Feature Stories 2016-17
Branlyn Community School was the site of a top-secret visit this week from Make-A-Wish Canada. With superhero Captain Kindness in tow and music from the movie Frozen playing on the school’s PA system, the purpose of the visit was to grant a wish to an incredible Kindergarten student who has overcome a lot of obstacles.
Valley Heights students enjoying Young Canada Day and Valley Heights backdrop for the Special Effects competition.
Jeff Doreen, a Mohawk language teacher who splits his time in Grand Erie, breaks down the meaning of a Mohawk prefix phrase.
They say that life imitates art. Or does art imitate life? At Walpole North Elementary School recently, perhaps it was a little bit of both.
It’s almost time – your child is about to start school! You may be wondering where to begin in getting your child prepared.
Are you able to have some fun in your day, laughing and playing with people you like?
Are you getting enough sleep so you feel refreshed and energized?
Do you congratulate yourself when you do a good job?
Ms. Davies’ classroom circle at Agnes G. Hodge Elementary School is an example of wellness in action.
On Wednesday, May 3, 2017 members of Brantford City Council and City staff together with the Grand Erie District School Board, and the North Park Collegiate-Vocational School community will gather to celebrate the official grand opening of the new state of the art Bisons Alumni North Park Sports Complex.
Students and staff in Grand Erie commemorate Black History Month in schools through a number of literacy-based activities and lessons on Black history with a focus on Canadian heritage.
Boston Public School students, faculty and parents with their award winning float.
Students at Branlyn Community School imagine what they'll look when they're 100 years old.
Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board and Grand Erie District School Board will continue their partnership with Brant County Health Unit and Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit by signing a protocol titled Partnering Together for Healthy Schools.
Students from King George will receive ice time and hockey equipment through the generous support of partners.
The annual World Teachers’ Day on October 5th brings awareness to an understanding and appreciation for the role that teachers play in education and development.
Aimee Ernst is a champion at Paris District High School. She posted this donor chart to share with her school community the goal they wish to reach.
Students at Cedarland PS take part in a spirited assembly.
The school-based EdTech project this year at Lansdowne-Costain Public School focused on a fun, approachable way to increase student engagement in math, and it's helping them think creatively and solve problems at the same time.
Students from the White House – one of several teams – prepare their unique shield and chant to be assembly-ready.
Set to take a stand against bullying during Pink Shirt Day on February 22, Grand Erie is hard at work year-round with programs and initiatives to foster safe, inclusive environments.
Seneca Central Public School is on a mission to instill its students with a love of books and reading. It’s doing so by working with technology and other resources, and building a community of support to turn beginner readers into lifelong bibliophiles.
The class Onondaga-Brant that created the D-Day simulation and ran the Remembrance Day ceremony.
Trustees re-elected City of Brantford Trustee, David Dean, as Chair of the Grand Erie District School Board at the Nomination Meeting held December 5, 2016.
Meet Jane Hirst. In a four-part weekly series to celebrate Ed Tech, Grand Erie is featuring dynamic Digital Lead Learners to share their stories and to see the impact on student learning.
Meet Pamela Rooney-Hofland, a teacher at West Lynn. In a four-part weekly series to celebrate Ed Tech, Grand Erie is featuring dynamic Digital Lead Learners to share their stories and to see the impact on student learning.
Meet Krista King and Joe Archer. In a four-part weekly series to celebrate Ed Tech, Grand Erie is featuring dynamic Digital Lead Learners to share their stories and to see the impact on student learning.
Students take part in 12-hour event raising funds for Canadian Cancer Society
This April, students and staff at Langton Public School acknowledged Earth Day a little differently than they have in previous years.
To encourage both active, outdoor activity and an appreciation of the natural environment, the school yard was transformed into an adventure playground in what Langton PS hopes will become its first annual EarthPLAY Day.
The coming of spring at Waterford Public School is a time to shift the focus to the environment, and celebrate all that the school is doing to promote waste reduction, energy and water conservation, and environmental literacy and stewardship.
École Confédération celebrated its official grand opening and Canada 150 on Friday, May 5, 2017 during Education Week.
