With deep gratitude and respect, we are honoured to be learning and unlearning on the ancestral and unceded lands of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) & səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh Nation).

SCHOOL STORY

Pierre Elliott Trudeau Elementary School is a Kindergarten to Grade 7 school with over 240 students and 32 staff members. It is in the south-east area of Vancouver near Marine Drive between Fraser and Main Street. Many families have relatives in the immediate area, giving our school a strong, vibrant, stable community base.

Trudeau offers various academic, physical, artistic, and social programs that support students and their families. In addition to school programs, there are strong, ongoing links with community organizations like One-to-One Reading, Books for Me, the Vancouver Public Library, the YMCA which provides out-of-school care and South Vancouver Neighbourhood House. We have Chinese and Punjabi after-school programs and the Vancouver Extracurricular Music Society (VEMS) Choral Program operating in school at Trudeau, reflecting the needs and wishes of the community. Other community and school-based volunteers have offered their time and expertise to further support student learning and success. Also, the John Oliver Community Team has organized or provided various programs for students after school which include the Science World workshops, Geering Up, and Yoga Buddies. The programs are well attended and appreciated by parents. The Team has also provided opportunities for some students during Winter and Spring Breaks. Moving forward, we continue to strengthen ties with outside agencies and provide various after-school programs on-site at Trudeau.

Trudeau has a diverse, multi-cultural population with many of our families speaking additional languages at home. Within our school, we have 28 different language groups represented. They include English, Tagalog, Punjabi, Cantonese, Spanish, Hindi, Tamil, and Vietnamese. Some of our students have a Ministry of Education and Special Education Plan that represents their learning needs. Trudeau hosts a Vancouver School Board District Program called CORE (COmmunication and REgulation) and a District Mandarin Bilingual Program giving beginner language students an opportunity to learn Mandarin daily.The rich, diverse, exciting cultural population supports the school’s belief in global citizenship and the interconnections of the world. We maintain that students

demonstrate an enthusiasm for learning how to be socially responsible. From Kindergarten onward, we encourage students to build positive and respectful relationships with each other and staff, engage in all learning activities, and to develop self-regulation skills and social emotional awareness.

At Trudeau, emphasis has been placed on increasing awareness of numeracy, applied skills and to developing an increasing passion for learning by becoming fluent, proficient readers, writers, and speakers of English. It is our hope and goal that we provide students with the skills to be responsible citizens. Along with the District IT Department and support from our PAC (Parent Advisory Council), we are endeavouring to improve the technology available to students in the school to better reflect equity of opportunity at Trudeau.

Enhancing learning and broadening the scope of possibilities for success for each student involves a collaborative and reflective approach. As a result, staff provide a variety of engaging learning experiences in different curricular areas with the use of technology and inquiry infused into the teaching and learning that takes place every day. The staff work also collaboratively together as a group in a variety of curricular areas and demonstrate interest in improving their practice as demonstrated by their input on this plan, through a book club and by engaging in numerous professional development opportunities that become available. Several teachers work closely with the Teacher-Librarian to enhance their students' learning experiences. Field Studies provides students with learning opportunities not otherwise possible for some students.

Staff and students work successfully to live up to the standards as outlined in our school Code of Conduct and summarized in the acronym T.R.U.E. - Trust, Respect, Understanding, Empathy. At Pierre Elliott Trudeau School, our goal is to create a safe environment that promotes positive academic, social, and emotional development. It is each student’s responsibility to follow the Code of Conduct and school rules at school, while going to and from school, and while attending school curricular and extracurricular activities at any location. We want students to learn to take responsibility for their behaviour. Our school promotes the values expressed in the BC Human Rights Code, respecting the rights of all individuals in accordance with the law- prohibiting discrimination based on race, colour, ancestry, place of origin, religion, marital status, family status, physical or mental disability, sex or sexual orientation-in respect of discriminatory publication and discrimination in accommodation, service and facility in the school environment. Racism will not be tolerated at Trudeau.

Environmental awareness experiences include regular school clean-up and neighbourhood walks. Gardening projects by several divisions will continue in the future giving students the opportunity to put into practice the notion of ‘Taking Care of This Place.” The outdoor classroom is unique and provides teachers and students with an opportunity to learn in a natural setting. We participate in the B.C. Fruits and Vegetable Snack Program, which is well received by the students.

We are proud of the multi-sensory room that helps students become ready and prepared to work on their individual education goals. We value our school as a safe, caring, and engaging learning place for all students and families. We feel fortunate to have our Artist in Residence Studio (AIRS) Program that provides all students with socially relevant, equitable, high quality and consistent access to visual arts

education. Each year, at the end of the residency, we celebrate our successes by highlighting the work done throughout the year. By bringing outside performers into the school, we provide students with opportunities to engage and even participate in musical, dramatical, and cultural experiences. Along with a variety of performances, we try to focus on Indigenous themes. This year students will be participating in a gymnastics program through an outside provider and sponsored by our PAC.

There is an involved, dedicated Parent Advisory Council (PAC) executive who works toward developing an inclusive environment through a variety of PAC sponsored events such as the City of Vancouver School Streets program in May last year. Plans are in the works this year for activities such as a Spring Dance and Sports Day involvement. In December we had a successful Movie Night with over 200 people attending. To enhance the connectiveness of parents, Friday morning coffee and tea once a month has been started. The hope is to increase its frequency.

Presently, student leadership opportunities have included student-led assemblies and monitoring volunteerism. Student voice is considered an essential element in the school. A Student Leadership Group has been created this year to further extend leadership opportunities throughout the school and to provide a forum for student voice. Over thirty enthusiastic students have joined the Group and are sharing ideas and organizing and implementing events at the school spirit days and assemblies.

The school encourages physical education and healthy living through participation in the Terry Fox Run, gymnastic lessons, and extra-curricular activities such cross-country, basketball, volleyball, and track and field. Open gymnasium times provide extended opportunities for physical fitness thanks to the support and supervision of school staff.