Welcome to J.F. Carmichael Public School
A community of caring citizens committed to inovating tomorrow by educating today.
Our School
For more than 75 years now J.F.Carmichael has been a caring community committed to lifelong learning, and the development of a healthy community and productive citizens. We provide a safe and nurturing environment for our staff, students and their families.
Located in the heart of Kitchener, J.F.Carmichael P.S. serves the established communities of Victoria Park East, Mill-Courtland and Westmount. When it first opened, Carmichael was home to 94 students and four teachers. In 1950, a gym (now our school library) and six more classrooms were added on the west side of the building to accommodate the area’s growth, which swelled the school population to 518 students. A second addition was built on the east side of the school building, bringing five more classrooms and home economics and industrial arts departments. Finally, a modern gymnasium was added in 1994.
Mission
J.F.Carmichael is a community of caring citizens committed to lifelong learning: yesterday, today and tomorrow.
Values
Respect, Responsibility and Right Choices are the key values that unify our vibrant and diverse community.
PRIDE
JFC encourages Respect, Responsibility and Right Choices through our PRIDE program.
The 5 PRIDE principle are:
Participate in making our school and community better.
Respect yourself, others and the environment.
I deal peacefully with everyone.
Do the right thing.
Encourage everyone to be their best.
History
The school, which opened in 1937, is named after John Fayden Carmichael. He is an appropriate namesake because he devoted 51 years of his life to education as principal, supervising principal and chairman of the Kitchener Public School Board. Among his many pupils was William Lyon MacKenzie King, Canada’s tenth Prime Minister.
More than 75 years old, Carmichael is rich with history. The three-story building boasts a red-brick exterior, picturesque windows, gleaming hardwood floors, and spacious classrooms that are bright, and inviting. Our entrance and hallways feature welcoming displays of school pictures, student art and projects, as well as academic and environmental awards.
Carmichael’s spacious learning resource centre boasts a wealth of resources, including current chapter and picture books for students and other resource materials for both staff and students. Each year a portion of the proceeds from our school-wide fundraising initiatives is earmarked for the purchase of reading books for the Home Reading program. Our full gymnasium is often used for celebrations and special presentations, as well as serving students physical education needs. Built in 1994, the gym is bright and fully equipped.
Mature trees and three creative playground structures dot the spacious school property. Each structure has been designated for use by children in grades 1 and 2, 3 and 4, and 5 and 6, to ensure the safety and enjoyment of our students. In addition, there is a large ball diamond and two soccer fields.
Our People
Students
J. F. Carmichael P. S. is a multicultural mosaic, serving nearly 500 students in kindergarten to grade 6 who come to us from all parts of the world. In addition to English, our students speak 33 different languages including Amharic, Arabic, Armenian, Chinese, Romanian, Spanish, Swahili, Tagalog and Vietnamese. We are privileged as a school family to have this wonderful opportunity to learn about other cultures and model respect for diversity on a daily basis.
Staff
We have a talented and energetic team of administrators, teachers, paraprofessionals and support staff that are dedicated, qualified, caring and focused on students reaching their fullest potential. Our teachers take pride in their profession and many of them hold, or are working towards, specialist certifications in many different areas, such as Special Education, English as a Second Language, Primary Education, Reading, Computers in the Classroom, Physical Education and Visual Arts.
Our teachers plan and implement quality programs that are based on the Ontario Curriculum. Grade partners work together to provide consistency at each level. Teachers use a multi-disciplinary approach to address all learning styles. Carmichael also has a team of Educational Assistants to provide support in the classroom, two secretaries, two library technicians, an itinerant librarian, and three custodial staff who make our school shine. As a community we are committed to promoting and recognizing good citizenship. We do this by:
- organizing positive and motivational assemblies to develop positive social skills;
- providing fitness activities through our Friday Fitness and Quality Daily PhysicalActivity programs to build strong bodies, as well as strong minds and characters;
- recognizing students who take responsibility and assume leadership roles within their classrooms and the school community;
- encouraging a strong relationship between home and school;
- providing opportunities for students to learn through their choices and work towards positive solutions.
Parents and Community
Our School Council is made up of devoted parents and school staff. They actively provide leadership and support by partnering with the entire school to organize family events (e.g., Meet the Teacher Barbecue and Fun Fair) and fund-raising activities. It is the latter that supports special programming and activities within the school, including educational, entertaining and motivational assemblies, and field trips that are both enriching and curriculum-related.
The council meets monthly in the library. All parents are invited to attend.
Carmichael also partners with the community to better serve our students and their families. We have a child and youth worker on staff and an itinerent settlement worker who provide our students and their families with valuable information and referrals. We also have a social worker from Carizons who is available to parents with information about available supports and programs for both them and their families. Finally, we have a school resource officer attached to the school to help support in-school programs.
Extra-Curricular
Breakfast Club
During the last few years J.F. Carmichael Public School students have been fortunate to have a breakfast program at Highland Baptist Church. Starting the day off with a good breakfast is important for children’s learning. Through the generosity of our friends at Highland Baptist Church and community support from Nutrition for Learning we are able to offer this program. All students are invited to participate in this program.
Leadership
Junior students at J.F. Carmichael Public School are encouraged to develop their leadership skills. Many opportunities are available to students in grades 5 and 6, including bus and safety patrol and the Leadership Club, which organizes school Spirit Days.
PALS
Junior students at J.F. Carmichael Public School can develop their leadership skills by becoming a member of PALS. These students serve as Playground Activity Leaders in School and they volunteer their time to ensure that everyone has an active and enjoyable recess. Their motto is: Always room for 1 more!
Green Team/ECO School
For many years J.F. Carmichael Public School has been committed to reducing, reusing and recylcing. Students undertake many green projects throughout the school, including Mrs. Siharath’s Grade 6 class who are responsible for managing the school’s day-to-day recycling program. This year, we have added a recycling club to our environmental awareness initiatives.