School as the Heart of the Community

George WebsterA Model School for Inner Cities

George Webster ES

“Achieving together to build a better world.”

School Overview• Approximately 550 students• More than 30 different language groups• 70 percent of students born in Canada• English is the language spoken in 47

percent of George Webster homes• Majority of families living in poverty • 79 on Toronto District School Board (TDSB)

Learning Opportunities Index• Currently K-5 but growing K-8

Model Schools for Inner Cities

Five Essential Components

1. Innovation in Teaching/Learning and in School Structure

2. Support Services To Meet The Social, Emotional and Physical Well Being of Students

3. School As The Heart Of The Community4. Research, Review and Evaluation of Students

and Programs5. Commitment To Share Successful Practice

Innovation in Teaching and Learning

“In a culturally responsive classroom, effective teaching and learning occur in a culturally supported, learner-centered context, whereby the strengths students bring to school are identified, nurtured, and utilized to promote student achievement.”

http://www.nccrest.org/Briefs/Diversity_Brief.pdf

Support Services to meet the Social, Emotional and Physical

Well-being of Students

PFLCs– 18 month check-up Healthy Child Screening Healthy and nutritious food Harnessing local resources Partnerships with CDI, EYET, TPH Opportunities for enhanced learning and

recreational experiences The establishment of Pediatric Clinics in our

schools

School as the Heart of the Community

Joyce Epstein’s Six Types of Involvement

• Parenting• Communicating• Volunteering• Learning at Home• Decision Making• Collaborating with the Community

Learning as We Go/Grow:How Do We Know What’s

Working?

Research

Tracking of AchievementData

CAT 4,EQAO,Report Card, DRA, CASI,

Special Ed, Etc

School EngagementAbsenteeism

TardinessSuspension

Social, emotionalWell-being and

Resiliency- Grade 5 Survey, EDI

Family Background/Experiences

2008 Parent Census

HealthVision and Hearing

Screening

School CommunityProcess DataStaff surveys

On-line surveys

School PerceptionsAnd Culture

Student, Staff andParent Surveys

External Reviews by Visiting Consultants

External ResearchOISE

York University

OverallModel School Team Surveys

Tracking of Summer School

Students

A Typical Week at GWTOP 10 REASONS TO COME TO GW THIS WEEK... 1.  Adult ESL [Collaborating]2.  The Gender Respect Project – English/Cantonese/Bengali

[Parenting]3. Tour our Danish Visitors [Volunteering]4. School Council And Action Team for Partnerships [Decision

Making/Communicating]5.  Play Leaders [Volunteering]6.  Visit the Clinic for Flu Shots [Collaborating]7. CPAC Meeting [Decision Making/Collaborating]8.  Visit the Parenting Centre [Parenting/Collaborating/Learning at

Home]9.  Visit the Parent Resource Drop-In Centre

[Parenting/Collaborating]10. Morning Meal Program and Lunch Program [Volunteering]

Coming up soon...Diwali Tea with Principal [Communicating]

Parent Workshops [Parenting]

Parents Share Information with the School

[Communicating]

Through “Tea with the Principal,” Faith Celebrations, and Community Walks, groups of parents have provided information about their home culture, faith celebrations, and aspects of our local community.

Volunteer Training [Volunteering]

Supporting the Social, Emotional, and Physical

Needs of Children [Volunteering]

Open Houses/Muffin Mornings

[Learning at Home]

School Council and Action Team for

Partnerships [Decision Making]

Parent Academy

[Decision Making/Collaborating]

Community Partners Get

Involved [Collaborating with Community]

Everyone Learns at George Webster [Collaborating with Community]