Heritage PS

Our School

Heritage Public School is located in the rural village of Navan and officially opened its doors in September 2006. Heritage embodies the characteristics of a community school with the parents/guardians and members of the community working hand in hand to prepare our students to be life‐long learners. We believe in the OCDSB’s mission statement and focus every day on educating for success, inspiring learning and building citizenship. Our mascot is the Heritage Hawk and our motto is “Soaring to Success”.

Our Students

Heritage Public School is a JK to Grade 8 School with an enrolment of 221 students. 46% of our population is registered in the regular English Program and 54% in Early French Immersion program.

Many of our students move on to Cairine Wilson Secondary School after Grade 8, although some students choose to attend specialty programs offered at the Ottawa Technical Secondary School or Canterbury High School.

Our Staff

At Heritage Public School we have a dedicated staff of 28 professionals who work as a team to ensure the best possible education for each student. Our team consists of 20 teachers, 3 educational assistants, 2 Early Childhood Educators, a library technician, an office administrator, an office assistant, a chief custodian, two evening custodians, a principal and a vice-principal.

Staff members seek out opportunities for professional development through workshops, university courses and conferences. Many staff members volunteer numerous hours delivering extra‐curricular activities to enrich student experiences. We are able to provide a variety of activities to our students such as vocal music, a variety of intramural sports including: soccer, basketball, cross‐country, and volleyball, as well as touch football for intermediate students.

We also have a multi‐disciplinary team that provides support to our students, families and staff. We have a psychologist, speech and language therapist, a social worker and a Learning Support Consultant that are assigned to our school. We also have a Technology Coach from the Business and Learning Technology Department as well as an Assistive Technology Coach that provides support to students and staff. We also supported by the School Resource Officer from the Ottawa Police Service.

Our Community

Heritage Public School is set in a rural environment with close ties to the community. We welcome volunteers and many of our parents/guardians are active participants in the school: class activities, helping students with academics, driving teams to sporting events, organizing fund‐raising events, accompanying students on field trips, arranging and distributing hot lunches, organizing a toy and bake sale, and movie nights. Heritage Public School benefits from a very supportive School Council that is comprised of parents and staff. This group is dedicated to strengthening educational opportunities and partnerships with the community and ensuring that the school provides a safe and nurturing environment for all children.

Mission and Vision Statement

Heritage Public School:

Where City meets Fields

It is where our combined French ad English history is celebrated in our families as our community grows and changes.

We nurture our students.

We recognize and build upon student strengths for personal and academic growth.

We encourage local and global citizenship.

Facilities and Resources

Our building is welcoming, clean, bright and air‐conditioned. It includes a double gym with a stage, a music room, and a large automated library resource centre. The school has a document camera, every classroom is equipped with either a Smart Board or projector. Each classroom is equipped with computer technology.  Two conference rooms are available.

We have a large school yard that includes a field with two goals for soccer, a running track, sanded pits for track and field, a large paved area with painted lines for various creative games and two play structures. “Children’s Village at Navan” is a privately run daycare facility that is attached to the school.

Programs and Services

Academic Programs

• Kindergarten is a two year program 50% English & 50% French Immersion.
• English with Core French: Grade 1 to Grade 8.
• Early French Immersion Program: Grade 1 to Grade 8.
• We have a Balanced School Day schedule
• Students in grades 6, 7 and 8 are taught instrumental music. 
• Daily Physical Activity (DPA) is also part of each day at Heritage P.S.

Classroom Organization

Heritage Public School is a Junior Kindergarten to grade 8 dual‐track school. Currently, there are 15 homeroom classes. We have three classes in the two year kindergarten program. Three classes in the English program (gr. 1/2/3, gr. 4/5, gr. 6/7/8) and eight classes in the Early French Immersion program (2 gr. 1's, 2 gr. 2's,  gr. 3,  gr. 4/5, gr. 5/6 and gr. 7/8).

Special Education and ESL Programs

Our Learning Support Teacher (LST), Learning Resource Teachers (LRT) and Educational Assistants (EAs) provide in class support at the primary, junior and intermediate levels. Our Learning Support Teacher also assist staff by providing assistance with programming, development of Individual Education Plans, conducting educational assessments as well as acting as liaison with the multi‐disciplinary team assigned to the school. The LST also coordinates referrals with our community agencies to address students’ needs.

Safe Schools Initiatives

The Heritage Code of Conduct focuses on respect for self, for others and for the environment. Our behaviour expectations include prevention, intervention and safety strategies to help students develop appropriate social/personal skills and problem solving techniques that can be utilized both within the school environments as well as in the community.

The school code of behaviour is a progressive behaviour continuum. Its intent is to promote positive student behaviour. Our staff reinforce character development on an on‐going basis by integrating the universal attributes in all school, classroom and extra‐curricular activities. The attributes that staff attempt to model and explicitly teacher include: acceptance, appreciation, cooperation, empathy, fairness, integrity, optimism, perseverance, respect and responsibility. Our Heritage Creed encourages qualities that build strong character and good citizenship: H‐E‐R‐I‐T‐AG‐ E: Helpfulness, Encouragement, Respect/Responsibility, Independence, Teamwork, Acceptance, Goal achievers, Empathy.

Other Safe School initiatives:

• Staff members are radio‐equipped and are visible on the yard thanks to bright orange vests.
• Close working relationship with our School Resource Officer from the Ottawa Police Service.
• All visitors wear identification badges.
• Several staff members are trained in CPR and First Aid.
• Student lunch room monitors in the primary classrooms.
• Students are trained on appropriate use of the computer and the internet.
• Regular assemblies to promote community of character traits.
• Close communication with bus drivers and follow‐up to monitor bus safety.