SCHOOL STORY

Dr. George M. Weir Elementary School is situated on 44th Street East between Killarney and Rupert Streets. This site enjoys close proximity to the Killarney Community Centre which includes the recently added Champlain Seniors Centre, as well as Killarney Secondary School. Many of our families have always been very involved in activities offered at the Community Centre.

Many of our students complete their entire elementary school years at Weir, as did their older siblings, and even some of their parents. Most grade seven students attend Killarney Secondary when they graduate from Weir. It is very typical for these graduates to regularly return to Weir to visit staff, volunteer for school functions, or play basketball. Additionally, many of the grandparents of our students participate in morning exercise programs on the Weir site under our covered area including Tai Chi, aerobics, and Hackey Sac. Generational connections at Weir are deeply rooted within our larger community.

The home languages represented are predominantly English, Cantonese, Mandarin, Vietnamese, Tagalog, with Spanish, Russian, Portuguese, and Punjabi also represented. Many of these students receive ELL support. Students with a Ministry Designation who have an IEP are fully integrated at all grade levels, some with support from SSA staff. We continuously seek opportunities to welcome these rich home cultures into our school.

Weir is committed to both the academic and holistic, socio-emotional development of all students. We strive to provide a supportive learning environment where students demonstrate social, emotional and academic growth. We value student agency and enjoy creating opportunities for school-wide leadership. We also recognize that school is an important part of a larger community that nurtures and supports our learners as they grow. Our aim is for the entire Weir community to feel connected to our school and feel that they can participate and contribute in ways that highlight and nurture their unique identities and strengths.

Since our return to Weir last fall, we have adopted the learning community model. Our school is divided into learning communities by similar grade groupings. The staff within each community is provided with weekly release time to collaborate. A large part of this collaborative time is dedicated to our school goals. This model is guided by research that consistently shows the most significant impact on student achievement at school is through staff collaboration.

Weir is a digitally enhanced school, allowing students to thrive in this digital age. Grades K to 3 have access to school iPads. Grades 4 to 7 not only have access to school iPads but can bring their own mobile devices to school. Students are provided opportunities to engage with the B.C. Curriculum by designing and creating projects of their own. Weir has developed an inclusive program that allows students to engage in personalized inquiry-based learning. Each year, online curriculum opportunities for students to access at school and home (e.g. Mathletics, Raz Kids) have been available, which many parents have come to appreciate.

Typically, our parent community has been active and present in the daily happenings at Weir. Since last fall when we returned to our newly rebuilt school, we have made great efforts to revive many of the past activities and practices with our parents through our PAC council. Their ongoing, meaningful support contributes greatly to the positive school climate and enriches the school experience for all students and their families, and staff members. Their dedication is appreciated and their participation plays an important role in the cultural fabric of our community.

Further, we have brought some practices back from the past that supported our students and families including:

Morning homework club where students are provided a quiet space and supervision to work on their assignments.

Family reading mornings in our library commons.

Chess club where intermediate students gather to play chess over several lunch times per week.

It can truly be said that the uniqueness of this time with all the challenges of being spread among three sites, as well as the implications and restrictions brought about by the pandemic, have been a catalyst for positive change. This has been an opportunity to reflect on what we value most – to see things with a new perspective. We look forward to this coming school year with renewed appreciation for being together as part of such a strong and positive school community.