Address:
407 Hilson Ave.
Ottawa, Ontario
K1Z 6B9
Phone: 613-728-4607
Fax: 613-729-0826
School hours:
8:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Office hours:
7:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
School Website 1
Principal
Lisa Clayton
Vice Principal
N/A
Office Administrator
Joyce Cameron
Chief Custodian
Gerry Haakman
School Council Chair
Kathy Durand
Superintendent of
Instruction
Susan MacDonald
School Trustee
Jennifer McKenzie
Chair of the Board
Jennifer McKenzie
Director of Education/
Secretary of the Board
Jennifer Adams
General Board Information:
Phone: 613-721-1820
OCDSB Website 2
Accessibility Information 3
Hilson Avenue Public school has provided education for students in our community for almost 100 years. In the summer of 1997, the original school building was demolished and a new facility opened on June 10, 1999. We enjoy the benefits of a modern, air-conditioned, fully accessible facility with an attached day care facility.
Hilson Avenue P.S. is a child-centered learning environment. Academic progress, social development and a positive attitude towards self and others are cornerstones of our philosophy. Our community of learners practice teamwork, leadership and risk-taking as they prepare for the future.
We are fortunate to be able to offer community access to a “Parenting and Family
Literacy Centre”. It is located on the main floor in room 150. Open 20 hours per week, it offers parents and children from 0 to 6 years old the opportunity to learn and play together under the guidance of a facilitator.
Hilson serves a population with diverse languages and cultures. We currently operate as a Junior Kindergarten to Grade 6 school with an enrolment of 345 students. Programs offered at Hilson Avenue Public school include the Regular
English Program, a Learning Disability Junior Program, a Language Learning
Disability Junior Program, Middle French Immersion and Gifted Early French
Immersion for Grades 5 and 6. Grade six students leaving Hilson attend either
Fisher Park/Summit or Broadview Avenue P.S. for Grades 7 and 8.
Hilson Avenue Public School has a caring, creative and dynamic staff! This committed team of professionals have a wide range of experience. Many teachers have earned additional educational qualifications through ongoing professional development. These qualifications include Special Education, English as a Second
Language, French as a Second Language, Reading, and Computers in Education.
The efforts of our staff are significant both inside and outside the classroom.
Hilson teachers are very involved in extra-curricular activities for all our students.
We also have 3 Educational Assistants who support our students both in and out of the classroom. We currently have two Registered Early Childhood Educators who co-teach our Kindergarten programs. Our office staff includes 1 Administrator and a half time Assistant who set a very positive and welcoming tone to the office.
Our half time Library Technician works hard to stock and manage our library. Our
Chief Custodian and 2 evening Custodians ensure that our building is clean and safe.
1 Educating for Success – Inspiring Learning and Building Citizenship


Hilson Avenue families represent a variety of Ottawa-Centre communities. Our community boasts a rich diversity of people.

Volunteers are heartily welcomed into our school. Many parent volunteers support school activities, including literacy and support programs, organizing fund-raising events, charitable events, accompanying students on field trips, etc.

The Hilson Avenue Public School Council is composed of members of the school community, parents/guardians, community representatives and representatives of the staff. The council is dedicated to strengthening educational opportunities and partnerships with the community.

The Children's Centre is directly linked to the Hilson Avenue Public School building. The Children's Centre is an exceptional childcare facility that offers early childhood education and care for children, eighteen months to ten years of age for families in our community. For more information contact the Children's Centre at (613)
728-1797.
Hilson Avenue Public School is a school where every child is embraced as a member of the school community.
Academic progress, social development, and positive attitude towards self and others are cornerstones on which the Hilson philosophy rests.
Educating for Success – Inspiring Learning and Building Citizenship 2


English with Core French JK/SK (Full day) and Grades 1-6


Middle French Immersion with Math and English to Immersion
Gifted Early French Immersion (Gr. 5 and 6)

Learning Disability Junior (Gr. 4-6)

Language Learning Disability Junior (Gr. 4-6)
Hilson Avenue P.S. offers Regular, English and Middle French Immersion Programs:

Regular English:
JK, SK, Gr. 1, Gr. 2, Gr. 2/3, Gr. 3/4, Gr. 5/6

Middle French Immersion:
Gr. 4, Gr. 4/5, Gr. 5, two Grade 6 classes

Early French Immersion:
Gr. 5, Gr. 6

Junior Learning Disability program (one class, grades 4-6)

Junior Language Learning Disability program (one class, grades 4-6)

Language and Math support by our Learning Support Teacher and Learning Resource Teacher using both a co-teaching and withdrawal model

English as a Second Language Support using both a co-teaching and withdrawal model

Gifted Early French Immersion – Grades 5 and 6

Junior Learning Disability

Junior Language Learning Disability

House league and team sports include: volleyball, basketball, cross country running, track and field, bordenball and more.

