Connection Communities

This is accomplished by having a process in place for in-school special education teams to monitor and assess student progress and make next step referrals to board level support and then to more focussed interventions provided by special Board programs, or agency partnerships. This past year, our Board moved to a new IEP software system that has increased our capacity to electronically document all student plans in one program. The program automatically allows for all staff members involved with the student to view their educational, medical, support and behaviour plans.

Ensuring Continuous Renewal of Facilities

Many construction projects planned for the 2020 summer were placed on hold due to the delays in engineering and tendering on account of the Covid19 pandemic. With a province wide closure many projects were not ready to tender thereby creating uncertainty of pricing and completion. A few projects that were able to proceed include upgrades to ELKP outdoor play areas at St. Margaret and Holy Family, St. Patricks auxiliary gym, boiler upgrades at St. Bernard and St. Pius, and a new sports gym floor at Pope John Paul II. Summer of 2021 is projected to be a busy year as those projects that were put on hold will proceed. This includes the St Ignatius front entrance and exterior upgrade as well as an accessibility upgrade, roofs at several schools and St. Patrick science wing renovation.

Ensuring Quality Technology

Our Board successfully completed our Secondary Technology refresh as part of our 5 Year Information Technology Plan. This included purchasing 120 iMacs deployed into 4 labs in the high schools and 150 Chromebooks for student use. There were also 85 Chrombases ordered for each senior elementary school classroom.

Remote learning and the virtual school has put an increased demand for student devices. As a result the technology plan had to change to include purchasing additional student devices. An additional 720 Chromebooks have been ordered with expected delivery in the next coming months. The Board also purchased 70 LTE iPads to support students with internet access issues. Some of these devices are funded with additional provincial Covid19 grants.

Year 4 of the Information Technology Plan is to be completed in 2020-21, which includes a refresh of devices for our Secondary Schools Teachers.

Health and Safety Performance Improvement

Our Board values the health and safety of our students, staff, and guests. In order to remain safe, and prevent injuries, Board strategies continue to be monitored such as: non-traditional classroom audits, student injury safety prevention, e-blast safety communiques, on-line incident reporting and new legislation updates.

To maintain a safe environment for all, fire safety plans are reviewed annually along with Violence Risk Assessments. Continual review and implementation of Ministry documents and guidelines, implementation of keyless entry system in all Board facilities, and safe school and accessibility upgrades to all Board facilities, is practised.

With the onset of the global pandemic in March, 2020, the health and safety needs and emergency response requirements for the Board became the primary focus. The Pandemic Committee was established and utilized to vet safety protocols and processes to support the safe reopening of schools during this unprecedented time.

Ensuring Board Governance and a Balanced Budget

We continually implement and verify that we are in compliance of new Ministry directives and legislation. Together, our Board supports the work of our Trustees in the development and review of policies and procedural by-laws and through professional development sessions. Together, with the Senior Team, we implement the recommendations of the Operational Review, the internal and external audit committees, and Risk Management feedback in a timely manner.

Intake and Assessment, Early Years

Several methods of assessment are used in the early years, identifying next steps, further assessment, specialized intervention or ongoing monitoring. Ages and Stages Screening Tool, Brigance screens and the updated, revised Wechsler Individual Achievement Test-Third Edition (WIAT- III), are some of the tools used to help identify academic strengths and weaknesses of a student, which helps to inform decisions regarding eligibility for educational services. During the school closure, Special Education teachers contacted each newly registered family and completed a condensed version of the ASQ to ensure that we were still prepared to meet the needs of our incoming students.

Students with Autism

This year our Board was funded by the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Children and Youth Services to support the Ontario Autism Program. Much of the funding was used to support the training and professional development of staff, as well as the transitions of students from school to school. The funds also supported a Board Autism Consultant position and a School Based Behaviour Lead whom we contracted from a partner agency. This Lead was able to work with students with challenging behaviours, mentor board staff, and work directly with families to support in the home. Our Board was once again approved to continue to offer the After School Skills Development Program for students with Autism, with our Board as one of eleven Boards province wide to participate in the project.Due to the school shutdowns, we were unable to host the Power Play On-Ice Program as part of Autism Awareness Day, however we were able to carry over Ministry funds from the After School Program, to support a summer back to school program.

CONNECTING communities

ENSURING ALL PARENTS & CAREGIVERS FEEL WELCOMED & INVOLVED

Communication and Recruitment

Communication to our external and internal audience is vital in creating a warm, inclusive and transparent environment for all. Utilizing social media, especially Facebook and Instagram, provides an effective and immediate way to connect. This is also a great way to recruit potential families through our engaging posts and photography.

Ensuring Equity

Embracing inclusion and fairness throughout our Board we continue to work and establish a variety of initiatives supporting equity. System administration established direction for our schools and monitored their progress closely. Teachers, support staff, parents and students partnered together to implement these initiatives such as: Natural Helpers, We Day Student Conference, Choices Programming, Student Advisory Council and Student Senates, Indigenous Educational art projects and a Indigenous Studies Course. The formation of many inclusive groups including Gender and Sexuality Alliance, Positive Space and Rainbow Alliance create spaces for engagement in social justice work, inclusion, and celebrate diversity throughout the school communities. All system and school leaders are engaged in the School Improvement Planning, with a focus on student wellbeing. Principals are directed to establish and maintain a safe and accepting school committee and many of these groups assist with this improvement.