St. David of Wales Separate School
Learning Plan
Mission *
The mission of the St. David of Wales community in partnership with the family and church, is to provide, in a responsible manner, a Catholic education which
develops spiritual, intellectual, aesthetic, emotional, social, and physical capabilities of each individual to live fully today and to meet the challenges of the
future, thus enriching the community.
Motto
Blessed are the Peacemakers.
Catholic Focus
St. David of Wales Catholic Focus:
The St. David of Wales School community believes that the Catholic faith, as expressed through Gospel values, is the driving force in the school’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 St. David of Wales School community strives to be a Christ-centred school 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 St. David of Wales School School
community strives “…to provide students with the opportunity to realize their potential and develop into highly skilled, knowledgeable, caring citizens who
contribute to society.” The school is further committed to:
-deepening the understanding, appreciation and practice of the Catholic Christian lifestyle, with Jesus as role model;
-aligning a school-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 (Ontario Catholic
Graduate Expectations)
- encouraging unique approaches to support system priorities and the principle 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, St. David of Wales School community fosters and nourishes an inclusive atmosphere rooted in
tradition and scripture. The school 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:
- being authentic witnesses to our Catholic faith;
- being responsible stewards of God’s grace in the world;
- respecting human dignity;
- modeling all learners after Jesus, as ministers of compassion and service.
To strengthen its Catholic identity, St. David of Wales School community 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. David of Wales Separate School
Learning Plan
Core Principles
Catholicity
1. The St. David of Wales school community models, celebrates and nourishes gospel values in the teaching and learning of our Christ-centred
programs and services in the following ways:
-Cross curricular integration of Gospel values; virtues
-Youth and Adult Faith Ambassadors
-Various Social Justice and out- reach initiatives occurring year round
-Environmental focus- ECO School
-Strong relationship with parish
-Peace Garden beautification
-Pastoral Plan- shared with the trustee, parent/guardians and staff
-Faith icons in the school reflect the diversity within the community
-Student recognition awards for the virtues
-Through the creation of ‘Sacred Space’ in the classroom/school,
-Through the continued implementation of the ‘Virtues’ program, e.g., monthly celebrations/liturgies, Newsletter ‘Virtue’ inserts, school display bulletin, virtue
tree, etc.
-Wooden Virtue for each month displayed on the altar in the front foyer and Prayer Room
- Through the continued support for student stewardship and social justice projects, e.g., Share Life, United Way, St. Vincent DePaul, Terry Fox Run, Food
Drives, Mitten Tree, Dr. Simone, Angel on the Tree Project, Shoe Drive
-Through continued development of positive school-community relationships, e.g., School Volunteer Program, Catholic School Council, School Community
Partnerships, i.e., Peel Regional Police, Peel Public Health, Trustee
-Implementation of strategies to support inclusivity
-Catholic Education Week
-School Faith & Curriculum Nights
-Newcomer Reception Centres
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St. David of Wales Separate School
Learning Plan
-MS Fund for families in need
-Rosary Apostolate monthly visits to all classrooms
-Celebrating the St. David of Wales School community Opening/Thanksgiving/YFA Commissioning/Blessing of the Backpacks Mass at the school.
Learning Environment
1. The St. David of Wales most recent EQAO primary division (Grade 3) assessment performance.
Primary Reading: Primary Reading: 84%
Primary Writing: 84%
Primary Mathematics: 60%
Observations regarding school progress in primary EQAO: Our Grade 3 EQAO results for Reading we increased by 2 percent, we increased in Writing by 2
percent and decreased in Math by 8 percent. We are below the Board in Math and above in Reading and Writing. We had 24%ELL and 4% students with
special education needs. Both of these were significant factors in our scores.
2. Please summarize the school’s most recent EQAO junior division (Grade 6) assessment performance.
Junior Reading: Junior Reading: 89%
Junior Writing: 89%
Junior Mathematics: 74%
Observations regarding school progress in Junior EQAO: Our Grade 6 students demonstrated increases in Reading by 8 percent, Writing by 7 percent and
Math by 21 percent. We are significantly above the Board in all three areas, especially Math. ELL 0 percent and 26 percent for special education.