Charitable fundraising: Terry Fox Run, Education Foundation, Emergency Food Cupboard, The United
Way, The Hilson Greening Foundation, The Heart and Stroke Foundation

Clubs: Chess, Knitting, Lego Robotics, Computers, Multicultural, Student Ambassadors, Musical
Announcements

Student Mentors: Kindergarten Lunch Buddies, Kindergarten Helpers, Lunch Monitors, Computer and
Reading Buddies, Hilson Ambassadors

Assemblies (Multicultural, Arts, WITS, French Public Speaking Competitions) and School Spirit Days

Walking, Skating (outdoor at local Iona Park rink)

Recycling

Daily Milk and Healthy Snack program

Regular pizza and Subway lunches and Lunch Lady program (organized by the Hilson School Council)
Educating for Success – Inspiring Learning and Building Citizenship 3

Hilson’s Code of Behaviour was developed by students, staff, and parents. It is communicated to parents in our agenda and via newsletters.
The OCDSB ’s ‘Community of Character’ Wheel is embedded into daily life at Hilson and teachers talk about these characteristics in class. Many Hilson staff have been trained in Behaviour Management Systems, non-
Violent Crisis Intervention Strategies, Collaborative Problem Solving and/or First Aid/CPR. Whenever possible, as part of our Progressive Discipline approach, we attempt to restore and build healthy relationships between students when there is a conflict. We strongly believe that developing these social skills will greatly benefit our students in becoming responsible citizens. Visitor identification badges are required for adults on-site.
Other safe school initiatives:

WITS Strategies integrated in curriculum

Regular Student Multicultural Assemblies

Safe School Team

Library/ Computer resource centre with over 7500 books

Mobile Computer Lab Cart

Large gymnasium and a Grand Hall with a grand stage area

Fenced-in large yard

Large play structure/sandbox

Parenting & Family Literacy Centre
 Link with The Children’s Centre Daycare
Google Map of Hilson Avenue Public School
Educating for Success – Inspiring Learning and Building Citizenship 4

Our school follows the guidelines set out in the OCDSB Policy and Procedures for Student Evaluation, available on the Board’s website 2 . We also follow the fundamental principles stated in Growing Success: Assessment,
Evaluation, and Reporting in Ontario Schools (2010).
We recognize that the primary purpose of assessment and evaluation is to improve student learning.
At the beginning of each school year and throughout the year each teacher takes the time to get to know each student: their interests, learning style, their prior knowledge and their abilities. Classroom teachers use a variety of assessment methods to monitor student achievement including daily observation, pencil/paper tasks, projects, presentations, response journals, learning logs, quizzes and end of the unit tests.
In the primary grades, students from Grades 1 to 3 are assessed using the PM Benchmarks to indicate their levels of reading and understanding. Similarly, in the junior grades, students in Grades 4, 5 and 6 are assessed with tools such as CASI or La trousse d’evaluation en lecture de GB+.
All Grade 3 and 6 students participate in the provincial EQAO testing, unless they are exempt as indicated in their Individual Education Plan to reflect their special needs.
Students requiring additional support and assistance are referred by their classroom teacher to a School Based
Special Education Team. The team, including the Learning Support and Resource teachers, Principal, together with the classroom teacher, assess the needs of the student to determine a course of action which may include further observation or assessment, accommodations and modifications within a regular class setting, support from specialized teachers or referrals to other school board professionals. Our Special Education Team is always available to assist classroom teacher in planning for the needs of all their students.
Our School Improvement Plan for Student Achievement has been designed to address areas of concern noted as we look closely at EQAO results, PM Benchmark and GB+ data, results from CASI assessments as well as daily observations of student individual and group work, and participation in learning activities. We review homework, results of tests, assignments and report cards, and a variety of demographic factors to plan our instructional practices and resources to be purchased to best meet the needs of our students. Our School
Improvement Planning for this year is in the area of Numeracy. Students will use creative thinking strategies and communicate and justify their thinking in ALL subject areas with a focus on problem solving involving grade level operations. Staff will practice a Balanced Math Instructional approach with a focus on 3 Part Math Problem solving, Critical Thinking, Higher Order Thinking in order to ensure a continuum of progress. All staff members are involved in the implementation of the Scho ol Improvement Plan through our umbrella statement: “Does this activity make students think?”
Other Initiatives:

