school name: st. mark catholic school margaret mctaggart

SCHOOL NAME: St. Mark Catholic School PRINCIPAL: Margaret McTaggart

SUPERINTENDENT: Colleen Tovey-Shackleton TRUSTEE: Ann Andrachuk

SCHOOL ADDRESS: 45 Cloverhill Rd , Toronto ON , M8Y 1T4

STUDENT ENROLMENT: 245

School Learning PlanSt. Mark Catholic School

2007 - 2008

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2007 - 2008

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To support Bishop Collins joint project with the Catholic Schools to understand and live the Catholic Virtues.

Grade 7 students are leading the school under the guidance of their Teacher and Principal

Calendar Year Teacher, Vice Principal Student resources Ongoing The students lead by the Grade 7 class will participate in meditations and assemblies that feature each Monthly Virtue. The students will be lead by the Grade 7 classes to understand how these virtues pertain to their everyday life and how they can grow into better Catholics.

To support Bishop Collins' initiative to promote the Catholic virtues.

Calendar Year Teacher, Principal Classroom / school resources

Ongoing Monthly expressions of the Virtue of the Month and education by the students as to how one lives these virtues in everyday life.

To promote a rich liturgical life within the school.

Academic Year Parish The Parish Priest Ongoing To increase the opportunities for the students to interact with their parish priest in the form of school masses, confessions and classroom visits.

Division JK - 8

Strategy Divisional Consideration Timeline Responsibility Resource Status Evidence of Improvement

Goal Faith Development

To create and celebrate Catholic Community where all proclaim the Good News of the Gospel and where Catholic beliefs are modelled and integrated into the whole learning experience.

Priority Nurturing Our Catholic Community


2007 - 2008

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Note: The principal will report to the school community on the effectiveness of each strategy at the end of the year how the plan worked based on the evidence of improvements.

Division JK - 12

Gap Analysis

Visitor Policy and Hall Pass System to increase safety.The Visitor Policy has been communicated to all visitors/parents to the school and they have co-operated in the spirit of maintaining a safe enviroment. All of the staff are vigilant in enforcing the hall pass system to prevent students being in parts of the school at inappropriate times.

Nutrition & ExerciseYou are what you eat. For the fifth year St. Mark Catholic School is working in partnership with Stonegate Community Centre to provide Health Snacks and Nutrition Education. Since 2007 the Recreation Director of Stonegate has collaborated with St. Mark to provide recreational programs immediately after school and in the evening for community members.

Code of Conduct Progressive DisciplineRevise the school's code of contact focussing on improving the established progressive discipline policy refining our understanding of "minor" and "major" discipline incidents

BullyingTo examine the nature of bullying and the subtle ways in which it can occur. The school has invited Anti-Bullying Expert, Peggy Moss, to do workshops with all the students from Kindergarten through Grade 8 to give students strategies to cope and resolve bullying and to build their own resilience and sense of person. Extensive consultation has been done with the staff and they have conferred on bullying scenarios and incidents and strategized ways in which to reduce this imbalance of power while building the students' personal sense of esteem and resilience.

Goal Safe, Inclusive and Healthy Learning Environment

To enhance the quality of the working and learning experience through improving schools and workplaces so that they contribute to positive healthy and respectful relationships.



2007 - 2008

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In addition to the establishment of a Daycare Program at St. Mark, the Principal and Parent Council have undertaken various ways to promote St. Mark as a strong presence in the community. The Principal and Parents have also taken a very hospitable attitude towards inviting local politicians to hold candidate information sessions and Parks and Recreation to hold information sessions. We have also built a positive partnership with our evening permit holders, many of whom are local citizens, to accomodate their needs and negotiate timelines and share equipment

Ongoing Principal CSAC, Parents, Students, community members.

Community Resources Ongoing In partnership with Stonegate Community Centre St. Mark has supported many community programs that take place both at St. Mark and at Stonegate. This has provided many recreational and education opportunities for our students and their parents. St. Mark is becoming more "famous" in the neighbourhood for All Candidate Meetings and Information Meetings in addition to the Stonegate Programs.

