St. Joseph (Mississauga)
Learning Plan
Mission *
As a Catholic community, St. Joseph School follows the teachings of Jesus to foster a joy of learning and an appreciation of self and others through the cooperative efforts of home, school and church.
It is our mission at St. Joseph School to provide students with a Christ-centred environment that supports all members in the development of their full
potential through spiritual and academic opportunities. St. Joseph School provides a rich learning environment that recognizes the unique and close nature of
our Catholic community and promotes acceptance, respect and academic excellence. We place children first.
All members of our whole community are engaged in celebrating learning, providing the best possible experience for our students to reach all of the Catholic
Graduate Expectations.
Motto
We C.A.R.E.: Catholic Community, Acceptance, Respect, Excellence
Catholic Focus
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St. Joseph (Mississauga)
Learning Plan
St. Joseph's Catholic Focus
The Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board and St. Joseph Catholic Elementary School believe 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 and St. Joseph Catholic Elementary School strive 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 and St. Joseph Catholic Elementary School strives “…to provide students with the opportunity to
realize their potential and develop into highly skilled, knowledgeable, caring Canadian citizens who contribute to society.” The board and St. Joseph Catholic
Elementary School are 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.
St. Joseph Catholic Elementary School is located in the heart of Streetsville, a small village on The Credit River. St. Joseph was a four room school when it
opened to 115 students in December 1956 and was blessed on November 25, 1962. As the student population grew, additions were built in 1959, 1964 and
1969. Today we have 14 classrooms and boast a student population of 323 students. During the school year we focus on building the relationship between
school, home and parish. We actively participate in the St. Joseph Parish as our students can walk to the church for retreats and school masses. Our
Parish Priests, Father Marc-Andre and Father Joseph are actively involved in the life of our school. They make visits to our school and attend special
events. The Pastors and the lay church leaders, like Andrew, often join in the activities of the school and the Rosary Apostolates pray with us monthly. The
students participate in social justice initiatives, supporting families at Christmas in partnership with the St. Vincent De Paul Society and Eden Food Bank. We
organize food drives, purchase bed kits for Sleeping Children Around the World, raise funds for United Way, Share Life, Terry Fox and The Hospital for Sick
Children. Our Youth Faith Ambassadors lead us in Virtue Assemblies and address Anti-bullying. This school is unique in that it has welcomed three
generations of family members. This is a truly a Family Community where Catholic Education is honoured.
St. Joseph Catholic Elementary School will continue to develop opportunities for faith formation of students, families and staff, within an educational program
which strives to integrate the board’s fundamental beliefs and to assist each student to attain each of the Catholic Graduate Expectations.
Core Principles
Catholicity
The school community model, celebrates and nourishes gospel values in the teaching and learning of our Christ-centred programs and services by...
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Our daily morning announcements include O Canada, prayers and the Virtue of the month prayer. We announce student and staff member birthdays
and congratulate our students and teachers on their successful initiatives.
We support charities, such as the Eden Food Bank, the St. Vincent de Paul Society and our local parish. We continue our annual commitment to Terry
Fox, United Way, Sick Children Cancer Research, SCAW and ShareLife.
Liturgical celebrations include Mass, assemblies highlighting specific Virtues, celebration of the Sacraments, Ash Wednesday, Crowning of Mary and
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St. Joseph (Mississauga)
Learning Plan
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the seasons of Lent and Advent.
Promoting the Youth Faith Ambassador program in our school.
Initiating our Beautification and updating of our School and Grounds.
Celebrating and maintaining our Gold Status in Eco Schools
Celebrating Seder Meal as a community
Learning Environment
A summary of St. Joseph school’s most recent EQAO primary division (Grade 3) assessment performance includes...
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Primary Reading: 65%
Primary Writing: 68%
Primary Mathematics: 68%
Observations regarding school progress in Primary EQAO:
ƕ We have maintained a consistent result in Reading the past several years. We dropped in Writing 13%. However , there was a huge
improvement in Math - gaining 25%. We will continue to maintain successful instructional guided practice in Literacy (reading) and work to
increase our Writing Literacy which is clearly an area of need for us at the Grade 3 level. The attitude chart on Mathematics shows a marked
improvement as well in students' confidence in solving Math questions.
A summary of St. Joseph school’s most recent EQAO junior division (Grade 6) assessment performance is...
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Junior Reading: 76%
Junior Writing: 78%
Junior Mathematics: 50%
Observations regarding school progress in Junior EQAO:
We have maintained a consistent result in Reading and Writing for the past several years. We are in line with achievement with the Board and the
Province in these areas. We will continue to maintain successful instructional guided practice in Literacy (reading and writing). We increased our
Mathematical literacy up 13% over last year. As with Grade 3, the attitude chart on Mathematics shows a marked improvement as well in students'
confidence in solving Math questions.
The St. Joseph Catholic Elementary School community supports and provide opportunities for life-long learning...
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Our goal is to improve student achievement.
Our staff is engaged in Professional Learning Communities (PLC). We will focus on common Mathematical Language for all Grade Levels in our
school. We will incorporate problem solving and the three part lesson to promote student confidence in solving Inquiry Questions.
Collaborative Problem Solving by building conflict resolution skills is a key focus this year.
Students have opportunities to participate in field trips, leadership development and access community resources- Peel Regional presentations, Peel
Health, Fire Prevention and Police anti-bullying presentations.
St. Joseph Catholic Elementary School demonstrates commitment to continuous improvement in student achievement and supports the well-being of all
learners.
