Parkview School
Physical Characteristics
Parkview School (not its real name) is at the center of the community,
located on a thoroughfare. The school serves students from kindergarten to
grade
8 inclusive. Adjacent to the school is a small public park that is maintained
by the students and, as such, it offers a model to the students and others
for community social action. The school offers both a Core French and
Early French Immersion15 program, like many other schools in the province.
The
division between these programs is evident, with a majority of students
from poverty
backgrounds and those students presenting with special needs enrolling
in the Core French program. In contrast, more middle class students enrol
in
the French Immersion program.
Staff
In general, Parkview School has an experienced staff and low turnover
even though it is a challenging place to work. The teachers appear to rise
to challenges. Most of the staff would be eligible to transfer to another
school but they remain at Parkview by choice. The staff are positive;
one
feels
that sense as they enter the building or see them joking with each
other in the open door staff room. People are smiling. It appears that
those who work at this school either stay for a single year because they
cannot
find
their niche or they remain long term.
Teachers at Parkview School
also seem to enjoy working together. For example, in the course of my study,
the
staff
successfully completed a course that had required after-school
study. The program focuses on teaching the students responsible behavior
and
problem
solving. All teaching, administrative and support staff ensure
that there
is consistency in their manner for dealing with the students by
using this
approach only.
15 French Immersion
is an optional French Second Language program in which French is the language
of instruction for a significant
part of
the
school
day.
Early French Immersion in New Brunswick begins in grade 1 and
offers at least 6600 hours of instruction in French (Department of Education,
2003a). |