Private Don Biggs addresses the students at Elgin Avenue Public School.
New Multi-Year Plan aligns resources to support Success for Every Student
Orange Shirt Day is Friday, September 30, 2016 and it represents a day for healing, reconciliation and support for the Indigenous students that were placed in residential schools.
Students participate in a letter exchange with other students across Canada.
A bookshelf at Seneca Central PS features Black History Month selections
Grand Erie District School Board is welcoming students back to school with a focus on student success and recognition.
All schools across Grand Erie District School Board will be participating in Remembrance Day assemblies, presentations and moments of silence to remember the members of the armed forces who have fallen in the line of duty.
It's graduation season in the Grand Erie District School Board.
Participating grade 9 students in every secondary school across the system experienced Take Our Kids to Work on Wednesday, November 2, 2016.
In order to achieve success for every student, Grand Erie is committed to improving student achievement and engagement in all subject areas including mathematics.
In late February, Grand Erie celebrated Pink Shirt Day. With humble beginnings supporting one bullied teenager in Nova Scotia more than a decade ago, the day has evolved into a yearly tradition among students across the country and around the world to take a stand against bullying.
The Grandview Grizzlies had an excellent turnout for their night of Halloween fun on Thursday October 27, 2016.
It’s April, and spring has sprung in Grand Erie.
It’s a fitting time to shift the focus to the environment, and celebrate all that our school communities are doing to promote waste reduction, energy and water conservation, and environmental literacy and stewardship.
Earth Week may be wrapping up in Grand Erie, but the hard work continues year-round as schools do their part to ensure a healthier future.
A number of Grand Erie schools are celebrating a new status this month as part of a commitment to promoting and enhancing the health and well-being of students, staff, and the wider community.
Kyle Chambers ventures to Calgary, Alberta for international karate competition.
Grand Erie schools have lowered all flags to half-mast to show our respect for Scott Johnson, Principal of Grand Erie Learning Alternatives (GELA).
Students high-five after an exhilarating Zumba session
The journey towards revamping the Lakewood Library space began over a year ago.
For many years, the staff and students of Courtland Public School have promoted global stewardship by collecting boxes for Operation Christmas Child.
The staff and students at Jarvis Public School made their annual Remembrance Day visit to Knox Presbyterian Church’s cemetery on November 11, 2016.
January is Kindergarten Registration Month, and in order to help spread the word, Grand Erie District School Board called in the experts.
Representatives from Brant United Way and the United Way of Haldimand and Norfolk announced this week the total amounts Grand Erie District School Board raised during the 2016 campaign.
A few months ago, Brier Park Public School began something completely new. Students began training as a wrestling team, despite having no previous experience with the sport.
They had a wonderful mentor to help them get started, however.
Earlier this month, both indigenous and non-indigenous secondary students from across Grand Erie gathered to participate in part one of a three-part conference series, Living the Two Row. The importance of pursuing dreams, maintaining a healthy mind, body, and spirit, connecting through song and dance, and the historical implications of the first treaties were among the key themes of the day.
Grand Erie is rich with history, and three secondary schools will be celebrating that with alumni and community members as they reach significant milestones this month. Here are the details to come out and celebrate with them.
A poster at Lynndale Heights PS promotes wellness
Six First Nations students at Princess Elizabeth participated in an Indigenous Music Project during the week of October 24-28.
Wednesday October 26, 2016 is Child Care Worker and Early Childhood Educator Appreciation Day.
The Ministry of Education has engaged a team of researchers who will engage with students, parents/guardians and families, teaching and nonteaching staff, Indigenous communities, organizations and partners, and school boards to gather feedback and input to inform the development of the Third Progress Report on the implementation of the First Nations, Métis and Inuit Education Policy Framework.
Volunteers serve a locally sourced meal during Harvest Dinner fundraiser
Meet Science teacher, Mike Parsons. In a four-part weekly series to celebrate Ed Tech, Grand Erie is featuring dynamic Digital Lead Learners to share their stories and to see the impact on student learning.
On October 20, 2016, McKinnon Park Secondary School hosted their second annual School Council Spaghetti Dinner.
