St. Sofia Byzantine Catholic School
Learning Plan
Mission *
We, the staff of St. Sofia Catholic School, celebrate spirituality and diversity through achieving, believing, and community living in an inclusive Byzantine Rite
Catholic faith environment. Our mission is to nurture each child’s Eastern Byzantine Catholic faith and traditions,while developing the attitudes, skills,
knowledge and desire for life long learning. In doing so, we will be building a school community which enriches future growth through caring, sharing, and
preparing.
Motto
Caring, Sharing, Preparing
Catholic Focus
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St. Sofia Byzantine Catholic School
Learning Plan
St. Sofia 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 within the Catholic School Learning Plan for St. Sofia
Byzantine Catholic Elementary School.
St. Sofia is a regional Elementary Catholic School whose students are all of the Eastern Byzantine Rite Catholic Faith.
The School follows the Julian Calendar and as such, celebrates Christmas on January 7th and Good Friday & Easter pending on the placement in the Julian
calendar year.
St. Sofia was established to support Eastern Byzantine Rite Catholic parents in their responsibility for the spiritual, religious, moral, academic and physical
needs of their children in accordance with the teachings of the Church. The school community at St. Sofia is committed to the search for excellence, the
uniqueness of the individual and education of the whole person. St. Sofia fosters a community environment that stresses tolerance and acceptance of others,
commitment to our Byzantine Rite Catholic faith and high academic standards. We provide a safe and comfortable learning environment where models of
Gospel values and Byzantine Rite Catholic doctrines, teachings and beliefs are an integral part of the daily life of our school. The school motto “Caring,
Sharing and Preparing” reflects the holistic philosophy where religion, culture and daily life are intertwined.
Our students come to us with a variety of strengths and needs, with their Catholic faith as their common bond. Our prayer life, molebens, the sacraments, and
our faith and values system form the foundation of our school program.
Core Principles
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St. Sofia Byzantine Catholic School
Learning Plan
Core Principles School Response
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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Virtues Program
Region of Peel Bullying Prevention Program
School Molebens and Liturgies
Morning Prayers/Announcements
Sacred Spaces in the school and classrooms- Icon Corners
Displays all over the school that reflect the Gospel values, Saints and Feast Days
Religion/Family Life Program
Visits from Parish Priests
Gospel values are infused in all aspects of the curriculum
Learning Environment
1. Please summarize the school’s most recent EQAO primary division (Grade 3) assessment performance.
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Primary Reading: 78%
Primary Writing: 84%
Primary Mathematics: 80%
Observations regarding school progress in primary EQAO: Averages indicate increase in student results; performance is consistently well above board
and provincial norms. Teachers will continue to use moderated marking to look in depth at student work
2. Please summarize the school’s most recent EQAO junior division (Grade 6) assessment performance.
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Junior Reading: 88%
Junior Writing: 90%
Junior Mathematics: 71%
Observations regarding school progress in junior EQAO: Averages indicate increase in student results; performance is consistently well above board
and provincial norms. Teachers will continue to use moderated marking to look in depth at student work
3. Describe how the school community supports and provide opportunities for life-long learning.
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School Volunteers Program
Youth Faith Ambassadors
Student Council
Neighbourhood Policing Unit
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St. Sofia Byzantine Catholic School
Learning Plan
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Family Numeracy Night
P.A.L.S. (Playground Activity Leaders)
PRO Grant Project
EQAO Information Night
Open House/Curriculum Night
ESL/ELL Parent-Teacher/Report Cards information workshop
School Council Fundraising to support school initiatives
Bus Monitors
Green Team
Healthy Schools Team
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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Educational Resource Worker support
Support Services which include Child & Youth Worker, Social Worker, Speech and Language Pathologist
Settlement Worker
Special Assignment Teacher
Autism Spectrum Disorder Team
Board Behaviour Team
Staff Meetings include Professional Development with focus on Assessment FOR and AS Learning (Growing Success, 2010)
Professional Learning Cycles in each division
Integrated Arts Education with Smartboard technology
Assistive Technology
"Bring Your Own Device" implementation for Gr. 6 - 8 students (to commence Fall 2016)
Community Engagement
1. How does your school community ensure that Catholic School Councils reflect the diverse Catholic community?
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Guest Speakers (Diversity related)
School Council Table at Open House
Communication through School Council on school website
Welcoming environment (displays, presentations)
2. In what ways does the school team build and sustain community partnerships and collaboratives (e.g., collaborative relationships, Success By 6 Peel)?
