Lawson Heights School is dedicated to student learning and success for all its students. Located in Saskatoon's north end, our school enrols students from Kindergarten to Grade 8. We are home to a Language Learning Preschool, a program for three and four-year olds with hearing loss or language delays. We are proud to have one of Saskatoon Public Schools full-day Kindergarten programs. We also provide classroom space to the Lawson Heights Cooperative Preschool for young children, ages three to five. In the fall of 2007, Lawson Heights School became one of five public schools in Saskatoon chosen as home to an English as a Second Language program.
When you enter Lawson Heights, you will be struck by our welcoming, productive and safe learning environment. You will be greeted warmly by our front office staff or by any students and parents you meet. Lawson Heights maintains a well-established and strong relationship with our parents through our Home and School Association and the more recently-formed School Community Council both of which have long supported the school. Parents are often found working to support events at our school. The Home and School Association regularly sponsors activities that strengthen our school community. Research tells us that, when parents are well-informed and supportive of their schools work, their children not only enjoy school more, but achieve at a higher level. That is why our school motto is: Together We're Better!
A high but attainable standard of student learning and achievement has been established at Lawson Heights. To accomplish this goal, our staff has designed an industrious learning environment for all students. Our academic program is strengthened by what the recent research tells us about the most effective instructional strategies. Our staff is committed to their own professional learning and seeks ways to practice new learning methods and techniques in their classrooms. To that end, Lawson Heights has for three years been part of a learning community involving teachers from neighbouring public schools. The strongest educational learning is achieved when interested teachers work together collaboratively, practice together and support each others learning. In recent years, Assessment for Learning (AFL) has been an area of focus for teacher learning and has allowed for the introduction of new strategies to engage students in their own learning. These strategies teach students to learn more independently, be able to assess their own knowledge and set new learning targets. These skills ensure that students are better prepared as life long learners.
Along with Assessment for Learning, Saskatoon Public Schools' dynamic initiative, Literacy for Life, has been a significant topic for both teacher and student learning. This work includes classroom instruction, student goal-setting and the tracking of data for our Just Read program. The program encourages all students to read daily. Students who read on a regular basis are more successful at learning and simply have more general knowledge about the world. All classes at Lawson Heights have discovered new ways to strengthen their literacy skills!
Another focus of teacher learning has been in the area of English as an Additional Language (EAL). Recently, our school has welcomed many new students from other countries who are learning English for the first time, and who are enriching our classrooms by their presence. Our teachers recognized the need to acquire new strategies to help our new Canadians learn and become comfortable with the English language quickly!
A new program at Saskatoon Public Schools called Destination Conservation (led by our Grade 5 class) promotes learning about energy conservation and various ways we can protect the earth. This year, students looked into reducing vehicle idling (by parents waiting in their cars for their children before and after school) by tracking idling data on a chart in our schools front foyer. This exercise managed to integrate conservation learning with real life math! Finally, as an In Motion school, Lawson Heights continues to promote initiatives that teach students to be active and fit!
The strong arts education program at Lawson Heights has built a longstanding tradition of presenting musicals. Students from Grades 4 to 8 audition for roles while the entire school staff organizes set design, costumes, lighting, sound system and props. Orff instrument instruction for students in Kindergarten to Grade 5, along with a band program for students in Grades 6 to 8, allows for much of the student body to share their musical talent.
Life at Lawson is further enhanced by a wide variety of extracurricular activities. Students in Grades 4 to 6 are active members of Saskatoon's largest and most dynamic Just Say No Club. Our Student Leadership Team (Grades 5 to 8) plans and leads ongoing school-wide activities. At various times of the year at our school you will see our Book Club and Chess Club in action, hear the singing voices of our Junior Choir and enjoy the music of our Handbell Choir! Our Safety Patrol keeps students safe as they cross the street daily to and from school. Senior students, as well as Grade 5 students, are part of this team. Students are also busily involved in cross country running, house leagues, indoor and outdoor track and a variety of team sports.
Lawson Heights is proud to have an award-winning teacher, Mr. James Friesen, on staff! In spring 2008, Mr. Friesen (our Grade 4 teacher) was granted the Dr. Doug Hicks Memorial Educational Award, bestowed each year to a teacher who in the eyes of their learning community, has inspired and positively influenced the lives of children and youth in Saskatoon Public Schools. The award is intended for an educator who has captured the spirit of teaching and learning in a caring environment for each and every student in their charge, and who has modeled an ongoing professional decorum. The nomination was put forward by our School Community Council, school staff, and Just Say No Club (which is coordinated by Mr. Friesen).
We could not talk about Lawson Heights School without highlighting our Extended Day program, an initiative organized by an independent parent board that extends Lawson Heights Schools safe and caring environment to 6:00 p.m. daily.! The Extended Day program provides students with a variety of after school activities in which to participate.
Lawson Heights is a busy school with a powerful focus on learning for all students. We offer countless activities to enrich the lives of students! Drop by or call us any time if you would like to meet our staff or tour our school! Call us at 306-683-7340.