St. Agnes Elementary School
Learning Plan
Mission *
Our Mission Statement:
St. Agnes Catholic School seeks to provide a school climate which fosters the Gospel values, enabling our students to maximize their potential to love, learn,
work and serve as Jesus did.
With the school, parents, students, and the church working together, we attain success by educating students to their full potential.
Motto
St. Agnes Catholic Elementary School in Brampton – “Excellence and Cooperation”
Catholic Focus
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St. Agnes Elementary School
Learning Plan
St. Agnes School’s Catholic Focus
St. Agnes Elementary School, which was opened in September 1989, located north of the centre of Brampton in Heart Lake at 103 Richvale Drive South.
The school was blessed on June 3, 1990. The school, which has approximately 270 students, emphasizes prayer life, liturgical celebrations, the sacraments,
and the Religion/Family Life programs. The school motto is "Excellence and Cooperation". The school is named after St. Agnes, who lived in Rome during
the early fourth century. She was martyred for not denying her faith even when faced with death at age thirteen. On her feast day, two lambs are blessed at
her church in Rome, and then their wool is woven into the palliums.
The Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board believes that the Catholic faith, as expressed through Gospel values, is the driving force in the board’s
community of learners, which includes five key groups: students; the parish, home and community; teachers and support staff; administrators and supervisory
officers; and trustees. The board strives to be a Christ-centred system in which all may work and learn in a supportive, inclusive, meaningful, and respectful
environment. Within the context of an authentic Catholic learning community, the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School board strives “…to provide students
with the opportunity to realize their potential and develop into highly skilled, knowledgeable, caring citizens who contribute to society.” The board is further
committed to:
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deepening the understanding, appreciation and practice of the Catholic Christian lifestyle, with Jesus as role model;
aligning a system-wide approach to Catholicity, whereby all educational practices are implemented through a Catholic lens;
developing graduates who are fully alive in Christ, “not only in terms of knowledge and skills, but in terms of values, attitudes and actions”;
encouraging unique approaches to support system priorities and the principal strands of faith education: prayer and liturgy; sacramentality; morality
and justice; and scripture and church.
As a diverse educational community responding to God’s call, Dufferin-Peel fosters and nourishes an inclusive atmosphere rooted in tradition and scripture.
The board continues to commit to the guiding principles of Learning for All: K-12 (draft) and to Dufferin-Peel’s Equity and Inclusive Education Policy
(developed in accordance with the provincial Equity and Inclusive Education Strategy), while:
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being authentic witnesses to our Catholic faith;
being responsible stewards of God’s grace in the world;
respecting human dignity;
modelling all learners after Jesus, as ministers of compassion and service.
To strengthen its Catholic identity, Dufferin-Peel will continue to develop opportunities for faith formation of students and staff, together with an educational
program which strives to integrate the board’s fundamental beliefs and values into all of its endeavours.
Core Principles
Catholicity
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Classroom prayer centres established and become an interactive presence for the students, with the changes of the liturgical calendar reflected in
colours and symbols of our Faith
Our community prayers during opening exercises each day will include student involvement and leadership, and prayers will reflect the virtues and the
liturgical calendar, and the richness of a variety of types of prayer, including music, traditional, and children’s themes
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St. Agnes Elementary School
Learning Plan
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We will support ShareLife, the Knight’s Table, the Heart and Stroke Foundation and global outreach, and we will conduct food drives to help local
families in need
Our teachers will integrate the morals and teachings of our Faith in all subject areas and aspects of our students’ days, and faithfully provide students
with the rich experiences of our Religion and Family Life programs.
Learning Environment
EQAO Primary division (Grade 3) assessment performance.
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Primary Reading: 86%
Primary Writing: 89%
Primary Mathematics: 83%
Observations regarding school progress in primary EQAO: 3-year rolling averages of results in all three areas are rising, spanning the last 5 years.
Results are well above board and provincial averages in the last two years in all three areas.
EQAO junior division (Grade 6) assessment performance.
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Junior Reading: 80%
Junior Writing: 83%
Junior Mathematics: 68%
Observations regarding school progress in junior EQAO: 3-year rolling averages show continuous improvement.
Community supports and opportunities for life-long learning.
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Ongoing teaching & learning, support and reinforcement of the expectations for the Image of the Learner (Institute of Catholic Education), shaped by
our Catholic faith and gospel traditions and embedded throughout the Catholic Curriculum and resource materials, to support the acquisition of the
Ontario Catholic School Graduation Expectations and knowledge, skills and values, for life- long learning
Student achievement and well-being of all learners
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Staff implements the Ontario Curriculum as the basis for teaching and learning
Implementation of Raz Kids on-line access to current books at school and home
Tutors in the classroom
After-school homework help
Bullying Prevention Programs (Peel Public Health, police and Arts in the School presenters)
Professional Learning Communities are formed with inquiry based learning opportunities for staff, and to enhance student learning
Reading Buddies to promote the development and love of reading
Teaching Learning Cycles are designed to inform teaching/assessment practices, e.g., school & board wide assessments; Diagnostic, Formative and
Summative, formal assessments, e.g., PM Benchmarks, CASI, CAT 3, classroom assessments etc., and informal assessments, e.g., observations, are
implemented to identify student strengths/needs, enhance student outcomes and support professional growth for staff
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St. Agnes Elementary School
Learning Plan
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Student IEPs are developed to support ‘at risk’, and exceptional learner needs and, learning opportunities for growth
Staff participate in School/Family/Board wide professional development opportunities to learn best practices
Transition meetings and conferences are organized to support the transition of learners into Kindergarten, from grade to grade, from elementary into
secondary schools and for students at risk
Support Services Team: Special Education Teachers, Educational Resource Workers, Psychologist, Social Worker, Speech and Language
Pathologists, Child and Youth Worker, Nurses, Occupational and Physical Therapists, Board-wide services
Data collection and analysis
Community Engagement
Catholic School Council
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School Council election information is sent home to all parents/guardians
Opportunities to become involved in volunteer activities, field trips, special celebrations, sports trip supervision, milk program, and many special events
foster participation in the school
School administration involvement and support for Council, visibility and accessibility, and open door policy is intended to provide a welcoming,
inclusive school climate
The provision of opportunities to support the involvement of all community stakeholders
Communication is continually provided to invite informal participation in Council activities and meetings by all parents
Parent Engagement events provided for parent participation
Community partnerships and collaborative relationships
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Students are provided with opportunities to build on in-school experiences and activities to further explore personal interests, strengths and
destinations, e.g., participation in out-of school excursions, retreats, school sports teams, dance, Arts in the School Programs, Secondary School
Orientation Programs, Student Leadership opportunities, e.g., Office/Classroom helpers, support for a range of Educational Pathways for students
transitioning into Elementary School from the home, from grade to grade, from Elementary to Secondary School, and for those ‘at risk’ and/or identified
as exceptional learners.
