Our Lady of Mercy School Improvement Plan for Student Achievement and Wellness

Our Lady of Mercy Catholic School which serves 170+ students (JK-Grade 8) is located in Bancroft. We serve a large geographical area stretching from Harcourt, Highland Grove and Cardiff to the west (Haliburton County) to Maynooth and Lake St. Peter to the north, to Boulter, McArthur’s Mills to the east and Gilmour to the south. The majority of our students are bused with many having a bus ride of over an hour. We are located within the Diocese of Pembroke but churches in Ormbsy are part of the Kingston Diocese and the churches in Cardiff and Highland Grove are served by the Diocese of Peterborough. School Masses are usually celebrated on First Friday and each classroom teacher (Grade 3 to 8) organizes at least one Mass per school year with students taking on the roles of lectors, altar servers and gift bearers. Many of our staff members were educated in this school or in other former ALCDSB schools (e.g., St. Ignatius) so we are familiar with the structures of combined grades as well as the realities of largely rural living and the benefits / challenges that come with living in this area of ALCDSB. We were part of the District Support process in 2014-2015 and that report continues to guide our work. We are fortunate to have a dedicated group of volunteers who assist with supporting students’ reading, coaching some of our extracurricular sports and as chefs for our Breakfast Program. Our School Council is active and works diligently to provide for our students through hot meals (e.g., Spaghetti lunches and Shrove Tuesday breakfast), special performances (e.g., Dufflebag Theatre), sporting clinics (e.g., Rocks and Rings), and to provide funding for our Nutrition Programs as well as busing for year end school trips.

Our SIPSAW team consists of: Vicki Armstrong (JK/SK) & Jennifer Knopp (ECE)

Melissa McCormack (Grade 1) & Maeghan Zulik (EA) Shauna Rumleski (Grade 1/2) & Kim Grenier (EA)

Lori Cannon (Grade 3) Robert Lalonde (Grade 4/5) & Debbie Bowers (EA)

Catherine Rull (Grade 5/6) Anna Young (Grade 7/8)

Tony Fitzgerald (Grade 7/8) Tara McEnery (Primary Math & SERT)

Tracy Peters (FSL) Hali Letwin (Itinerant Arts)

Brenda Gabourie (LRA & Speech and Language EA) Joanne Prentice (YW)

Pat Flagler Edwards (Principal) & Joanne Ronholm (Vice Principal)

November 2015 SIPSAW Priorities in blue, March 2016 SIPSAW School Priorities in red

Discipleship Scholarship Stewardship As a community of learners, created in the image of God, we inspire and nurture strong communities of Catholic faith with all partners in Catholic education-home, school, parish and community.

Theory of Action: If we model and teach Catholic faith then students will grow in their understanding that one’s call in life comes from God and will strive to discern and live out this call throughout life’s journey.

Discipleship - (System Priorities in Black/ School Priorities in Blue (November) / Red (March):

Religion and Family Life instruction will reflect current curriculum policy documents from the Institute of Catholic Education.

OLM staff will plan and implement lessons and units of study using current Religious Education and Family Life documents as well as new resources, including those from ICE (2015) to support the revised HPE Curriculum and have informed parents through the distribution of Health and Physical Education Pamphlets.

M. McCormack attended the Grade 1 Religion Program on December 7th and the “Living in Faith, Growing in Christ” program is being implemented and well received (e.g., Baby Projects)

Promote to students, parents, and staff a greater understanding of Religious Education (e.g., All Souls / All Saints, Nativity Project (Faith Life Committee), Family Advent Workshop (School Council), and upcoming Family Easter workshop (School Council), Warm Hands, Warm Hearts (Faith Life Committee).

S. Rumleski, R. Lalonde and A. Young attended the Board sponsored workshop on the new Health and Physical Education curriculum on January 15th .

OLM will adopt the philosophy of a whole school approach to promote communities of belonging that are safe, caring, inclusive, respectful, and healthy.

