St. Joan of Arc Catholic Secondary School
Learning Plan
Mission *
The mission of the St. Joan of Arc Catholic Secondary School community is to:
Be a faith-centered, inviting, interactive, collaborative, safe community dedicated to excellence in teaching and learning; communicate and model a Catholic
Faith that gives witness to the teachings of Jesus Christ; commit to ensuring students establish a personal connection to the school; encourage students to
develop values, skills, and confidence necessary in becoming lifelong learners; embody enthusiasm, pride, and respect as individuals and as members of a
larger diverse community; value the contribution of students, staff, parents, the parish, and community at large. As a teenager, St. Joan of Arc exemplified
incredible courage, spirit, commitment, and confidence in her faith and in her actions. These characteristics are reflected in words spoken by St. Joan of Arc,
“I fear nothing, for God is with me,” and, through our school motto:
COURAGE TO BELIEVE
Motto
"Courage to Believe"
Catholic Focus
St. Joan of Arc Catholic Secondary School, which is located at 3801 Thomas Street, was completed and opened in February of 2007 in the fast-growing
Churchill Meadow Community. In the current school year, 2015/16, it has 1124 students. The school blends the new and the traditional and has the Churchill
Meadows branch of the Mississauga Library System attached to its facility. The partnership gives St. Joan of Arc students access to library resources all over
Mississauga.
In May 2009 three large stained glass panels were installed in the chapel and blessed; they had been designed by an art teacher and made by the schools’
Society of Fine Artists under the guidance of a stained glass artist with Visual Arts Mississauga.
The school works to infuse the Gospel in all areas and to live out its motto, “Courage to Believe.” The motto is based on characteristics of the school’s patron
saint. As a teenager, St. Joan of Arc exemplified courage, spirit, commitment, and confidence both in her faith and in her actions.
St. Joan of Arc Catholic Secondary School is blessed to have St. Josephine Bakhita Parish housed in its building. The student expression of faith includes
caring for the poor. A social justice group, VOICE (Venturing Out In Christ’s Eyes) has filled backpacks to give to Canadian Food for Children, while a Lenten
highlight is the 24-Hour Faithfast in which more than 100 students Fast and go to bed "hungry", to raise money to help feed people who go hungry. Students
have also travelled to the Yukon to raise awareness of Aboriginal issues and to assist with repairs to a local retreat centre.
Core Principles
Catholicity
The school community models, celebrates and nourishes gospel values in the teaching and learning of our Christ-centred programs and services through:
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St. Joan of Arc Catholic Secondary School
Learning Plan
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liturgical celebrations
participation in social justice initiatives (Mission Trip to the Yukon, volunteering at Dr. Simone’s Food for Children Warehouse, collections for various
global relief efforts.) VOICE (Venturing Out In Christ’s Eyes) support local (Eden) food bank
the "Virtue of the Month" Speaker Series and Recognition Program
Learning Environment
EQAO Grade 9 mathematics assessment performance
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Grade 9 Academic Mathematics: 87%
Grade 9 Applied Mathematics: 66%
Results for the Applied Program have improved significantly.
The school’s most recent Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) performance.
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OSSLT results for First-Time Eligible Students: 91%
OSSLT results for Previously Eligible Students: 57%
Results for both First-Time Eligible Students and Previously Eligible Students continue to exceed the Provincial and Board averages
The school community supports and provides opportunities for life-long learning:
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by providing students enrichment opportunities outside of the classroom;
by supporting and encouraging Parenting/Educational workshops opportunities for Catholic School Council and community members;
through PD opportunities aligned to our Catholic Board Learning Plan and System Directions, sought and supported for all Staff;
through Professional Learning Communities established in a variety of areas and supported by Administration;
The school demonstrates commitment to continuous improvement in student achievement and supports the well-being of all learners through:
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parent information night in preparation for the OSSLT;
programming specific to improvement in literacy results;
the establishment and support of Catholic Community Culture and Caring Action Team;
after school help programs for EQAO, OSSLT and Math Tests;
the grade 9 summer Math Camp;
extensive transitioning from Gr. 8 to Gr. 9;
the implementation of a Peer Transition Program for grade 9 students
open dialogue with feeder schools focused on student achievement;
PD opportunities for staff to maximize use of high yield strategies in the classroom.
