SCHOOL STORY

Sir William Van Horne Elementary School is located in a diverse neighborhood in the Oakridge - South Slope area of Vancouver. It is also on the ancestral and unceded lands of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) & səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh Nation). and the Van Horne Community is grateful to be privileged to be learning and unlearning in this school on these lands.

It enrolls about 450 students across 19 divisions, ranging from kindergarten to grade seven. There are currently approximately 150 students who are designated as English Language Learners (ELL). Approximately 40 students have ministry designations for special needs.

Van Horne School is proud to work closely with our Van Horne Parent Advisory Council (PAC). We have a shared value focusing around building a thriving community. Over the last several years, the community has been working on: a growing recognition of our community's diversity, a commitment to tackling environmental issues and challenges (especially around the topic of transportation), and a working relationship between school and parents based on the values of transparency and cooperation. Additionally, parents are invited to become partners with the school through actions such as volunteering for PAC led initiatives like organizing and running hot lunch to becoming club leaders at school. Some of these include quiet lunch monitors, boardgame clubs, and tennis instructors. All these efforts are to make a difference in the lives of our students. Click or tap here to enter text.

Students are served by approximately 45 school-based staff ranging from teachers that work directly with students, resource and specialist teachers that support students and teachers, and School and Student Support Workers that support students with diverse learning needs. Administration, office staff and custodial staff support the smooth functioning of the school. The interests and skills of these individuals vary and this diversity benefits the student’s education. Van Horne’s diverse staff support holistic development of students, academic rigor, provide extra-curricular opportunities such as sports all motivated by moving students forward in their development of their core competencies. Students are challenged to become leaders and contributing members of society.

Staff work collaboratively to discuss students’ needs, strengths, and how to best support students. Highly dedicated staff provide varied learning experiences, including project and inquiry-based learning to Van Horne students. During a typical school year, Van Horn Elementary School offers additional opportunities for students in arts, sports, and student leadership. Examples of this include student government, choir, cross country, volleyball, basketball, badminton, and track and field. Additionally, Students can provide leadership through opportunities such as being PA announcers, library monitors, club leaders (origami club, Dungeons and Dragons club, Magic the Gathering club, and comic club), and big buddy/little buddy classes. YMCA and Little Mountain Neighborhood House are typical partners to the school.

At Van Horne, our school is a community is a phrase that is often used by PAC executives and school administration as a guiding value.