Sports Program

Sports at Doncaster next year and the years following will take on a different look. As a Kindergarten to grade 5 school the emphasis for sports will shift from a competitive to a more inclusive format. The emphasis will be on skill development, participation and sportsmanship. It is likely that during soccer games, for example, a number of schools will come and the teams will play a number of fun games with a variety of schools. Teams may be made up from the visiting players.

Library

École Doncaster Elementary School has an excellent, spacious school library facility with a collection of 13,000 fiction and non-fiction books and magazines in English and French. The library is automated and students are trained to use the computer catalogues, Internet and CD-ROMs.
 

Technology

With our new system, we can load programs on the server and access them from any lab or classroom computer on the network.
 
We rely heavily on our school technician, who keeps things running smoothly and whose expertise can be shared with students and staff.
 
In addition to new computers in every classroom, Doncaster enjoys a fully equipped, computer lab, which we will continue to upgrade with new Dell computers and current educational software. Every class from K-5 accesses the lab to practise math, improve English and French language arts skills, research via the Web, create presentations, and enhance the classroom curriculum.

Swim Club

 

Doncaster's swim club is sponsored by our Grade 2 French Immersion teacher, Mme Sanderson.  Sessions usually occur three times per year (Fall, Winter, and Spring) and run for about eight weeks.  Students swim on Mondays after school, from 3:30 to 4:15.  If you are interested, please check out the school newsletters for when sessions begin and end, or contact the school office.

 

Strings Program

 

A beginning Strings Program is offered to Grade 5 students at Doncaster. We are fortunate to have Ms. Tina Horwood as our itinerent strings teacher who meet with students every Tuesday from 1:34 to 2:20 p.m., and Thursday from 11:03 to 11:48 a.m.. This is a wonderful opportunity for students to be introduced to an intstrument, learn to read music, develop responsibitly, and enjoy a sense of accomplishment.

Students' Council

The Doncaster Students' Council is a group that meets regularly to organize events, to provide input into policies and committees, and to discuss issues that arise. The students, from grades three to five, are selected by their peers for their leadership qualities

Foster Child

As most of you know, Doncaster has a tradition of supporting a foster child in an impoverished community somewhere in the world. In the past we have supported Saqif (from India), Karen (from Columbia) and, Carmen (from Peru). Foster Parents Plan has now given us a sponsor child, Benito Garcia, from Bolivia, he was born on July 24, 2001. If you would like to know more about Benito, please check the bulletin board across from the Library.

Doncaster Ambassadors

Every year we offer an opportunity for children from grades 4 to 5 to apply for the position of Doncaster Ambassador. The successful applicants will be trained in the area of Conflict Management early in the school year. Mme Segul and Mr. Bataller will provide the training for the children as well as act as their sponsor.
 
All students have to deal with conflict, and yet few have received specific training in how to resolve conflicts in a productive way. Children who are selected to take part in the training will take a leadership role in helping fellow students resolve disputes, which typically occur on the playground.
 
The training will include the following:

• Discussion of conflict and how it affects the students' lives
• Communication skills
• Dealing with anger
• Problem solving

WITS

WITS is an anti-bullying program that is run jointly with the Saanich Police Department. Our School Liaison Officer is Cst. Brad Walsh.

Lice Check Program

Doncaster's very successful Lice Check Program is run confidentially by parent volunteers. We do a school-wide lice check 5 times per year.
 
Please help us out on lice check day by ensuring that your child's hair is washed and has no gels, sprays, clips or elastics.
 
New volunteers are always needed and very welcome!!
 
Call Jenn Meldrum @ 250-595-1919.