About Our School

BELIEFS
Hillview School's vision is that all students reach their highest level of achievement and become good citizens within a safe and caring environment. This will be accomplished through the combined efforts of students, staff, parents and community members.

PRIORITIES

1. Daily silent reading between 8:45 and 9:00, to share the "gift of reading" with our students.  Family members are always welcome to come and read wtih us!
2. To improve achievement of all students with an emphasis on literacy and numeracy
3. We focus on reading comprehension for all students. 
4. We continue to develop numeracy skills through problem solving
5. To achieve high standards of citizenship conduct, safety and well-being of students and staff through a comprehensive character education program
6. Students are rewarded in a positive manner
7. All students will participate in a enriched music program with performance opportunities throughout the year

PROGRAMS
Hillview School is a small school of approximately 170 students from Kindergarten to Grade six. Within the curriculum, children’s individual differences are accommodated. Instruction provides for academic achievement and positive self-esteem so that our children feel success at school. 

Balanced Literacy
Hillview School is now a Balanced Literacy School from Kindergarten to Grade six. We believe the more children read, and the more they write, the better readers and writers they will become. Each child is unique and our Balanced Literacy Program provides and ideal way to meet individual needs and interests.

In our Balanced Literacy Program students are actively involved in using literature. This interactive process consists of:

• Exposure to a wide variety of literature (novel studies, hearing stories, silent reading, shared reading, guided reading, home reading, creating stories, etc.)
• Responding to literature in a variety of ways (daily writing, class books, guided writing, drama role-playing, discussion, thinking skills, etc.)
• Incorporating literature into other curricular areas to provide background, experiences and extensions of content.

The above strategies are  used to teach the important mechanics of reading and writing – spelling, grammar, phonics, word attack skills, comprehension, printing, cursive writing, etc.

Music
Our enhanced music program allows students up to ninety minutes of instruction by a qualified specialist. Within this program students are taught about and provided with opportunities to perform for students, staff and parents.

In addition to the regular music program, there will be extracurricular activities (such as choir) for students in grades four, five, and six. This group meets outside of regular school hours, generally at noon. Students will have the opportunity to be involved in assemblies, concerts and festival presentations during the school year. All students interested are welcome.

Kindergarten
The Kindergarten program at Hillview is designed to introduce children to school through purposeful, successful living and learning. This is carried out through the development of themes and concepts integrated with mathematics, language arts, physical education, science, and art.  Learning is facilitated through teacher-directed activities, self-selected centre time, group work and various “hands-on” field trip experiences. Parents help the teacher with the organization and planning of “hands-on” learning activities and other special events. They are a valued and integral part of the kindergarten environment. To ensure that your child has access to this excellent program please register early. 

Some children are identified as having particular needs that require the work of a specialist through Program Unit Funding, a separate division of Alberta Education. Necessary arrangements are made for assessments for these children, parental meetings and proper follow-up interventions to meet the particular needs of each child in Kindergarten. This type of early intervention proves successful in addressing the needs of the children and setting them up for success in their educational lives at Hillview and beyond.

Opportunity and Literacy Programs
These programs are for students demonstrating significant academic delays in their education; Hillview offers a Division One Opportunity (combined one, two, three and four class), Division Two Opportunity (combined four, five and six class), and a Division Two Literacy (combined four, five, and six class). These modified programs focus on basic instruction in Language Arts and Mathematics. The other subjects are taught, but are modified to accommodate ability levels and emphasize life skills. Students are integrated into music instruction and regular classes as much as possible. We also focus on the integration of these children into classes with their regular program aged peers. Your child’s principal arranges registration in these programs.

Early Education - began in September 2007, Hillview became host to an early education site. This is a program for children aged 2.5 to 5 years with severe special needs. The program has grown from two classes of nine students each to four classes of nine students. For more information, contact the school office.

Technology
Computer literacy is an integral component of core subjects at Hillview School. All students at Hillview are provided with computer instruction appropriate to their age level. Our computer lab contains 28 networked computers compliments of our School Council. Students have access to the Internet, CD ROMS, online references and a variety of software that compliments subjects.  Students also have access to SMARTBoard technology in all of the classrooms to assist with learning.  The program of studies for technology was developed by the Provincial Government and is a mandated program of studies in Alberta Schools.

Resources For Parents

To locate more detailed information about Hillview, our yearly calendar and other important information, please download your own copy of our 2010-2011 School handbook from the link below.

Hhillview School Handbook and Behavior Plan 2010 2011

Additional information can be found at the Alberta Education website located at

www.education.gov.ab.ca