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Community Mapping Exercise - Nanaki Virdee

The school is located in a quiet, green area near several churches. It was built in the 1960s-1970s and is in good condition. There is a small soccer field but no playground. The school focuses on arts programs and has a population of 351 students in grades 6-7. The surrounding community has many immigrant families and is culturally diverse, though the teacher has yet to learn the specific demographics of the school. Mapping the community provided insights into understanding the cultures and families it serves.

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167 views6 pages

Community Mapping Exercise - Nanaki Virdee

The school is located in a quiet, green area near several churches. It was built in the 1960s-1970s and is in good condition. There is a small soccer field but no playground. The school focuses on arts programs and has a population of 351 students in grades 6-7. The surrounding community has many immigrant families and is culturally diverse, though the teacher has yet to learn the specific demographics of the school. Mapping the community provided insights into understanding the cultures and families it serves.

Uploaded by

api-533139236
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Nanaki Virdee - Community Mapping of Queen Elizabeth Senior Public School

Community Mapping Exercise 


If you feel you can safely do so, please visit a local school site and its 
surrounding community (safely).  
If this is not available to you, please use Google Maps/Earth to 
simulate this experience. 
 
Do not enter school grounds during school hours or immediately 
before/after school. Do not attempt to enter the building.  
If you take any photos please ensure no students or staff are captured 
at all.  
 
Please take note of the following... 
 
The school - Physical Presence 
How old does the  The building looks like it was built in the 
building look? What  1960s or 1970s. Its bricks are in good 
is the state of the 
condition, and the windows are narrow. There 
property? 
are also a few portables next to the school, 
which intrigues me because the school does 
not sound very highly populated, with a 
population of only 351 students. There is also a 
small soccer field in front of the portables, 
and parking lot in front of the school.   
Does it have a play  There is a small soccer field in front of the 
structure? Other  portables. There does not appear to be any 
amenities? 
kind of playground.  
What else do you  The school is surrounded by lush greenery 
note?  that pleasantly contrasts the soft red brick of 
Use all your senses  the main building.   

If you attended at  n/a ( Did not visit the school in person)  
entry, exit, lunch 
(outside of school 
grounds)...
Observe how the 
students arrive - 
noting any patterns 
(behaviours, 
demographics, etc.) 
that you might 
draw upon as 
information to 
understand the 
school community 

Include a picture 
(see note above).  

 
The school - Online Presence 
There does not appear to be any information on clubs on the 
What programs or  school website, but I imagine there to be plenty, as the school is 
co-curricular  known for its unique emphasis on the arts of drama, dance, 
music, and visual arts in its curriculum.  
activities are 
offered at this 
school according to 
the school website​? 

 
What demographic  In regards to enrolment:  
data can you find   
Number of students:351 
about this school?   
Students who ride the bus:140 
  
Number of students in Grade 7: 171 
Number of students in Grade 8: 178 
 
N/A 
 
Where does it fall on the 

TDSB Learning 
Opportunity Index 
and​ C
​ ensus Data​ (if 
applicable) 

N/A - QE Senior Public School only teaches grade 6-7, so 


What can we learn  students do not take the EQAO test during their time there.   
from the following 
about the school? 

EQAO data: see 


https://www.eqao.c
om/en/assessments
/results 

​City data: Eg. 

Toronto 
neighbourhood 
profiles​, United 
Way of Greater 
Toronto​ r​ eports 

 
The community  
At present, I do not, but I have heard a great deal about student 
Do you have any  experiences at this school from students I have taught during 
contacts in the  various experience teaching art camps and courses, as well as 
peers from my days as a student. They have all been thoroughly 
school or 
positive.  
community that 
you engage in 
discussions with? 

If so, what did you 


learn about the 
strengths and 
assets in this 
community? 

Either using Google Maps/Earth or if you can safely get around the school 
(taking into account COVID protocol) 
The school is near multiple Catholic churches, and not many 
Make an inventory  stores, shops, or other kinds of organization besides one dental 
of the types of  care office. It is separated from the buildings around it by a lush 
frame of green trees. It is also within walking distance of the 
buildings, 
QEW highway, which is situated in front of the road closest to the 
businesses,  school, the South Service road.  
greenspaces, 
community 
resources, 
organizations, 
language of signs, 
types of vehicles, 
people on the street 
etc. 

This community feels peaceful to me, as this school is situated 


Notice your  near the home I grew up in, and isn’t overwhelmed by busy 
reactions to this  buildings. I appreciate the green surroundings, as that is 
something that is often lacking in urban settings. I am also 
community.  excited by the thought of being part of a school with fewer 
students, as it would give me the opportunity to learn about 
What feelings does  those I’d be teaching on a slightly deeper level. As a working 
this community  artist, I would love to work as an art educator at this school 
evoke in you?  where I could inspire young minds with the knowledge I wish I 
had learned during my formative years.   
How might this be   
connected to your 
identity or life 
experiences thus 
far? 

Teacher Community (Mapping your own community) 


Culturally diverse community primarily composed of 
What are the  middle-class families with children, many of them recent 
immigrants.   
demographics of 
your 
community? 
My community is plentiful in businesses, restaurants, and 
Who/What do  cultural centres. However, with the exception of the downtown 
area, the buildings are generally spaced out from each other 
you often see?  enough to walk through. During this time of quarantine, I’ve 
(street signs,  noticed that some young people have taken to using the vast 
parking lots and spaces betweens buildings to hang out with 
stores,  their friends.   
community   
My community also possesses many local schools. While it was 
events, etc.)  not something I was able to do when I was young, many children 
often walk partly or all the way to their schools in groups 
together. 
   
Nearly everyone can speak english, but families from non-white 
What do you  cultures often speak in their mother tongue when interacting 
with each other in shops. North Mississauga has a large North 
often hear or not  Indian and Pakistani population in particular (which I am also a 
hear? (e.g.  part of), so I often end up unintentionally eavesdropping on 
conversations in Punjabi and Urdu that take place around me.   
languages) 
Somewhat. I have not yet learned how diverse Queen Elizabeth 
In what ways, if  Senior Public School is to determine how much it reflects my 
community, but it is not far from it geographically. 
at all, do your 
community 
mirrors the 
school 
community? 
(note 
similarities and 
differences) 
I must teach with an emphasis on equity in all of my interactions 
What are the  with my students.  

teaching 
implications? 
I live in the same community as my teaching community so it is 
What work is  likely not very dissimilar.  

required if your 
community is 
dissimilar to the 
school 
community? 
That I can learn about the culture and families of a community 
What insights  through observation and interaction.  

might you gain 


from mapping 
your 
community? 

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