Community+Analysis+&+Report+Assignment+2

=**﻿Assignment #2 Community Analysis & Report **= = School Information = ====Ecole Belgo School is a school with 293 students, in Kindergarten to Grade 6. We are a dual track, English and French Immersion school. Our families are considered low income. Our population is fairly stable, with only six students leaving and two students starting at our school since September 2010. Four of our 293 students are ESL.====

= Community Information =

====The city of Kelowna is located in the province of British Columbia, about 400 km east-northeast of Vancouver, BC and about 600 km west of Calgary, AB. It is situated in the fertile Okanagan Valley, known for its apple orchards, vineyards and wineries. Because of its favorable climate, Kelowna is home to great beaches in the summer, and fabulous skiing in the winter. However this can make it an expensive place to live.====

According to the 2006 census, Kelowna's population was 106 707 people. The prediction for 2009 is 120 800 (data is not yet available). The population breakdown is shown below.
====This data shows that Kelowna's popluation is older, with 54% aged over 40 years. It would seem that this would lead to declining enrolment because many of these people would not be starting families. However, enrolment figures are declining in some areas while increasing in others. Certain areas of Kelowna are growing, while others have no room to expand. Ecole Belgo School is in Rutland, an area of Kelowna that itself is aging, with little room for growth. Most of the growth in Belgo's enrolment is in the French track, as it is Rutland's only dual track school====
 * ===2006 Population by Age and Gender=== || ===0-9 yrs=== || ===10-19 yrs=== || ===20-24 yrs=== || ===25-39 yrs=== || ===40-64 yrs=== || ===65+ yrs=== ||
 * ===Female=== || 5 065 || 6 395 || 3 665 || 9 140 || 19 375 || 11 715 ||
 * ===Male=== || 5 070 || 6 085 || 3 800 || 9 255 || 17 400 || 9 015 ||
 * ===Total=== || 10 135 || 13 200 || 7 465 || 18 395 || 36 775 || 20 730 ||
 * ===% of Population=== || 10% || 12% || 7% || 17% || 35% || 19% ||

= Community Resources = ====Because our school is in an area that is not affluent, most families have both parents working. Therefore, we have an //After-School Program// in our school, run by the //YMCA//. These students come into the library once a week to volunteer as part of their program. There is also a Boys and Grils Club close by for after-school care as well.====

====Within a few blocks of our school is //Okanagan Regional Library//. Each June, the Children and Youth Librarian visits the elementary schools in Kelowna to give book talks and to promote their Summer Reading Program. Since this is my first year at this particular school, I do not know how our students respond, and how many take advantage of the Summer Reading Program. The library also encourages field trips, where each student is given a library card.====

====Also within a short bus ride of Belgo, is the //Rutland Community Garden//. This garden is open to all who care for it. Those who work in the garden are entitled to a portion of the produce grown. Grade 3 schools in the area have participated for a number of years. This would be very helpful for the curricular area focussing on Plant Growth and Changes.====

====In Kelowna, we have recently had major construction on our floating bridge, the //William R Bennett Bridge//. It is the only bridge which crosses Okanagan Lake. Because of the unique building methods used in the construction, it would be an excellent facility to study for the Materials and Structures section. The work was completed in May of 2008, so it would be fairly current and of local interest. Some of our students' parents may well have participated in the work.====

====Vernon is located about 50 km from Kelowna. Located in Vernon is the //Vernon Science Center//. There is a planetarium there that I have attended with Grade 3 classes in the past. This is a valuable resource for the Earth and Space Science section of the curriculum.====

====Though not exactly a "community resource," a valuable tool for me is our COTLA, //Central Okanagan Teacher Librarian's Association//. These dedicated professionals are easily accessible through First Class, our district email system. All members are very open to sharing their ideas and expertise, and there is a wealth of knowledge there waiting to be tapped.====

= Grade, Students, Teachers and the Library = ====The focus for these assignments is the Grade 3 Science Curriculum. As previously stated, our school has 293 students, of which 48 are in Grade 3. These students are arranged in a split Grade 2/3 class, a Grade 3 class and a split Grade 3/4 class. The teachers working with theses students have 6 years, 15 years and 23 years of teaching experience respectively. They have each taught the Grade 3 science curriculum a number of times, but are very flexible in learning about new resources.====

====Our library has a fixed schedule, as library time is used as prep time for classroom teachers. This works well for me, as it gives me ample time for book talks and I can specifically concentrate on information skills. We work on little projects and games focussing on a particular skill: dictionary use, the Dewey Decimal System, note-taking skills, using atlases, indexes and table of contents, etc. These lessons are valuable for the teachers, as they can then approach the curricular work, knowing that their students are prepared to find information that they may need. However the drawback to this is that there is little time for students to come into the library to use the resources there for curricular project work. If possible we try to fit research classes in on Mondays or Fridays when there is no prep time scheduled. Otherwise, teachers will take the books they need to the classroom, or students sign them out as part of their regular book exchange.====

====Overall I find Ecole Belgo School to be a dynamic environment with dedicated teachers and staff who look out for the best interests of their students. Teachers are open to change while incorporating with programs that are already working for them.====