About Our School

Features of Our School

Academic Excellence

•  School-wide instructional focus
• Focus on student reading and writing across the curriculum
• Wide variety of effective instructional strategies
• On-going assessment to ensure learning needs are being met
• Support and extension of curriculum content given at each grade level (problem solving, application, etc.)
• Thinking Maps

 ALPHA Program (Individual Support Program)

Our school is a district site for Individual Support students.  These are students with severe to profound developmental delays. Individual Support programming is designed to enhance the quality of life of the student, and to increase the student's functional skills in areas of communication, social interaction, concept development, self-management, and personal pursuits. At Capilano, we refer to this program as ALPHA.  ALPHA stands for:   Adapted, Loving, Patient, Helpful and Accessible.  Students in ALPHA are grouped according to age and general functioning ability.

Assemblies

Once a month, all students gather in the gym for our monthly assembly.  Each classroom gets an opportunity to perform at these assemblies.  These presentations highlight classroom learning and our character education theme.  In order that we remain focused on classroom instruction, our assemblies will be approximately 30 minutes in length.  Parents are invited to attend.  Please see school newsletters for dates and times. 

Character Education

Our goal is to have a school environment where all students feel safe, accepted and cared for during work and play. In order to meet this goal, we have selected three key character traits and have adopted them as our CAP motto.  At Capilano School, all students are CARING, SAFE AND RESPECTFUL. 

During the school year, these character traits will be highlighted at our monthly assemblies and through a school-wide positive reward program.  These traits will also be featured on a hallway display, during morning announcements and in school newsletters. 

Circle of Friends

"Kids Helping Kids" is the motto of this program.  Students from grades one to six have the opportunity to assist ALPHA students during recess and lunch time. It is an opportunity for our mainstream students to become role models and to develop social relationships with our ALPHA students.  Both groups learn to respect and appreciate one another.  In this activity, everybody wins!

Computer Program

Capilano School has a PC lab with 30 computers.  All computers are equipped with CD-ROM and Internet access.  All students in the school have frequent access to the computers.  Each classroom also has one or more computers for student use.  Computer instruction is provided by classroom teachers and follows the program of studies set by Alberta Education.

Consulting Services

Teams of specialists including a school psychologist, reading specialist, social worker, speech and language therapist, occupational therapist and physical therapist help provide services to the school when requested.  Permission is always attained from parents before consultants are requested. Assessment results are shared with parents and classroom teachers.

Curriculum Enrichment

Learning experiences which occur outside the school and guest speakers, artist-in- residence programs and performances provide curriculum enrichment for students.  Your child (depending on grade and subject area) will have an opportunity to participate on a number of field trips and in-school presentations. Thanks to the Capilano School Parent' Society for funding many of these programs and special events.

Parents will be notified of all field trips and will be required to return a signed permission form.  If payment is required, parents may wish to send a cheque payable to Capilano School.

Experienced, Highly Qualified Staff

• Our staff is committed to providing excellent instruction to students.
• All staff willingly and openly work together with parents.  Parents are welcome in all classrooms and their help is appreciated.
• All staff participate in and have a voice in school policies, budget items and in the setting of goals and priorities.
• Staff collaboration ensures continuity of instruction.

French Program

Our French as a Second Language Program is offered to all students at the grade four, five and six level.  Students receive 150 minutes of instruction in French each week.

The French program emphasizes the importance of experiencing language in context, based on students' background knowledge, skills, and attitudes with a goal toward developing communication skills.

Intramurals

A number of sports activities may be offered throughout the year.  Intramurals for students in grades 4, 5 and 6 take place during lunch hours.  There will be a lunch hour intramural activity during the winter months for students in grades 1, 2 and 3. 

Instructional Focus

"Through a coordinated whole school effort, Capilano School students will develop and apply communication skills."  In mainstream classrooms (Kindergarten to Grade 6), we will focus on improving the quality of written communication skills and in ALPHA, we will focus on developing individual communication skills as identified on student IPP's.

As a staff, we have selected the following "Best Practices" for all classrooms throughout the school.

• Thinking Maps:  Thinking Maps are tools that promote student-centered and co-operative learning, concept development, reflective thinking, creativity, clarity of communication, and continuous cognitive development.
• Making Connections Using Literature:  Good literature helps students make connections between stories they read and stories they write.  In ALPHA, story boxes help students to experience meaning within a story. 
• Providing Feedback (Mainstream Classrooms):  Staff have been trained in Write Traits and will continue to gain expertise in teaching trait writing and in providing specific and timely feedback to students. 
• Meaningful Engagement (ALPHA classrooms):  When striving for meaningful engagement, we consider student time on task, developmentally appropriate activities and student success. 
• Balanced Literacy (Mainstream Classrooms):  Balanced Literacy is a program designed to offer students daily instruction in three large blocks:  working with words, reading and writing.  All materials are leveled to ensure students are receiving instruction at their reading level.  The goal is to create lifelong readers and writers.

Music Program

Students from grades one to six receive 90 minutes of music instruction each week from a music specialist.  The concepts and skills are inter-related and taught through participation of students in six skill areas:  singing, playing, listening, moving, reading, writing, and creating.

Opportunities to perform for other students and parents occur periodically.  Throughout the school year, students may have opportunities to join extra curricular activities. 

School Spirit Days

One day a month (from January to June) will be designated as a theme day and students will have the opportunity to use their creativity and come dressed for the theme.  These theme days will be coordinated with our assembly days.  Some examples of theme days are Jewelry Day, Beach Day, and Pajama Day.  Details about these Spirit Days will be given to parents and reminders will be on the monthly calendars in the newsletters. 

Student Leadership

Division two students are given opportunities to develop leadership skills through a variety of student clubs.  These may include Lunch Time Office Assistants, Library Assistants, Classroom Assistants, Morning Announcers, Intramural Assistants, Horticulture, and Monthly Assembly Masters of Ceremonies.  The service students provide to the school through these clubs is appreciated.