Boxwood Public School

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Boxwood Public School
Address
31 Boxwood Crescent
Markham, Ontario, L3S 3P7, Canada
Coordinates 43°51′19″N 79°14′39″W / 43.85535699°N 79.2442560°W / 43.85535699; -79.2442560Coordinates: 43°51′19″N 79°14′39″W / 43.85535699°N 79.2442560°W / 43.85535699; -79.2442560
Information
School number 056405
School board York Region District School Board
Religious affiliation Secular
Superintendent Gayle Brodklebank-Vincent, 905-940-7800
Area trustee Juanita Nathan, 905-201-6747
Principal Catherine Arnold
Vice principal Ruth Carmichael-Westcott
School type Elementary School
Grades JK-8
Mascot Bronco
Team name Boxwood Broncos
Colours Gold and blue
Founded September 2000
Enrollment Approx 500 (September 2012[1])
Homepage yrdsb.edu.on.ca

Boxwood Public School is a JK-8 elementary school located in the city of Markham, Ontario, Canada. It is under the York Region District School Board. The school is named after Boxwood Crescent, the street on which the school is located.

Boxwood Public School was opened on September 5, 2000. However, its official opening date was April 5, 2001. It celebrated its tenth anniversary in 2010.

It has 17 regular classrooms, three kindergarten classrooms, three student support centres, and a special education classroom. In the centre of the school building, there is a library and double gym with stage. There are three portables containing four portable classrooms at the back of the school. These two portables were installed in the summer of 2009 replacing the old ones. A third was installed during the summer of 2010.[2] The school has a childcare centre, which is owned and operated by Family Day.[3][4]

Upon graduation from Boxwood PS, most of the grade 8 students will go to Markham District High School to study grade 9 because Boxwood is one of MDHS's feeder schools.[5]

School boundary

South of Highway 407, West of Rouge River, North of the railroad track just south of 14th Avenue, East of Markham Road. [6]

Surrounding area

Boxwood PS is located in a quiet suburban subdivision. There is no retail activity. Most buildings are single-family detached homes. The school is sandwiched between two golf courses. To its southeast, about 600 metres, is the Remington Parkview Golf Course.[7] To its north, about 500 metres away, is the Markham Green Golf Course.[8] Less than two kilometres away, the Cedar Brae Golf and Country Club[9] is at the south.

About two kilometres away at its northwest are the Milne Dam Conservation Park[10] and the Rouge Park.[11] Boxwood is surrounded by green belt. Because of the Highway 407 to its north, the power corridor to its southwest, the Rouge River to its east, the neighbourhood where Boxwood locates is cut-off from other subdivisions.

Neighbourhood profile

According to Statistics Canada 2006 census data, in municipal election Ward 7 where Boxwood PS is located, 86% of its total population were visible minorities. Out of the total population, 46% were South Asians. 23% were Chinese. Out of the total population, 68% of their mother tongues were neither English language nor French. The rest were English language.[12][13]

The population in this area is well educated, 46% of the total population aged 15 and over had post-secondary education.[12][13]

  • Plaque marking opening day

  • Plaque marking the official opening

  • Plaque marking the opening of the Boxwood PS playground

  • East front view

  • East front of the school looking from the north

  • South front view in early spring.

  • South front view in late summer.

  • The school sign at the south front lawn.

  • Portables

  • Front lawn from the second floor. Boxwood Crescent is in the distance.

  • Soccer field and the Boxwood PS playground from the second floor. Kindergarten yard is in the foreground.

Gifted Program

Boxwood began a gifted program in September 2006[14] to students classified as Exceptional/Gifted by the grade 3 psychological screening.[15] The other new gifted school in the eastern portion of the York Region District School Board is John McCrae Public School.[15] The reason for the expansion of the gifted program to Boxwood Public School was that the need for gifted instruction kept growing in York Region. The original gifted program offered by Roy H. Crosby Public School and William Berczy Public School could no longer satisfy the demand.[16][17]

In September 2006, Boxwood only offered a grade 4 gifted program but now grade 5, 6, 7 and grade 8 are offered. As of September 2009, there are six gifted classes with about 150 gifted students, roughly about 30 percent of the school population.

