Boxwood Public School

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 type Elementary School
Religious affiliation(s) Secular
Founded September 2000
School board York Region District School Board
Superintendent Gayle Brodklebank-Vincent
Area trustee Juanita Nathan
School number 056405
Principal Catherine Arnold
Vice principal Dane Lawrence-Prince
Grades JK-8
Enrollment Approx 500 (September 2012[1])
Colour(s) Gold and blue
Mascot Bronco
Team name Boxwood Broncos
Website 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]

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.

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 from Aldergrove Public School, Armadale Public School, Highgate Public School, Milliken Mills Public School, Parkland Public School,[16] Randall Public School,[17] and Wilclay Public School[18] who are considered to be Exceptional/Gifted 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.[19]

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

[20][21][22]

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.[23] 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.[23]

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.

Technology

There are 30 laptop computers in Boxwood, including 15 new ones purchased in 2010. These laptops are supported by a wireless network.[24]

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.[23]

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:[25][26]

Month Character trait
January Fairness[27]
February Initiative[28]
March Perseverance[29]
April Courage[24]
May Integrity
June Optimism
September Respect[19]
October Responsibility[19][23]
November Honesty[30]
December Empathy[31][32]

These Character Matters Assemblies and the promotion of related character traits are parts of the Character Education[33] 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[34][35]
February French[36] /Independent work[36][37]
March Science/technology[38][39]
April Self-regulation/independent work[40][41] /French[41]
May Social studies/geography/history[1][42] /Personal and Social Development[42]
June Physical education/health[43][44]
September Organization[45][46]
October Mathematics[47][48]
November Collaboration[49][50]
December Language[51][52]

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.

Healthy school

Boxwood was recognized as a “Healthy School” by the Ontario Ministry of Education’s Healthy Schools Recognition Program for three reasons:[53]

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][55]

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:[27] 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.

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.[57] 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.[57]
Crazy Hair Day[23] Everyone comes out with all their crazy hair styles!
Tie Day[30] 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.[58] 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

References

  1. 1 2 3 "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. 1 2 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. ↑ Archived May 14, 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  10. ↑ Milne Dam Conservation Park
  11. ↑ Rouge Park - Canada's premier urban wilderness park
  12. 1 2 http://www.city.markham.on.ca/NR/rdonlyres/EF932ADB-BF81-40F3-974A-9ABD5BED0E4B/0/ward7profile_06census2.pdf
  13. 1 2 City of Markham
  14. ↑ http://www.yrdsb.edu.on.ca/pdfs/a/agenda/mp/bd060427/yrdsb-bd060427-p52-60.pdf
  15. 1 2 York Region District School Board
  16. ↑ Parkland Public School
  17. ↑ Randall P.S
  18. ↑ http://www.wilclay.ps.yrdsb.edu.on.ca/
  19. 1 2 3 4 "Boxwood Newsletter: 03 November 2008" (PDF).
  20. ↑ School Report
  21. ↑ http://www.yrdsb.edu.on.ca/pdfs/w/eqao/09/427-09.pdf
  22. ↑ http://www.yrdsb.edu.on.ca/pdfs/w/eqao/10/427-10.pdf
  23. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Boxwood Newsletter: 03 November 2009" (PDF).
  24. 1 2 3 4 "Boxwood Newsletter: 08 April 2009" (PDF).
  25. ↑ YRDSB - Character Matters!
  26. ↑ YRDSB - Character Matters!
  27. 1 2 3 "Boxwood Newsletter: 06 February 2009" (PDF).
  28. ↑ "Boxwood Newsletter: 07 March 2009" (PDF).
  29. 1 2 3 4 "Boxwood Newsletter: 09 May 2009" (PDF).
  30. 1 2 3 4 "Boxwood Newsletter: 04 December 2009" (PDF).
  31. 1 2 "Boxwood Newsletter: 05 January 2010" (PDF).
  32. 1 2 "Boxwood Newsletter: 05 January 2009" (PDF).
  33. ↑ YRDSB - Character Matters!
  34. 1 2 3 "Boxwood Newsletter: 06 February 2011" (PDF).
  35. ↑ "Boxwood Newsletter: 06 February 2012" (PDF).
  36. 1 2 "Boxwood Newsletter: 07 March 2011" (PDF).
  37. ↑ "Boxwood Newsletter: 07 March 2012" (PDF).
  38. 1 2 "Boxwood Newsletter: 08 April 2011" (PDF).
  39. ↑ "Boxwood Newsletter: 08 April 2012" (PDF).
  40. ↑ "Boxwood Newsletter: 09 May 2011" (PDF).
  41. 1 2 "Boxwood Newsletter: 09 May 2012" (PDF).
  42. 1 2 "Boxwood Newsletter: 10 June 2012" (PDF).
  43. ↑ http://www.boxwood.ps.yrdsb.edu.on.ca/newsletter/2010-2011/10jun2.pdf
  44. ↑ http://www.boxwood.ps.yrdsb.edu.on.ca/newsletter/2011-2012/10jun2.pdf
  45. ↑ "Boxwood Newsletter: 02 October 2010" (PDF).
  46. ↑ "Boxwood Newsletter: 02 October 2011" (PDF).
  47. 1 2 "Boxwood Newsletter: 03 November 2010" (PDF).
  48. ↑ "Boxwood Newsletter: 03 November 2011" (PDF).
  49. ↑ "Boxwood Newsletter: 04 December 2010" (PDF).
  50. ↑ "Boxwood Newsletter: 04 December 2011" (PDF).
  51. ↑ "Boxwood Newsletter: 05 January 2011" (PDF).
  52. ↑ "Boxwood Newsletter: 05 January 2012" (PDF).
  53. ↑ Healthy Schools
  54. ↑ YRDSB - Error
  55. ↑
  56. 1 2 "Boxwood Newsletter: 02 October 2009" (PDF).
  57. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Boxwood Newsletter: 06 February 2010" (PDF).
  58. ↑
  59. ↑ Archived June 25, 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  60. ↑ "Boxwood Newsletter: 09 May 2010" (PDF).
  61. ↑ http://www.skillsontario.com/images/pdf/cbbr_sutton_2010.pdf?7d9b8770b2fccab2ab3090484df18474=18bdea0728d0e708877015aa69798ec0
  62. 1 2 3 4 "Boxwood Newsletter: 10 June 2009" (PDF).
  63. ↑ Gauss Mathematics Competition | Youth Canada
  64. ↑ Heart Disease, Stroke and Healthy Living - - Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario
  65. ↑ "Boxwood Newsletter: 02 October 2008" (PDF).
  66. ↑ http://www.peo.on.ca/peo_education_web/images/pdf/Mathelics_Program.pdf

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