Work with Board level personnel to deliver a beginning understanding of the Violent Threat Risk Assessment at the school level. J. Prentice, T. McEnery and P. Flagler Edwards are to attend the April 18th Police/ School Board Protocol Training. We will continue to invite and work with our community partners to deliver programs to promote personal safety (e.g., CSO Officers for Lockdown practices and Fire Department staff for Fire Drill practices and Fire Safety Education, Buster the Bus and Rider Role Model). Anti-bulling messages are developed through the use of thematic read alouds and activities.

Implementation of the revised Codes of Conduct and communication of the Board and School level plans for Promoting Positive School Climate and Well Being. The Promoting Positive School Climate and Well Being Team revised and implemented a new Behaviour Report.

J. Reilly attended the Inaugural Bancroft Risk Mitigation Meeting on January 20th. J. Ronholm / T. Kennedy attended the Risk Mitigation Team Meeting on March 2nd; this is a pilot program for Bancroft while other school communities in the Board are using triage protocols

We will continue our work to support one another and to reduce barriers in order to increase acceptance and understanding of mental wellness (e.g., Gerry Mitchell performances, Wear Purple for Child Abuse Prevention Awareness, installation of Buddy Bench in school yard, various bullying and positive relationship awareness initiatives, Keep It Real Presentation on March 30th (funding through the former School Arts Committee), School Council is investigating possible presentations to the parent community on community resources, Roots of Empathy program, Fun Friends and Friends for Life Training of staff, Teal Pumpkin Project, and in honour of National Diabetes Awareness Month OLM has had a Clothesline Bin installed on the property of the school for clothing donations – during November 304 lbs of clothing was collected in the box. The box was removed in January 2016 and we hope to have it back next fall for another visit).

We continue to communicate with parents via newsletters, hall display, Twitter (90% of the teaching staff has now sent at least one Tweet to highlight school activities /

As a community of learners, created in the image of God, we inspire and nurture engaged communities of learning that promote high levels of student achievement, in a culture that supports the belief that all students can learn.

Theory of Action: If through growth mindset, we meet the needs of all students and honour student voice within a faith-centred environment, then achievement will increase.

Scholarship - (System Priorities in Black/ School Priorities in Blue (November) / Red (March):

Assessment for, as and of learning supports achieving excellence from K-12 in literacy and numeracy through:

Our Lady of Mercy collects student data (e.g., student interest surveys, PMs (see accompanying document for MidYear updates), BLAM, CASI, OWA, ONAP, PRIME, WIAT III, Gauss Mathematics Contest) through various means including conversation, observation, product, technology (e.g., Tinkerplots), as well as is continuing to utilize various pedagogical documentation techniques e.g., FreshGrade / OneNote (photographic evidence, and student portfolios.

C. Gencarelli and E. Walker provided training to the P division on the use of OneNote and other applications (e.g., Adobe Voice and Pic Collage on February 23rd).

S. Rumleski is to attend the Communicating Student Learning through Digital Portfolios (FreshGrade Professional Learning) on March 7th.

OLM is continuing to refine the process to ensure continuous and on-going use of visible learning goals in student friendly language and success criteria that are co-constructed with students with multiple opportunities for students to assess their own and others’ learning (i.e., "How to Make an Amazing Map", "Daily Journal Writing", and Word Study anchor chart, etc.).

Success criteria are posted in classrooms for shared access and discussion but also available in personal formats for individuals (i.e., glued into individual notebooks for reference).

OLM continues to work towards consistently providing students with precise descriptive feedback (both peer and teacher), both in the moment (formative) and for planning improvement/next steps (summative) (e.g., speech writing folders).

Feedback is ongoing as students are able to produce work samples and is as timely as possible.