Division JK - 8


Goal Increasing Enrolment and Retention in Grades JK-12

To support and implement a variety of local and system initiatives that actively enhance the school profile and promote the benefits of Catholic education.



2007 - 2008

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Increased direct instruction in significantly reduced Pupil Teacher Ratio with addition of half time Special Education teacher to school.

Academic Year Teacher, Principal Teacher resources Ongoing Increase scores in written tasks for class assignments, tests and CAT/3 tests.

Using the Fifth Block Program the decoding skills for the Grade 1 and 2 students are improving dramatically. This will be evidenced in this year's performance scores.

Academic Year Teacher Teacher resources In progress Improved performance scores in CAT/3 tests done in the Spring of 2006.

Charts EQAO-Reading-20062007-Grade 3-All Students

The Reading Scores have increased greatly in the Leve 3 and 4 Levels. St. Mark will continue the strategies that include the Fifth Block Intervention, Library Love of Reading and Primary Divisional Meetings and strategies for Balanced Literacy. The Target is to move 15% of the present Grade 3 from Level 2 to 3.

Gap Analysis:

Division JK - 8


Goal Literacy

To improve the overall level of students' literacy skills by enhancing their reading and writing proficiency through an interdisciplinary approach.

Priority Improving Student Learning and Achievement


2007 - 2008

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During the 2007/2008 academic year the staff of St. Mark will analyze the strengths and need for improvement in the Mathematical performance of our students.

Academic Year Teacher, Principal Classroom / school resources

Ongoing Improved Mathematics scores should result from this intervention

Implementation of new Nelson Mathematics program and intensive teacher professional development on the instructional features of this program and the assessment features for analyzing student strengths and weaknesses.

Ongoing Joined effort of classroom teachers, special education teachers and Mathematics Resource personnel i

Board-wide resources Ongoing Improved Mathematics scores in all grade levels for assignments, school tests and standardized test.

Charts EQAO-Mathematics-20062007-Grade 6-All Students

The Junior Mathematics scores have declined by approximately 30% in Level 3 to Level 2. St. Mark is now receiving programming resource help for the Junior Divison in Mathematics as an OFIP 4 school. The staff is analyzing the areas of weakness and recalibrating the Mathematics program to address these needs and strenghten proficiency in the Junior Divsion. The target is to move 20% of the present cohort of Grade 6 students from Level 2 to Level 3 this present year. The Grade 7 cohort will also receive moderated instruction to strengthen their proficiency in the identified areas.

Gap Analysis:

Division JK - 8


Goal Numeracy

To improve the overall level of students' Mathematical literacy skills through problem solving experiences that involve the application and communication of concepts in Mathematics.



2007 - 2008

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To continue the flourishing partnership with the Best Start Daycare at St. Mark.

Ongoing Teacher, Principal Community Resources Ongoing The Best Start Daycare is flouishing in its second year at St. Mark Catholic School. The program has expanded to include a Toddler Program and an After School Program

Ongoing Teacher, Principal Community Resources Ongoing increased participation by our students and their families in the various recreational courses.

St. Mark has expanded their partnership with Stonegate Community Health Centre to promote healthy nutrition and physical activitiy. "A healthy body promotes a healthy mind."

Ongoing Stonegate Community Centre and St. Mark Staff

Community Resources Ongoing Increased participation by our students and their parents in nutrition and recreational programs available from Stonegate both at the community centre and at St. Mark Catholic School

The continuation of the flourishing partnership between the St. Mark school community and the Best Start Daycare staff and parents.

Calendar Year Principal Community Resources Ongoing Increased participation in the Best Start Daycare that has not expanded with a Toddler Program and an After School Program.

Division JK - 8


Goal Success for All

To improve opportunities for all our students to achieve their desired destinations through a variety of programs, supports, assessment strategies and pathways (apprenticeship, college, community living, university and the workplace).



2007 - 2008

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In addition to classroom modifications and Special Education assistance, St. Mark has a strong history of welcoming students with diverse learning needs into our Behaviour and Language Impaired students. The mandate of these programs is to meet the students in very specialized ways, develop their proficiency and confidence and then have these students integrate into the regular classes as their progress and needs deserve.

