Prairie Waters Elementary School was the first Rocky View Elementary School to be located in the Town of Chestermere. It is located in the community of Westmere.
Mission
At Prairie Waters, we facilitate every learner's unique pursuit of understanding through engaging, purposeful, collaborative experiences which empowers each person to positively impact our diverse, ever-changing world.
Vision
A Place We Love to Learn Together
Foundation Statements
The rigorous development of multiple literacies is at the heart of what we do as an elementary school.
We are all learners.
- We believe diversity should be honoured and celebrated. A safe and inclusive environment is essential to learning. All learners have inherent value and make unique contributions to our community.
- We believe engagement leads to learning. We are engaged when our learning is connected, purposeful, personal and relevant. Learning is strengthened with choice, ownership and appropriate challenge.
- We believe collaboration is vital to our understanding and growth as learners. All learners are empowered to interact with experts and access the resources and tools required to enhance their learning. Enriched learning is the result of shared priorities between home, school and community.
- We believe learners construct understanding and knowledge through inquiry. Risk-taking, mistakes, reflection, and feedback are essential to the development of understanding.
- We believe we can all make a difference. Learners are empowered to take initiative to solve problems and take action
Learning never ends.
Unique Features of our school include
- International Baccalaureate School providing the Primary Years Programme
- A School-wide trans-disciplinary Programme of Inquiry
- Approximately 35% of students are learners of English as an Additional Language
- All classrooms equipped with Interactive SmartBoards
- Before and After School Care on premises
- Enhanced co-curricular program
- We have an extremely dedicated and enthusiastic group of parent volunteers
- Prairie Waters prides itself on its collaborative nature, its focus on literacy and its commitment to technology integration
- There is a significant commitment by staff and students towards environmental awareness
School History
Prairie Waters Elementary School was the first Rocky View Elementary School to be located in the Town of Chestermere. It is located in the community of Westmere. The site is adjacent to St. Gabriel the Archangel Catholic School. The two schools share the bus service, drop off areas and parking lot for the staff, parents, and visitors.
Prairie Waters is a replacement school for Conrich School, which served Rocky View students for 46 years. Conrich School grew very quickly in its last five years and could no longer support the students and staff in a positive educational environment. As a result a noteworthy group of parents known as the Parents In Action, along with both the school's and district's administrations, parents and the Conrich Council, lobbied the provincial government for a much needed new school. Those efforts came to a realization with the completion of Prairie Waters.
Prairie Waters Elementary School opened its doors for students for the first time on September 3, 2002.
The name for Prairie Waters, came from the relationship to the terrain in the Chestermere area. The name was selected after the contest was held to submit names for the Conrich Replacement School. Prairie Waters Elementary School was the entry submitted by the Marjoram family.