The Eco Team is the driving force behind the school's recent Platinum certification.
Students participate in a seated volleyball game
This year, Port Rowan Public School partnered with a local artist, Krista Reimer, to bring visual arts into the classroom in a big way.
Made possible through an arts grant which provided funds for Reimer to work regularly with each class, students have been working to create pieces reflective of Port Rowan's unique culture. Under Reimer's guidance, each student is creating five works of art, each in a different medium, over the course of this school year.
Prince Charles Public School has been working hard all year to attain Ophea gold certification in physical education. Ophea is an Ontario-based not-for-profit organization that champions healthy, active living in schools and communities through programs, partnerships, and advocacy.
River Heights students challenge one another to be Math Heroes.
Anyone who remembers learning how to ice skate can probably relate to Disney’s animated classic Bambi. In a memorable scene, the young deer slides and skids across a frozen pond, feet going in all directions, while he struggles to find his footing.
The SCS mascot and students were transported back to the 1980s for this year's Young Canada Day.
SpeakUp projects are part of the Ministry of Education’s Student Voice strategy. Student Voice projects aim to promote student engagement and success in Ontario schools.
Teacher Amy Panschow’s Kindergarten class at Teetersville Public School is trying to solve a mystery.
The classroom sensory station that contained a sandbox was recently converted to a water station, and the new element is bringing up a lot questions – especially when one day brown sediment appeared in the water, seemingly out of nowhere.
Students are back in the classroom this month for Camp SAIL.
Tribal Vision Dance leads interactive workshop for students
Recently, River Heights Elementary School’s Health Team created a challenge to promote the mental and physical wellbeing of its fellow students, and in doing so, made great connections to Grand Erie’s Be Well campaign.
In the spirit of Education Week, innovation has always been at the forefront of teaching.
Whether it’s taking new ideas and implementing them into the curriculum or improving on old ideas to make them better, teachers encourage their students to become constant innovators in the classroom, at home, and in the world. Innovation is the process of continuously striving to make things better – either more efficient, safer, or both – for the well-being of present and future generations.
Madame Porter and Mr. Vandyke from Thompson Creek Elementary School donated their hair in support of cancer research.
In 1977, athlete, basketball player and runner Terry Fox, a Winnipeg native, was diagnosed with osteosarcoma when doctors discovered a malignant tumour in his right leg. His leg would need to be amputated, but his dream of running didn’t stop there.
Students test out one of two new playground structures at North Ward School
Brantford Collegiate Institute & Vocational School got a real boost this year with the addition of 30 new iMac computers, giving students enhanced multimedia tools and capabilities that will transition well to post-secondary programs.
Students in Ms. Papineau's Grade 8 class delve into robotics
The Patti McCleister Memorial Leadership Award is given on an annual basis to a Grand Erie employee who best embodies Patti’s passion and has shown great leadership and effort within their role. This year’s recipients are Suzie Miller and Diane De Vos.
Grand Erie District school board is launching its annual campaign in support of the United Way.
Students at Caledonia Centennial welcomed Sarah Westbrook with her inspirational UPower session and The Power of One group.
Geronimo Henry has a striking tattoo of the number 48 on his right hand. This is “his number” – the one he was assigned by the Mohawk Institute, the former residential school in Brantford where Henry spent 11 long, heartbreaking years beginning at the age of five.
Did you know that the average student’s lunch generates a total of 30 kilograms (66 pounds) of waste per school year, and an average elementary school generates 8,500 kilograms (18,700 pounds) of waste per year?
Once a year, the West Lynn PS community gathers to share lunch outdoors
Wellness is incorporated into many aspects of Stephanie Beckett’s Special Education classroom at Paris District High School.
“Our team works hard to teach students self-regulation skills and how we can use strategies to help with our mental and physical well-being,” says Beckett of her period two class. “We start with yoga followed by meditation which makes a big difference in setting the tone for the rest of the day.”
Grand Erie's family has grown this past year. Students in schools all over the district have welcomed newcomer families from Syria with open arms.
Eggs and pasta were the main ingredients at a recent engineering competition.