St. Andrew Elementary School
Learning Plan
Mission *
Mission Statement
We believe that each member of the St. Andrew School community is unique, special and has a positive contribution to make to society. We aspire to be
living examples of Christ’s message of love, serving as role models in the Christian formation of all members of the community.
We endeavour to “touch the hearts” and minds of those with whom we work, and in co-operation with parents and the parish priest, we will assist children in
their own personal development of faith in their appreciation and understanding of the Gospel values.
Together, we will provide a friendly and caring environment which inspires academic excellence, fosters self-esteem, and promotes respect for others.
We believe that education is a life-long process involving physical, intellectual, emotional, social and spiritual development. To this end, we will strive to
promote the full development of children in the image of God.
Motto
"Living, Learning and Serving God Together"
Catholic Focus
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St. Andrew Elementary School
Learning Plan
St. Andrew Catholic School Focus
St. Andrew School is a Catholic elementary school, which has a present enrolment of 407 students from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 8. The school draws its
students from Dufferin County. St. Andrew School is the host school for the Extended French Program in our area and currently offers classes for Grade 5, 6,
7 and 8 students.
Our school strives to offer a rich academic and spiritual educational experience for all students. Our students are challenged to use their abilities to the fullest
in the areas of academics, Catholicity, athletics, and service to others. The St. Andrew School community is proud of its varied involvement in works of charity
as we try to live the Gospel message daily. The school community is committed to the search for excellence, the uniqueness of the individual and the
education of the whole person.
Parents are active in our school, both as volunteers, and through their participation on the Catholic School Council. The Parent Appreciation Social in June
celebrates the involvement of the many parents who have volunteered their time and effort throughout the school year – to read with students in classrooms,
to organize and assist with various fund-raising activities and supervise school excursions. Students, staff and parents cooperatively work together to create
and maintain a strong and supportive Catholic school community where our school’s mission statement is lived each and every day.
We are a caring community that stresses acceptance of others, commitment to our Catholic faith and high academic standards. We provide a safe and
comfortable learning environment where models of Gospel values and Catholic doctrines, teachings and beliefs are an integral part of the daily life of our
school. All activities at the school — academic and pastoral work, extracurricular and intra-curricular, prayer and worship, administration and management —
help to prepare our students for their lives as Catholics in the community.
Our students come to us with a variety of strengths and needs, with their Catholic faith as their common bond. Our prayer life, liturgical celebrations, the
sacraments, and our faith and values system form the foundation of our school program. We are proud of our balanced religion, academic, arts, technology
and athletics program. We offer students a well-rounded and value-centered education to help them make good choices for the future. The curriculum
planned and provided in the school is broad, balanced and relevant to the needs and aspirations of all our students. A wide range of subjects and learning
experiences are offered to develop the skills, abilities and talents of individual students. Accordingly, appropriate assessment procedures are employed
regularly to motivate and encourage student success. To ensure coherence and wholeness, subjects are taught against the background of The Ontario
Curriculum, the Gospel values of Jesus Christ and sound educational practices.
Core Principles
Catholicity
1. The school community models, celebrates and nourishes gospel values in the teaching and learning of our Christ-centred programs and
services by:
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Continuing to promote positive school initiatives and engagements such as (Green Schools/ECO Schools, Teacher Candidate placements, Co-op
students, Healthy Schools initiatives/Fitness Challeges, parent volunteers)
Promoting and fostering an active Youth Faith Ambassador Team to address issues of acceptance, diversity and bullying through school-wide and
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St. Andrew Elementary School
Learning Plan
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divisional presentations, announcements and visual messages
Continuing to embrace social justice and community outreach projects (Share Life/United Way, Food Drive collections, St. Vincent de Paul, Terry Fox,
Earth Rangers, Outreach for Haiti through Access)
Continuing to provide school/divisional presentations with a focus on our virtues of respect and acceptance (e.g. "In My Shoes" and "Power of One")
Supporting the virtues program by using our Virtue/Peace Tree to recognize the positive actions of our students.
Virtues education and developing a sacred space within the classroom
Continuing to make the celebration of the Eucharist and Liturgies central in all that we do.
Embracing the New Roman Missal
Learning Environment
1. The school’s most recent EQAO primary division (Grade 3) assessment performance:
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Primary Reading: 75%
Primary Writing: 88%
Primary Mathematics: 66%
Observations regarding school progress in EQAO: Primary EQAO results would incicate continued success in Reading and Writing . Mathematics will
continue to be a focus.
2. The school’s most recent EQAO junior division (Grade 6) assessment performance.
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Junior Reading: Junior Reading: 86%
Junior Writing: 81%
Junior Mathematics: 64%
Observations regarding school progress in EQAO Junior EQAO results indicate continued success in Reading and Writing. Mathematics will continue
to be a focus.
3. The school community supports and provides opportunities for life-long learning by:
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Providing professional learning materials to support the curriculum and school priorities for Literacy and Numeracy
Differentiated instruction approach to teaching and learning. In responding to each learner as an individual, their learning needs and interests, we
support the students in their anticipation of their future roles within the world
Extensive use of Assistive Technology (i.e. Introduction of Wi-Fi and 'Bring Your Own Devices' and new iPads for classroom use)
Ongoing professional learning among staff: e.g. Literacy/numeracy inservices, technology, Science, Arts
Staff contribute to a collaborative culture that supports a high standard of achievement for all learners through Teacher-Learning-Critical-Pathway
(TLPC).
