Kindergarten Program
- Grades 1 – 3
- Core French
- English as a Second Language
- Learning Support Teacher
- Learning Resource Teacher
- Extended Day Program
Special Education and ESL Programs
English as a Second Language (ESL) is provided for students at stage 1 and early stage 2. English Language support happens in the homeroom classroom setting.
Our Special Education Learning Support Teacher (LST) and Learning Resource Teacher (LRT) provide academic support in the classroom, academic assessments, resources, and ongoing consultation with personnel from our Board’s Learning Services Staff (Psychologist, Social Worker, and Speech/Language Pathologist) and parents.
Clubs and Activities
- Monthly Character Assemblies to highlight demonstrations of bucket filling behaviors.
- Music and Drama Club
- Games Club
- Kindness Club
- Environmental Awareness Club
- Crotchet Club
- Fund-raising for charitable organizations such as an African Village through UNICEF, the Philippines Relief, and the Ottawa Food Bank.
- Special lunches provided by School Council
- Special activity days: Annual Bread Festival, Fun in the Sun Day, MASC drama performances, and Pajama Day.