From September 2010, a new grade 4 gifted program commenced at Parkland Public School. A grade will be added each year until full implementation of the gifted program in 2014.

Students who are considered to be Exceptional/Gifted from Aldergrove Public School, Armadale Public School, Highgate Public School, Milliken Mills Public School, Parkland Public School,[18] Randall Public School,[19] and Wilclay Public School[20] will no longer go to the gifted program at Boxwood PS. They will instead go to Parkland PS.

The new program is in addition to the program at Boxwood. It is not replacing Boxwood's gifted program. Students that are currently attending Boxwood PS gifted program will remain at Boxwood.

Upon graduation at grade 8, Boxwood gifted students usually go to Markham District High School or Markville Secondary School to continue their secondary school gifted program, depending on the student's home location. They can also choose to return to their original home school.[21]

  • Room 201 a grade 6 classrooms on the second floor

  • The science corner in classroom 201

  • Room 136, a kindergarten classrooms on the first floor

EQAO (Education Quality and Accountability Office) performance

Percentage of all students at levels 3 and 4.

Subject Grade 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Mathematics 6 99 75 80 72 77 92 90
Reading 6 78 83 80 74 87 94 93
Writing 6 72 73 80 81 87 94 95
Mathematics 3 75 72 74 72 80 77 78
Reading 3 57 63 72 72 76 69 68
Writing 3 56 69 76 90 83 79 81

[22][23][24]

Spirit Houses

The four Spirit Houses have the names of breeds of horses – Pinto, Palomino, Mustang, and Ranger. The names were adopted in November 2009.[25] All students and staff are assigned to a Spirit House. Members of each house earn recognition for their house when they participate in school activities. Spirit Houses also provide a structure to divide students into groups for special events and house league activities.[25]

  • Bronco painting at the gym

  • Wall drawing near the front entrance. The theme is "The Many Faces of Boxwood PS"

  • Wall displays outside the main office

Student Council

The annual Student Council election is held in October. Students from grade 6 to grade 8 are eligible to vote and get elected. Before the vote, student voters hear the candidates’ speeches about their election platform. After the speeches, students return to their classrooms to vote. Positions include: president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, publicity, sports & clubs, and one representative from each class.

Members of student council organize school dances, fundraisers, spirit days, and popcorn days.

  • Boxwood soccer field

  • Gym

  • Music room on the second floor

  • The playground is next to the school parking lot

Technology

There are 30 laptop computers in Boxwood, including 15 new ones purchased in 2010. These laptops are supported by a wireless network.[26]

  • Computer rooms

  • Computers at the library

  • Computers in the classroom

Library

Boxwood’s library collection includes a graphic novel and book series collection. Many books are in both languages, like English/Tamil, English/Urdu, English/Arabic, English/Chinese.[25]

  • Library

  • Library

  • Library

  • Library front desk

  • Graphic novels are popular

  • Showcase outside the library

Character Matters Assembly

Every month at Boxwood, students from each class are recognized at two Character Matters assemblies, one for kindergarten and junior division, another for intermediate division. At the assemblies, awards would be presented to students who exhibited the character trait of that month and nominated by their homeroom teachers. Character traits of each month are:[27][28]

Month Character trait
January Fairness[29]
February Initiative[30]
March Perseverance[31]
April Courage[26]
May Integrity
June Optimism
September Respect[21]
October Responsibility[21][25]
November Honesty[32]
December Empathy[33][34]

These Character Matters Assemblies and the promotion of related character traits are parts of the Character Education[35] emphasized by the York Region District School Board.

Beginning in the 2010 - 2011 school year, Academic and Learning Skill awards were given to students of each class that exceeded in the given area.

Month Academic/learning skill
January Visual arts/drama/dance/music[36][37]
February French[38] /Independent work[38][39]
March Science/technology[40][41]
April Self regulation/independent work[42][43] /French[43]
May Social studies/geography/history[1][44] /Personal and Social Development[44]
June Physical education/health[45][46]
September Organization[47][48]
October Mathematics[49][50]
November Collaboration[51][52]
December Language[53][54]

A commemorative plaque named "The Golden Dustpan" is given to the cleanest classes - one for kindergarten and junior division, another for intermediate division - of that month at the end of both character matters assemblies. The school's staff determines the winning classes based on how well they keep their classroom, the hallway their lockers are located in and the outside fields.

