October 25, 2013

1. Chinook Center School Strategic Education Plan and Report 2012-2013 www.chinookcenter.ca October 25, 2013

2. About Chinook Center School • Chinook Center School is a Kindergarten to Grade 4 Elementary School. • Our small school allows for a community feel where teachers build relationships with all students and families. We have small class sizes and curriculum specialists. Parent involvement is welcomed and valued. • Our students have consistently academic success. We promote individualized education and assist each child to meet their full potential, both academically and socially. • CCS values that education and citizenship skills are a priority. We have moral and ethical expectations for each child. Children learn and practice their skills in a safe and caring environment. Peer leadership is an important part of our school’s culture from K-4. • We believe that a strong school-home component is critical for student success. Keeping parents informed of school happenings and involving family members in our school culture is key to CCS’ success. We also believe that a unified, positive approach to positive behavior will help all students to feel safe and successful in our school.

3. Who are we? • We are a Self Managed Administrative Team • We have 6 Teachers, 4 Educational Assistants and 2 Administrative Assistants on staff • We are leaders of a small K-4 school of 93 students • We teach and learn in an open area facility • We are committed to small class sizes and student supports • We are a Professional Learning Community committed to Professional Development We are a family of learners!

4. Mission: to collaboratively build a foundation that engages every student in meaningful learning by challenging, encouraging and believing in them. Vision: Chinook Center School will be recognized as a collaborative learning community where learning is personalized for all students to achieve success as compassionate and global citizens. Chinook Center Values: C- Cooperative • Collaborative teaching and learning, multi-aged opportunities C-Caring • Family atmosphere, every adult “teaches” every child S-Safe • Small school, closely supervised playground, digital safety

5. The staff at CCS created a mascot that would allow us to model positive behaviors that will help to build the foundation for Cooperative, Caring and Safe Citizens. Character Education – Building a Positive Behavior Foundation

6. What Makes Us Unique? • A Small school with a family atmosphere • A positive and caring environment that nurtures global citizenship • Open area learning spaces • Personalized learning in an inclusive environment • Strong Early Literacy and Home Reading Program

7. Wait! There’s more… • Multi-aged opportunities for learning • Fine Arts Programming • Self managed administration team • Invested staff committed to mission • and vision • Strong Home/School relationship • Active Parent Council • Parent Volunteers • Shuttle bus service to our school

8. SuccessesWhat We Accomplished in 2012-2013 • Amazing results in PATS • Continued success with outcomes based reporting • Integration of IPADs and applications in classrooms • Parent confirmation of school website use • Instructional Leadership focus on Improved Teaching Practices, development and growth • Planning for Whole School Guided Reading/Collaboration Project • QLE focus for all staff • Continued success with building strong relationships with our families and strengthening our school-home community

9. 2012-2013 ResultsChinook Center School’s Data • Accountability Pillar Report • Chinook Center School Satisfaction Survey Results • Prov. Achievement Tests Five Year Roll Up

10. Provincial Accountability Report Card 2012-2013 • A safe and caring school with strong programming • PAT results reflect quality teaching and learning opportunities in all grades • PAT Acceptable and Excellent rates remains above provincial averages

11. Chinook Center School Parent Survey A Parent Survey was created at CCS to replace the SchollieSurvey. What our parents said… 59 Family Responses What this means… • Our parents are highly satisfied with Chinook Center’s atmosphere and their child’s achievement.

12. Provincial Achievement Tests Grade 3 • Hooray for Chinook Center School! • Chinook Center School students have performed well above the provincial averages on both the acceptable and excellence ranges for the last 5 years. • We believe that consistency and alignment of learner outcomes from Kindergarten to Grade 4 are key to our continuous student successes!

13. Instructional Leadership The IL Project is a commitment to the improvement of administrative leadership, teaching practice and most importantly , improving learning for all students. Our goal as administrators this year: As leaders, what strategies can we implement to contribute to purposeful growth in teaching practices? What we did: • Set school goals based on the QLE • Peer observations and reflections • Planned individual teacher and school goals based on teacher reflections • Monthly meetings with Admin Leaders to reflect and establish next steps • Created Collaborative Literacy Project What we learned: • Teachers find collaborative time critical • QLE is embedded in everyday planning and teaching • Teachers are able to reflect about their learning with a common language • Peer mentoring impacts teacher and student learning • Relationships/trust is important • Clear expectations and understanding is essential How learning was impacted: • Students felt “wrap around” approach to learning • Common language is used throughout the grades • Students see teachers as learners Next Steps: • Rolling school collaboration project in with IL - School Literacy focus for 2013-2014

14. SuccessesSchool Council and Parental Involvement • Fortunate to have a very active Parent Council • Organized and offered parent information evenings • Financial support for: • Cultural events • Library Books • Learning materials • Field trips (Collicutt Center, Safety City, Snowshoe Trip) • Technology • Consistent parent volunteers assisting in the classroom, from home and with special events

15. Other Indicators of Success • High attendance at Back to School Barbeque • 100% attendance at student led conferences • Parent referrals to new families • Parent volunteers • Low staff turn around • Happy Children and Families

16. Turn and Talk • What questions do you have about our results? • Is there data that you would like to explore further? • Was there something that surprised you about our results?