3. The St. David of Wales School community supports and provide opportunities for life-long learning by:
-Math Help Hotline
-Transition Planning for Grade 8 to Grade 9
-Principal updates at Catholic School Council meetings
-Terry Fox Day
-Community Partnerships-Peel Health, Paramedics, SEE/HEAR, Dental screening and Police
-Co-op students welcomed
-Community outreach with local parish and global outreach
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St. David of Wales Separate School
Learning Plan
-Teachers are life -long learners as well, acting as role models by attending in -services, courses and workshops
-Special Education model values and promotes inclusion
-Support for Parent/Adult learners through participation in the School Volunteer Program, Catholic School Council, CCCSC Family of Schools Meetings
-Liaison with the Public Library
-Smart Boards
-Swim to Survive Program
-Healthy School Recognition
-Welcome to Kindergarten
4. The St. David of Wales School community demonstrates commitment to continuous improvement in student achievement and supports the
well-being of all learners in the following ways:
-Staff implements the Ontario Curriculum as the basis for teaching and learning
-Three Part Lesson Model
-Welcome to Kindergarten Program
-School wide Bullying Prevention Programs, Make Kindness Go Viral, (Peel Police, CYW, Peel Health Nurse.)
-Professional Learning Team is designed to inform teaching/assessment practices, e.g., school & board wide assessments; Diagnostic, Formative and
Summative, formal assessments, e.g., PM Benchmarks, CASI, CAT 3, math and classroom assessments etc., and informal assessments, e.g., observations,
descriptive feedback, etc., are implemented to identify student strengths/needs, enhance student outcomes and support professional growth for staff
-Student IEP’s are developed to support ‘at risk’, and exceptional learner needs and, learning opportunities for growth
-Staff participate in School/Family/Board wide professional development opportunities as appropriate to needs
-Transition meetings are organized to support the transition of learners: into Kindergarten, from grade to grade, from elementary into secondary schools, for
students at risk and with exceptional learning needs
-Support Services
-Positive Climate promoted
-Differentiated Instruction is encouraged in all classrooms
-SMART Board technology training is used to enhance program delivery
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St. David of Wales Separate School
Learning Plan
-Staff/Divisional Meetings with a focus on school outcomes and planning for instruction/assessment
-Integration meetings to plan next steps for students and seamless transitions
-Literacy blocks in Primary/Junior/Intermediate
-Numeracy blocks in Primary/Junior/Intermediate
-Focus on data to inform our instruction
Community Engagement
1. The St. David of Wales School community ensures that our Catholic School Council reflects the diverse Catholic community by:
-Catholic School Council Election information is sent home to all parents/guardians
-Opportunities to become involved in Volunteer activities/committees/classroom field trips/special celebrations, etc., foster expanded participation in the
school by way of interest and/or expertise (knowledge/skills)
-School administration ‘walk abouts’, visibility and accessibility and open door policy is intended to provide a welcoming, inclusive school climate
-The provision of opportunities to support the involvement of all community stakeholders
-Parents/guardians are strongly encouraged to join in the partnership of their child’s education (parent curriculum night)
-Student representatives reflect the student body
-Representatives from the parish form a strong bond
-Culture of inclusion
2. The St. David of Wales School community team builds and sustains community partnerships and collaboratives in the following initiatives:
-PALS
-Strong Relationship with Parish
-Terry Fox Walk
-ELL Reception Centre
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St. David of Wales Separate School
Learning Plan
-Through participation in curriculum related field trips
-Through the implementation of co-curricular/intra, and/or inter-school/ board wide competitions, e.g., sports teams, Student Speech competitions- Catholic
Women’s League, Academic Competitions etc.
-Through the involvement of our Community Partners; Peel Regional Police, Trustee, NPU, Youth Education Officer, e.g., Children’s Safety Village, Peel
Health,e.g., (Pals)
-By working in collaboration with the PLASP before/after school programs
-Through the encouragement of permits that support and/or enhance student well-being
-Through collaboration with various agencies dedicated to the support of student well-being, Region of Peel- Student Immunization Program, SEE/HEAR,
Dental Screening etc.