  • Street signs emphasize Character Matters

  • Street sign at Boxwood

  • Signs on the first floor

  • The wall display board emphasizes Character Matters

  • Poster listing character traits that matters

Healthy school

Boxwood was recognized as a “Healthy School” by the Ontario Ministry of Education’s Healthy Schools Recognition Program for three reasons:[55]

  • Prevention of bullying - Boxwood brakes the bullying cycle by setting up a Boxwood Active Team made up of students, parents, teachers and public health nurse. Confidential drop boxes were set up for students to report bully incidences. Grade 5 and 6 students attended the CAYRE conference.[56]
  • Promotion of physical activities – with the help of the Boxwood Active Team, the school set up a Jump Club for lunch recesses.
  • Promotion of healthy eating habit – the Morning Munchies encourages students to eat healthy snacks at Monday morning recess.

School bus service

About 300 Boxwood students take school bus to school. There are six bus routes in the morning as well as in the afternoon. The school bus services are provided by the school board at no costs to the student.[4][57]

  • School buses to take students home in the afternoon

Boxwood's Green Pledge

Boxwood encourages students to take actions, not only to protect, but also to enhance the environment. This is their pledge to do good for the environment:[29] I promise to do my share in keeping our Earth a clean, healthy and livable world. I will do my best not to waste, but to conserve; Not to throw away, but to recycle; not to pollute, but to treat our planet with kindness and respect.

  • Lockers in the hallway

Co-curricular activities

Spirit Day

There are all kinds of interesting Spirit Days throughout the school year. Its purpose is to promote the school spirit and the coherence of the Spirit House. Each person, student or staff, who participates adds a point to their Spirit House.[59] Some Spirit Days include:

Spirit Day What is the fun?
Pajama Jam! Students can go to the school in their pajamas, bring a stuffed toy, or wear their cozy slippers.[59]
Crazy Hair Day[25] Everyone comes out with all their crazy hair styles!
Tie Day[32] Put on tie, ties, or anything looks like necktie, to school.
Multiples Day Students and staff members dressed up similar to a friend or peer and looked like fabulous multiples!
Career Day Students dress up like a police, farmer, a pop singer or any career which they would like to be when they are older!
Opposite Day Students put their clothes bakwards, speak the opposite or walk backwards.

Boxwood Broncos

Boxwood Broncos is the monthly newsletter of the school. The newsletter is distributed to all students to bring home for their families. It is also available on-line at the school’s website.[60] The newsletter usually starts with the Principal's Message on the front page. It contains many useful information, like School Council News, Student Council News, the Honour Rolls of the Character Matters Awards, Intermediate Division News, Primary Division News, Dates to Remember, Special Announcement, and many interesting news that tell the readers what’s going on in the school. What’s special is that most of the articles are written by students and teachers. Starting March 2011, Newsletters were no longer printed and distributed, and rather posted only on the website, to try to help the environment. Hard copies continue to be available for pickup at the main office for parents without access to a computer.

Annual Events

  • Annual Bridge Construction Design Challenge It is part of the activities to celebrate the National Engineering Week.[61] The challenge was to design the strongest bridge using the least amount of materials, Lego or K'Nex. Boxwood’s boys came in fifth out of 20 in the Lego competition. Boxwood’s girls came in tenth out of 20 in the K’Nex competition.[26]
  • Area East basketball tournament – Boxwood’s Broncos reached the semi-finals before losing to Legacy Public School.[31]
  • Arts Carousel Open House – This annual event usually held in Late April to Early May. It provides an opportunity for students to showcase their visual, dramatic, and musical talents at an evening assembly.

