CURRICULUM INFORMATION

 École River Heights School offers a variety of academic programs:

i. Regular English Program - follows the regular syllabus of studies as prescribed by the Manitoba Department of Education.

ii. Continuing French Immersion Program - for students who have completed the Elementary French Immersion Program, and follows the regular syllabus of studies as prescribed by the Manitoba Department of Education.

iii. Late Entry French Immersion Program - The Late French Immersion Program follows the Manitoba curricula while allowing students to progress towards functional bilingualism. Students enter the program in grade 7, and upon graduation in Senior 4, graduate with a French Immersion Diploma.

The following subjects comprise the syllabus for our grade 7 and 8 students. Parents will note that course descriptions of academic subjects are handed out by the grade teams at our September Meet-the-Teacher evening. (All parents are strongly encouraged to attend.)

Fine Arts

The grade 7 students rotate through Drama or Art, one half of the year in each.

They also choose to participate in Band or Dance three times per cycle all year.

Once per cycle Life Skills will be integrated into another curricular area for all students.

The grade 8 English students may choose from the following option courses equating 2.0 full courses:

· Full (1.0) Option Courses:

-  Band

-  French

· Half (0.5) Option Courses:

-  Art

-  Dance

-  Spanish

-  Drama

-  Outdoor Education

The grade 8 French Immersion students may choose from the following option courses equating 1.0 full course:

· Full (1.0) Option Course:

-  Band

· Half (0.5) Option Courses:

-  Art

-  Spanish

-  Drama

-  Dance

-  Outdoor Education
 

The Arts and Languages at École River Heights School

The school philosophy is that all students at this age should have an opportunity for participation/exposure to the Arts and additional languages.

 All students will take Band or Dance in grade 7, as well as an Arts rotation including Art and Drama.  All grade 7 students will take French while grade 8 students have an opportunity to take Band, French, Art, Spanish, Drama, Outdoor Education, or Dance.

 Band:  Students will have the opportunity to further explore and develop their interest in music by learning to play a wind instrument. A love of music is the only prerequisite for this course. Students will have an opportunity in early September to select their musical instrument. Students who have prior skill on a band instrument have the opportunity to audition for the Jazz Band. Audition material may be picked up from the band director at the end of June.

 Dance:  Key areas of the ÉRHS Dance Program include technique, composition, and performance. Curricular links are drawn between dance, the other fine arts areas, and core classroom units of study. Dance students take on the roles of performing artists, choreographers, and audience members, boosting their fitness levels, building cooperative teamwork skills, and developing critical and creative thinking abilities. 

 French:  For English program students, the Manitoba Core French Syllabus is taken.

Spanish:  Spanish is available at an introductory level for grade 8 students.

Drama:  The theatre arts program provides students with the opportunity to develop skills in on-stage performance, movement, backstage and technical, film, musical theatre and improv.

Art:  Students develop specific skills through a variety of activities that may include drawing, painting, printmaking, and sculpture. Art appreciation and an understanding of design are integrated within the learning activities.

Outdoor Education: 

  The outdoor education program emphasizes multi-disciplinary teaching and learning. The course focus is on building community skills and creating a supportive and safe environment in which people work together.

 Further to the curricular arts programming, students at École River Heights School are eligible for additional co-curricular activities including:

1. Celebration of the Arts Evening

2. Concerts

3. Festival Théâtre Jeunesse (Immersion students)

4. Oratorical Competitions (in both English and French)

5. Improv Teams

6. Student Film Festival
 

Applied Technology (Practical Arts)

All grade 8 students will have an opportunity to experience a variety of Practical Arts “labs” over the course of the year. Practical Arts courses are conducted at Kelvin High School located at the intersection of Harrow and Academy.

These courses appear on the timetable as three periods in an afternoon labelled “PRAY”. The Shops program begins the first week of school. Our guidance counsellor will visit each grade 8 classroom to provide students with an orientation and directions on where to go, etc. An ÉRHS staff member will walk to Kelvin with any students who are unsure of the route on the day of the first Shops class. Students will be expected to make their own way home at 3:30 p.m.