-Life Saving Institute (Swim to Survive)
Parish-Home-School
1. The St. David of Wales School community promotes the engagement and active participation of the parish and home as a fundamental
component of student success in the following initiatives:
-The school provides support for Parish and Board charitable works initiatives, e.g., Share Life, St. Vincent de Paul, Food drives, United Way , Angel Tree,
Mitten Drive, etc.
-Mass, liturgies, Sacramental, Virtues and other celebrations support collaboration with, and participation by, the home and parish. The school works in
collaboration with Father Joyson and the Parish to support Sacramental Preparation and faith development with the home/school/Parish
-Newsletters posted on web site
-Out -reach and social justice projects (e.g. Dr. Simone)
-School/Parish rep
-OAPCE rep
-Pastoral plan sent home with all students
-Provide announcements for the Parish over the PA system, Newsletters etc.
-Posting of Parish bulletin in the front foyer of our school
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St. David of Wales Separate School
Learning Plan
-Encourage parents/guardians to be actively involved in sacramental preparation
Physical Environment
1. The St. David of Wales School community is engaged in activities that models and promotes good stewardship of resources in the following
initiatives:
-The organization of a school wide recycling program
-Through the implementation of healthy eating programs, e.g., litter less lunch, fitness Friday's
-Through the delivery of curriculum e.g., geography, science, religion, family programs that foster ‘respect for life’
-Through the purchasing of learning resources that reflect the diversity within the school
-Maintenance of Peace Garden
-Earth Day
-Eco School initiatives continued
-Virtue Tree
2.The St. David of Wales School community demonstrates financial responsibility by:
-Allocating funds appropriate to learner needs, e.g., the purchase of texts, manipulatives, technology, furniture, etc.
-Maintain a balanced budget
-Through ‘reuse’ and/or sharing of texts and/or resources where available with other schools
-Through the encouragement of staff to reduce paper use in the school
-School Fundraisers
-Follow Board guidelines for financial accountability
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St. David of Wales Separate School
Learning Plan
-Budget Tracker / Cash Net-School budget is aligned to school goals and student learning
-Transparency
-All guidelines and policies are adhered to using tracking mechanisms to ensure compliance
- Financial Tool Kit – key resource
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St. David of Wales Separate School
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 successful practices that support well-being. Evidence of growth for students will include: An increase
in the proportion of students indicating that they are likely to report incidents at school, as demonstrated by the CCCC School Climate Survey results.
Action Plans
Active listening and practicing the virtues program by inviting the voice of all students.
Building Collaborative Practices Through Inquiry
Outcomes
2.0 By the end of June 2016, there will be an increase in successful practices that support collaborative inquiry . An increase in the proportion of educators who
intend to continue to develop knowledge gained through professional learning opportunities in collaboration with others, as demonstrated by CBLP professional
learning feedback.
Action Plans
Building Collaborative Practices Through Inquiry
Enhancing Transitional Practices
Outcomes
3.0 By the end of June 2016, there will be an increase in successful practices that support transitional practices. Evidence of growth for students will include: An
increase in the proportion of students who have demonstrated improvement on the learning skill and work habit of self-regulation.
Action Plans
Engage collaboratively in transitional practices.
Knowing the Learner through Assessment
Outcomes
4.0 By the end of June of 2016, there will be an increase in successful practices that support knowing the learner through assessment. Evidence of growth for
students will include: An increase in the proportion of educators who increased their understanding of assessment for and as learning, as a result of professional
learning opportunities, as demonstrated by CBLP professional learning feedback.
Action Plans
Knowing the learner through assessment.
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St. David of Wales Separate School
Learning Plan
Responding through Effective Instruction
Outcomes
5.0 By the end of year 2016, there will be an increase in the proportion of students improving their EQAO achievement levels between assessment year.
Action Plans
Responding through effective instruction.
Outcome Timeframe
Action Plan Priority
Long-term
High
Medium-term
Medium
Short-term
Low
Not Assigned
Not Assigned
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