At Hillcrest we foster a positive, engaging learning environment that encourages students to grow both academically and as a community of responsible, respectful and caring individuals.

Hillcrest is an inclusive environment that inspires lifelong learning, nurtures emotional well being and promotes care and respect for self, others and our global community.

CARE
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Teaching and Learning
Literacy, Numeracy
Pathways, Community Culture and Caring
Climate for Learning
Character Education
Bullying Prevention and Intervention
Mental Health

Bullying Survey
May 2013
Your Voice Counts
May 2014

Students feel like they belong at this school and they feel safe
Students feel their parents are involved in their learning
Parents know what’s going on at Hillcrest

94% of staff, 54% of students, and 83% of parents felt that students are treated fairly
70% of staff, 55% of students, and 55% of parents felt that students’ ideas are used to improve our school

Bullying Prevention and Intervention
If we explicitly teach proactive and responsive character and bullying prevention and intervention strategies to all member of our Learning
Community, we will collectively promote and sustain student well-being and positive student behaviour within a safe and healthy learning environment at Hillcrest.

Mental Health
If we promote mental health awareness through programming in Physical Education, DPA, Dance, Outdoor
Education, Health, Character Education, extra-curricular activities, and presentations and workshops for students, teachers and parent/guardians, then we will create a healthy, resilient and inclusive school community while increasing our collective understanding and responsiveness to mental health issues in our school.

Developing an understanding of self and others
Grade 6 – The Character Attributes
Grade 7 – The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens
Grade 8 – Me to We

Character Education
Who am I?
What is my role in a global world?
Responsible Digital Citizenship
Learning Skills, Goal Setting and Student Led Conferences iStories
Bullying Prevention and Intervention
The Restorative Mindset and the Language of Repair
Inclusivity
Mental Health
Choose Action

Bullying Prevention and Intervention
November 2014 – March 2015
Grade 7 Red Cross Bullying and Harassment
Prevention Training
Bullying Prevention Week - Grade 8 facilitators

Student leadership
House League captains
Grade 8 student mentors
Terry Fox Champions
Principal’s Council
Social Justice and Me to We Initiatives
Celebrations of Student Success
CARE assemblies
Newsletters, pictures, displays of student work
Clubs, teams and activities

Mental and Physical Health
Physical Health
PE, DPA, Dance and Drama
House league activities
Teams and clubs
Mental Health Awareness
Health/Character Education classes
Guidance and Learning Support
Parent presentations

Student Reflections
Student Led Conferences iStories
Principal’s Council

Achievement Data
EQAO 2013-2014
Diagnostic Testing
September/October 2014
English, French, Mathematics

st

Numeracy
If we use rich tasks with clear success criteria based on curriculum expectations, then students will solve problems by engaging and persevering, and by consolidating and clearly demonstrating their thinking as shown in our 2014-2015 EQAO and report card results: 75% of our students will achieve a level 3 or 4 in Mathematics.

Literacy
If we use overarching guiding questions to address curriculum expectations, clearly articulate success criteria with students, and explicitly teach them to use the intellectual tools for critical thinking then students will improve in their ability to communicate their thinking across multiple subject areas by a grade level.

Inquiry based teaching and learning

Critical Thinking
Professional development opportunities for teachers
 Staff meetings
 Math Networks – Grades 7-10 and Grades 5-6
 Collaborative Inquiries by teachers

Critical Thinking opportunities for students
Performing Arts Program
Forest of Reading Program
Science and Math Clubs
Math Contests, Science events
Curriculum extensions
Technology for Learning

Teaching and Learning Plan
Pathways
Transition planning supports the success of our students both entering and leaving
Hillcrest

Student profiles
Transition Planning
 feeder school principals and support personnel
 secondary school principals and support personnel
 feeder school teachers

Hillcrest Road Show (April)
Feeder school parent information evening (May) and feeder school visits to Hillcrest (June)
Secondary school presentations to grade 8 students at
Hillcrest (Oct-Dec)
Student visits to Lorne Park SS (English) and Clarkson
SS (FI) (Oct-Nov)
Secondary program information posted on website
Middle school program information posted on website

Community, Culture and Caring
Parent Engagement
Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds

Parent Engagement at Hillcrest
Community BBQ and Open House (September, 2014)
School Council
Hillcrest Volunteer program
Student led conferences (November, 2014)
Education Week (April, 2014)
Presentations to parents

 Monthly newsletters
 School website
 Weekly email blast to parents
 CARE assemblies
 Student recognition