SCHOOL INFORMATION...- Continued committment to PHAST program to address the needs of a specific group of at-risk students - Continued effort to implement reading/writing strategies

SCHOOL NAME: St. Mary Catholic Secondary School

SCHOOL INFORMATION

ADDRESS: PRINCIPAL: Adrian Della Mora

SUPERINTENDENT: Angela Gauthier

TRUSTEE: Barbara Poplawski680NO OF STUDENTS:

Kevin KobusDirector of Education

Oliver CarrollChair of the Board

66 Dufferin Park Ave

Toronto ON M6H 1J6

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Oliver Carroll,Director of Education Chair of the Board

PRIORITY: NURTURING OUR CATHOLIC COMMUNITY

GOALS: FAITH DEVELOPMENTTo create and celebrate Catholic Community where all proclaim the Good News of the Gospel and where Catholic beliefs are modelled and integrated into the whole learning experience.

SAFE, INCLUSIVE AND HEALTHY LEARNING ENVIRONMENTTo enhance the quality of the working and learning experience through improving schools and workplaces so that they contribute to positive health and respectful relationships.

INCREASING ENROLMENT AND RETENTION IN GRADES JK-12To support and implement a variety of local and system initiatives that actively enhance the school profile and promote the benefits of Catholic education.

PRIORITY: IMPROVING STUDENT LEARNING and ACHIEVEMENT

GOALS: LITERACYTo improve the overall level of students' literacy skills by enhancing their reading and writing proficiency through an interdisciplinary approach.

NUMERACY

To improve the overall level of students' Mathematical literacy skills through problem solving experiences that involve the application and communication of concepts in Mathematics.

SUCCESS FOR ALL

To improve opportunities for all our students to achieve their desired destinations through a variety of programs, supports, assessment strategies and pathways (apprenticeship, college, community living, university and the workplace).

PRIORITY: BUILDING CAPACITY TO LEAD and LEARN

GOALS: EMPOWERING CATHOLIC LEADERSHIPTo develop and support Catholic Educational Leaders who are energizing, caring, visionary, student-focused and collaborative role models in building a Catholic professional learning community.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPEMENT

To provide job-embedded professional development that focuses on broadening the range of skills, practices and attitudes needed to create sustainable improvement and better results.

OURMISSION

IN A SCHOOL COMMUNITY FORMED BY CATHOLIC

BELIEFS AND TRADITIONS, OUR MISSION IS TO

EDUCATE STUDENTS TO THEIR FULL POTENTIAL.

TORONTO CATHOLIC DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD

TRUSTEES 2005-2006

Wards1. Joseph Martino2. Ann Andrachuk3. Sal Piccininni4. Mary Cicogna5. Maria Rizzo6. Christine Nunziata7. John Del Grande, Honorary Treasurer8. Oliver Carroll, Chair9. Catherine LeBlanc-Miller, Vice-Chair10. Barbara Poplawski11. Angela Kennedy12. Paul John CrawfordAshley Pereira, Student Trustee

416-512-3401416-512-3402416-512-3403416-512-3404416-512-3405416-512-3406416-512-3407416-512-3408416-512-3409416-512-3410416-512-3411416-512-3412416-512-3413

Kevin Kobus,

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a) Evidence of Improvement:

Timeline:

Responsibility:

Resource:

Status:

- Greater number of students on Honour Roll

- Improved graduation rates

- Increased credit accumulation

- Increased number of students coming to St. Mary's from the Orientation Centre

Ongoing

Teacher, Vice Principal, Principal

School resources

In progress

1) Strategy: Support school-wide efforts to improve student outcomes including:

- celebrate improvement by recognizing student achievement via H.I.P.E. (Healthy Improvement

Promotes Excellence) Breakfasts

- Implement a Leadership Award based on a point system - awarded to graduating students

- Promote relationships and ease the transition to high school via a grade nine orientation camp

and August grade nine Jump Start Day hosted by senior student leaders

- empower senior students to act as mentors for younger students - S.M.A.R.T. (Senior Mentors

Aiming for Results and Teamwork) program through Homework Hub - after school remediation

- Mail out multi-lingual Early Warning Letters to maintain open and honest communication

- implement personal accountability model for students through our S.T.O.P. (Students Take On

Pride) Initiative

- Multicultural Day / Religion Retreats/Thanksgiving and Lenten Food Drive/Grade Eight Confirmation Retreat - promote inclusivity and celebrate uniqueness

9 - 12Division:

Safe, Inclusive and Healthy Learning EnvironmentGoal:To enhance the quality of the working and learning experience through improving schools and workplaces so that they contribute to positive healthy and respectful relationships.