 You may wish to acquaint your child with the location of Kelvin sometime before the first class and determine the best walking or bus route. Shops classes begin at 1:15 p.m. Please call the school at the end of August if you have any questions and the counsellor will assist you.

ENRICHMENT AT É.R.H.S.

Many opportunities are presented to all students for personal, athletic and academic enrichment. Extra-curricular activities, co-curricular programming and academic challenge events all contribute to the overall development of a middle years student. 

Examples include:

A.   Academic Challenge:

· Gauss National Math Competitions, Canadian Scholastic Achievement Competition, Science Fairs, Canspell, United Nations Oratorical Competition, Science and Math curriculum projects and poetry/writing contests

B.  Co-Curricular:

· The Celebration of the Arts, oratorical competitions, poetry and young writers’ workshops, guest speakers, band concerts, improv, festivals, outings to live theatre, and theatre performances in the school

C.  Extra-Curricular:

· Sports teams such as volleyball, basketball, track and field, water polo, slow pitch, soccer, and intramurals (the school’s Inclusion Policy relative to school teams, allows the participation of all students that make a commitment to a team)

· Clubs and activities such as guitar club, debating club, dance club, chess club, strategy games, arts and crafts club, environmental club (Green Team), and weightlifting club

D.  Leadership:

· Community service, Phys. Ed. Leadership Program

· Student council – all students are welcome to participate (there are no elections)

· Student voice

E.   Partnerships:

· World Council of Gifted and Talented Children in conjunction with the University of Winnipeg

STUDENT EVALUATION AND REPORTING

The academic year is divided into four main terms, with one formal Parent/Teacher/Student Conference in the fall and one Student-led conference in the spring. Interim reports are sent out in the third week of October.

As well as school-based evaluation and reporting students are involved in provincially-mandated data collection in the areas of student engagement, literacy with information and communication technology as well as Math, Français and English. Parents will receive information regarding their children in these areas.

Parent/Teacher conferences take place in early November following interim reports. Student-led conferences take place in April.

Parents and teachers need not wait for “formal” opportunities to discuss and check on students’ programs. Good communication between home and classroom is always crucial, but especially at this age. Be it by email, phone calls, letters/notes or informal visits with teachers, parents are encouraged to make contact!

* Final exams are written by all students in the following subjects:  Language Arts, French, Social Studies, Science and Math.

The Grade 7 and 8 exams are weighted at 20% of the year’s final mark. Grade 8 students write divisional exams in English Language Arts and Math in June. These are also weighted at 20%. Divisional exams provide clear, accurate information about each student’s skill and abilities in relation to the curricular outcomes. The information from these exams is used to improve classroom instruction, student learning and program effectiveness.

Student-Led Conferences

To create a successful school learning environment, educational research indicates that:

Whenever practical, students should be included and actively involved in their progress and sharing their perceptions of their progress with their teachers and parents. When students are meaningfully involved, evaluation becomes an integral part of instruction and a learning experience in its own right.

(Anthony, Johnson, Mickelson, Preece 1991)

The goal of student-led conferences is to provide students with an authentic context for self-evaluation and with an opportunity to assume some responsibility for informing their parents about how they are doing in school.

In preparing for the conference, students will assemble a portfolio which will include selected pieces of work, reflections on their learning, and goals they are setting for the next term.

Students individually conduct the interview with their parents and are primarily in charge of reporting their progress and displaying and explaining their work.

Following through on goals set during the conference is the responsibility of the entire educational community:  parents/family, students and teachers.

AWARDS AT É.R.H.S.

Honour Roll

- General average of 80% or better

- No term mark less than 60%

- Certificate

Honour Roll with Distinction

- General average of 90% or better

- No term mark less than 70%

- Certificate

Subject Excellence

- 90% or better in specific subject

- Certificate

School Board Book Prizes

- Overall academic excellence

- 3 top academic performers per program

École River Heights Book Prizes

- Overall academic excellence

- Next 3 top academic performers per program

- Parent Council funding

Citizenship

- Demonstrates overall contribution to school life

- Pin

Diligence

- Consistent work ethic and application (attitude and effort) as identified by teachers

- Certificate

Athletic Awards

- Athletic Participation Awards

- Medal

Special Awards

- As determined by ongoing events/projects during the year e.g. Science Fair medals