Queen Mary Street PS

Our Students

Queen Mary St. PS has an enrollment of 150 students, representing many countries and speaking over 25 languages, bringing much richness of culture and diversity to the school. The main languages spoken are English, Arabic and Somali. When our grade 6 students leave Queen Mary, they either go to Queen Elizabeth Public School or York Street Public School. We are thrilled to offer French Immersion Full Day Kindergarten where our youngest students are thriving in a learning environment with an educator team comprised of a teacher and Early Childhood Educator.

Our Staff

The Queen Mary Staff Team is committed to providing an inclusive and engaging learning environment for all of our students and includes 13 teachers, 3 educational assistants, 2 early childhood educators, 2 custodians, 2 office staff, a library technician, 4 lunchtime monitors and 1 principal. Staff members are dedicated, experienced and talented in a variety of areas such as athletics, music, drama, visual arts, computers and professional dance and provide a wide range of extra‐curricular activities.

Our staff are dedicated to ongoing professional development opportunities to enhance their teaching practice with a particular focus on literacy, numeracy, technology and critical thinking.

Mission Statement

‘Reaching for Excellence in a caring, inclusive, and engaging learning environment.’

This governs every aspect of school life.

Our Community

Queen Mary Street PS is surrounded by a supportive and active community. Our parents are involved in various activities including volunteering in classrooms and attending field trips. Our special events, such as the Food Fest and Meet The Teacher, are always well‐attended.

The Overbrook‐Forbes Community Resource Centre runs a free weekly afterschool Homework Club, The Somali Association runs a free Homework Club during the evenings for elementary and secondary students and The International Language Program takes place on Saturdays. The EarlyON Child and Family Centre is also located in our school. This centre is part of the Ministry of Education’s Early Learning Initiative. The centre helps prepare children (aged 0 to 6 years) for starting school and encourages families to be a part of their children's learning. As well, attached to the school is the Andrew Fleck Daycare Centre. We host secondary students for their co‐op placements. The National Start 2 Finish organization relies on university volunteers as coach mentors for our Start 2 Finish Running and Reading Club which takes place every Wednesday from 3:30‐ 5:30 p.m. Students train for a 5 km race in May while receiving character education through goal‐setting and teamwork as well as support to improve their reading skills.

Facilities and Resources

Queen Mary Street Public School includes:

• A library
• A Literacy/Numeracy Resource room
• Computer technology in every room
• A gym
• A play structure in the Kindergarten yard, in the Primary yard and in the Junior yard
• Two full‐length outdoor basketball courts
• Parent and Family Literacy Centre
• Andrew Fleck Daycare Centre (attached)

Programs and Services

Academic Programs

Queen Mary offers Regular English programs with Core French including Full Day French Immersion Kindergarten classes.

Classroom Organization

Queen Mary has a French Immersion Junior and Senior Kindergarten, and Grade 1to Grade 6 English program, as well as a junior General Learning Program. There are eight classes in our school, two French Immersion JK/SKs, a grade 1/2, grade 2, grade 3, grade 4/5, grade 5/6 and GLP.

Special Education and ESL Programs

Our model of delivery for Special Education and ESL students is collaborative and inclusive with support provided within the regular classroom setting as well as individual and small‐group withdrawal when appropriate.

• General Learning Program (GLP)
• Learning Support Teacher
• Learning Support Teacher
• Learning Resource Teacher
• English as a Second Language Teacher

Clubs and Activities

Our school participates in many school‐wide events that promote character, inclusiveness and school spirit such as the Terry Fox Walk, Holiday Sale, monthly assemblies, and outdoor activity days. We run a dance club, French club, choir, and numerous intramural sports.

Intramural sports and Inter-school sports:

Track and Field, Soccer, Volleyball, Basketball, Bordenball

Club and Activities:

• Start 2 Finish Running & Reading Club
• Dance Club
• French Club
• Choir
• Blue Spruce/Silver Birch Library Reading Club
• Grade 6 Leadership Program
• School Spirit Days
• Talent Show
• Recycling Club

Safe Schools Initiatives

Our SRO, Abe Kaazan, is a tremendous resource for students and families. We are fortunate to have a Child & Youth Counsellor from the Crossroads Children’s Treatment Centre on‐site two days a week to provide support to students including training in collaborative problem solving. Our students receive Traffic Safety Presentations, Fire Safety Presentations, and Ottawa Hydro Safety Presentations through community agencies.

Student Well-being

Our Goal is for every student in every classroom to feel a strong sense of well-being and connectedness as a result of learning and living in a school environment that is welcoming, equitable, inclusive, and respectful; a place where every student is encouraged to take risks, be creative, and be innovative in a learning culture that is caring and safe; a place where conditions enable all students to achieve, to the best of their abilities, and be successful in all aspects of learning and life.