Nurturing Our Catholic CommunityPriority:

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Timeline:

Responsibility:

Resource:

Status:

- Decreased levels of student suspension

Ongoing


School resources

In progress

2) Strategy: Support school-wide efforts to develop a partnership in education:

- Increase senior-level student participation in our E.S.P. program

- Implement Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) strategies to encourage student/teacher rapport

- Consider mitigating circumstances in order to address discipline issues involving identified

students

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Timeline:

Responsibility:

Resource:

Status:

- Decreased school leaver rates

- Increased pass rates in compulsory courses

- Increased student attendance rates

- Increased enrolment in Co-op related courses

- Increased enrolment in OYAP programs

Ongoing


School resources

In progress

1) Strategy:9 - 12Division:

Increasing Enrolment and Retention in Grades JK-12Goal:To support and implement a variety of local and system initiatives that actively enhance the school profile and promote the benefits of Catholic education.

Nurturing Our Catholic CommunityPriority:

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Timeline:

Responsibility:

Resource:

Status:

- Increased grade nine enrolment numbers

Academic Year


School resources

In progress

2) Strategy: - Liaising with elementary schools via

Math Fair/Math Jeopardy

- Physical Education Fun Day

- Provide information sessions designed to inform parents and highlight our commitment to

students success - Literacy Informaton Night and Grade Eight Open House

- Ensure that all grade nine students participate in a Grade Nine Orientation Camp in the Muskoka

area - raise funds to reduce costs

- Introduce a grade nine August Jump Start Day designed to welcome our new students before

the school year begins and ease the transition to high school

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In order to increase credit accumulation by the end of grade ten we plan to:

- flag students using Stanine 3 and below data to ensure proper grade nine level placement

- provide remediation in the form of mandatory attendance at after school tutorial centre

- monitor student progress via Student Success Teacher and encourage increased monitoring through Resource Department, where applicable

- use Success For All as a foundation to improve dialogue and mentorship between the elementary and secondary panels

Gap Analysis:

CAT3 - Grade 9 Cohort-National Stanine 3 & Below-20052006

In order to improve OSSLT success rates we plan to:

- use D.I.P. data to identify and provide remediation to students at-risk of being unsuccessful on the OSSLT

- conduct a recommendation meeting to illicit feedback from grade-specific teachers in order to provide appropriate accomodations for OSSLT-eligible students

-deliver intensive and timely literacy workshops before and after school to first-time and previously-eligible students

- utilize test session booklets 1 & 2 with all eligible students to improve students' preparedness

Gap Analysis:

EQAO Grade 10 OSSLT-20042005-Participating Students

9 - 12Division:

LiteracyGoal:To improve the overall level of students' literacy skills by enhancing their reading and writing proficiency through an interdisciplinary approach.

Improving Student Learning and AchievementPriority:

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Timeline:

Responsibility:

Resource:

Status:

- Improved pass rates on OSSLT and OSSLC

Academic Year

Principal, Coordinator

Teacher resources

In progress

2) Strategy:


Timeline:

Responsibility:

Resource:

Status:

Academic Year

Teacher, Principal

School resources

In progress

1) Strategy: - Identify areas of weakness in CAT 3 scores and design literacy tasks through the Literacy

Committee to address areas of need.