General communication through the monthly school newsletter and class newsletters

On-going communication between teachers and parents via the agenda, websites, email, interviews, telephone

Levelled Literacy Intervention Program and Empower Reading Program

Extended Day Program

FRIENDS Anxiety Group


Multicultural Assemblies
Learning Buddies

Ontario Focused Intervention Program Tutors
Educating for Success – Inspiring Learning and Building Citizenship 5

Hilson students have numerous leadership opportunities such as Hilson Ambassadors, kindergarten helpers,
Lunch helpers, Milk Monitors, Reading Buddies and through our sports teams and clubs. Our students are also involved in our regularly scheduled Multicultural Assemblies. As Hilson Ambassadors, grade 6 volunteers choose from a variety of leadership opportunities such as preparing and saying morning announcements, , organizing spirit days, fundraisers and assemblies, giving school tours etc. Our students also have the opportunity to participate in all board-wide sports programs – cross country, soccer, bordenball, basketball, volleyball and track and field. Many students are also active as referees and captains as part of the intramural sports program. In addition to informal recognition on a regular basis, we also acknowledge student contributions in our cl assrooms, school announcements, newsletters, assemblies, our principal’s report to school council, and school leaving awards ceremony. We recognize student leadership by incorporating their suggestions into our planning. When students propose or create various leadership opportunities for themselves, we make every attempt to support their ideas and initiatives.
Our staff members have a wealth of professional qualifications including Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Arts,
Fine Arts, Administration, as well as additional qualifications in Special Education, English as a Second
Language, French, Visual Arts, Guidance, Reading and Computers in Education. They have actively participated in numerous Board-wide professional development activities in literacy and numeracy, and we recognize their initiative by providing and supporting opportunities for further professional growth. We also recognize staff leadership via personal interactions with one another, letters of thanks, school announcements, school newsletters, assemblies, performance appraisals, and our monthly principal’s report to school council.
All Hilson staff members are dedicated to making major contributions to student development in many various areas. Many leadership examples are visible during class time or at recesses. Students are supported in their initiatives by Teachers, Educational Assistants, Early Childhood Educators, Office and Custodial staff when applicable. Students are also very well served by our extended support team which include a group of very caring professionals such as our Speech and Language Pathologist, Social Worker, Psychologist, Therapists and Consultants. All of the Hilson staff work collaboratively to foster a real sense of acceptance, belonging and community for all of our students and their families.
Last year volunteers contributed hundreds of hours of support for the benefit of students in our school. Our dedicated school council meets monthly and contributed $12,000 in support of student and staff related activities and resources such as: Arts presentations, transportation to events, books for the resource room and library, sports equipment and student agendas. As invaluable partners, we thank our parents, guardians and volunteers on an on-going basis, and look for opportunities to acknowledge them such as school announcements, the principal’s report to school council, school newsletters, and the annual volunteer appreciation event.
For more than 30 years Hilson and the Children’s Centre have combined services in an effort to meet the needs of young families and children in our community. The local Starbucks on Richmond Road has adopted our school through their Make a Mark Program. Every winter, our students enjoy skating at Iona Park. Thanks to the many community volunteers who help make this possible. We recognize our community partners through school announcements and signage, school newsletters, monthly assemblies, local newspaper, principal’s report to school council, and thank you cards. We value their commitment to improving student learning and we hope to be able to reach out fur ther in our community. We appreciate our partners’ support in education .
Educating for Success – Inspiring Learning and Building Citizenship 6

1 http://www.hilsonaveps.ocdsb.ca/
2 http://www.ocdsb.ca/
3 http://www.ocdsb.ca/ab-ocdsb/
4 http://www.eqao.com/
Educating for Success – Inspiring Learning and Building Citizenship 7