Bridlewood Community Elementary School
Encyclopedia
Bridlewood Community Elementary School (also BCES or simply Bridlewood) is an elementary
and middle school
located on 63 Bluegrass Drive, in Ottawa, Canada
. Operated by the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board
, it is situated in the Zone 2 school board district with Cathy Curry as its trustee
, in the Kanata
neighbourhood of Bridlewood. The current principal of Bridlewood C.E.S is Mrs. Pauline McKenna-Upshaw. Its vice-principal is Mr. Mark Heckman.
Bridlewood celebrated the 20th anniversary of its founding on April 19, 2008. It operates on a 'Balanced School Day' schedule.
on Bluegrass Drive can be traced as far back as the late 1970s. The space was formerly occupied by a community centre
building, and an extensive park which stretched to the limit of the land that was the community of Bridlewood at the time. The park consisted of two play structures, one built for young children and one for older children, a baseball diamond, a basketball court
, and a soccer field at the back. During the winter months, a skating rink
was built next to the community centre, so that the washrooms could serve double duty as space for people to put their skates.
The community centre itself was small, consisting of a main hall that was used for events, along with a small kitchen and storage room. In later years, two trailers were parked near the building to add extra room. The centre and the park were both removed to allow for construction of the school in the late 1980s.
class, a Dual diagnosis
class, and an after school daycare.
, either the Junior Band, for grade seven students, or the Senior Band, for grade eights. The bands consist of woodwind
, brass
, and percussion
instruments.
The school is notable for its excellent Senior Band. The band is led by grade 7/8 music teacher, Mr. Williamson. Since 1987, the Senior Band has made an annual trip to Toronto
, with the exception of the 2008-09 school year. The focus of this two to three day trip has included competitive performances at Canada's Wonderland and Ontario
Place. Band members also visit tourist attractions such as Niagara Falls
, Marineland, Ontario, and Clifton Hill
.
Elementary school
An elementary school or primary school is an institution where children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as elementary or primary education. Elementary school is the preferred term in some countries, particularly those in North America, where the terms grade school and grammar...
and middle school
Middle school
Middle School and Junior High School are levels of schooling between elementary and high schools. Most school systems use one term or the other, not both. The terms are not interchangeable...
located on 63 Bluegrass Drive, in Ottawa, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. Operated by the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board
Ottawa-Carleton District School Board
The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board refers to both the institution responsible for the operation of all English public schools in the city of Ottawa, Ontario and its governing body. Like most school boards, the OCDSB is administered by a group of elected trustees and one director selected...
, it is situated in the Zone 2 school board district with Cathy Curry as its trustee
Trustee
Trustee is a legal term which, in its broadest sense, can refer to any person who holds property, authority, or a position of trust or responsibility for the benefit of another...
, in the Kanata
Kanata
Kanata is an aboriginal word meaning "village" or "settlement."- Name of Canada :Until the mid-20th century, the Mohawk word "kanata" was thought to have been the origin of Canada's name...
neighbourhood of Bridlewood. The current principal of Bridlewood C.E.S is Mrs. Pauline McKenna-Upshaw. Its vice-principal is Mr. Mark Heckman.
Bridlewood celebrated the 20th anniversary of its founding on April 19, 2008. It operates on a 'Balanced School Day' schedule.
History
Plans for an elementary schoolElementary school
An elementary school or primary school is an institution where children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as elementary or primary education. Elementary school is the preferred term in some countries, particularly those in North America, where the terms grade school and grammar...
on Bluegrass Drive can be traced as far back as the late 1970s. The space was formerly occupied by a community centre
Community centre
Community centres or community centers or jumping recreation centers are public locations where members of a community tend to gather for group activities, social support, public information, and other purposes. They may sometimes be open for the whole community or for a specialised group within...
building, and an extensive park which stretched to the limit of the land that was the community of Bridlewood at the time. The park consisted of two play structures, one built for young children and one for older children, a baseball diamond, a basketball court
Basketball court
In basketball, the basketball court is the playing surface, consisting of a rectangular floor with tiles at either end. In professional or organized basketball, especially when played indoors, it is usually made out of a wood, often maple, and highly polished...
, and a soccer field at the back. During the winter months, a skating rink
Ice rink
An ice rink is a frozen body of water and/or hardened chemicals where people can skate or play winter sports. Besides recreational ice skating, some of its uses include ice hockey, figure skating and curling as well as exhibitions, contests and ice shows...
was built next to the community centre, so that the washrooms could serve double duty as space for people to put their skates.
The community centre itself was small, consisting of a main hall that was used for events, along with a small kitchen and storage room. In later years, two trailers were parked near the building to add extra room. The centre and the park were both removed to allow for construction of the school in the late 1980s.
Programs
Bridlewood C.E.S. has a computer lab, a gym, and a library with a collection of over 29 500 books. Bridlewood also supports a Special Support Unit, a Gifted class, an ESLEnglish language learning and teaching
English as a second language , English for speakers of other languages and English as a foreign language all refer to the use or study of English by speakers with different native languages. The precise usage, including the different use of the terms ESL and ESOL in different countries, is...
class, a Dual diagnosis
Dual diagnosis
The term dual diagnosis is used to describe the comorbid condition of a person considered to be suffering from a mental illness and a substance abuse problem. There is considerable debate surrounding the appropriateness of the term being used to describe a heterogeneous group of individuals with...
class, and an after school daycare.
Music
Bridlewood C.A.T. has an intermediate music program unlike most other schools in Ottawa. All intermediate students (gr.7-8) have the option of joining a bandConcert band
A concert band, also called wind band, symphonic band, symphonic winds, wind orchestra, wind symphony, wind ensemble, or symphonic wind ensemble, is a performing ensemble consisting of several members of the woodwind instrument family, brass instrument family, and percussion instrument family.A...
, either the Junior Band, for grade seven students, or the Senior Band, for grade eights. The bands consist of woodwind
Woodwind instrument
A woodwind instrument is a musical instrument which produces sound when the player blows air against a sharp edge or through a reed, causing the air within its resonator to vibrate...
, brass
Brass instrument
A brass instrument is a musical instrument whose sound is produced by sympathetic vibration of air in a tubular resonator in sympathy with the vibration of the player's lips...
, and percussion
Percussion instrument
A percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
instruments.
The school is notable for its excellent Senior Band. The band is led by grade 7/8 music teacher, Mr. Williamson. Since 1987, the Senior Band has made an annual trip to Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, with the exception of the 2008-09 school year. The focus of this two to three day trip has included competitive performances at Canada's Wonderland and Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
Place. Band members also visit tourist attractions such as Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls
The Niagara Falls, located on the Niagara River draining Lake Erie into Lake Ontario, is the collective name for the Horseshoe Falls and the adjacent American Falls along with the comparatively small Bridal Veil Falls, which combined form the highest flow rate of any waterfalls in the world and has...
, Marineland, Ontario, and Clifton Hill
Clifton Hill (Niagara Falls)
Clifton Hill is one of the major tourist promenades in Niagara Falls, Ontario. The street, close in proximity to Niagara Falls and the Niagara River, leads from River Road on the Niagara Parkway to intersect with Victoria Avenue. The street contains a number of gift shops, wax museums, haunted...
.