NEW OTTAWA-AREA SCHOOL DEVELOPS ENVIRONMENTALLY AND DIGITALLY RESPONSIBLE CHILDREN
A bright new beacon of modern elementary school education has been lit in Ottawa’s eastern region, and the Avalon community in Cumberland is witnessing how a school can actually change the way a child learns.
The newly constructed St. Dominic Catholic Elementary School is opening its doors for the first time today, and everyone seems to be in awe of their new surroundings. The school’s offerings for local families are typical of the well-respected standards that the Ottawa Catholic School Board is known for: Full French immersion programs beginning at age four, before and after school programs, and wireless technology and SmartBoards in every classroom.
But what has everyone talking is the building itself.
St. Dominic has been designed to deliver the highest possible educational outcomes through superior facility design. It’s more than just a school. It’s a community hub which is bringing everyone together under one impressive roof.
The 50,000-square-foot St. Dominic is equipped with automated environmental controls to enhance environmental sustainability. The school’s 750 rooftop solar panels will eventually generate revenue of $85,000 per year through the sale of electricity to the grid. It features energy efficient lighting, occupancy sensors in the classrooms and washrooms, hands-free faucets and more. Other simple concepts were implemented such as planting shrubbery outside classroom walls to deflect heat gain from the asphalt, helping preserve the building for the next generation of students.
Everything at St. Dominic has been optimized to enhance teaching and learning. The Learning Commons (library) and Maker Space areas are styled after an ancient Greek agora, or gathering place, where students and teachers collaborate in resource areas rich with print and digital media. Hallway teaching areas called “pods” and “caves” have been set up to make it easy for students to work in groups large or small. Even the modular desk units, adjustable-height chairs, and foldable classroom dividers have been designed to allow teachers and students maximum flexibility.
It’s evident that the OCSB is committed to demonstrating the importance of children becoming environmentally responsible citizens. They lead Ontario’s school boards in energy conservation as the top performing school board in the province, saving over $20 million in avoided energy costs since implementing their energy management program. The majority of their schools participate in the Ontario EcoSchools certification program, which recognizes schools for their environmental initiatives and uses a special teaching model to show students and school staff how to be environmentally responsible.
But the school’s architectural design offers far more than just
green learning opportunities. It also offers digital experiences that literally get the children right out of their seats.
Imagine walking through the hallways and seeing the plumbing system of your school working in real time behind a glass panel — valves opening and closing when someone, somewhere in the building, washes their hands. Then imagine pulling out your smartphone or tablet and scanning one of the 32 strategically placed QR codes which explain the facility structure systems at a curriculum appropriate level. It is a brilliant technology assisted teaching concept which demonstrates that sometimes the technology is the lesson.
OCSB students have the option to bring their personal smart devices to class. If this sounds like a curriculum for chaos, take a closer look at St. Dominic in action. The school has a variety of digital tools available, ranging from tablets to Chromebooks and other mobile devices to access rich digital online resources. As for any issues with students distracted by personal texting, St. Dominic principal Geraldine Proulx said she has no worries. “We have an impressive technology protocol where we dedicate time to talk to our students about being good digital citizens. We teach them how to use technology responsibly in a grade appropriate way.”
It is an impressive working model to say the least, and one that seems to be resonating with parents as there has been a steady demand for new English Catholic schools across the Ottawa region.
Director of Education, Denise Andre, knows the OCSB is headed in the right direction. “I am reminded of our success as a school board when I come across former students. They are competent, compassionate, and grateful for the growth opportunities that they were provided. We are graduating environmentally conscious and digitally responsible citizens who are shining examples of our Catholic education system. Their leadership will continue to shape our community in the future.”
Visit the new St. Dominic School in Ottawa’s east end to see for yourself. You’ll witness a world where children are being guided on the path toward changing our world for the better.
Visit ocsb.ca/dominic for more information.