4 - Wednesday, July 6. 1988 - Capilano Chronicle

LOCAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL NEWS

Canyon Heights caters to a

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variety of students’ learning

THE END of a school year and the beginning of two long,
lazy months of summer is the natural time to pause and
think back over the year of events.

For students and staff at Can-
yon Heights Elementary School,
there would be much to think
about, as the Highlands Boulevard
building houses more than just a
run-of-the-mill elementary school
— it is also home to a variety of
programs that meet very different
learning needs.

Principal Chris Kelly says that in

1972, Canyon Heights was close to
being the biggest school in B.C.,
with 1,000 students.

However, with a subsequent
decline in enrolment (there are now
270 students from Kindergarten to
Grade 7), space in the building
opened up and was made available
for other uses.

PRINCIPAL Chris Kelly ... sees
“2 lot of staying, power’? in the
community. ;

Currently operating in the
school are two learning resource
centres, a primary and an interme-
diate. Children who need struc-
tured learning in some areas are
brought to. the school from
throughout the schoo! district, and
remain at Canyon Heights until
they finish Grade 7.

Kelly says the primary aim of
the resource centre is to provide a
“‘zealistic, sensible integration’’ in-
to the regular school program —
something, he says, which is ‘‘a
very challenging thing to do a good
job of.”

Other children spend a tem-
porary period of time in Canyon
Heights’ Diagnostic Centre, which
attempts through various testing
methods to get ‘‘as clear an idea as
possible of their particular learning

-preschool,

By PEGGY WHITTAKER
Chronicle Reparter

needs.”’

Some of the students, Kelly says,
are living with a fecling of “‘basic
frustration’’ because they feel in-
adequate in their school perfor-
mance. This, he noted, sometimes
results in social behavior that can
mask the true learning need.

During the children’s stay at the
centre, which fasts between an
average six weeks and three mon-
ths, diagnostic staff define that
need and tailor for the student an
appropriate learning program and
materials.

Once the . students’ — self-con-
fidence has been bolstered, they
are sent back to their home school
armed with their individual learn-
ing strategy and the knowledge of
‘Show to fook for help in the right
places.”’

Canyon Heights also rents out
space to a Montessori-based
which Kelly calls ‘‘tex-
tremely conscientious and well-
run,’’ that incorporates elements
of various preschool fearning ap-

’ proaches into its program,

A. steadily increasing Canyon
Heights enrolment of recent years
has forced the school to reclaim
space currently being used by the
Lionsview Playschool, which will
be moving to the North Star
School building next year.

The. Lionsview program, spon-
sored by The North Shore
Association for the Mentally

- Handicapped, caters to three to

five-year-old children who are
multi-handicapped and have a
“tremendous range of needs.’*
There arc usually between seven
and 11 participants in this pro-
gram, which has a very high teach-
er/student ratio.

Canyon Heights also boasts an
active realm of extra-curricular ac-
tivities, including three choirs, two
band programs, a string ensemble,
and the performance of a musical
every two years.

“We had an excellent year at
Swangard,’’ said Kelly, referring
to the North Shore elementary
school track and field meet. Kids
also got into the spirit of friendly
competition at the annual sports
day, held in the gymnasium by
necessity. ‘The rain absolutely
nailed us, but the kids were fan-
tastic — the spirit was great.”

Cap service group
elects three to board

AT ITS recent annual. general
meeting, Capilano Community
Services Society (CCSS) elected
three new members to its board of
directors.

They are Mary Ann Bird, an ac-
tive volunteer in Vancouver and on
the North Shore; Vi Roden, execu-
tive director of Act II Society in
Vancouver; and Hugh Creighton,
an active participant in church-
related activities. All are residents
of North Vancouver.

The new president of CCSS is
Patricia Bell, also a resident of

North Vancouver and an active:

community. worker. Marie Pearce,
retiring president, continues to
serve on the board of directors.

“- Also at the meeting, the society
thanked retiring board) members
Joan Whittow and Faye Ec-

clestone, both of whom have con-
tributed many years of devoted
service to the society and its pro-
jects.

Capilano Community Services
Society works cooperatively with
the Capilano area community in
solving common problems while
providing volunteer opportunities
in the neighborhood.

The Capilano Youth Project and
the Seniors’ Hub are two impor-
tant projects that address the needs
of the community.

See School

Jasted through the fall und winter,
Page 6

and resulted in ‘such events as

Other highlights of the school
year were the Heritage Theme that

‘OPEN H OUSE
SPECIAL

eS

ONE YEAR TERM
NON-REDEEMABLE
MINIMUM $10,000

T, JULY 9th, 1988

&\ $10,000 TO
$49,999
DEPOSIT

$50,000 + .
DEPOSIT

Interest Paid at Maturity
Phone ahead for an appointment

o 8 . . . . . . . ° . .

NORTH SHORE Village Branch

pt] CREDIT UNION 3131 Edgemont Blud.
North Vancouver, B.C.
Phone: 985-8221

[Ss