What are Community Schools?
Burnaby’s Community School model was established in 1976 as a result of a strong partnership between the school district and the City of Burnaby. The first school to become a community school was Lochdale Elementary. At the time, it was one of the first community schools in the province. Today there are seven elementary community schools within the Burnaby School District: Edmonds, Gilmore, Lochdale, Maywood, Second Street, Stoney Creek,and Stride Avenue. There is also a secondary community school at Byrne Creek.
Community schools are regular schools with special belief in, and emphasis on, the value of community involvement. Each community school also has a coordinator who works on many of the special offerings and programs within the community school. A community school can become the neighbourhood hub, a centre where students, staff, families, residents, agencies and local businesses work together to build a strong and caring community. It is an accessible place where people find support, ideas and new friends. Community schools offer a variety of programs and services to meet the specific educational, recreational and social needs of the area it serves.
OBJECTIVES
Community schools place special emphasis on the following objectives:
- the utilization of all resources in the community to enhance the development of basic learning skills;
- the encouragement of community participation and involvement;
- the effective use of school facilities for people of all ages;
- the development of working relationships with public and private agencies; and
- the development of the school as a resource for the whole neighbourhood.
A community school:
- increases the use of local public school facilities;
- integrates and coordinates existing public services;
- maximizes communication between school and community;
- enriches and enhances learning through formal and informal activities;
- develops the neighbourhood school as a centre of community activities and services;
- reinforces a sense of community and improves the quality of life in the neighbourhood; and
- provides an opportunity for local residents to actively participate in their communities.
INVOLVEMENT
Community schools strive to involve local residents in a variety of ways. Each designated community school has a community council with broad local representation. This council promotes the free exchange of ideas, identifies local needs, and participates in decision-making and feedback for areas of local concern.
Parents and local residents are involved in their community school on an on-going basis as volunteers, instructors, participants, and members of the community council. A common way for local residents to become involved is through participation on the community council, which identifies needs and initiates programs and services available through the school. In addition, there is a broad scope for volunteer activity in a community school, with staff and residents working in an environment of cooperation to make the school a productive and comfortable place.
