School Profile 2013-2014
Cambridge Street Community
Public School
JK to 6 English/Core French
Address:
250 Cambridge St. North
Ottawa, Ontario
K1R 7B
Phone: 613-239-2216
Fax: 613-239-5981
School hours:
8:55 a.m. - 3:25 p.m.
School Website1
Principal
Alice Donachey
Vice Principal
N/A
Office Administrator
Marina Merlo
Chief Custodian
Michael Kirk
School Council Co-chairs
Mary Young
Lara Purvis
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 Website2
Accessibility Information3
Our School
Cambridge Street School is a warm and nurturing community
school that promotes the academic, physical, social, and
emotional development of all students. It is a welcoming and
supportive environment that invites the involvement of parents,
volunteers, student teachers, co-op students, and the
community.
The original red brick Cambridge Street Community Public
School was built in 1898 and its first students entered in
September 1899. It was enlarged in 1908 and demolished in
1973 to make way for the present new school. The school
celebrated its 100th anniversary of offering excellence in
education to its students in 1998-1999. Cambridge School’s
history and composition parallel the demographic changes
experienced by the city of Ottawa over the last century.
The Cambridge Street Community School staff is committed to
providing a safe, productive learning environment where
individual differences are valued and respected, where students
are expected to do their best, and where parents and
volunteers are welcomed and encouraged to support the
learning process.
Our Students
Cambridge has 145 students from junior kindergarten to grade
6. Although many of our students were born in Canada, this K-6
school serves a predominantly multicultural population of
students and families originally from locations such as China,
Vietnam, Myanmar, South Asia, Middle East, Eastern Europe,
Africa and South America. Grade six students leaving
Cambridge Street School for middle school attend Glashan
Public School or Fisher Park for grades 7 and 8.
Our Staff
Cambridge Street Community School has a knowledgeable,
dedicated, and caring staff who work diligently to provide the
students with the very best learning environment possible. Staff
members are lifelong learners, committed to their own
professional development and to the study and collaborative
discussion of new and better ways of addressing student
needs.They are a strong team who work together, sharing their
many skills and talents to enrich the lives of our students, the
community and one another.
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Our Community
Parents and Community
The Cambridge St. Community School Council is comprised of parents, teachers, nonteaching staff, a Multicultural Liaison Officer from the Ottawa Community Immigrant Services
Organization, and community members. Cambridge Street Community School has a close
relationship with Carleton University, OttawaReads, OCRI, Kiwanis, Bytown Rotary, Somerset
West Community Health Centre, Dalhousie Community Centre, Plant Pool Recreation
Association, Big Brothers and Big Sisters, Plouffe Park, YM/YWCA, McNabb Community
Centre and First Avenue School. Every Saturday the International Language Programme
meet at Cambridge School.
Mission Statement
Cambridge Street Community Public School staff is committed to providing a safe, inclusive,
and productive learning environment where individual differences are valued and respected,
where students are expected to do their best and where parents and community volunteers
are welcomed and encouraged to support the learning process as students grow and become
contributing members of the Global Community of the 21st Century.
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Programs and Services
Academic Programs
We have two Full-Day Early Learning Kindergarten classes. “The purpose of the full day
program is to establish a strong foundation for learning in the early years, and to do so in a
safe and caring play-based environment that promotes the physical, social, emotional and
cognitive development of all children.” We offer a regular English program, JK – 6 and a Core
French program, JK – 6. Students receive blocks of 20 minutes of Core French daily in
Kindergarten. All other students receive 40 minutes of Core French daily.
Classroom Organization
Cambridge is a Junior Kindergarten to Grade 6 school and is organized as follows:
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JK/SK full day
JK/SK full day
Grade 1
Grade 2
Grade 3
Grade 4/5
Grade 5/6
General Learning Program (GLP)
Junior Language Learning Disability Class (LLD)
Special Education and ESL Programs
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Learning Support Teacher (LST)
Learning Resource Teacher (LRT)
Special Education - General Learning Program System Class (GLP)
Special Education - Junior Language Learning Disability Class (LLD)
English as a Second Language support (ESL)
Support is provided in consultation with student, staff and parents.
Clubs and Activities
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Dance
Library
Homework club
Rochester Heights Boys & Girls Club After School Program
Cross country running
Soccer
Volleyball
Basketball
Track and field
Students also enjoy:
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Skating at McNabb Arena
Swim to Survive, and other swimming opportunities
Sledding
Terry Fox Run
Spring/Fall Clean the Capital initiative
Assemblies, performances, and talent show
Annual multicultural pot luck supper
Kiwanis read-a-thon
Choir
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Drama
Visiting artists and performers
Tutoring program
Safe Schools Initiatives
At Cambridge Street School we believe that everyone is responsible for their own actions,
and that they have the right to be respected and learn in a safe environment. We expect
everyone to act with consideration and courtesy. We do not tolerate expressions of racial,
ethnic, or gender bias in any form by members of our school community. We respect the
needs and abilities of every student and expect everyone to use language appropriate to a
school setting. Expectations for the classroom, schoolyard and school buses are outlined in
the Code of Conduct which is sent home at the beginning of the year and is available in the
school office. Every member of the Cambridge Community Street Public School family is
expected to demonstrate the OCDSB Community of Character traits in all of their interactions.