17. Planning for 2013-14 What is Driving Change at Chinook Center School? • Instructional Leadership • Quality Learning Environment document • Data • New Policies from Alberta Education • Research and Best Practices • Provincial and CESD Education Goals

18. Planning for 2013-14Areas For Growth / Focus What the data tells us… • Achievement: • Students are achieving well above the standard year after year • Satisfaction: • All stakeholders have a high satisfaction rate and feel that any concerns are being met

19. Planning for 2013-14Areas For Growth / Focus What research and best practices tell us… • That alignment of learner outcomes and teacher collaboration is critical to student success • That having a common language and programs amongst all grades provides a strong foundation for learning

20. Planning for 2013-2014Areas For Growth / Focus What new provincial goals tell us… • An Excellent Start to Learning • Children are reaching emotional , social, intellectual and physical development milestones. • Success for Every Student • Students achieve student learning outcomes. • Students demonstrate proficiency in literacy and numeracy. • Students demonstrate citizenship and entrepreneurship. • The achievement gap between FNMI students and all other students is eliminated. • Quality Teaching and School Leadership • Teacher preparation and professional growth focus on the competencies needed to help students learn. Effective learning and teaching is achieved through collaborative leadership. • Engaged and Effective Governance • The education system demonstrates collaboration and engagement. • Students and communities have access to safe and healthy learning environments.

21. Planning for 2013-14Goal Alignment AB Ed &CESDChinook Center School An Excellent StartClose relationship with Community Agencies To Learning -Focus on emotional, social, intellectual and physical development Success for Every StudentFocus on quality teaching and learning. -clearly stated learning outcomes -align literacy and numeracy with school goals -continue character education (PAL) -personalized learning Quality Teaching and School Commitment to Improved Teacher Practice Leadership -align teacher growth plans with the QLE -IL focus on improved leader/teacher practice -collaborative practice Engaged and Effective Collaborative Focus Governance -healthy learning environment established through community partners -safe and caring school

22. Goals and Targets for 2013-2014 • 1. Close Relationship with Community Agencies • Continue to work with community partners to support students entering our school. • 2. Focus on Quality Teaching and Learning • 90% of teachers will use the QLE in daily/unit planning • 90% of teachers will utilize best practices based on research • 3.Commitment to Improving teaching Practice • 90% of teachers will be satisfied with the collaborative opportunities to learn and share best practices • Continue to align materials and goals across grades • Continue to utilize peer mentoring and feedback • Continue to utilize reflection to improve and refine practice • 4. Collaborative Focus • 90% of teachers will be satisfied with the collaborative opportunities to learn and share best practices • 90% of EA’s will be satisfied with the collaborative opportunities • 90% of parents are aware of Collaboration Project • 90% of parents see an improvement in student learning due to teacher collaboration • 90% of students see collaboration as a way to improve learning

23. Planning for 2013-14Key Strategies1. Close Relationships with Community Agencies • Continue… • Fostering relationships with the local playschools • Utilizing family school wellness workers • Supporting parent education in our school • Working closely with Alberta Health Services to provide • support in the classroom • Planning for success with Student Services in the division

24. Planning for 2013-142.Focus on Quality Teaching and Learning Continue… • Learning and utilizing the QLE document • Monthly meetings with David Townsend and Pam Adams about Instructional Leadership • Working with Teacher and EA Learning Guides • Allocating more time to staff to complete and participate in PLCs and PD • Supporting teachers with added administration time • Participating in PLC’s • School wide Literacy focus • Moving students between ability groups • Planning and teaching with 21st Century Learners in mind What’s New… • Use the Collaboration Project as means to focus on quality teaching and learning

25. Planning for 2013-143. Improved Teacher Practice Continue… • Utilizing Division Student Services Team • Utilizing and providing time for Learning Support Team members • Attending PLC meetings • Professional readings • Sharing of best practices • Aligning materials, language and expectations across grades • Providing collaborative time • Following and using the QLE and personal Learning Guides • Utilizing peer mentoring and feedback • Utilizing reflection to improve and refine practice • Utilizing Division and Community resources as needs arise (ex. FNMI, ESL)

26. Planning for 2013-144. Collaborative Planning • Continue… • Aligning Learner Outcomes with entry /exit of grade in mind • Aligning programs used within each classroom • Attending Grade Level PLCs • Providing for teacher meeting time • Building Collaborative Teacher time into staff meetings and • school PD days • Providing different learning opportunities (ex. Multi-aged) • Providing additional release time for collaborative planning • Implementing new Reading Program (k-4)

27. Planning 2013-14Communication - Specifics

28. Planning 2013-14Library and Research - Specifics

29. Looking Further for 2013-2014Three Trends • What is on the horizon? • Leadership capacity in the school continues to grow through the Division Instructional Leadership program • Quality Learning Environment document becomes the focus for all future planning and learning • Parents value the open communication and family atmosphere at CCS. This is shown through our strong enrollment numbers.

30. Looking Further for 2013-2014Three Challenges • What we need to look into: • Budgeting concerns. Lack of reserves may threaten staffing numbers and specialist programming at our school. • Challenge to balance release time with teacher in class time. • Inclusive Education with increasing student behaviors and needs and redistributed funding.

31. Key MessagesWhat You Should Remember About Us! • We are Cooperative, Caring, Safe! • Small is beautiful. • We are a family of learners. • We consistently have excellent PAT results. • Our students are true ambassadors of our school! • We are unique in our building and administration. • We value our parents and volunteers. • Our staff and students are happy to come to school!

32. ConclusionHave Your Say… Have we missed anything? Have we targeted the right areas for growth? Do you have any further questions? Would you like to come for a tour? • E-mail your questions or comments to us at cwilligar@chinooksedge.ab.ca