Rainy River District School Board
System Plan
2007 - 2008

We are using the Seven Correlates of Highly Effective Schools as our guiding principles in developing our System Plan. Research has shown that these characteristics are key to high performing schools. The System Plan is the vehicle used to further the Board's Mission, Vision and Beliefs. In addition to the seven correlates, we will address student achievement in the 2007-08 System Plan, by focusing on precision, personalization and professional learning in our goals and actions as outlined in the Breakthrough model (see Appendix A):



OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN

Goal: To maximize every student’s opportunity to succeed to the highest level.

Specific Actions
Ensure that the "Six Ways to Graduate" as outlined in the Student Success Initiative are established in Grades 7-12 across the system. (Student Success Teams, Expanded Co-op Credit, Specialist High Skills Major, Dual Credit Program, Lighthouse Projects and Grade 8-9 Transition). See Ministry website www.edu.gov.on.ca for more details.
 
Ensure that Differentiated Instruction is implemented for K-12 students.
 
Implement probing questions based on the three P's (Precision, Personalization, Professional Learning) to help employ literacy and numeracy checklists during classroom walkthroughs.
 
Expand the partnerships with the First Nation communities (eg. after school tutoring, parent workshops, culturally appropriate resources).
 
Develop strategies to maximize oral language opportunities through instruction in Grades K-12 (eg. NOEL Assessment Project).




CLEAR AND FOCUSSED MISSION

Goal: To communicate our shared mission statement in all of our schools and communities, and to ensure actions at all levels reflect the mission statement.

Specific Actions
Post Board mission/vision statements in all schools and improve visibility through various media (eg. school websites, newsletters, posters, newspapers, radio, Board merchandise).
 
Communicate the board mission and vision to our Aboriginal communities and what it means for Aboriginal students by:
  • Updating the website to reflect our partnership with Aboriginal communities.
  • Including Ojibway statements of mission and vision wherever possible in Board communications.
 
Align all School Improvement Plans with the System Plan and the K-12 Board Improvement Plans for Literacy and Numeracy.
 
Increase signage at elementary schools.
 
Present the System Plan to:
  • staff at staff meetings
  • school councils at regional meetings (review in April/08)




SAFE AND ORDERLY ENVIRONMENT

Goal: To provide a safe environment where all students, community members and staff feel welcome and eager to learn and work.

Specific Actions
Expand the Character Education Program across the district by:
  • Establishing a committee to identify common characteristics for good citizenship.
  • Reviewing character education curriculum - STAR (Safety-Trust-Attitude-Respect).
  • Aligning the program with the Ministry directives, as well as the New Teacher Induction Program (NTIP).
  • Providing internet safety workshops.
  • Incorporating daily physical activity.
 
Review and refine the Crisis Response Plan:
  • Lockdown procedures
  • Fire safety plan
  • Safe school entry plan
  • Provide access to safety procedures for all staff including Occasional Teachers (eg. Anaphylaxis, fire plan).
 
Investigate and develop a personal electronic device policy.
 
Implement the 2007-08 Accessibility Plan.
 
Complete accommodation reviews for Huffman and Robert Moore subject to funding approval.
 
Review the Safe Schools policies, procedures and protocols. (ie. Family & Children's Services / Weechi-it-te-win, police and school board protocol).




POSITIVE HOME SCHOOL RELATIONS

Goal: To strengthen communication with parents and to actively encourage their meaningful involvement with the teaching and learning of children.

Specific Actions
Improve internal/external communications.
  • Update school and Board websites where necessary.
  • Provide training and support for website maintenance enhancement.
  • Provide public relations professional development for leaders.
 
Create a Parent Outreach Committee to expand positive interaction (eg. Families Learning Together, After School Tutoring, information nights).
 
Participate in family outreach programs with Aboriginal communities to discuss characteristics that support Aboriginal student success.
 
Establish additional system feedback session with Aboriginal partners.
 
Develop strategies to increase parental involvement to improve attendance for all students. (eg. Parental access through web attendance).
 
Provide Reality Check survey to parents, staff, and where appropriate, to students for use with the School Improvement Plan.




FREQUENT MONITORING OF STUDENT PROGRESS

Goal: To strengthen consistent practices for monitoring, assessing, and reporting student progress to ensure school and student improvement.

Specific Actions
Implement the Year 3 MISA/OnSIS Plan and align MISA initiatives with improvement strategies.
 
Implement Assessment Policy and Procedure.
  • Implement common Assessment Plan K-8.
  • Fully implement literacy profiles K-8.
  • Review and implement the secondary Assessment Plan.
  • Consistently use "assessment for learning" data to drive instruction and improve K-12 student achievement.
 
Review reporting procedures in all schools and make recommendations for future direction.
 
Implement changes to IEP process.




CLIMATE OF HIGH EXPECTATIONS

Goal: To develop a positive teaching and learning environment where all staff, students, parents and community members collaborate to improve individual student achievement to the maximum potential.

Specific Actions
Build and nurture new and existing Professional Learning Communities (PLC) across the system within both elementary and secondary panels.
 
Review and implement Earl and Katz School Improvement Planning Project with all three secondary schools and Riverview Elementary School.
 
Provide cultural awareness opportunities for staff (eg. October System Professional Development Day, activities throughout the year).
 
Incorporate the new funding to expand programs that enhance Aboriginal student success.
 
Implement New Teacher Induction Program (NTIP).
 
Explore new PLC delivery models.



LEADERSHIP

Goal: To enhance staff, student and parent leadership development for sustainability of current and new leaders, recognizing that leadership is an action and not a position.

Specific Actions
Provide professional development opportunities for current and prospective leaders.
  • Dufour PLC Conference
  • Interschool visitations
  • Principal and Vice Principal Mentoring/Coaching Programs with a focus on instructional leadership
  • EQI survey for the leadership pool
 
Expand Covey training for teaching and non-teaching staff and extend to students.
 
Provide opportunities for non-teaching staff to participate in leadership activities/training.
 
Review and refine the leadership selection process.
 
Increase leadership opportunities for students (eg. peer mediation and mentoring, reading buddies, Young Women's Conference, Aboriginal representation on leadership groups).
 
Investigate opportunities and methods to increase school council membership and training.

 

 

System Planning 2006 - 2007