Academic Year Entire staff of Teacher, Principal, Secreatry, Educational Assistant and Child Youth Workers.

Board-wide resources Ongoing Five of the LI Junior students chose to remain at St. Mark and are now participating fully in regular intermediate programs. Two Autism students have been fully integrated academically and socially into the mainstream life of the school.

Strict adherence to Balanced Literacy Program in Primary Grades and impelementation of strategies into Junior Grades.

Ongoing Principal Classroom / school resources

Ongoing Increased CAT/3 scores in this academic year and future years. Increased numbers of Level 3 & 4 scores in EQAO for both Grade 3 and 6 in Spring of 2006.

Division JK - 8


Goal Success for All

To improve opportunities for all our students to achieve their desired destinations through a variety of programs, supports, assessment strategies and pathways (apprenticeship, college, community living, university and the workplace).



2007 - 2008

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Calendar Year Daycare Operator in partnership with school principal

Board-wide resources Ongoing The successful operation of the Best Start Daycare for August/September of 2006 with strong enrolment and the possible addition of a toddler program to support family life in the community.

Ongoing Principal Parish Priest Ongoing The continued collaboration between St. Mark Catholic School and St. Mark Parish Church to foster liturgical celebrations and the practice of the Catholic faith with special emphasis on sacramental preparation.

The establishment of a Best Start Daycare program for August of 2006 for 4 and 5 year old children. The children will have a seamless day between the half day of Kindergarten and their daycare routine. This will enhance family life in this community that has a recognized deficit of "quality daycare facilities.

Calendar Year City of Toronto, Ministry of Social Services, Best Start Personnel at TCDSB, and Daycare Operator.

Community Resources In progress Full enrolment in and successful delivery of a Daycare Program.

Division JK - 8


Goal Empowering Catholic Leadership

To develop and support Catholic Educational Leaders who are energizing, caring, visionary, student-focused and collaborative role models in building a Catholic professional learning community.

Priority Building Capacity to Lead and Learn


2007 - 2008

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The expression of our Catholic faith in a manner that is tangible to our students ranging in age from 4 years old to fourteen years old.

Ongoing Teacher, Principal Student resources Ongoing Celebration of Liturgical Calendar events that is especially designed for the comprehension and spiritual development of the students such as our dramatization of the Way of the Cross on Holy Thursday.

The continuation of making the situations in our world relevant to our gospel values.

Ongoing Principal Student resources Ongoing The support of and the visit from the children of Beslan, Russia.The charitable donations to the victims of the Tsunami and Hurricane Katerina victims.

To foster aware that the students are citizens of the global village and to make world and local events relevant and understandable to them.

Ongoing Teacher, Principal Community Resources Ongoing St. Mark will continue to follow world events and to execute classroom and group activities, such as the fundraising and Book of Condolences done for the Children of Beslan, and the observance of Pope John Paul II's funeral and the election of the new pope, in a way that is understandable and meaningful to the children. One strong example of this strategy is the way in which we educated the students on the Tsunami in geographical, human, and Christian contexts.


Division JK - 8





2007 - 2008

2008-06-18 of 12

St. Mark has a strong history of participating in Operation Christmas Child.In addition to the Religion and Family Life Curriculum, the students will be educated into the social justice imperative by participating in meaningful charitable works. The goal is to educate our students to internalize these values of charity and gratitude to help them form their character as adult Christians.

Some of our students have received an Operation Christmas Child box when before they came to Canada so it is very meaningful to them. The Intermediatite students also particpated in ME to WE Day and the followup. As a Division and through the Student Council they chose a charity to support in a more abstract concept.

Ongoing Students, Parents and School Staff.

Student resources Ongoing 2007/2008 is the middle of a three year Charity Program in which the students are donating their personal coins to support a third world charity. In the first year the classes raised money to purchase individual animals for a third world village. This was done to personalize the students understanding of where their money was going and the difference it would make in people's lives. This year in Lent we are fundraising to help the village build the school. In third year, the students will be dealing with more abstracts concepts like building a well, etc.


Division JK - 8




school name: st. mark catholic school margaret mctaggart

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