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Neighbourhood Policing Unit
Family Numeracy Night
Youth Education Officer
Neighbourhood Policing Unit
Parks and Recreation Initiatives
Peel Health Programs
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St. Sofia Byzantine Catholic School
Learning Plan
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Walking Excursions
Peel Children's Safety Village
Burnhamthorpe Public Library Promotion
EQAO Parent Information Night
Welcome to Kindergarten Night
First Solemn Holy Communion Parent Meeting
PALS (Spring 2016)
Newcomer Settlement Worker
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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Communion Meetings involve Parents, School and Parishes
Parish Information on website
Sacramental Preparation
Visits from Parish Priests
Sacred space in each classroom
Support Parish Activities (Food Drive, Christmas Help)
Annual monitoring of the Pastoral Plan
Informational Bulletin Boards
1. What activities does the school engage in that models and promote good stewardship of resources?
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Green Team
Announcements over the P.A.
Healthy Schools Team
2. Outline the ways the school demonstrates financial responsibility.
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Awareness of Policies/Procedures
Collaborative approach to allocating funds
Review Monthly Statement
Use Budget Tracker, Supply Teacher Budget Tracking Sheet
Establish yearly priorities
Align school's goals with budget priorities
Physical Environment
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We model and promote good stewardship of resources by encouraging recycling, reducing, and reusing. E.g. reusable water bottles, GOOS paper,
less photocopying, using technology like SMARTBoards and tablets.
Be financially responsible by ensuring our budget reflects the needs of our school community while following board policies/procedures,
reviewing/tracking our budget monthly; establishing priorities based on the needs of the school and school community
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St. Sofia Byzantine Catholic School
Learning Plan
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Respond to the emerging needs and trends within our diverse community
Sacredness of Our Environment
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We encourage the respectful and sustainable environmental practices of reducing, reusing and recycling at our schools.
We teach students through Religion, Family Life, Science and Social Studies about the importance of the sacredness of our environment, using
aboriginal perspectives and through a Catholic lens.
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St. Sofia Byzantine Catholic School
Learning Plan
Creating Catholic Conditions for Well-Being, Learning and Leading
Outcomes
1.0 By the end of June 2016, the proportion of St. Sofia students indicating they feel accepted at school will increase as demonstrated by the CCCC School
Climate Survey baseline data (Spring 2015).
Action Plans
Create conditions that invite the voice of all learners and engages them in meaningful, high-quality interaction.
Building Collaborative Practices Through Inquiry
Outcomes
2.0 By June 2016, there will be an increase in the proportion of educators who apply knowledge gained through professional learning opportunities and the
school-wide collaborative inquiry, as evidenced through selected data sources (student achievement data, educator exit tickets).
Action Plans
Cultivate a co-learning stance within an inquiry-based approach to learning.
Enhancing Transitional Practices
Outcomes
3.0 By June 2016, there will be an increase in the proportion of students who demonstrate improvement on the learning skill and work habit of self-regulation,
as evidenced by report card data.
Action Plans
Engage Collaboratively in Transitional Practices
Knowing the Learner through Assessment
Outcomes
4.0 By the end of June 2016, there will be an increase in the proportion of students able to communicate strategies that support their learning, as evidenced by
perceptual data survey results (EQAO).
Action Plans
Document and examine evidence of learning to support collaborative school improvement planning.
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St. Sofia Byzantine Catholic School
Learning Plan
Responding through Effective Instruction
Outcomes
5.0 By June 2016, there will be an increase in the proportion of students attaining a high level of achievement on EQAO areas assessing critical thinking and
problem solving.
Action Plans
Activate, develop and consolidate thinking through effective instructional approaches.
Outcome Timeframe
Action Plan Priority
Long-term
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Medium-term
Medium
Short-term
Low
Not Assigned
Not Assigned
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