The Golden Rule which has cross cultural ties is the corner stone of everything that we do. In
addition to the Code of Conduct, Cambridge has:
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A safe arrival and parent notification procedure
Ottawa Safety Council Crossing Guard
Access to a school psychologist, social worker, speech & language pathologist and
occupational therapist
Access to an Ottawa Carleton District Police School Resource Officer (SRO)
WITS program, and safe school teams
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Facilities and Resources
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Library: collection of 8000 books, videos, kits
Elevator
SEA Equipment available to support student in accessing the curriculum
computer lab, and ipads
Gymnasium
Separate Kindergarten yard with new play structure
Soccer field / baseball diamond / outdoor volleyball net & poles
Primary / Junior Play structure
Parent & Family Literacy Centre
Parent Resource Centre
Ottawa Public Library Bookmobile on Friday afternoons
Google Map of Cambridge Street Community Public School
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Achievement and School Improvement Planning
Measures of Student Achievement and Success
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Observation, informal and formal testing, and portfolios are used.
Informal and standardized tests are administered by the Special Education Resource
Teacher to support the teachers, diagnose learning strengths and weaknesses, and make
suggestions for program differentiation.
Speech and Language assessments can be provided by a Speech and Language
Pathologist.
The school psychologist identifies specific learning styles and abilities as required.
Students in grades 3 and 6 participate in the provincial EQAO testing.
School Improvement Plans and Initiatives
Literacy and Numeracy continue to be a major focus at Cambridge Street Community Public
School. Language development across the curriculum is a necessary approach where
vocabulary and content are taught together. Along with ESL support and an environment that
encourages risk taking, students are encouraged to use their first, second or their third
language they have acquired to help complete academic tasks. Our third focus is helping both
our students and staff develop and incorporate a healthy lifestyle into their daily lives. Daily
physical activity and nutrition are key components to this program.
Other Initiatives:
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We have specialized tutoring offered both during and outside of school hours.
Cambridge is involved with the Big Brothers, Big Sisters Mentoring in School Program.
Students in our Grade 4/5 class are part of the YOUCAN Mentoring partnership with
Glebe secondary school.
Students are part of the WITS (a peer victimization awareness and prevention program)
and LEADS (a leadership and social responsibility program for students in Grade 4 to 6.)
Fabric Flea Market held annually, the second Saturday in October at the Glebe Centre.
The Ottawa Public Library Bookmobile comes to Cambridge every Friday afternoon.
The International Language Program, takes place every Saturday and during the month of
July at Cambridge.
We are thankful to have several dedicated volunteer readers that come into the school
weekly.
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Leadership Recognition
“Leadership in the OCDSB is the demonstration of personal initiative
to achieve a positive outcome.”
Students
Our Grade six students are given opportunities to act as student leaders both within the
school and on the yard (Morning announcers, milk and newspaper distribution program, play
day leaders, student assemblies, custodian’s helpers program, kindergarten helpers, schoolwide recycling, big buddies for younger students, ambassadors to assist new students.) On a
daily basis, student leadership is acknowledged through announcements, school newsletters,
and verbal/written recognition by staff.
Staff
Our staff members have a wealth of strengths that contribute to student success at our
school. The staff actively participates in numerous Board-wide professional development
activities, and in turn, they provide the leadership and expertise needed to successfully
implement Board initiatives. Staff leadership is recognized via personal interactions with one
another, letters of thanks, announcements, school newsletters, assemblies, and performance
appraisals.
Parents/Guardians/Volunteers
Our School Council provides strong support for the initiatives that are undertaken at the
school. School Council contributes to the Healthy School initiative by inviting speakers into
the school to provide workshops and demonstrations on Healthy Cooking and eating on a
budget. They have initiated the Good Food Box program for school families. School Council
volunteers play an active role in our Fabric Flea Market fundraising event and in our monthly
pizza lunches. In addition, School Council hosts an Annual Multicultural Pot Luck Dinner in
February and a Community BBQ in June. Appreciation is shown to parents, guardians and
volunteers via personal contact, school announcements, school council meetings, school
newsletters and at our annual appreciation tea.
Community
Cambridge St. Community Public School receives tremendous support from throughout the
Ottawa community. Along with contributions/donations from many individuals, we have been
fortunate to have had the following support:
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Ottawa Network for Education, Breakfast for Learning and the Ottawa Food Bank support
the breakfast program.
The annual fabric flea market provides for supplemental field trips, arts, concerts and other
activities.
The First Avenue School council has provided financial and other forms of support to the
school.
Ottawa 67’s provide “incentive” tickets for our students and their families.
Rotary Club provided funding to enhance Literacy and Arts and provided Dictionaries for
classrooms.
In previous years Keller Williams donated $2800 towards the “Borrow a Book Program”
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Two separate individuals have greatly enhanced the technology available to students
through donation which purchased 60 iPads, Multimedia carts and a new large electric
projection screen
We appreciate the positive impact on our school of Carleton University’s alternative spring
break program
We also acknowledge and thank Big Brothers/Big Sisters for their in-school mentoring
program.
The Ottawa YM/YWCA runs a before School Care program from 7:00 AM until yard
supervision begins at 8:40
The Ottawa Boys and Girls Club operates daily from 3:30 until 8:00 PM and offers a
summer program.
Community Garden for planting and harvesting.
Community partners recognized via announcements, newsletters, website, appreciation
tea and thank you cards.
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URL References
1
http://www.cambridgeps.ocdsb.ca/
http://www.ocdsb.ca/
3 http://www.ocdsb.ca/ab-ocdsb/
4 http://www.eqao.com/
2
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