Math Homework Help Line for Grades 7 and 8
Transition Planning for Grade 8 to Grade 9
EQAO After School Tutoring program for Grade 3 and Grade 6
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St. Andrew Elementary School
Learning Plan
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Cross panel Transition meetings
Welcome to Kindergarten Evening
Secondary - Co-op Students supporting within the classrooms
Support Teacher Candidates with in the school
4. The school demonstrates commitment to continuous improvement in student achievement and supports the well-being of all learners by:
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Student generated achor charts to support their learning
Integration meetings with special education teacher to plan for next steps for our diverse learners
Staff involvement in the Teaching and Learning Cycle and teacher moderation
Continuing to develop TLCP to focus on student learning needs and to develop SMART Goals and next steps to plan instruction
Continuing to use student data to guide instruction and develop SMART goals
Continuing to explore the use of SMART Board technology to support our diverse learners.
Implementing "Focus on Five" to support guided teaching practice
The diagnostic analysis of all data to steer the direction for instruction for student success
Implementation and integration of high yield strategies and precision teachin.
school budget reflects a committment to literacy and numeracy focuses
Community Engagement
1. The school community ensures that Catholic School Councils reflect the diverse Catholic community by:
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Encouraging volunteers and celebrating their involvement within the community
Continuing to support and encourage parents to participate on the School Council and/or attend Council meetings/community presentations
Promote a Parish Represenative on the School Council
Supporting School Council funds to create and promote classrooms and school resources that reflect the diverse nature of our community
Supporting and communicating activities and initiatives planned through the School Council, Parish, Board and local community that promote our
diversity
To foster and build a good relationship/ partnership with all members and cultures within the school community
To support and advocate that the Catholic School Council receives resources required to fullfil its role
2. The school team builds and sustains community partnerships and collaborative relationships) by:
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To develop a partnership in the role of their child’s learning experiences.
Parents are encouraged to be involved in their child’s learning i.e. being volunteers, attending School Council meetings, participating in school events,
etc.
Encouraging the School Council liase with outside agencies in order to address family and community concerns
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St. Andrew Elementary School
Learning Plan
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Orangeville Police - Internet Safety/Social Networking Discussions
Peer Mediators
Dufferin County Recycling Visits to the School
Promoting student/teacher leadership (e.g. Youth Faith Ambassadors, Peer Buddies/Peer Mediators)
Parish-Home-School
1. The school promotes the engagement and active participation of the parish and home as a fundamental component of student success by:
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Affirm that the local parish is an essential part of the Catholic school community, (ensure that parish events and dates are communicated through
monthly school newsletter or school communication).
Participation in social justice projects, (food drives, Sharelife activities). Invite parish team to participate in school based activities, ( school
celebrations, Liturgical celebrations etc.)
Work closely with the parish team to foster a rich Liturgical and Sacramental life within the school.
Encouraged parents to be part of the Sacramental preparation
Physical Environment
1. The school engages in that models and promotes good stewardship of resources by:
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Being responsible stewards of the world through conservation of our resources. (Eco-Team, recycling, schoolyard clean up, etc.)
Being financially responsible by allocating resources to educate and promote a safe, caring and inclusive school that acknowledges that we are a
Christ centered community visible to all who enter the school.
School presentations and field trips that promote preservation and awareness of environmental issues (e.g. Earth Rangers).
To ensure the school and its activities reflect the healthy and safe school initiatives.
2. Ways the school demonstrates financial responsibility.
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Budget allocation will align with school priorities for student achievement.
Continue to fund essential services, materials and programs in a fiscal responsible manner. (ie: students’ resources, staff supplies, staff resources, etc)
Regular review of expenditures and budget decision- making processes to determine relevance to student achievements, programs and resources and
physical environment of the school
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St. Andrew Elementary School
Learning Plan
Creating Catholic Conditions for Well-Being, Learning and Leading
Outcomes
1.0 By June 30, 2016, there will be an increase in successful practices that support well-being, by increasing the proportion of students indicating that they feel
accepted by students in the school.
Action Plans
Building Collaborative Practices Through Inquiry
Outcomes
2.0 By June, 2016, there will be an increase in successful practices that support the school's collaborative inquiry. Evidence of growth will be demonstrated by an
increase in student achievement and personal well being.
Action Plans
Enhancing Transitional Practices
Outcomes
3.0 By June 2016, all students will be provded with appropriate transition and pathway options in collaboration with parents to meet the diverse learning needs
of students.
Action Plans
Knowing the Learner through Assessment
Outcomes
4.0 By June, 2016, our team of learners will include the six Assessment For and As Learning Practices as outlined in Growing Success and will actively engage
students in the assessment process.
Action Plans
Responding through Effective Instruction
Outcomes
5.0 By June 2016, teachers will emphasize the process of problem solving and teach students to use problem solving strategies and critical thinking in order for
students to approach Inquiry-Based Learning.
Action Plans
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St. Andrew Elementary School
Learning Plan
Outcome Timeframe
Action Plan Priority
Long-term
High
Medium-term
Medium
Short-term
Low
Not Assigned
Not Assigned
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