JOCKVALE PUBLIC
For over 30 years, Jockvale Elementary School has been serving Barrhaven students from Kindergarten to grade 6. The school currently has over 365 students enrolled. Due to its large school yard, their are three designated areas — one for primary students, another for junior students, and another yard for the Kindergarteners to play in.
LEADERS OF PRIDE
January 16, 2026
The Grade 6 Leaders of the Pride at Jockvale Elementary are always looking to find ways to make the school a welcoming place for all students. With the arrival of snow comes the challenge of snow structures.
The Leaders of the Pride used green screen technology to create videos for students about how to play kindly in the snow. At Jockvale, students do not build forts to keep people out. Instead, they build inclusive structures that encourage others to visit.
Some examples are snow spas, museums, theatres, and restaurants. They have also created an organization to prevent arguments about snow boulders called the Boulder Bank. This organization is run by student volunteers from grades 1-6.
The goal is to create boulders and distribute them to students in need. The Leaders of the Pride hope that this will help students focus on having fun at recess without worrying about a lack of boulders.
We are so impressed by the leadership and cooperation that our students continue to demonstrate! Go Jags go!
STUDENTS TAKE PART IN OCDSB MAKER CHALLENGE
December 18, 2025
Students at Jockvale Elementary School are taking part in the OCDSB’s “Maker Challenge”, an optional project the public-school board has started which challenges students to think of how they can change the world today.
In Crystal Phillips grade 5/6 French immersion class, where students learn social studies, French, health and arts, the student have accepted the task and are working on projects which help either a Canadian NGO or an International NGO – a topic that ties into the Social Studies part of the curriculum.
Last week we shared the stories of two groups – one which created an art piece on War Child and another which made stockings for the Ottawa Humane Society. This week we are looking at the other groups to see which other organizations the grade 5/6 students are supporting.
In one group, students created over 50 bracelets using macrame to give to children at the Children’s Wish Foundation. They created a short video along with their project to encourage others to find ways to donate to the important organization.
Another group of students coded a video game using Scratch to increase awareness on the work that Oxfam does to reduce poverty and protect the rights of women. They have shared their video game on the Scratch website and through social media.
Another group of passionate students created paintings using an electric cutting machine to create stencils as well as bookmarks to increase awareness of the importance of using reusable cups. They also created a QR code that leads to the Plastic Oceans website.
A student created a google slides presentation and a post to encourage his classmates to donate to the Andrew Fleck Child Care Services. The director of the organization came down to Jockvale Public School to personally pick up the earnings.
Students created a hand made box containing printed pieces of paper with the address of the Ottawa Humane Society to encourage students to donate to the organization and adopt a pet. The box was placed at the entry of the school’s movie night.
A student created an action plan using Powtoon and a video using the Scratch program to promote the Nature Conservancy.
Another group chose Green Peace as their organization to support. They created a promotional poster, a GIF using the Piskel app, and a video using Scratch to promote the organization and encourage students to be more environmentally conscience.
Some students painted endangered species on rocks and attached information about the animals to help promote the World Wildlife Fund. They took photos of the rocks and put them on social media.
Another student supported the same organization, creating small turtles using environmentally-friendly materials. On the bottom of each turtle, she created and attached a QR code to direct people to the World Wildlife Fund’s website. She is distributing them throughout her neighbourhood.
A student created art work using cardboard, paper and battery-operated lights to raise awareness about Friends of the Earth International. The student contacted the principal of a neighbouring secondary school and members of a local community centre to display his project.
The final group chose Save the Children as their organization of choice. They made painted canvases using an electronic paper cutter and paint to raise awareness about the organization. They added a QR code which links to the organization’s website. They also collected donations of stuffed animals which they repurposed by designing and sewing new clothes for the toys. They will be sending them to Save the Children in order to lift their spirits and let them know that they are not alone.
MAKING CHRISTMAS STOCKINGS FOR THE HUMANE SOCIETY
December 12, 2025
As students in Crystal Phillips grade 5/6 French immersion class continue their “Maker Challenge” projects, one group is looking for ways to make animals at the Humane Society happier over the Christmas season.
The Ottawa Carleton District School Board has put out this optional challenge which challenges students to think of how they can change the world today. In Ms. Phillips class, student have accepted the task and are working on projects which help either a Canadian NGO or an International NGO – a topic that ties into the Social Studies part of the curriculum.
