Newfoundland & Labrador English School District

Board MeetingOctober 2015

Strategic Plan Goals

Student Achievement & Success

1. Learner Interventions

2. Core Literacy – Reading and Writing

3. Core Numeracy – Process Math and Problem Solving

District Literacy Plan -- Literacy for Learning (2014-17 updated to 2014-20).

• Literacy Framework has been redeveloped in a District Assessment Portfolio and an accompanying Portfolio Assessment Support document.

• The portfolio assists teachers to identify what components should be assessed, whenassessment should be conducted and how to assess.

Core Literacy

• Completion of rollout of Fountas & PinnellBenchmark Assessment System resources.

• PL for Grade 1 (BAS 1) & Grade 4 (BAS 2).

• Almost 85% of teachers strongly recommended the continued use of the LLI resource and,

• Almost 90% recommended expanding the resource to other grade levels.

• Level Literacy Invention Program.

• 11 pilot schools (115 students)

Reading Levels Before and After LLI Instruction

Before LLI After LLI

Core Numeracy

• Mathematics 7 and Mathematics 1201completed.

• Mathematics 8 and Mathematics 2201 started.

• Video supports and self-assessment that students can use for individualized learning.

• Teachers of Grade 7 Math and Math 1201 will be provided a one-day PL session (During cluster close-outs).

• DreamBox with 34 schools (1600 students) to enhance student confidence, achievement and success in Mathematics.

• Two-year initiative and Grade 2 students will continue as a cohort to use as they move on to Grade 3.

• 86% of the school administrators believed that the use of the software had increased student interest and engagement with Mathematics.

21st Century Learning Technology

21st Century Learning/Technology

District-wide option of “Google Apps” for education and made it available to all schools.

Global movement in 180+ countries.

Anyone, anywhere can organize an event.

Hour of CodeDecember 7-13, 2015www.hourofcode.com

Provincial Graduation Rates2003-04 verses 2014-15

Provincial Rates 2003-04 2014-15 Change

%GRAD 87.4% 94.4% +7%%HON 22.4% 30.8% +8.4%%ACA 38.5% 41.0% +2.5%

%GEN 39.1% 28.2% -10.9%NON-GRAD/GEN 46.8% 32.2% -14.6%

Safe and Caring Schools

• Positive Behaviour Supports (PBS) and Bullying Protocol in all schools.

• Digital Citizenship and online safety.

• Review 360.

Safe and Caring Schools

• School Entrance Systems.

• Mental Health Training and Awareness –school staff.

• LGBTQ training – rollout.

Safe and Caring Schools

The Whittington Family: Ryland's Story

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAHCqnux2fk

Organizational Effectiveness

• Full Implementation of PowerSchool

• District Technology Committee

• Use of School Planning Software (Baragar)

• Policies

• SmartFind Express Pilot

Full Day

Kindergarten

Full-Day KindergartenOperations

• Approximately 100 renovations of varying scope.

• St. Francis of Assisi (Outer Cove): Four classroom extension.

• Mary Queen of Peace (St. John’s): Four classroom extension.

• Carbonear Academy: one room extension.

• Modular classrooms: 12* modulars to be added.

*in addition to several more ‘capacity’ modulars

• Provincial Committee and sub-committees in place.

• Major change in teaching for some & PL needed for all.

• Understanding and implementing play-based learning for FDK linked to curriculum.

• DEECD to develop FDK evaluation plan.

Full-Day KindergartenProgramming

DIVISIONAL UPDATES

Finance & Administration

• School Accounting Manual distributed to all schools.

• Training offered for school administrators and secretaries on various topics (e.g. eFunds).

• Solution developed to allow migration of the final 15 schools onto the District’s Broadband Network in early 2016.

• Migrating to electronic paystubs for all staff.

• Annual Financial Audit underway.

Finance & AdministrationInternet Connectivity

• Working to ensure Internet service to schools is provided at the required level.

• Exploring interim supplemental satellite service to allow for extra bandwidth to Labrador schools experiencing network congestion.

• Creating a new District network route to HVGB from St. John’s to help remove congestion.

• Long term: Enhancing network capabilities is one of our challenges, particularly in rural areas.

Human Resources

Staffing for the 2015-16 school year:

• Approx. 190 teaching vacancies (1,528 advertised positions)

• 2,938 unique applicant since April 1, 2015 (120,000 applications received)

2015-16 TOTALS:

• 5,252 teaching units;

• 2,482 substitute teachers;

• 1,900* support staff; and,

• 1,118* student assistants.*Figures based on 2014-15

OPERATIONSStudent Transportation

A new bus contract template was developed by the DEECD.