[26] [62]

  • Cardboard Boat Races - The Annual Cardboard boat race is hosted by Skills Canada. The latest one was held on January 25, 2011 at Black River Public School. Boxwood's two teams was composed of eight students, with six girls and two boys. One boat has a basketball theme, calling themselves the "Boxwood Basketball Broncos". The other has a Hawaii theme, calling themselves the "Kokonuts". The "Kokonuts" team ended up winning the weight challenge for building a boat that held the most weight.[29][36][59][63]
  • Spring Celebration or Spring Activities Day - Due to the success of the Winter Activities Day, the school planned a Spring Activity Day, on April 2011, the activity day offered many activities, such as a babysitting course, cooking, rock climbing, horseback riding, skating, bowling and gymnastics, .[40]
  • Flag football house league - Participated by the Intermediate boys and girls. Compete in May and June. With the playoffs beginning in early June.[64]
  • Gauss Math Competition – Students from grades 6, 7 and 8 participate in the Gauss Math Competition[65] commissioned by the University of Waterloo. In 2009, four Boxwood students were placed in the top 25 percentile.[64] In 2011, seventeen Boxwood students were placed in the top 20 percentile.[1]
  • House League - Students are divided into different teams and are scheduled to play during certain recesses. Intermediate students can play floor hockey. Junior students can play indoor soccer. Each student who participates in house league earns points for their spirit houses each time they attend a game.
  • Junior and Intermediate Area Track & Field
  • Mathletics – Mathletics[68] is a competition sponsored by the York Region District School Board and the Professional Engineers Ontario. It is opened to all York Region students. Participants have to answer scientific and engineering problems using mathematics. The last competition took place on November 12, 2009.[32]
  • Primary Play Day
  • Regional Track & Field
  • Remembrance Day Assembly - Students performed singings, read poems, or art plays related to Remembrance Day in the assemblies.[21][25]
  • South Asian Month - Takes place in May every year. It is to celebrate South Asian Heritage. Activities such as sang songs from various South Asian cultures, set up display showcase in the school library, students learn Bollywood jazz and Tamil dancing. There is a South Asian Assembly in mid-June when students can show off their dancing and singing skills.[64]
  • Special Needs Track and Field Meet
  • Terry Fox Run/Walk - No matter walk or run, Boxwood students and staff support the Terry Fox Run, or walk, every fall. Since the school established in 2000, Boxwood has contributed over $27,000 for cancer research. The school raised $1,700 in 2009 alone. The school raised $820 during their most recent Terry Fox Run in October 2010.[49][58]
  • Volunteer Breakfast – Usually hold in the month before the school year finish. It is for the school staff to show their appreciation towards the volunteers who contribute to the school.[64]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Boxwood Newsletter: 10 June 2011" (PDF). 
  2. ↑ "Boxwood Newsletter: 10 June 2010" (PDF). 
  3. ↑ Family Day Care Services - A Great Place to Encourage: Caring, Curiosity, Discovery, Learning
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Boxwood P.S
  5. ↑ Markham District High School
  6. ↑ http://www.yrdsb.edu.on.ca/pdfs/w/schools/boundary/427Boundary.pdf
  7. ↑ http://remingtonparkview.com/#/ClubInfo
  8. ↑ Markham Green Golf Club
  9. ↑
  10. ↑ Milne Dam Conservation Park
  11. ↑ Rouge Park - Canada's premier urban wilderness park
