Our School

Hazelridge School recognizes the uniqueness of each of its students and is committed to designing an enriched environment through which each student will be provided with the opportunity to grow to their fullest potential.

The school also recognizes that the student's learning environment extends beyond the curriculum. It includes a caring and effective staff that can motivate students and cause effective learning. This environment also includes informed and active parents who display high interest in children's education. To this end, the school will allow for full, active and collaborative participation of parents in the structuring of learning programs/activities.

The mission of Hazelridge School is to provide a safe and stimulating environment where a diversity of instruction is used to develop responsible, productive, life-long learners who are respectful of themselves and others and will use their knowledge and skills to adapt and contribute to a changing society.

Balanced School Day

The rationale behind the Balanced School Day is that it will improve academic achievement by increasing time-on task in the classroom setting. The Balanced School Day schedule divides the school day into three 100- minute blocks of instructional time. Two longer nutrition and activity breaks are provided in the morning and afternoon instead of the traditional mid morning/mid afternoon recess and noon hour lunch. This schedule creates equally balanced teaching/learning blocks in the school day. The two nutritional/activity breaks of 40-55 minutes allow time for eating and activity in both the morning and afternoon. Nutrition breaks provide 20-25 minutes for eating and 20-30 minutes for activity.

Hazelridge School's scheduled times are 10:30-11:10 and 12:45-1:45.

The benefits of the Balanced School Day are three-fold: academic, nutrition and physical activity.

Academic
• More instruction time with less interruption allows teaching and learning to occur at an optimum level.
• Longer lessons to continue without interruption (literacy blocks, science classes, and art classes).
• Time to program reading, writing, and oral activities in a more integrated way; allows teachers to be flexible with programming.

Nutrition
• Research indicates that children need frequent food breaks during the day.
• Schedule provides two opportunities for students to consume nutritious food rather than eating on the run at recess.
• Students who are nutritionally satisfied can concentrate better and more effectively.

Physical Activity
• Allows students two opportunities of 20-30 minutes a day of uninterrupted play.
• Quality exercise time energizes students, helps them to concentrate on school work and promotes a healthy lifestyle.
• Introduction of physical education initiatives, for students during first or second activity periods
• Opportunities for students to mentor younger students in activities.