feature: Learning and Caring about George Jay

George Jay Elementary School and their ‘Growing Schools’ garden plots.

Let’s be honest, George Jay has had a bad reputation for years. I heard about it the moment I gave birth to my first-born. What was the fuss about? Supposedly it gave a poor education and had rough kids, tough kids. The building itself isn’t beautifully redone like others around Victoria. It doesn’t offer the French Immersion program. Why would I send my kids to that school? Let me tell you what I’ve learned . . .

After my eldest went through French Immersion at another local school and came out with zero school spirit and a disappointing grade in English (we took him out of the program in grade five), my husband, Lance, and I realized we needed to do something different for our next two preschoolers.

A late French Immersion program is also offered at Central Middle School. At completion of grade seven, late French Immersion students are ready to merge into existing classes and become full-on FI students. This means that late FI kids will learn as much French in two to three years in Middle School as those enrolled since kindergarten.  Interesting! (This information was given to me by two Principals in our catchment, by the way.)

Honestly, after coming from a school with both a great reputation and French Immersion (which, by the way was how I grew up in Ontario), I was still concerned. Lance had always been a big community school enthusiast; I was a worrier. But after having a very informative conversation with the then vice principal at Central about the differences between the education from our local French Immersion school and George Jay—Fernwood’s catchment English school—I breathed easier.

The vice principal told me about how he grew up in Esquimalt and went to Rock Heights and Esquimalt High while the principal completed the French Immersion route. And here they both were, side by side, first teachers and now principals. The vice principal reminded me that after high school and post-secondary education, vying for a job doesn’t necessarily come down to academics but how the hiring strategy in today’s work force is more about resiliency, empathy, strategic thinking and one’s ability to work with others.

Granted, a second language is an asset, but learning to co-exist with people from every walk of life has major bonuses in the world. Fast forward to today, where both my other kids have been at George Jay for the past two years.

At George Jay, my kids learn, work and play with children whose English is their second language, kids with autism of various capacities, kids who speak in sign language and kids who can only speak with the help of an iPad. There are kids who get to go on family vacations every year and others who depend of the help of the school’s resources to find food and shelter. There are five continents and seventeen languages represented. Really, you can’t get more diverse than George Jay! The world is represented there and you can’t get a better education than learning how to live peacefully and productively on our planet.

George Jay’s teachers work hard as a team to create learning environments that are beneficial to all our children. They teach to each child’s abilities and they are able to do so by learning from each other; the help they receive from their Educational Assistants in class and support from the administration; the small classroom size and the practices of restitution and self-regulation ideals.

Restitution is a non-punitive way of dealing with conflict. Practicing restitution empowers each child in the conflict by offering a language of respect that does not blame either person but instead finds a common ground to solve issues. Self-regulation teaches kids how to deal with learning obstacles by listening to their own bodies and minds about what is necessary and how to be in a better learning state of mind. If a child is unwilling to participate in a group activity, self-regulation teaches the child that maybe she needs a quiet place to sit and read for a few minutes, a snack, or that she needs a few minutes of exercise.

George Jay teachers know that children learn in different ways and that by instilling self-regulation strategies a child will feel confident in themselves to take the break they need so they can be in a better learning mind.

Why do multitudes of diverse families congregate at George Jay? The school is well known for having many resources in the building—including Settlement Workers in Schools, two Family Counselors, the Strongstart Preschool, Journeys of the Heart Aboriginal Preschool, a Parent Resource Room and The Good Food Box Program— which help families thrive and succeed. It’s the school’s philosophy of inclusion, restitution and the overall good vibe that permeates the building that keeps families coming to—and coming back to—George Jay.

By enrolling in George Jay Elementary your child will develop a strong foundation in English literacy and math while also being immersed in a truly multi-cultural setting. Late French Immersion is a great option if you want your child to learn French. My daughter wants to learn Mandarin; my son is interested in Japanese and sign language. George Jay can provide these opportunities because of the cultures represented and the parental involvement that makes it possible.

George Jay is all about community both inside and outside its walls. The school has so many supporters; it truly is both a blessing and a learning point. Community donors abound. Last year we had over forty volunteers reading with our kids on a regular basis. My son, Shane, is now entering grade two, and his reading is at a grade three level. My daughter, Ruby, is starting grade three with a reading level of grade five. This is due not only to our great teachers but also to the amazing volunteer readers.

Teachers also use these donations as learning tools of how to pay it forward. Our children are learning how to give back. We have a Leadership program for grade four and five students which creates an opportunity for students to meet and play with kids outside their classroom and grade level. It’s another way to create community spirit.

The George Jay School motto is “Learning to Care, Caring to Learn,” and this ideal is practiced daily. All the kids have learned to care about others in the school and in the community. This caring and respectful attitude puts them in a better place to learn and George Jay’s academic grades are growing every semester.

I am so grateful to be a part of this wonderful, progressive (and soon to be seismically upgraded) school. There’s a lot of love and heart here and my children and I look forward to returning. I can then take my leisurely walk home because the other bonus is that it’s right in the ’hood!