Highlights include:

• More flexibility with contract extensions

• Improved driver documentation standards and training requirements

• Improved clarity with contract language. More specifics included around items such as:

• Double Runs

• Documentation (needs of the District + consequences for failure to provide)

Student Transportation Initiatives

New NLESD Bus Safety Video

• Contracted to King’s Photography.

• Filming scheduled in Gander for mid-October.

KinderRide

• Opportunity for Kinderstartstudents to do familiarization ride with parents/guardians accompanying them.

• Enhancing the Site Inspection Enterprise Management System (SIEMS):

• Facility database and tracking system

• Monitor response to external inspections

• Record NLESD school inspections

• Asbestos Management System

• NEW School-based facility requests

• Accessibility: Reviewing and enhancing accessible parking at all schools. Ensuring compliance of accessible parking for registered schools in accordance with provincial legislation.

OPERATIONSFacilities

• Gander (Grades 4-6) School – site work is completed and awaiting tender award.

• Gander (K-3) School – plans for extension and demolition of existing Gander Academy have been developed.

• Conception Bay South (Grades K-7) School – the tender is awarded, construction started.

• Paradise area (elementary) school – construction is ongoing.

• Portugal Cove-St. Philip’s (Grades 5-9) School – tender is awarded, construction started.

OPERATIONSNew School Projects (1/2)

OPERATIONSNew School Projects (2/2)

• Torbay (Grades 5 to 7) School – construction is ongoing.

• Virginia Park (Grades K-6) School – initial site work has been completed and the steel erected, tender pending on second phase.

• Coley’s Point Primary – land has been acquired, tender date to be determined by Provincial Government

• Paradise Junior High, Paradise Senior High and Mobile Intermediate School - Site selection underway.

OPERATIONSPlanned Capital Projects

• Labrador Housing: New units in Nain and Rigolet.

• GC Rowe: Preliminary renovations to become a K-6 school to begin shortly.

Extensions and renovations for:

• Riverside Elementary

• Villanova Junior High

• St. Peter’s Junior High

• St. Peter’s Elementary

• J.J. Curling Elementary

ProgramsIn addition to Strategic Plan priorities, the Programs Divisional Work Plan focuses on:

• Implementation of New Curricula;Science 1 English Language Arts 3 Music 2200

Health 3 ELA 3201/3202 Religion 4

OH&S 3203 Francais 2201

• Work with Focus Schools; and,

• Student Support Services and other programming initiatives.

Planning and implementing Regional School Administrator Conferences (September).

K-6 Report Card• Piloted last year with feedback collected.

• Being used by all schools with K-6 for 2015-16.

• Administrators/teachers have access to support document and samples.

• Parent pamphlet will be distributed with first term report.

• Feedback/consultation process will continue throughout the year.

• Customized to student program.

INTERESTING INITIATIVES

Strong Schools: Phase IBell Let’s Talk provided a $24,500 grant to NLESD to assist with Phase I of the Strong Schools Initiative, with the District matching funds.

Two District staff members to be trained to facilitate Mental Health First Aid Training.

Administrators to be trained across the district in Mental Health First Aid.

Provincial Student Leadership Conference 2015

Glovertown AcademyOctober 15-18, 2015

http://pslc2015.weebly.com/Twitter: @PSLC2015

POTUS PackageMacdonald Drive Elementary Grade 2 student Matthew Squires sent a post card to President Obama as part of a school project.

President Obama replied with a note to Matthew, along with an atlas and presidential chocolates.

http://ntv.ca/elementary-students-post-card-project-gets-answer-from-obama/

Corner Brook Regional High

NLESD has committed $2,500 to StandOut2, a Provincial Gender Sexuality Alliance Conference to be hosted by Corner

Brook Regional High May 7-8, 2016.

Gender Sexuality Alliance Conference Heads Back to Corner Brook

StandOut2, a provincial Gender Sexuality Alliance Conference, is set to take place at Corner Brook Regional High this coming May.

The Western Star's Cory Hurley had an opportunity recently to speak with CBRH's Pride Alliance about the upcoming conference and how student empowerment can make a difference.

The Western Star (September 25, 2015) - View full story HERE

William Gillett Academy

Grades 4-6 classroom teacher Ms. Stephanie Penney creates a welcoming environment in her classroom!

This door shows the true inclusive spirit embraced by staff throughout our District and demonstrates the potential every student possesses.

VP Charmaine Powell says this door impacts even the adults “It makes even me feel important when I enter the room!”

Educator's CreedAbove all, do nothing to

diminish hope