St. Thomas Aquinas Secondary School
Learning Plan
Mission *
St. Thomas Aquinas Secondary School aspires to be a truly Catholic community where the ideals of Jesus Christ are both taught and witnessed, where staff,
students, parents and clergy are respectful and appreciative of each other’s gifts, where everyone is mutually caring and supportive, feels welcome, accepted,
loved and challenged to live the Christian ideal. We aspire to be an educational community where everyone is a learner, a teacher, and a leader responsible
for providing each other with opportunities for growth.
Motto
Faith - Hope - Love
Catholic Focus
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.
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St. Thomas Aquinas Secondary School
Learning Plan
Core Principles
Catholicity
1. How does the school community model, celebrate and nourish gospel values in the teaching and learning of our Christ-centred programs and services?
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School staff and student leaders model strong faith connections
Four school masses throughout the year
Weekly Mass in the Chapel
Promote Catholic Code of Conduct
Daily prayer and reflections, both school wide and in individual classrooms and activities
Sacred space in classrooms
Faith based images displayed through the school building and campus
Chaplaincy Team (which includes staff, student, parish and community representatives)
Religious focused retreats are organized on a grade by grade basis
Comprehensive Grade Nine retreat day that accommodates all grade nine students (composed of a number of activities that focused on Gospel
values, community building, our Board’s Virtues Program and principles of anti-discrimination)
Girls Night In / Boys Night In events
Thinkfast event
March For Life
Sharelife committee and fundraisers
Terry Fox Run
Inside Ride
Social Justice initiatives (e.g. Cambodia trip, Knights Table, Christmas Baskets, food drives)
Music Ministry
Group counselling sessions by Social Workers, School Psychologists and Child and Youth Workers to promote students' mental health
Get Ready Program
Educational Leadership and Peer Tutoring courses (IDC4U1 and GPP3O1)
Adult Faith Development Opportunities
Learning Environment
1. Please summarize the school’s most recent EQAO Grade 9 mathematics assessment performance.
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Grade 9 Academic Mathematics: 82% of students were successful
Grade 9 Applied Mathematics: 52% of students were successful
Observations regarding school progress on EQAO Mathematics:
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We will continue to focus on improving student well-being and achievement through school wide implementation of numerous evidence based
instructional strategies, additional tools and classroom structures (i.e., TIPS Program).
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St. Thomas Aquinas Secondary School
Learning Plan
2. Please summarize the school’s most recent Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) performance.
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OSSLT results for First-Time Eligible Students: 82%
OSSLT results for Previously Eligible Students: 46%
Observations regarding school progress on the OSSLT:
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The school implemented many new initiatives last year to help increase the practice of literacy across the curriculum.
The school will expand on the best practices from last year in order to further solidify the importance of literacy and EQAO preparation
3. Describe how the school community supports and provide opportunities for life-long learning.
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Promotion of experiential learning opportunities in all subject areas
Promotion of Cooperative Education for all senior students
Educational Leadership and Peer Tutoring courses
Exposure to the arts, athletics and technology
Availability of a variety of leadership opportunities for all students
Staff Professional Development
Conference funding for both staff and students
Faith development
Guest speakers / motivational speakers
Exposure to First Nation, Metis, and Inuit (FNMI) culture in main stream programming and alternative education courses
4. Outline ways the school demonstrates commitment to continuous improvement in student achievement and supports the well-being of all learners.
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Implementation of a school wide Collaborative Inquiry
After school extra help sessions in core subject areas
After school literacy workshops
Promotion of Differentiated Instruction in all classrooms
Effective use of Student Success Teachers and initiatives
Promotion of Wi-Fi and emergent technology in many classes (Interactive white boards, Tablets, Graphing calculators, Geographic Information System
- GIS, Student Response System, etc.)
