Lester B. Pearson School for the Arts
Encyclopedia
Lester B. Pearson School for the Arts is a public, elementary - Grades 4 to 8, school in London, Ontario, Canada, part of the Thames Valley District School Board. An application process must be completed by mid December, and then potential students attend a 2-day "Selection" workshop. Most students begin in the Grade 4 year. Only occasionally there are openings for other Grades.
The twentieth anniversary of the school was celebrated with reunion activities: May 29, 30, 31, 2009.
curriculum. Teachers are fully qualified members of the Ontario College of Teachers
and are specialists in their particular arts area. The school day is about an hour longer than other public schools, to allow for the arts enriched curriculum. Students at Pearson carry a heavy homework load. EQAO results reflect the value of an arts education for all students. Identified gifted students participate in the TVDSB Itinerant Gifted Program.
Extracurricular sports include Volleyball, Basketball, Cross Country, and Track & Field. Pearson teams and individual athletes do very well in inter-school and regional competitions.
Each grade has Single Vocal where you learn theory and music history, and Double Vocal where both grade classes learn to sing together as a choir and develop individual choral technique. Pearson Singers, an auditioned SAT choir of approximately 70 Grade 5-8's, rehearses twice a week early morning, and has toured to Carnegie Hall, Canterbury Cathedral, Chicago, New Brunswick and around the globe. Twelve is an SATB group of approximately 12-18 Grade 8 students who perform more complex pieces with more solo work. At the end of the year the whole school does a massive Choral Celebration done at H.B. Beal Secondary School. Every student receives instruction on the keyboard. Grade Fours are introduced to recorder and Orff instruments. Beginning in Grade 5, each student trains on either a String or Wind instrument and perform numerous concerts and stay with that instrument all the way through to Grade 8. The Stage Band is a special winds group consisting of only saxophones, trombones and trumpets that play jazz music and tour around the city.
In the winter after New Years the whole school goes on a Ski Trip at Boler Mountain
. At the end of the year Grades 4,5,7 go to East Park for a day. While Grade 6 goes to Camp Kawartha, 7 to Niagara Falls and 8 to Quebec.
The twentieth anniversary of the school was celebrated with reunion activities: May 29, 30, 31, 2009.
Academics
The academic program is rigorous and based on the Ministry of Education (Ontario)Ministry of Education (Ontario)
The Ministry of Education is the agency of the Ontario government in the Canadian province of Ontario responsible for government policy, funding, curriculum planning and direction in all levels of public education, including elementary and secondary schools.This Ministry is responsible for...
curriculum. Teachers are fully qualified members of the Ontario College of Teachers
Ontario College of Teachers
The Ontario College of Teachers is the regulatory body for the teaching profession in Ontario. It was established in 1997. The college's mandate is to license, govern and regulate the practice of teaching. It is also responsible for developing standards of teaching practice, regulating on-going...
and are specialists in their particular arts area. The school day is about an hour longer than other public schools, to allow for the arts enriched curriculum. Students at Pearson carry a heavy homework load. EQAO results reflect the value of an arts education for all students. Identified gifted students participate in the TVDSB Itinerant Gifted Program.
Extracurricular sports include Volleyball, Basketball, Cross Country, and Track & Field. Pearson teams and individual athletes do very well in inter-school and regional competitions.
Dance
Students have dance class several times a week in studios with sprung wood floors. Dances go from Ballet to Hip-Hop to Swing, with emphasis on collaboration, expression and technique. Grade 8's host an annual dance show called Art Harvest.Music
Three components: Vocal, Keyboard, and an Instrument.Each grade has Single Vocal where you learn theory and music history, and Double Vocal where both grade classes learn to sing together as a choir and develop individual choral technique. Pearson Singers, an auditioned SAT choir of approximately 70 Grade 5-8's, rehearses twice a week early morning, and has toured to Carnegie Hall, Canterbury Cathedral, Chicago, New Brunswick and around the globe. Twelve is an SATB group of approximately 12-18 Grade 8 students who perform more complex pieces with more solo work. At the end of the year the whole school does a massive Choral Celebration done at H.B. Beal Secondary School. Every student receives instruction on the keyboard. Grade Fours are introduced to recorder and Orff instruments. Beginning in Grade 5, each student trains on either a String or Wind instrument and perform numerous concerts and stay with that instrument all the way through to Grade 8. The Stage Band is a special winds group consisting of only saxophones, trombones and trumpets that play jazz music and tour around the city.
Visual Art
You do everything from Picasso to Two Point Perspective: Art History, Drawing, Painting, Stained Glass(Grade 8), Ceramics, Design & Colour Theory.Other
It is also worth noting that the school has retained a workshop. (Mostly used to build and store props and sets for plays).In the winter after New Years the whole school goes on a Ski Trip at Boler Mountain
Boler Mountain
Boler Mountain, is the home of the London Ski Club in London, Ontario. The mountain is located in the western suburban neighbourhood of Byron and is used for skiing, snowboarding and snow tubing in the winter and for mountain biking in the summer. Despite its title, it is more accurately described...
. At the end of the year Grades 4,5,7 go to East Park for a day. While Grade 6 goes to Camp Kawartha, 7 to Niagara Falls and 8 to Quebec.
Summer Arts Camp
Each year a series of two-week summer arts camps are offered at the school, with Pearson teachers or other TVDSB art specialist teachers. Some kids come back every year.Notable alumni
Though Pearson is not a performing arts school, some graduates have gone on to performing or arts-related careers.- Trevor BlumasTrevor BlumasTrevor Blumas is a Canadian television and film actor and singer-songwriter.-Early life and career:Blumas was born in London, Ontario, Canada. Trevor Blumas went to school at the Lester B. Pearson School for the Arts, studying drama, music, dance, and art...
, Actor - Luke MacfarlaneLuke MacFarlaneThomas Luke Macfarlane , better known as Luke Macfarlane, is a Canadian actor and musician.-Early life:Macfarlane was born in London, Ontario, Canada. His father, Thomas , was the Director of Student Health Services at the University of Western Ontario, and his mother, Penny, is a mental health...
, Actor - Amber MarshallAmber MarshallAmber Marshall is a Canadian actress best known for playing Amy Fleming on the CBC series Heartland.- Biography :Born and raised in London, Ontario Amber Marshall is a Canadian Actress...
, Actor - Meaghan SmithMeaghan SmithMeaghan Smith is a Canadian singer-songwriter and guitarist. While her independently-recorded debut album, The Cricket's Orchestra was picked up by Sire Records/Warner Music Canada and released in early 2010, she received a great deal of exposure by contributing a cover of alternative rock group...
, Singer - Lulu Wei, Photographer