Impactful Leadership for Diverse Learning Communities

Inspiring students, teachers and community for action

Vincent Massey Public School

The People!

Our Mission

To maximize student learning through students, staff, parents and community

working in an atmosphere of mutual respect and shared responsibility.

Our Motto

Refuse to Lose

Key Accomplishments

• NQI Canadian Award for Excellence in Education – Order of Merit

• High levels of parent, staff and students satisfaction and trust

• Sustainable results in student learning, safe and caring environment

• Top ten Professional learning Communities in Ontario

• Community engagement

Community Partnerships

It’s all about engagement.

Create Possibilities – What’s in it for them?

• Private sector – Adobe, IBM, SAP, TD Bank (greening)

• Public Sector – Public Health, Local community centres, mental health facilities

• Volunteer Coordinating org.• Local restaurants, grocery stores• Local newspapers, media• Capitalize on parent talents• National Quality Institute/ Balldridge• Community programming – Anger Management

Service Learning“Give more than you get.”

Bill Gates

H.E.A.L.World Vision

Child Haven InternationalWorld Wildlife Federation

Food BankFinding Life

How?

• Be open and involved – seek opportunities• If you don’t ask the answer will always be

no• Have a school/ class/ issue that people

what to be a part of• Market your “product”• Give thanks• Engage and be engaging

Teacher SupportCreate a school where people

love to work, play and learn together.

Building a Professional Learning Community

Teacher support

• Resources• Recognition• Renewal – continuous improvement• Relationships• Reduce Isolation – Open the doors –

classrooms, office, homes, minds• Responsibility – share it! Self-managed

teams, student council, parent council

Embracing, Engaging and Educating a Diverse Community.

Supporting Materials for ISIS Officer Ethnocultural Equity Award 2001-2002

Submitted by Vincent Massey Public School

Poster created by Senior Kindergarten students and their teacher D. Dudar

“A quality school has a culture of ethnocultural equity” As a multi-cultural Beacon school, our efforts in the areas of anti-racism and ethnocultural equity are deeply embedded in the daily life of our school. Each and every event we have honours the contribution of all cultures to developing a safe and caring world for us all.

Those who are part of a global culture understand, respect, love

and honour different national traditions, ethnicities and

customs.

Move beyond “Multicultural education.”

They live the universal values of love, contribution, laughter, joy, generosity, security, growth, health, excitement,

openness, humanity, acceptance, tolerance, freedom, learning, evolution, fascination,

spontaneity, reinvention, curiosity, prosperity, diversity, responsibility,

accountability, knowledge, sharing and readiness to change.

At Vincent Massey… Everyone is Different

• Regular English• French Immersion• Gifted French

Immersion• Dual Diagnosis• Deaf/ Hard of Hearing• Learning Disabilities

The human species are 99.9% genetically identical.

There are greater differences between any two frogs in a pond than between any two people who find themselves

waiting for a bus.

Human Genome Project 2000

Diversity at Vincent Massey

• Inclusive education• Options• Sports• Refuse to Lose • High expectations for all• Safe and Caring School

Environment• Education about religions,

cultures• Annual multicultural

dinner and Art Show• Mental Karate

• Multicultural Liaison Officer• Training sessions for parents• New project – “Parent Lounge”• Welcoming office staff• Family Reception Centre• Meetings at local Community

Centre• Rights and Responsibilities• Talent Show• Reading Buddies

So what are you going to do now?

What is your push to action? How will you track your successes so you can celebrate?