Educational Leadership and Peer Tutoring courses
Hand timetabling for students with unique and diverse learning needs
Use of automated phone system to inform parents of upcoming evaluation periods and mark reporting cycles
Celebration of student achievement via academic awards
Promotion of Safe Schools policies and practices via the Catholic Community, Culture and Caring Action Team (CCCCAT)
Community Engagement
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St. Thomas Aquinas Secondary School
Learning Plan
1. How does your school community ensure that Catholic School Councils reflect the diverse Catholic community?
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Monthly Catholic School Council meetings
Open meeting format that ensures a welcoming environment where all parents feel comfortable attending and contributing
Catholic School Council has an effective communication system that utilized email, the school’s website, the school’s electronic sign, auto-dialer
system
Strong connection between the local parishes and the Catholic School Council
2. In what ways does the school team build and sustain community partnerships and collaboratives ?
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Cultivates partnerships with a variety of community organizations (Rising Stars, Fair Chance Learning, Brampton Parks and Recreation, Youth
Assisting Youth)
Organizes a variety of events that welcome the greater community into the school (i.e. Culturefest, Harvest Fest)
Inviting community members to attend a variety of performances within the Regional Arts Program (i.e. drama performances at the Rose Theatre,
musical performances at the school, dance performances at the Rose Theatre and the Lester B. Pearson Theatre)
Parish-Home-School
1. Comment on how the school promotes the engagement and active participation of the parish and home as a fundamental component of student success.
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Retreat program
Parent / Teacher Conference Night
Grade 8 Parents Night
Academic Awards Night
Commencement
Mass and Liturgy for staff on Professional Development Days
School masses, weekly liturgies, sacramental awareness
Catholic School Council (Parish Representatives)
Physical Environment
1. What activities does the school engage in that models and promote good stewardship of resources?
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In school recycling program
ECO Club and other school leadership teams cleaning up the school campus and the surrounding community
Involvement in community outreach opportunities such as:
1. Participation in Habitat for Humanity
2. Community tree planting
3. Regional Arts Program Visual Arts students painting underpasses in Brampton parks
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St. Thomas Aquinas Secondary School
Learning Plan
2. Outline the ways the school demonstrates financial responsibility.
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Full compliance with the Board’s financial policies and procedures
Tracking of expenditures using Board approved accounting software
Promotion of economical ways to communicate (use of school website, of auto-dialer phone system, newsletters, use of electronic sign)
Transparent fiscal reporting
Ethical fundraising in line with Board policies and expectations of the Archdiocese of Toronto
On-going exploration of opportunities to save money and secure accountability
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St. Thomas Aquinas Secondary School
Learning Plan
Creating Catholic Conditions for Well-Being, Learning and Leading
Outcomes
1.0 By June 2016, there will be an increase in the proportion of students that feel accepted at school and cared for by an adult in the school, as demonstrated by
CCCC School climate surveys.
Action Plans
AIM - Aquinas Mentorship
Annual Boys Night In
Annual Get Ready Program
Annual Girls Night In
Special Services Programs
STAMP - STA Mentorship Program
Supporting Successful Transitions
Building Collaborative Practices Through Inquiry
Outcomes
2.0 By June 2016, there will be an increase in the proportion of Department Heads who are confident to apply knowledge gained through professional learning
opportunities in collaboration with colleagues through the Family Professional Development sessions.
Action Plans
Department Head Leadership Initiative
Enhancing Transitional Practices
Outcomes
3.0 By June 2016, there will be an increase in the proportion of students that remain on track in the area of credit accumulation in order to graduate within four
years.
Action Plans
Alternative Education - Native Studies
Annual Assistive Technology and Learning Strategies Institute
Classroom Resource Enhancements
Course Field Trip Enhancements
FCL: Using Technology to support differentiated teaching and learning
Tutors for Grade 9 Locally Developed Classes
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St. Thomas Aquinas Secondary School
Learning Plan
Knowing the Learner through Assessment
Outcomes
4.0 By June 2016, there will be an increase in the proportion of educators who gained further understanding of assessment for, of, and as learning, including
instructional strategies such as Learning Goals and Success Criteria.
Action Plans
Departmental Professional Learning Cycle
Responding through Effective Instruction
Outcomes
5.0 By June 2016, the percentage of students successful on the OSSLT and EQAO Math will be greater or equal to that of the board average.
Action Plans
After School Literacy Classes
Assistive Technology - OSSLT Preparation
Grade 9 and 10 Practice Literacy Test
Grade 9 and 10 School Wide Literacy Activities
Math Professional Learning Cycles
Outcome Timeframe
Action Plan Priority
Long-term
High
Medium-term
Medium
Short-term
Low
Not Assigned
Not Assigned
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