Madame Peters continues to actively engaged in program review and re-design for rich, relevant and engaging curriculum including system FSL program review (Francais à

Coeur) and student attendance at Gregg LeRock Concert in April. Edie Bovie visited OLM on January 25th and spent the day with Madame in the FSL classes.

OLM continues to explore the utilization of differentiation of content, process, and/or product to meet the needs of the learner (e.g., word study, the role of the North West Mounted Police, Titanic projects).

H. Letwin hosted an Itinerant Arts Inservice on January 26th and students in Grades 5/6 and Grade 7/8 (T. Fitzgerald) showed the participants their dance moves.

We are now set to begin our OFIP tutoring programs for grades 3 and 6.

We plan to be a host site for one of the Board’s summer literacy / numeracy camps Schools will continue a focus on math content (proportional, spatial and algebraic reasoning), math process, and educator fluency from K-12.

OLM continues to work with Math Coach Andy Paquin to investigate: application of lessons from SuperSource and Gizmos; classroom visits for reciprocal sharing; and delving deeper into using problem solving; open questions; and centre-based lessons in various strands.

OLM continues to explore the integration of new i-Pads in Mathematics including the use of e-manipulatives and other applications and online resources (e.g., Prodigy, Reflex Math Software, OSMO)

As a community of learners, created in the image of God, we inspire and nurture compassionate communities of service that give witness to Catholic social teaching.

Theory of Action: If we model and practice Catholic social teachings, then our students will grow as responsible citizens who contribute to the common good and dignity for all.

Stewardship - (System Priorities in Black/ School Priorities in Blue (November) / Red (March):

Promote healthy relationships that support the spiritual, intellectual, emotional, social and physical well-being of all.

Our Lady of Mercy continues to support the development of positive mental health practices, including resiliency, emotional literacy and empathy (e.g. Fully Alive, FRIENDS for Life, Wellness Teams, School Teams / Extracurriculars, Reading Buddies (K-8), Lifevest Inside Group, Bus Monitors, installation of a Buddy Bench in the school yard, Faith Life Committee (e.g., Community Service Officer liaising to implement Warm hands Warm Hearts), Friday Boys Group, and High Flyers lunch recess group.

OLM continues to promote healthy living and wellness through food programs

including the Breakfast Program (which has demonstrated increasing student participation in delivering program), the Healthy Snack Program including the Friday Health Snack Trays and Snack Bins. School Council continues to support these programs through fundraising and also provides hot meals (e.g., Spaghetti lunches and the Shrove Tuesday Pancake Breakfast).

OLM will continue to investigate and further develop an understanding and application of restorative practice as a tool to build healthy classroom communities. J. Reilly met with L. Cannon, R. Lalonde and A. Young on January 20th and these classes have begun the use of circles that focus on co-operation and respect.

Employ relationship based approaches to resolve conflict, minimize bullying and promote positive social interactions (e.g., Well Aware, Gerry Mitchell performances Do Respect and 1Voice with entire student body attending, and integration of bullying awareness programs throughout the curriculum).

OLM continues to promote active living through participation on sports teams and participation in special activities such as the Senior Soccer Challenge, Terry Fox Run

Students in Grade 1 and Grade 1/2 thoroughly enjoy their DPA time through the use of GoNoOdle and are motivated to continuing exercising to build up points for their “champs”

accomplishments) continuing to use Twitter on a regular basis), class newsletters, communication bags and books as well as through the school website.

We continue to welcome parents to the school at special events as well as volunteer opportunities (e.g., parent attendance at Hallowe’en Dance, Meet the Teacher BBQ, School Masses, Christmas Concert, School level speakoffs, special lunches (e.g., Pancake Breakfast) as chefs for our Breakfast Program and for Friday Snack tray preparation and as sports coaches).

