First Avenue Public School Information

About First Avenue Public School

Type Public

Color(s) Red, Blue and White

Language(s) English, French

Grade JK-6

Welcome to First Avenue Public School

First Avenue Public School was established in 1898 and is one of only three remains of a collection of late-nineteenth-century schoolhouses built in Ottawa. Another is the Mutchmor Public School, which is close by. The building is now legally listed as a historic structure. Edgar L. Horwood created this outstanding example of educational building from the time era. A third floor was built to the building in 1907.

Principal: Mark Schenk

The Ottawa Board of Education threatened to shut the school and demolish it in 1980, but local parents rallied to keep it open. Instead, money was allocated to refurbish the building, which included the construction of a fitness center and a library in the back.

It's at the junction of First Avenue and O'Connor in the Glebe neighbourhood. The back of the building overlooks Patterson Creek, where kids go ice skating on field excursions in the winter. With the exception of the English junior kindergarten program, the school has roughly 550 students; practically all of them are engaged in Early French instruction. A multilingual program is also held in the school, which has over 40 instructors. First Avenue has recently formed a twinning relationship with the Kagoua School in Mali and has staged fundraisers to benefit them. First Avenue Public School used to be among the top 60 schools in the province in EQAO assessment for grades 3 and 6, but test results have dropped dramatically since then.

Students

First Avenue has 150 kids enrolled in Kindergarten through grade six. Many of the students continue their education in Glashan Public School in grades 7 and 8, and then at Glebe Collegiate, Canterbury, or Lisgar Collegiate in secondary school. The learners are dynamic and highly dedicated students who benefit from home assistance.

Programs

There is an English program, a Middle French Immersion program, and a talented class at First Avenue. Several diverse cultural events, music, theatre, science, and sports, are used to enhance the syllabus. Many school trips and notable lecturers are included in the program. To support its excellent academic curriculum, First Avenue provides a variety of p.e. opportunities, such as skating on the Rideau Canal.

Special Education and ESL Programs

Students are provided with special education support by the Learning Support Teacher. An IPRC (Identification, Placement, and Review Committee) identifies students with special needs who require assistance from the special education team. Additionally, they help those who are facing short-term challenges during the school year.

Their staff is assisted by a social worker, speech-language pathologist, and psychologist who are fully trained and certified. Through Community Care Access Centre, they can receive occupational therapy services as well.

First Avenue Public School's Mission

"The First Avenue Experience" is a distinctive characteristic of the school community. It is an opportunity to meet demanding educational standards through the development of high-quality performance, a desire to learn, and aptitude and motivation to think critically to address the complexities of the 21st century. In other words, an awareness of one's identity and an enhanced sense of responsibility and authority gained by hands-on experience.