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 http://www.city.markham.on.ca/NR/rdonlyres/EF932ADB-BF81-40F3-974A-9ABD5BED0E4B/0/ward7profile_06census2.pdf
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 City of Markham
  14. ↑ http://www.yrdsb.edu.on.ca/pdfs/a/agenda/mp/bd060427/yrdsb-bd060427-p52-60.pdf
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 York Region District School Board
  16. ↑ http://cc.bingj.com/cache.aspx?q=yrdsb+gifted+program&d=4793759102207538&mkt=en-CA&setlang=en-CA&w=cfe6931b,c8b937b2
  17. ↑ http://cc.bingj.com/cache.aspx?q=yrdsb+gifted+program+boxwood&d=4588322223560006&mkt=en-CA&setlang=en-CA&w=c03f4e78,667a49cf
  18. ↑ Parkland Public School
  19. ↑ Randall P.S
  20. ↑ http://www.wilclay.ps.yrdsb.edu.on.ca/
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 21.3 "Boxwood Newsletter: 03 November 2008" (PDF). 
  22. ↑ School Report
  23. ↑ http://www.yrdsb.edu.on.ca/pdfs/w/eqao/09/427-09.pdf
  24. ↑ http://www.yrdsb.edu.on.ca/pdfs/w/eqao/10/427-10.pdf
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 25.2 25.3 25.4 25.5 25.6 25.7 "Boxwood Newsletter: 03 November 2009" (PDF). 
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 26.2 26.3 "Boxwood Newsletter: 08 April 2009" (PDF). 
  27. ↑ YRDSB - Character Matters!
  28. ↑ YRDSB - Character Matters!
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 29.2 "Boxwood Newsletter: 06 February 2009" (PDF). 
  30. ↑ "Boxwood Newsletter: 07 March 2009" (PDF). 
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 31.2 31.3 "Boxwood Newsletter: 09 May 2009" (PDF). 
  32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 32.2 32.3 "Boxwood Newsletter: 04 December 2009" (PDF). 
  33. ↑ 33.0 33.1 "Boxwood Newsletter: 05 January 2010" (PDF). 
  34. ↑ 34.0 34.1 "Boxwood Newsletter: 05 January 2009" (PDF). 
  35. ↑ YRDSB - Character Matters!
  36. ↑ 36.0 36.1 36.2 "Boxwood Newsletter: 06 February 2011" (PDF). 
  37. ↑ "Boxwood Newsletter: 06 February 2012" (PDF). 
  38. ↑ 38.0 38.1 "Boxwood Newsletter: 07 March 2011" (PDF). 
  39. ↑ "Boxwood Newsletter: 07 March 2012" (PDF). 
  40. ↑ 40.0 40.1 "Boxwood Newsletter: 08 April 2011" (PDF). 
  41. ↑ "Boxwood Newsletter: 08 April 2012" (PDF). 
  42. ↑ "Boxwood Newsletter: 09 May 2011" (PDF). 
  43. ↑ 43.0 43.1 "Boxwood Newsletter: 09 May 2012" (PDF). 
  44. ↑ 44.0 44.1 "Boxwood Newsletter: 10 June 2012" (PDF). 
  45. ↑ http://www.boxwood.ps.yrdsb.edu.on.ca/newsletter/2010-2011/10jun2.pdf
  46. ↑ http://www.boxwood.ps.yrdsb.edu.on.ca/newsletter/2011-2012/10jun2.pdf
  47. ↑ "Boxwood Newsletter: 02 October 2010" (PDF). 
  48. ↑ "Boxwood Newsletter: 02 October 2011" (PDF). 
  49. ↑ 49.0 49.1 "Boxwood Newsletter: 03 November 2010" (PDF). 
  50. ↑ "Boxwood Newsletter: 03 November 2011" (PDF). 
  51. ↑ "Boxwood Newsletter: 04 December 2010" (PDF). 
  52. ↑ "Boxwood Newsletter: 04 December 2011" (PDF). 
  53. ↑ "Boxwood Newsletter: 05 January 2011" (PDF). 
  54. ↑ "Boxwood Newsletter: 05 January 2012" (PDF). 
  55. ↑ Healthy Schools
  56. ↑ YRDSB - Error
  57. ↑
  58. ↑ 58.0 58.1 "Boxwood Newsletter: 02 October 2009" (PDF). 
  59. ↑ 59.0 59.1 59.2 59.3 59.4 59.5 59.6 59.7 "Boxwood Newsletter: 06 February 2010" (PDF). 
  60. ↑
  61. ↑
  62. ↑ "Boxwood Newsletter: 09 May 2010" (PDF). 
  63. ↑ http://www.skillsontario.com/images/pdf/cbbr_sutton_2010.pdf?7d9b8770b2fccab2ab3090484df18474=18bdea0728d0e708877015aa69798ec0
  64. ↑ 64.0 64.1 64.2 64.3 "Boxwood Newsletter: 10 June 2009" (PDF). 
  65. ↑ Gauss Mathematics Competition | Youth Canada
  66. ↑ Heart Disease, Stroke and Healthy Living - - Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario
  67. ↑ "Boxwood Newsletter: 02 October 2008" (PDF). 
  68. ↑ http://www.peo.on.ca/peo_education_web/images/pdf/Mathelics_Program.pdf

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