A new learning experience in Riverbend
Full house at École Rivière-Rouge’s grand opening
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This article was published 07/11/2016 (3470 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Riverbend has a new French immersion school opened for infants to Grade 5 children.
On Oct. 25, more than 400 people gathered at École Rivière-Rouge’s gym to celebrate its grand opening. Principal Cheryl Gaudet told guests how happy she was to be the principal of the new school and how they will bring together new ways to teach and to make learning an enjoyable experience for children.
The experience starts with a new building that is focused on health and sustainability, reducing environmental illnesses and water and energy consumption, decreasing absence and operating costs, thus raising funds available for education. The building has a geothermal system, rainwater collection for flushing toilets, passive daylighting and lighting control in the classrooms, and large, wide windows, among others.
Designed by Prairie Architects, the new building is supposed to have a lifespan of 100 years, and it works as a learning tool. Since the project started taking shape, three years ago, they consulted with community members and parents to learn what features they’d like to see for their children’s learning.
“There’s a differentiated instruction, and that’s how we meet the needs of all children,” Gaudet said of the new features incorporated in each classroom.
Each class has different types of chairs such as high, low and rocking chairs. The same applies to the tables, such as a standing table for those who’d like to do their activities standing. She said the furniture is important because children need to move around and it ensures everyone is comfortable while learning.
“We don’t sit in straight rows anymore, we sit at different types of tables,” she added. “Movement is important. We have a lot of phys-ed in school, but we also have yoga in the classroom. Teachers choose that just to make sure children are using all of their body and their mind to learn.”
The school also works with a different schedule called Balanced School Day which has three longer learning blocks and two 40 to 50 minutes of nutritional and activity breaks in between each block.
“What was happening is, the children were going out, and it was a 15-minute recess so, get dressed, get ready, go to recess…and quick, they play five minutes, come in, and who has really played?” Gaudet said.
She said this school is their opportunity to start a new learning culture. It has only been two months since the school has opened, but she said they already feel like a family. École Rivière-Rouge wants to instil a culture of kindness and show that every child matters.
“If children know that they are cared for and that we model that in a daily basis, they see how among the adults and themselves there’s respect and how we treat each other, and in that way, learning can take place too,” she continued.
The school is almost at capacity with 390 students enrolled and an attached daycare should be open in January. Gaudet said she sees jubilant students skipping on the hallways. Her statement is backed up by the several letters she’s received from the students stating how happy they are and that “this is the best school ever.”
Gaudet hopes the school will be known for strong academics and language, French immersion language and Indigenous education.
“Because this is École Rivière-Rouge we want to be known for jigging, and drumming, and we’re going to use some of the Metis culture to support the language, the Francais cultural language,” she said.