OLM was fortunate to host Derek and Naomi Martin of Tribalvision Dancers for the first week of January. Derek and Naomi taught us much about the Haudenosaunee. Each class participated in 4 dance workshops (Grade 7/8 classes were able to learn dances with their Kindergarten and Grade 1 Reading buddies). On January 8th, Derek and Naomi arranged a Social that showcased each class as they presented the dance that they had learned and it culminated with a school wide Duck Dance. Local Aboriginal elders were invited to the Social and many of our parents attended the Social with the local newspapers provided coverage as well. This opportunity was afforded us through the work of S. McDonald and the Ontario Arts Council.

C. Rull organized the visit of Sarah Krieger of the Alzheimer’s Society to present to our Grade

4 through 8 students on February 11th about Alzheimer’s. Sarah helped us to understand that this disease will affect all of us in one way or another and we must treat those afflicted (as well as their caregivers) with dignity, compassion and empathy.

Visual art classes will be taking on a bookmark making workshop that recognizes our volunteers in the school for May (Education Week).

All members of OLM will demonstrate an awareness and commitment to living a life of faith and CGEs will guide our work.

Nurture adult faith formation by supporting a site based Faith Day and the celebration the Jubilee Year of Mercy (e.g., Camp Can Aqua Staff Retreat on PA Day with 4 other schools, Family Advent Workshop, T. McEnery is planning on hosting an Easter Workshop for Families on March 22nd )

P. Flagler Edwards designed signs for the main doors of the school to commemorate the Jubilee Year of Mercy. These signs were also ordered by all schools within LN3 and by T. Kennedy for the Board Office. The Faith Life Committee is currently working on decorations for the Doors of Mercy.

Nurture student Faith formation and Catholic community (e.g., Faith Life Committee, Liturgy and prayer, Altar Servers, Sponsorship of Education in Chincha, Peru in collaboration with Sister Pauline Coulterman, Reading at Adult Day program, Christmas

OLM is beginning to utilize PRIME Assessments and the connection between Phases of Mathematics Development and the use of low entry point high ceiling open questions to reach all learners.

T. McEnery attended the PRIME Facilitator’s Followup Workshop on January 25th and she has implemented PRIME assessment tools in Mathematics to some whole classes as well as some individuals).

OLM Numeracy Focus PA Day included presentation by Tara McEnery and Vicki McGinn on PRIME, Spatial Reasoning Activities facilitated by Vicki McGinn, and collegial sharing of strategies for FreshGrade use in the classroom.

Activities on the February 29th PA including sharing and exploring of games (board and dice (e.g., Countdown, Blokus, Yahtzee), apps (e.g., OSMO, Tiggly, Adobe Voice) and websites that can be used to build student skills and increase proficiencies in enjoyable ways.

Numeracy Pod 7 continues to build and adapt knowledge of pedagogical documentation to determine and meet student needs regarding multiplicative thinking across multiple math strands.

C. Gencarelli presented to the Numeracy Pod 7 members on January 15th & February 2nd on the use of FreshGrade and OneNote.

We have had to reschedule Numeracy Pod 7 meetings on more than one occasion due

to inclement weather. Staff have been engaged in developing questions and participating in moderated marking. We plan to have A. Paquin co-plan / co-teach with staff using Geometer’s Sketch Pad on March 10th and 11th and then have staff from Sagonaska present to all the members of the Numeracy Pod on April 21st/ 22nd .

T. McEnery and P. Flagler Edwards are participating with A. Paquin (math coach) and K. Ronholm (SMT) in the Ministry’s Adobe Connect Series on “Supporting Students with Learning Disabilities in Mathematics”. The matchstick problem that was part of the first session was presented at the February 29th PA Day and each class is to have the students complete the problem so we can revisit the student work and see if there are trends / inconsistencies in the students’ ways and means to solve the problem.

T. McEnery and S. Rumleski are to attend the OAME conference from May 5th – 7th.

OLM will purchase outstanding ONAP resources for Grades 4, 7, and 8 (We currently have Gr 5 and 6). This has not yet come to fruition.