Students Emily and Olivia are making stockings which they are going to give to the Ottawa Humane Society. They are then going to fill the stockings with toys that are donated through a box they designed which is located at the Barrhaven Pet Value/
“We are doing one for almost every type of animal,” said Emily. “We love animals and Christmas – they are two of our favourite things. I used to have a lot of animals and I was thinking that we usually get our animals from a breeder or pet store, but we were thinking about the animals at a pet shelter and how they feel.”
Those are sentiments Olivia agrees with. She said while the animals are waiting to be adopted, they need to have something to keep them busy – especially in the winter months when it is sometimes too cold to go outside.
“Some animals are separated so they can’t play with each other,” she said. “They just sit in their cages all day so we were thinking if they have some toys, people who come to se them would appreciate them more and would see them in a playful mood.”
This project has also taught the students how to overcome challenges. They were hoping to make the toys themselves, but when that idea did not work out, they had to come up with a plan B.
To ensure at least 500 people see their project, the girls have also made a video which they are going to post online.
STUDENTS CREATE ART EXHIBIT WHICH SHOWS THE CHALLENGES OF WAR
December 12, 2025
Students at Jockvale Elementary School are taking part in the OCDSB’s “Maker Challenge”, an optional project the public-school board has started which challenges students to think of how they can change the world today.
In Crystal Phillips grade 5/6 French immersion class, where students learn social studies, French, health and arts, the student have accepted the task and are working on projects which help either a Canadian NGO or an International NGO – a topic that ties into the Social Studies part of the curriculum.
Students Evelyn Shaw and Saira Devara chose to focus their art piece on War Child, an organization which helps children in war driven countries overcome the impact of war. They support them by providing them with education and financial opportunities as well s access to justice for them and their parents.
“I chose this organization because I was reading a book about a child solider and his experience and it made me very upset,” said Evelyn. “I did some research on Child Soldiers international and I found out that they were shutting down. There is a lot of good organizations like that out there that don’t have funding to keep working so I thought it was important that we support them.”
Saira added that it was important to her because while other groups were focusing on more well-known topics such as climate change and animals, she wanted to bring light to something which is not often talked about or is as well known.
The two created an art instillation which will be displayed at many locations around Barrhaven this February including at the Ruth E Dickinson Library and at Longfield’s Davidson Heights High School. The students will also be doing a presentation alongside their teacher Crystal Phillips at Jockvale United Church.
“We had to get pieces of wood and we took newspaper, ripped it up and put it all over,” said Saira. “We then made stencils of different things that may happen in war. There is a bomb with a gun for example. We also used a QR code so that when people see it they have the opportunity to donate to War Child just by scanning it.”
On top of just having art somehow included in the project, students also needed to ensure at least 500 people will see it. It is an opportunity for them to involve the community while learning about important issues and causes.
LEARNING IN NEW SPACES
October 4, 2025
It was another busy week for students at Jockvale Elementary School.
On September 17, friends and family were invited to the school to see some of the amazing work the students have been creating over the past three weeks. It was also an opportunity for them to check out the new grade six lounge called "the cave", which is a new fun and creative space for grade six students to use for working and fun. It was officially opened this week.
On Friday June 27, students wore red and white and their most comfortable shoes for the annual Terry Fox Run, which schools participate in every year at this time to raise money for cancer research.
In the evening, many students went back to the school for the first movie night of the year. They had the chance to wear their most comfy PJ's, eat popcorn and pizza, all while watching "The Secret Life of Pets 2.
LEARNING IN NEW SPACES
September 6, 2025
As students from Jockvale Elementary were enjoying their summer off, school staff were busy preparing new learning spaces. The grade six students are going to be treated to a brand new lounge, equipped with board games, couches, books and a pool table. It's a place for them to spend time with their friends, and connect with each other on a different level.
Some classrooms also received a bit of an upgrade, all in an effort to spice things up and make it more of a positive learning environment. Relaxing stations have also been set up around the school, so students can have a place to go if they need to take a few minutes away from the classroom to recharge their brain.
The school also saw a number of new staff members join the team this year, including; new grade 5/6 teacher Mrs. Ivison, grade 1/2 English teacher Ms. Waddell, grade 1/2 EFI teacher Mme Grainger, and Ms. Matthews, the school's new Library Tech.