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St. Joseph (Mississauga)
Learning Plan
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Staff work closely with our Special Services personnel and Board support teams.
Assistive technology is available to enhance student learning: SMART boards, iPads, computers and accessing all available SEA Grants.
Student assessment and data is reviewed for improvement planning of learning.
Opportunities for collaborative teacher planning is provided.
Current professional materials, LNS videos, articles are utilized.
Individual Student Profiles are completed
Teachers use technology as a learning tool
Teachers use the "flipped classroom" and blended learning as a model for engaging students
Student intervention meetings and TEAM meetings are set with a focused conversation on instructional strategies and differentiated learning.
Students are grouped for focused intervention
Teachers are beginning to assess using technology, student led conferences, presentations and multi-media
Differentiated instruction and accommodations are available for all students.
All teachers collaborate with the Special Assignment Teacher and the Special Education Resource Teacher
Community Engagement
St. Joseph Catholic Elementary School ensures that our Catholic School Council reflects the diverse Catholic community
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Opportunities are provided for parent, student teachers, student DECE's, community volunteers and university students to volunteer in the school.
Active participation in the Streetsville Community including: supporting local businesses; entering delegation in the Streetsville Bread and Honey
Festival and decorating 12 Christmas trees in downtown Streetsville's Square prior to the Santa Claus Parade (the entire student body is taking part)
The St. Joseph School Council welcomes all parents/guardians to attend school events, meetings, Curriculum Night, Open House and to join in
fundraising events.
The community is encouraged to participate in school masses and the Advent Celebrations at the school.
Continuing to promote Family events including: Family Movie Night and a Girls and Mothers' Night-In.
The St. Joseph School team builds and sustains community partnerships and collaborative relationships in the following ways:
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We maintain community partnerships- Peel Regional Police, Eden Food Bank, St. Vincent de Paul, Seniors Home, Mississauga Public Library, Early
Years, Peel Health.
We participate in the Gr. 3 Swim program, Eye See Eye Learn program, ECO School initiative, the Peel Health Wellness Program.
Parish-Home School
The St. Joseph School promotes the engagement and active participation of the parish and home as a fundamental component of student success by...
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participating in seasonal masses, Sacramental preparation and celebrations, classroom celebrations, parish meetings and by supporting parish events.
inviting the parish team to school events.
contributing displays in the church to promote our school (especially during Catholic Education Week)
communicating parish events through newsletters
communicating Catholic Education Week events
a new "Twitter" account allows us to post current events and reminders to parents and students in a bid to use social media to promote student
engagement
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St. Joseph (Mississauga)
Learning Plan
Physical Environment
St. Joseph School engages in modelling and promoting a good stewardship of resources by...
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recycling and limiting photocopying
ECO-school projects
School presentations
An attitude of conservation in all school activities
participating in "Stream of Dreams" program
Eco school Projects (increasing shade, maintaining an outdoor classroom, planting a vegetable garden, waste-free lunches, lights off periods, thirsty
Thursdays etc.)
School Presentation - eco source
Participation in Sweater Day and the Great Crunch to increase awareness of environmental concerns
Document Growth: Change in plants and animals in our butterfly garden
St. Joseph School demonstrates financial responsibility by...
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Developing annual budget plans
Aligning budget and School Council funds to school goals for student achievement and goals as outlined in the Catholic Board Learning Plan
Reviewing monthly budget reports and bank statements
Balancing school budget each month
Strictly adhering to all Board financial guidelines as outlined in GAP
Strictly adhering to all recommendations made by the audit committee in October 2013.
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St. Joseph (Mississauga)
Learning Plan
Creating Catholic Conditions for Well-Being, Learning and Leading
Outcomes
1.0 By the end of June 2016, there will be an increase in community engagement; and in successful practices that support an increase in the proportion of St.
Joseph's students reporting they have felt accepted at school as demonstrated by CCC School survey.
Action Plans
Our staff, students and parents will actively engage in activities with the Streetsville Community to raise our profile as a good contributor to our local
community
Building Collaborative Practices Through Inquiry
Outcomes
2.0 By June 2016, there will be an increase in the proportion of students who have demonstrated improvement in the learning skill and work habit of
collaboration and an increase in the proportion of educators who apply knowledge gained through professional learning opportunities.
Action Plans
Engage in designing effective lessons using technology in Collaborative Inquiry
Enhancing Transitional Practices
Outcomes
3.0 By June 2016, there will be an effective transition plan for each student in the school and a means by which that plan is communicated to the next teacher
or school.
Action Plans
Effective Transition Plans will be developed for all students in the school
Knowing the Learner through Assessment
Outcomes
4.0 By June 2016,there will be an increase in successful practices that support knowing the learner through assessment and there will be an increase in the
proportion of students who are able to articulate strategies supporting their learning.
Action Plans
Students become aware of their learning profile and begin to use Inquiry to further their own knowledge and to take responsibility for their own learning
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St. Joseph (Mississauga)
Learning Plan
Responding through Effective Instruction
Outcomes
5.0 By the end of June 2016, there will be an increase in successful practices that support effective instruction. There will be an increase in the proportion of
students improving their EQAO achievement level between assessment years.
Action Plans
Continue to develop effective instruction in Mathematical Literacy; explore effective instruction to improve Primary Writing to improve EQAO Scores
Outcome Timeframe
Action Plan Priority
Long-term
High
Medium-term
Medium
Short-term
Low
Not Assigned
Not Assigned
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