OLM has purchased several new math manipulatives and will continue with this practice on a needs-be basis.

OLM has recently acquired copies of the new Open Questions resource by Marian Small (through school purchase as well as through Math Coach Andy Paquin).

Teaching and learning are rooted in inquiry from K-12 (student-led and teacher-led).

OLM is at the beginning stages of applying an inquiry stance in Mathematics learning. As a staff we will continue to work together to expand our understanding of student inquiry in literacy as well as cross-curricular applications. Example of ongoing classroom inquiries include “Being the Best Person You Can Be” using resources such as Veggie Tales to explore how we become who Jesus wants us to be; and an inquiry on Flight, Canada, as well as Timeframe of Canada from 1841-1885, Ancient Greece, the role of the Northwest Mounted Police, the Titanic Tragedy). These examples are modelling the use of inquiry in preparation for individual student-driven inquiry later in the year.

An example of a multi-class inquiry activity is that our primary division classes planned and participate in together was a Pumpkin Patch Trip to the Buckhorn Berry Farm which include all students from Kindergarten to Grade 3.

GoNoOdle Champs in Grade 1 / 2

We are lucky to have parents (B. Brownlee and M. Rumleski) who possess skills in basketball who are willing to coach and practice with our senior basketball teams

Robert Lalonde arranged for Rocks and Rings to come to OLM and present the sport of curling to students in Grade 5-8.

OLM demonstrates Faith in Action through leadership, service, advocacy and commitment to environmental stewardship.

Whole school participation in the Terry Fox Run and Student-initiated 'Hats for Cancer Day'.

Staff and students were encouraged to wear Pink for February 24th (Pink Shirt Day) – inclement weather interfered with this but many of the students who were here on that snow day were in pink as were many staff members. One of our mothers sent in a photo of her children dressed in pink at home.

Concert, Making Rosaries in June with Mike Gundhert, JK/ SK Class are practising Acts of Service – Christmas Joy Bags, Visits to the Manor for Easter Bonnet Parade). Advent observances included the Advent readings and prayers in the classrooms. Lenten observances include: Shrove Tuesday Pancake Breakfast; a Liturgy of the Word and Burning of the Blessed Palms (Grades 3 to 5) to prepare the ashes for Ash Wednesday; some classes undertake Lenten Acts of Kindness; while others visit the church to reflect upon the Passion of our Lord through the Stations of the Cross.

For many years our practice has been to ask for donations of non-perishable food items as admission to our Christmas Concerts. This year we asked for a donation of food or a monetary donation instead. We raised $501 and were able to donate $167 to each of the three food banks that serve our area in Bancroft, Maynooth and Cardiff. We also were able to provide them with boxes of groceries. The Faith Life Committee took the lead on this initiative.

The Faith Life Committee and Lifevest Inside group are currently holding the Cans for

Kindness initiative and these food stuffs will also be donated to our local Food Banks.

For our Justice Vigil we have chosen the issue of poverty.

Pathway and transition planning will promote engagement and success for all students.

Staff will continue to refine the transition practices for all students who have Individual Education Plans (PPM 156) and begin the implementation of All About Me Portfolios and Individual Pathway Plans (IPPS).

C. Betson (Student Services) from North Hastings High School (NHHS) visited both Grade 7/8 classes in January to discuss transitions to high school as well as pathways within secondary and post-secondary. Students and their families were invited to attend the Open House on February 23rd.

Staff from the Department of National Defence came to OLM on December 11th to present to our Grade 6 through 8 students about Sea Cadets and possible pathways in the military.

Both Grade 7/8 classes attended the Co-Op students’ presentations at NHHS in December.

