Oversight Ministry of Education Enrollment 200 Phone +1 519-759-0730 Province Ontario | Grades kindergarten-12 Language English Principal Daniel Maggiacomo | |
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School type Public Day/Boarding Co-Ed for blind, visually impaired and deafblind students Founded 1872 as "Ontario Institution for the Education of the Blind" Address 350 Brant Ave, Brantford, ON N3T 3J9, Canada Motto "The Impossible is only the Untried" Similar Brant Aquatic Club, Wayne Gretzky Sports Ce, Grand Erie District School B, City Of Brantford, Assumpti College School | ||
2016 high school graduation at w ross macdonald school
The W. Ross Macdonald School was founded in March 1872 in Brantford, Ontario, Canada. Its first principal was Ezekiel Stone Wiggins.
Contents
- 2016 high school graduation at w ross macdonald school
- W ross macdonald school choir at grad 2010
- Special features
- Superintendents
- Notable alumni
- References
It provides instruction from kindergarten to secondary school graduation for blind and deafblind students.
W. Ross Macdonald is the only school in Ontario for blind and deafblind students and the only such school in Canada serving academic students. It draws students from across Ontario and other provinces and has residences to accommodate those that do not live in the local area. Placement at W. Ross Macdonald is a decision made by students, parents and their local school board, when it is decided that such an environment would be the best option at that time. In addition to their own students, the school provides services to other school board programs for students who are blind or deafblind.
Attendance at the school remains at slightly more than 200 students.
The school was originally named the Ontario Institution for the Education of the Blind when it opened in 1872, and later called the Ontario School for the Blind. It was given its current name in 1974 in honour of Brantford citizen William Ross Macdonald, who served as Lieutenant Governor of Ontario from 1968 to 1974.
Though students typically receive instruction in core curriculum subjects, the expanded core curriculum developed at the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired has not been officially implemented at the W. Ross Macdonald School. Although students may receive instruction related to some expanded core curriculum areas (e.g., orientation and mobility, life skills or career education) instruction is not guaranteed. Students are currently unable to receive academic credits for work related to the expanded core curriculum.
The school's motto is "The Impossible is only the Untried".
W ross macdonald school choir at grad 2010
Special features
In recent years, a concerted effort has been made to provide landmarks in the physical layout of the newer buildings, to aid students in navigation. A variety of materials and textures are used in the building floors and walls to allow for more efficient orientation. The classroom windows are above eye-level of the students in order to provide indirect light because students with a vision impairment can find direct lighting difficult. Artificial lighting uses special lights with dimmer switch. As well, student lockers are larger than conventional school lockers and include seating.