Through support for the delivery of enhanced curriculum provided by community partners, Peel Health, Youth Education Officer class and school wide
program and R.A.I.D, (Reduce Abuse in Drugs), etc.
Support for Parent/Adult learners through participation in the School Volunteer Program, Catholic School Council, CCCSC Family of Schools Meetings,
etc.
Brampton Parks & Recreation Lunchtime Programs
Cyber Bullying Awareness evening
Gideon Bible Program
University teacher training program (C. Sturt University)
Secondary School Co-op Program student placements
Junior Achievement presentations for students
Eye See Eye program (free eyeglasses for kindergarten students)
Medic Alert program
Welcome to Kindergarten program
Use grants to promote the appreciation and celebration of the diversity of our community and provide all students with a sense of equal and full
belonging
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St. Agnes Elementary School
Learning Plan
Parish-Home-School
St. Agnes school promotes the engagement and active participation of the parish and home as a fundamental component of student success.
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St. Agnes School community celebrates Masses, the Sacraments and liturgies together at St. Leonard Church, and in the school, with the nurturing of
strong student and staff involvement
Our community will continue to be blessed with the unique experience of the presence of the Holy Eucharist in our school chapel on first Fridays of the
month, and students will have the opportunity to visit and pray.
Continued food drives at Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter, in support of families in need in our community, in cooperation with St. Leonard Parish
outreach campaigns.
Physical Environment
Promotion of good stewardship
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The enhancement of our school wide recycling program - ECO School Certification
Implementation of curriculum e.g., geography, science, religion, family life programs that foster ‘respect for life’ and stewardship of resources
Purchasing of resources that reflect the diversity within the school
Brampton Clean City
Earth Day and presentations
Continue “green” initiatives with strong student involvement
Financial responsibility.
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Allocation of funds for learner needs aligned with the school learning plan, e.g., the purchase of new literacy and numeracy resources, etc.
Maintain a balanced budget
Allocation of a portion of fundraising monies to charitable initiatives (main charity for the year is “Heart and Stroke Foundation”)
Through the encouragement of the reduction of paper use
School Fundraisers for specific, publicly communicated purposes
Ensure compliance with Board guidelines for financial accountability
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St. Agnes Elementary School
Learning Plan
Creating Catholic Conditions for Well-Being, Learning and Leading
Outcomes
1.0 CCCC: By June 2016, the proportion of students indicating they feel safe and accepted all or most of the time at school will increase.
Action Plans
Bullying Prevention and School Safety
SEF 2.5: Student Well-being
SEF 3.1: Teaching and Learning Environment
SEF 6.3: School and Community Partnerships
Building Collaborative Practices Through Inquiry
Outcomes
2.0 By June 2016, there will be a movement towards developing a school culture focused on a growth mindset to help support the Board Mathematics Strategic
Plan.
Action Plans
Collaborative Inquiry
Collaborative Inquiry Approach
SEF 2.1: Collaborative Instructional Leadership
SEF 3.1: Teaching and Learning Environment
SEF 4.4: Student Inquiry
Enhancing Transitional Practices
Outcomes
3.0 By 2016, there will be full implementation of the Individual Pathway Planning (IPP), including transitional plans for all students.
Action Plans
Pathways and Transitions: By June 2016, the graduation rate will increase.
SEF 5.1: Transition and Career Planning
SEF 5.3: Transition Awareness
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St. Agnes Elementary School
Learning Plan
Knowing the Learner through Assessment
Outcomes
4.0 By 2016, there will be an increased understanding and use of, assessment for and as learning amongst educators.
Action Plans
Collaborative Inquiry
Literacy - Guided Reading -creating conditions for student well-being and growth in mindset
Numeracy - 3-part math lesson
SEF 1.2: Use of Assessment Data
SEF 1.3: Learning Goals and Success Criteria
Responding through Effective Instruction
Outcomes
5.0 By 2016, student achievement and engagement in the areas of literacy and numeracy will increase.
Action Plans
Collaborative Inquiry
Literacy - Guided Reading -creating conditions for student well-being and growth in mindset
Numeracy - 3-part math lesson
SEF 4.2 Literacy and Numeracy Practice
SEF 4.4: Student Inquiry
Outcome Timeframe
Action Plan Priority
Long-term
High
Medium-term
Medium
Short-term
Low
Not Assigned
Not Assigned
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