Staff will continue to: use student specific interventions and supports in unique and student specific ways as well as through universal design; focus on helping children self-regulate and

An example of inter-school inquiry includes the work of the OLM Kindergarten classroom and St. Martin of Tours Kindergarten students called the "Kindergarten Inquiry Exchange". This involves student-penned letters and materials accompanied by inquiry questions and inquiry information being shared back and forth. Presently the students are exchanging information with the SMT students regarding which living creatures come from eggs which fits nicely with the ongoing work that our students are doing monitoring the bird feeder in their play yard. The Grade 4/5 class is also participating in the Great Canadian Mail Race and are also engaged in a mystery class inquiry through using clues in the letters to discover the location of the other class who is writing to them.

As part of their ongoing inquiry learning, V. Armstrong invited in Lana Minnie to present to the students about the elk that overwinter at her farm.

Learning environments (e.g., Classroom and Learning Commons) will be enhanced by educators and students innovating and collaborating with technology. Digital resources will be embedded seamlessly to accelerate and deepen teaching and learning.

OLM’s vision of our Learning Commons is a work in progress but much has already been done (e.g., purchase and installation of new furniture, change in computer set up in the lab, purging of dated reading material). We are investigating the purchase of materials to support learner maker-spaces (SpeakUp Grant proposal to support has been fully funded) as noted in the resource Together for Learning. In January 2016, B. Gabourie (LRA) spearheaded students from Grades 4-8 obtaining library memberships with the Bancroft Public Library (January 21st) and this allows them access to e-materials through OverDrive.

B. Gabourie has just established the LEGO club on Thursdays.

Murals and furniture (the reading chair – shown below) that have been created by H. Letwin feature positive images and sayings that promote inclusiveness and encourage our students to make a difference.

Student committees Life Vest Inside and Faith Life continue to share responsibility for organizing student-led school dances (e.g., Hallowe’en (Faith Life), Christmas (Lifevest Inside), Mardi Gras/ St. Valentine’s Day (Faith Life).

Students have been developing awareness of the meaning and impact of the Holocaust and the need to abolish hatred and discrimination in our shared world

Whole class multi-grade participation in Royal Canadian Legion Remembrance Day Contests for Essays, Poetry, and Posters. OLM has once again achieved a high degree of success in these contests and as a result, numerous OLM students have attended the Royal Canadian Legion’s Remembrance Day dinner and ceremonies. Some of those entries have now gone on to win at the Zone level. Our grade 3-8 students prepared speeches for the Legion sponsored Public Speaking Contest. 3 students represented the school at the competition on February 21st with the junior entrant winning 1st place and the intermediate entrants placing 2nd and 3rd.

We continue on our road to becoming a PeaceQuest school again this year. Our summary report was submitted to A. Bonnifero on February 25th.

OLM continues to support and enhance the principles of sustainability and demonstrate commitment to outdoor and environmental education through whole school participation in Ontario Eco Schools program led by a large Eco Schools Team. We hope to once again achieve Silver Certification this year. T. McEnery attended the Eco Schools Certification training on January 26. The Eco Schools team continues their work including the washing of cutlery at whole school lunches (e.g., Spaghetti Lunch & Pancake Breakfast), running the composting program, etc... Representatives from the team are to attend Best Foot Forward on April 22nd (rescheduled from the fall of 2015)

T. McEnery invited in local birder B. Coutu (from the Bancroft Stewardship Council) who encouraged us to participate in the Great Backyard Bird Count on the Family Day weekend. She also donated a bird feeder for our Peace Garden.

reach an optimum level of sensory input and management (e.g., priority scheduling of gym for body breaks, individual sensory equipment for students as needed, FM systems and hush-ups in every classroom; use of Minds Up Program; continue to build partnerships with other local schools (e.g., Cross Country, Junior Sports, presentations by NHHS Music (hosted here as well as at the Village Playhouse (January 19th), attending NHHS sports events).

Two retired staff members (Pam Fitzgerald and Ann Ewing) come each Friday to support instrumental music instruction in Mrs. Young’s Grade 7/8 class.