- Grade Nine Literacy pre-test to build confidence, proficiency and good time management skills

- L.I.F.T. program - infusion of technology to facilitate learning and enhance curriculum delivery

- Homework Hub - exam library to build confidence - subject-specific tutoring

- Unit-At-A-Glance sheets - as best practice to develop strong work ethic and study skills

- Diagnostic testing for grade eight ESL students and grade nine academic and applied students to

promote dialogue and appropriate course selections

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Timeline:

Responsibility:

Resource:

Status:

- Improved capacity in terms of teachers' abilities to teach reading, writing and communication skills

Academic Year


Board-wide resources

In progress

3) Strategy: - Adopt a cross-curricular approach to literacy - establish departmental best practices based on

Think Literacy activities

- Continued committment to PHAST program to address the needs of a specific group of at-risk

students

- Continued effort to implement reading/writing strategies for LDCC

- Implement a Discussion Day Model - introduce departmental specific reading/writing tasks

designed to increase discipline-specific literacy and enhance students' communication skills

- Liaising with elementary schools - 4 x .5 days devoted to professional dialogue and partnering

exercises

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In order to improve EQAO success rates we plan to:

- use D.I.P. data to identify and provide remediation to students at-risk of being unsuccessful on the grade 9 EQAO numeracy test

- conduct diagnostic testing to flag students at-risk of not achieving success at the chosen level and dialogue with parents to consider a level change

Gap Analysis:

EQAO Grade 9 Math-Academic-20042005-Participating Students

In order to increase credit accumulation by the end of grade ten we plan to:

- flag students using Stanine 3 and below data to ensure proper grade nine level placement

- provide remediation in the form of mandatory attendance at after school tutorial centre

- monitor student progress via Student Success Teacher and encourage increased monitoring through Resource Department where applicable

- Liaise with elementary schools to develop a better understanding of areas of the mathematics curriculum requiring further detailed instruction

Gap Analysis:

CAT3 - Grade 9 Cohort-National Stanine 3 & Below-20052006

9 - 12Division:

NumeracyGoal:To improve the overall level of students' Mathematical literacy skills through problem solving experiences that involve the application and communication of concepts in Mathematics.

Improving Student Learning and AchievementPriority:

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In order to improve EQAO success rates we plan to:

- use D.I.P. data to identify and provide remediation to students at-risk of being unsuccessful on the grade nine EQAO numeracy test

- monitor student attendance at lunch hour tutorial sessions designed to target students who are currently failing grade nine applied math

Gap Analysis:

EQAO Grade 9 Math-Applied-20042005-Participating Students


Timeline:

Responsibility:

Resource:

Status:

Academic Year

Teacher, Principal

School resources

In progress

1) Strategy: - Early semester one diagnostic testing to detect potential obstacles to success

- Use D.I.P. to identify students at-risk of being unsuccessful at the grade nine level and dialogue

with parents about next steps to ensure proper placement

- Strategic use of S.M.A.R.T. (Senior Mentors Aiming for Results and Teamwork) in Tutorial Center

to promote mentorship

- Cross-disciplinary infusion of science questions in math class to develop proficiency with science-

specific vocabulary

- Develop our gifted program at St. Raymond's - Math Olympics

- Provide after-school tutoring for our grade eight feeder schools

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Timeline:

Responsibility:

Resource:

Status:

- Improved results on summative assessment

Academic Year

Teacher, Principal

School resources

In progress

3) Strategy:


Timeline:

Responsibility:

Resource:

Status:

-Improved EQAO scores - Grade nine math

Academic Year


Student resources

In progress

2) Strategy:

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Timeline:

Responsibility:

Resource:

Status:

- Improved credit accumulation in LDCC and apllied level courses

Academic Year


School resources

In progress

2) Strategy:


Timeline:

Responsibility:

Resource:

Status:

- Evidence of greater repertoire of strategies used by teachers in the classroom

Academic Year


Board-wide resources

In progress

1) Strategy:9 - 12Division:

Professional DevelopmentGoal:To provide job-embedded professional development that focuses on broadening the range of skills, practices and attitudes needed to create sustainable improvement and better results.

Building Capacity to Lead and LearnPriority:

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Timeline:

Responsibility:

Resource:

Status:

- Greater number of teachers interested in pursuing positions of added responsibility

Academic Year

Principal

School resources

In progress

3) Strategy: - Invite teachers to commit to committee work in order to develop organizational skills

and enhance school spirit

- Promote mutually-beneficial mentorship through participation in student-teacher training programs - York University and University of Toronto

Documents

SCHOOL INFORMATION...- Continued committment to PHAST program to address the needs of a specific group of at-risk students - Continued effort to implement reading/writing strategies