Superintendent's Monthly Message

June 2008

Another academic year is rapidly drawing to a close and the time is appropriate to highlight a number of initiatives, efforts, and achievements from our 2007-08 school year. This report will highlight a number of special activities and events but cannot possibly be all-inclusive and I trust the reader will appreciate the purpose of this report is to provide a brief overview of the diverse challenges and opportunities afforded our students both within and beyond the classroom. This level of involvement - the provision of these opportunities for students - is only possible through the commitment and perseverance of our staff and volunteers - thank you!

The 2007-2008 academic year has been a year marked with triumphs, achievements and exemplary professional commitment and leadership while serving the needs of our students. We overcame the challenges created by storm days and the unexpected two day shut down of our bus transportation system. We must hold our heads high, as instructional and non-instructional employees, dedicated to providing support and encouraging students in the learning process.

Curriculum, instruction and formative assessment are the core of a student’s education. Many efforts continued throughout the year to encourage student engagement and support their programming needs. Teachers have served on numerous curriculum or program related committees including pilot, implementation, standing, field test, assessment and program reviews. The purpose is always to provide the best possible resources and instructional strategies to support the student learner. Some of these initiatives include the implementation of a new grade two language arts resource, introduction of a new locally created PEI resource for grade six social studies, completion of the grades 7-9 health implementation, development of exemplars for grade ten writing (English 421) and the provincial alignment of curriculum in the trades.

Best practices to support students and teachers have been identified and introduced including the addition of a second primary literacy coach and the continuation of the Primary Intervention Program (PIP) for grades 2-3 French Immersion students.

Professional development opportunities have afforded school staffs and individuals to pursue school, team and individual goals. The newly established Professional Development Fund provided teachers with financial compensation and/or substitute time to participate in self-initiated professional development activities. Teachers accessed these funds to attend conferences, work on special projects with colleagues or job-shadow someone with a similar assignment.

The Western Area Teachers’ Association and Western School Board Joint In-Service Committee organized a very successful Professional Learning day at Athena Consolidated School and Westisle Composite High School on November 10, 2007.

Innovations’ Grants of $500.00 per school were awarded to all 21 schools and were used to support professional development goals established at the school level.

Teacher leaders participated in a Facilitation Retreat and board-based workshops designed to provide the leadership skills necessary to foster school development in their respective schools.

A strong connection has been made between school development and professional development. When school development goals are identified, school staffs create a supporting professional development plan. The school-based staff development day, use of substitute time through school development, before or after school sessions and, where applicable, time bank days were used to provide staff with the time needed to plan and carry out school development activities designed to enhance student learning.

Extracurricular opportunities have afforded students the opportunity to participate in a wide variety of other programs including music, school sport, drama, envirothons and club activities such as SADD, SWITCH, Student Council, Allied Youth, etc. Students also participated in the provincial heritage fair, provincial science fair, model parliament, Relay for Life, Encounters with Canada, provincial skills building competition, Great Canadian Geography challenge and much more. While there are many individuals that could be singled out, I will only note a couple of outstanding achievements namely, Rebecca Wolfe, TOSH, earning the prestigious Manning award at the National Science fair and Marshall Noye, Westisle, a gold medal winner at the Skills Canada competition. Well done students for your efforts in representing yourselves and your schools in the myriad of activities that reflect the many dimensions of education. Sincere thanks to the countless volunteers who coach, mentor and support students’ extracurricular activities. You make a difference in many lives.

Again, my sincere appreciation to each of you for many contributions to WSB students this school year. Have a wonderful summer.

Dale Sabean, Superintendent