Community Engagement
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St. Joan of Arc Catholic Secondary School
Learning Plan
Our school community ensures that Catholic School Councils reflects the diverse Catholic community by:
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working in conjunction with the assigned Settlement Worker to provide opportunity for Newcomers to attend and participate in Catholic School Council
meetings;
communication with the home in the form of Website, Syner-voice, flyers and sign board to maximize parent participation; twitter
The school team has built and sustains community partnerships and collaboratives with :
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EatSmart initiative in collaboration with Peel Health
Peel Children and Youth Initiative
The Neighbourhood Police Unit Program
Breakfast Club, providing breakfast for needy students
Biotech Research, research partnership between students and science based research facilities (Sick Kids, Princess Margaret Hospitals) allowing SJA
students the opportunity to conduct in-depth research under the supervision of research professionals.
First Robotics
Special Olympics Ontario
Best Buddies
Parish-Home-School
The school promotes the engagement and active participation of the parish and home as a fundamental component of student success by ensuring the
following:
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the Parish shares the school facility for all masses while the parish is being built;
by maintaining close communication/networking with Parish Priest and Parish Team;
providing opportunities for Parish Youth Minister to interact with students within the school;
availability of a Parish Link on the school website;
open communication with the home regarding student achievement;
reinforcing the importance of the Parish/Home/School connection.
Physical Environment
The school models and promotes good stewardship of resources through the following:
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Green Industries Classes host tree plantings;
active Environmental Club;
active Recycling program throughout the school;
students led recycling initiative during lunches;
participation in the EcoSource Green School Program;
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St. Joan of Arc Catholic Secondary School
Learning Plan
The school demonstrates financial responsibility by:
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adhering to all Board financial policies and procedures;
striving to achieve an annual balanced budget;
purchasing and utilizing technology that supports ministry outcomes;
ensuring that Ministry funds are spent with a focus on student achievement;
ensuring the facility is maintained to provide a safe and clean environment for learning.
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St. Joan of Arc Catholic Secondary School
Learning Plan
Creating Catholic Conditions for Well-Being, Learning and Leading
Outcomes
1.1 By 2016, there will be a decrease in the proportion of students reporting that they have been bullied, as demonstrated by the CCCC School Climate Survey
results.
Action Plans
Bullying Prevention
Building Collaborative Practices Through Inquiry
Outcomes
2.1 By 2016, there will be an increase in the proportion of teachers who are confident in applying their knowledge of practices that support collaborative inquiry.
Action Plans
Collaborative Inquiry Process
Enhancing Transitional Practices
Outcomes
3.1 By 2016, there will be an increase in the proportion of students, per applicable cohort, successfully completing their respective secondary program
requirements.
Action Plans
My Blueprint
Specialist High Skills Major Program (SHSM)
Knowing the Learner through Assessment
Outcomes
4.1 By 2016, there will be an increase in the proportion of students able to articulate strategies supporting their learning, as demonstrated by perceptual data
surveys.
Action Plans
Alignment of learning goals, success criteria, descriptive feedback. and Ontario Catholic School Graduate Expectations.
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St. Joan of Arc Catholic Secondary School
Learning Plan
Responding through Effective Instruction
Outcomes
5.1 By 2016, there will be an increase in the proportion of students in the applied program achieving level 3 or 4 on the grade 9 Math EQAO assessment and
successfully completing the OSSLT.
Action Plans
Guided Practice
Three-Part Lesson
Outcome Timeframe
Action Plan Priority
Long-term
High
Medium-term
Medium
Short-term
Low
Not Assigned
Not Assigned
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