At Forest Heights, we are committed to encouraging and supporting students as partners in their learning and as active participants in the school community.  We develop learners who realize that their effort is the greatest factor to achieving their goals.  We facilitate this by analyzing student work to determine next steps in learning and to ensure students are receiving the instruction that will lead to their success.  As we make students part of this process by sharing with them the goals of the learning, they become more engaged in the monitoring of their growth.  The students then become key in sharing their growth with their families.  Our purpose is to help them understand themselves as learners so they can use this knowledge to learn, achieve and growth to their full potential.  Through class work, school wide programs, student council and a variety of special events and activities, students have the opportunity to see themselves as active members of our community.  All members of the school community contribute to the safe, caring and welcoming environment of the school.  Problem solving and looking at situations from the other’s point of view are the heart of positive behaviour plan for the school.  A history of contributing to groups beyond the walls of our school is celebrated.

Forest Heights Elementary School is located in a quiet residential area on the southside side of Edmonton, just blocks from the North Saskatchewan River Valley and McNally High School.  It serves students from the immediate area; Forest Heights and Terrace Heights.  Many students are bused from various areas in Edmonton to attend our German Bilingual Alternative Program, one of three sites for Edmonton Public Schools.  Die Kleine Kinderschule (DKK), a German playschool, the Forest/Terrace Heights Community League and a YMCA Before & After School Program, are also wonderful partners.  Forest Heights has a history of strong parental and community engagement through volunteerism and an active School Council, with the financial support from the Friends of Forest Heights Society.  Support from the Association for English German Bilingual Education of Edmonton (AEGBEE) is also valued.  Our parent community is cohesive and involved in the daily life of the school.  Our parents support both programs equally, provide resources and make huge contributions by being active in a multitude of school events to enhance student learning and cultural experiences.

Forest Heights is one of the three elementary schools in Edmonton that offers the German Bilingual Program.  Fifty percent of the instruction is conducted in German.  The last entry point for this program, with no German background, is grade one.  Students wishing to enter the program after grade one must have basic German and go through an interview process.

Student Council,

Handbells,

Choir,

Chess,

Library Club

and many more activities.

A co-ordinated school wide effort to have all Forest Heights students who measurable growth in reading fluency and comprehension.

This will be accomplished primarily through the use of leveled reading materials and the implementation of guided reading and literacy centres.  Growth will be measured by a variety of diagnostic inventories as well as District and Alberta Learning Achievement Tests.