Mrs. Young’s students have voiced an interest in performing in the North Hastings Music Festival (May 2016) and our Kindergarten (V. Armstrong), Grade 1/2 (S. Rumleski) and Grade 3 (L. Cannon) classes have also registered for competition in the vocal and choral speaking categories.

N. McCready visited the school on December 18th to help with the completion of the Learning Commons Enhancement proposal.

New projectors for interactive whiteboards have been installed together with Apple TV devices to support use of iPads in the Kindergarten to Grade 3 classrooms and their use is growing.

OLM continues to explore the use of BYOD in Gr 7/8 (a BYOD User Agreement has been shared and now utilized with St. Martin of Tours). Students are becoming adept at using technologies to support their learning and thinking in a personalized manner. For example, students are regularly dictating notes using voice to text software and using presentation technology. Mrs. Young’s Grade 7/8 students also use the Firefly app which provides access to scanned and downloaded Kurzweil documents

Staff have requested professional development opportunities to share best practices related to the use of digital resources including SEA Assistive Technology training, class training for Office 365.

We (staff and students) are becoming more familiar with the use of the Office365 suite (e.g., the Week at a Glance (WAAG) memo, February 29th PA Day materials and school photos are being shared with staff using OneDrive). Clipping of photos for this document was accomplished through use of OneNote and you will, of course, have noted that this document was shared with the staff and Senior Administration through OneDrive (OLM SIPSAW). Going forward staff will be asked to share artifacts in this OneDrive folder for future SIPSAW updates. However, we realize that we still have a lot of learning to do around the power of Office365.

Anna Young attended TechFest on November 14, 2015 where she investigated Hour of Code, Access for All, and One Note. A. Young’s Grade 7/8 students participated in Hour of Code during the week of December 7th through 11th and her students mentored L. Cannon’s Grade 3 class with coding.

T. McEnery, V. Armstrong, S. Rumleski, L. Cannon, A. Young and N. McCready worked

together to submit a TLLP proposal which will allow for a multi-grade robotics inquiry using LEGO robots. We learned in late January that our proposal had been sent to the Ministry for approval.

We recently purchased an OSMO Genius kit to help facilitate both numeracy and literacy exploration.

T. McEnery attended Assistive Technology at the LD Institute in August and will be attending a Sagonaska workshop on technology in December. Some staff participated in FreshGrade webinars and continue to dialogue with FreshGrade and one another about FreshGrade features.

Khan Academy is used for math lessons and review of concepts by some of our intermediate students

OLM continues to use timely and strategic interventions in response to individual student need (e.g., Teal Pumpkin Project, universal access to e-versions of commonly used texts, and further exploration of Alternative Curriculum writing).

M. Bibby (SAT) was to have an outdoor education workshop on Winter Survival to our Grade 4 students in February but this had to be postponed until later (likely April) due to circumstances beyond our control.

OLM continues to provide opportunities for student voice and leadership e.g., Student Committees, we learned on February 22nd that our Speak Up Grant proposal will be fully funded for $1 000 (Mrs. Young’s students will engage in conversations with the student population regarding their vision for the “Maker Space” and materials will be purchased), Merit Awards, collaboration of Grade 7/8 students with other classes (e.g., reading buddies, lunch buddies, Mass buddies), Bus Patrollers, Christmas Concert, Year of Service (visiting elderly residents), participation in Student Vote (Gr. 4/5) and Study of Electoral Process related to the fall election, etc.

The Grade 7/8s of Mrs. Young’s class are actively engaged in We Act Initiatives including We Are Rafikis (global), We Scare Hunger (October 31st), We Are Silent (April 8th), We Bake for Change (2016). The entire class attended the We Day Ottawa event on November 10, 2015.

Students continue to lead and facilitate the school Milk Program.

Morning Announcements are delivered by the Grade 7/8 students. This responsibility is shared between the 2 classes. Most classrooms have a classroom job board that shares the classroom responsibilities with the students on a rotational basis.