Our School

Pledge # 1 (also in French) Motto:

We, the staff, students and families Learning together,

of École Margaret Underhill What A way To Grow!!

will fill our day with words and actions, Apprenons,Grandissons

that show caring, sharing and respect for each other. Et Célébrons ensemble!!

We will put in the time and the effort to produce quality work. Pledge # 2 (also in French)

In doing so, we will feel good about ourselves and make I take care me, I take care of you,

our school a safe and happy place to learn. I take care of my world.

École Margaret Underhill was established when the old section of École Centrale was demolished and approximately 2/3 of the staff and students moved to the present building in the fall of 1993. É.M.U. now houses 224 Kindergarten to grade 4 students. École Margaret Underhill offers a French Immersion Program designed for students whose first language is not French and who wish to become functionally bilingual in French and English. The Kindergarten students come to school either in the morning or in the afternoon and are immersed in a 100% French environment. Grades 1 – 4 students receive their instruction completely in French except for the daily English Language Arts program that is approximately 25% of the day.

Our school takes pride in its warm and caring environment. A strong sense of belonging reigns throughout our school community. Morning announcements include the daily repetition of the school pledge, or the singing of songs, which capture the essence of our pledge and encourage the use of the key words: Caring, Sharing and Respect. Morning messages and certificates for citizenship serve also to reinforce and recognize exemplary behaviour in both academic and social realms. Our Rights and Responsibility Behaviour Policy focuses on positive problem solving in collaboration with students and parents. Together we encourage empathy and a respect for rules. É.M.U. staff strives to produce bilingual, productive citizens who will live amicably in a multicultural community according to universal values and morals. In our environment all people flourish.

É.M.U. houses a popular School Age Center. Many of our parents choose to place their children in the before and after school program. The Center is also a viable program for Kindergarten a.m. or p.m. students. The S.A.C. staff works and collaborates closely with the teachers to ensure the well-being of the children. É.M.U. also houses Kids’ Co-op for 3 & 4 year olds from the surrounding community.

Student Assessment

Formative assessment is done on a continuous basis in É.M.U.’s classrooms. A variety of methods including teacher observations, self and peer evaluation, running records, formal testing, oral and written assignments serve to assess students’ needs and guide classroom instruction. Teachers send home a Preliminary Report at the end of September as well as Goal Setting forms that are filled out by the students with their parents. In November and March reflection sheets and a review of the previously written goals are included when report cards are sent home, and returned at the Parent/Teacher/Student conferences. Students and parents then identify new goals for next term and return the forms to the teacher. Grade 3 & 4 teachers frequently use the Student-Involved Conference format for these conferences. Students at all grade levels use portfolios to demonstrate their academic growth and achievements. Summative assessments are used mainly for end of term reports and placement at the end of the year.

É.M.U. A Safe and Secure Place which promotes exemplary behaviour and quality work.

É.M.U.’s Rights and Responsibilities Policy & The Parent/Student Handbook

É.M.U. students are guaranteed a safe, secure and free from physical and verbal violence place of learning by R.E.T.S.D.’s (Transcona area) Freedom from Violence Policy. In addition, É.M.U. staff has developed, in close collaboration with its Parent Advisory Council, a Rights and Responsibilities Policy in which teachers and parents are working together to encourage and promote EXCELLENCE IN BEHAVIOUR AND EXCELLENCE IN WORK HABITS. Parents are asked to read the policy with their child/ren at the beginning of each school year and to return a signed form stating that this has been done. This handbook outlines all school procedures, school hours and the 10 professional and administrative days.

Philosophical base of É.M.U Rights and Responsibilities Policy

v The child’s respect for parental authority is the most important moral legacy (empathy, sharing, caring, justice, fairness) that comes out of the child’s relationship with his/her parents.

v The child’s respect for adult authority sets the direction for civilized participation in the social order.

v É.M.U. staff & parents clearly state expected behaviours and engage children in self-reflection on their social skills and work habits. On-going communication between parents, teachers and child involves continuous feedback from parents, teacher and child via phone calls, communication plans and notes.

v All stakeholders participate in goal setting and reflection upon observed academic outcomes and social behaviours. This policy promotes our school pledge and our daily homework policy.

Ø A Parent/Student Handbook is given yearly on the first day of school.

School Plan

É.M.U.’s School Education Plan focuses upon five main goals

1. To promote a physically and emotionally safe environment that breeds a sense of belonging, risk-taking and good citizenship.

2. To promote and maintain French language and culture.

3. To increase the focus on reading comprehension and reflection in ELA and FLA.

4. To increase comprehension of students’ math skills and concepts.

5. To continue working as a professional learning community that promotes teamwork.

Expected Outcomes:

1. Through their actions, staff and students will show caring, sharing and respect for each others.

2. Students will meet grade level-criteria for oral French use.

3. French reading and comprehension skills will improve.

4. Students will develop better comprehension of their math learning.

5. Staff work together cooperatively, sharing and learning from one another.

É.M.U’s Students – Canada’s and the world’s most valuable resource.

Our students are involved in many activities. Such as:

- Patrols -Read-a-thons

- Walk-a-thons -Cross-Country Skiing

- Folk-dancing - Monitors

- Leadership - Choir

- Recycling / composting - Sing into Spring Concert

- Personal Safety - Second Step Program

- Mad Science Club - Public performances during Assemblies and Christmas Concert

- Intramural sports activities - Christmas Hamper Collection

- Blanket Collection for the needy “Operation Cuddles”

Parents in the School – United We Stand

As the children’s first educators, parents are welcome in É.M.U. Volunteers are seen daily in the school, working either in the staff workroom, classrooms, outings, or the kitchen. É.M.U.’s active Advisory Council takes an important role in providing a variety of services for the school. Their most important role is to guide É.M.U.’s administration and to provide feedback to É.M.U. staff. Parents also coordinate fundraisers that have enabled the purchasing of extra computers for classrooms, technical equipment for various programs within the school, special whole school outings, etc. The members of the council work at recruiting volunteers for the Hot Lunch Program and doing P.R. work to promote the school and its programs. Parents and community members have also been providing educational sessions such as “How to Talk to Children so That They Listen” or “Street Proofing”. Their participation is essential and valued.

For More Information

For more information about École Margaret Underhill, please call (204) 958-6832 between 8:00 a.m. & 4:00 p.m. Monday to Friday. We can also be reached by fax at (204) 222-4998 or by e-mail at ecolemargaretunderhill@emu.retsd.mb.ca

PRINCIPAL, Marjorie Millman

Émile, É.M.U.’s Mascot