East Chilliwack Elementary School Growth Plan April 2013 – April 2016

School Context April 2013 ECE is a small, rural school located in the eastern part of Chilliwack. The school has grown in population over the past 5 years due to recent housing developments. Many of the staff members have been at ECE for no less than 10 years. We have many special needs’ students, with very diverse learning styles. We currently have 7 EA’s totaling 33 hours a day. Parents are very supportive and active in our school. Mission East Chilliwack Elementary is a rural school, dedicated to providing a positive and enriched learning environment for its students. Working closely with parents, the staff will continue to work towards the development of a school that is safe, nurturing, and academically focused. Demongraphics East Chilliwack Elementary has a diverse population in a rural setting. 250 students 2 Kindergarten classes 11 Divisions K to 6 12 Aboriginal students 24 Dedicated Teaching, Support and Administrative staff Programs On-site preschool On-site after-school daycare School Teams Learning Assistance Ready, Set, Learn Read Naturally Concerts Peer Leadership Parent Advisory Council Hearbuilder Program Talking Tables Speech and Language Super Readers 2

GOAL ONE: Thinking across the curriculum. GOAL TWO: Numeracy GOALS: East Chilliwack students are powerful thinkers, listeners, speakers, readers, and writers. They have become critical writers who synthesize information, and respond critically. East Chilliwack Elementary students have a better understanding of number sense, and have confidence in math computation. OBJECTIVES: Engaging all Learners 1.I am confidently and passionately engaged in my learning. 2.We commit to working together to provide opportunities that are meaningful and inspirational for our students. 1.I use my number sense to solve problems and I am confident in math computation at my level of understanding. 2.We teach numeracy skills by using a variety of resources, adapting to the needs of our diverse learners. Successful Transitions 3.I can adapt and apply what I already know to new environments. 4.We support all learners in making successful transitions. 3.I can use my numbers sense to be the foundation of new learning in Math as I move from lesson to lesson, and grade to grade. 4.We ensure that students are prepared for the next steps in Math. Effective Communication 5.I can understand and express my learning effectively. 6.We create and implement communication processes that build and engage a community of learners. 5.I can communicate my learning in ways that make sense to me. 6.We understand that students have different learning styles, and we provide opportunities for them to express their learning in many different ways. Integration of technology 7.I can confidently access and use technology as a tool. 8.We work and learn through the integration of appropriate technology. 7.I can use technology to help support my learning in Math. 8.We use technology to help engage our students, and to track success over time. RATIONALE: Flexible thinkers are engaged in learning. They are able to use the foundational skills they have mastered to process and generate knowledge that transforms their thinking into constructive knowledge. Mathematics can enhance our understanding of the world and the quality of our participation in society. Since it is valuable to us individually, and collectively, it should be an integral part of the general education of every child. 3

4 Goal One: Thinking East Chilliwack students are powerful thinkers, listeners, speakers, readers, and writers. They have become critical writers who synthesize information, and respond critically. Strategic Area ObjectivesPerformance Indicators Engaging All Learners 1.I am confidently and passionately engaged in my learning. 2.We commit to working together to provide opportunities that are meaningful and inspirational for our students. -I am confident that I have acquired grade-level literacy skills. -I connect to my learning in a personal way. -I process new information in many ways. -I can communicate new knowledge in real-life situations. -I can reflect on my learning using many tools -I can transform my learning into real-life situations -PM Benchmarks -District Reading Assessment (RAD) Gr FSA -EPAS data Successful Transitions 3.I can adapt and apply what I already know to new environments. 4.We support all learners in making successful transitions. -I can think critically, applying what I know and using different strategies based on the situation. -I know how to be responsible to my own learning. -I can successfully move from one grade to the next stage of schooling. -Year-end letter grades -School-Wide Writes -Rubric – Critical Thinking (to be developed) Effective Communication 5.I can understand and express my learning effectively. 6.We create and implement communication processes that build and engage a community of learners. -I can listen, read, and view with comprehension. -I can express my thinking clearly in a variety of ways. -I can express myself, where I am in my learning, and what I need to do next. - KLST screens in June Integration of Technology 7.I can confidently access and use technology as a tool. 8.We work and learn through the integration of appropriate technology. -I can confidently use technology to access, process, express and generate knowledge. -I can use technology safely.

5 Goal One: East Chilliwack students are powerful thinkers, listeners, speakers, readers, and writers. They have become critical writers who synthesize information, and respond critically. ACTIONS: -Teachers will receive training on how to use technology to engage all students. -Continue to use “Reading Power”, “Smart Learning”, “Daily 5”, and “Café” to enhance thinking in the classroom. -Continue to purchase more resources to support “Reading Power” (especially non-fiction resources), “Smart Learning”, “Daily 5”, and “Café” programs. -Create a rubric that will highlight what East Chilliwack students need to be able to accomplish in order to fully meet expectations for this goal. -Learning resources will accommodate a range of learning styles. -Students will become self-advocates for their learning needs. -Teachers will dedicate more time to support students in learning how to research while using critical thinking skills with support from other staff members. -Ensure students have the foundational skills and essential learning necessary to be successful learners – continue with good “first teaching” in primary. -Targeted instruction based on formal assessment. -Students will connect to the curriculum, process information using a strategy, transform their knowledge into new situations and reflect on their learning in a meta- cognitive fashion. -Develop a rubric for staff and students to assess flexible, transformational thinking across the curriculum. -Students will use technology to support learning for themselves and others, to communicate their learning and to create new learning for others. -Develop a play-based rubric for Kindergarten. -Continue to use “Dragon Speak” and “Hearbuilder” for specific students. -Continue to use “Talking Tables” with Kindergarten and Grade one students. -Prescreening will continue to take place for Kindergarten students who have not entered our school (KLST in June). -Staff will provide many “play-based” learning opportunities for our younger students. -Continue to use iPad’s and Smart Boards to help with thinking skills and language development. -Use school website, Facebook, Twitter, and principal’s blog to further enhance home/school communication. Targets: 1.Every year, all East Chilliwack students will show growth in reading, writing, and oral language. 2.Cohort data will indicate that 90% of ECE students will be fully meeting/exceeding expectations on grade-specific performance standards by April 2016.

6 Goal Two: Numeracy East Chilliwack students have a better understanding of number sense, and have confidence in math computation. Strategic Area ObjectivesPerformance Indicators Engaging All Learners 1.I use my number sense to solve problems and I am confident in math computation at my level of understanding. 2.We teach numeracy skills by using a variety of resources, adapting to the needs of our diverse learners. -I am confident that I have acquired grade-level numeracy skills. -I can connect to my learning in personal ways. -I process new information in many ways. -I can communicate new knowledge in real-life situations. -I can reflect on my learning using many tools -Island Math Assessment (Grades 2 – 6) -FSA -Year-end letter grades and performance Successful Transitions 3.I can use my numbers sense to be the foundation of new learning in Math as I move from lesson to lesson, and grade to grade. 4.We ensure that students are prepared for the next steps in Math. -I can apply what I already know to support any new learning. -I know how to be responsible to my own learning. -I can successfully move from one grade to the next stage of schooling with confidence in my “math sense”. Indicators - Kindergarten/Grade 1 math assessment Effective Communication 5.I can communicate my learning in ways that make sense to me. 6.We understand that students have different learning styles, and we provide opportunities for them to express their learning in many different ways. -I can communicate confidence in my math skills by using a variety of learning tools (manipulatives, assessments, etc.) -I can process what I learn. -I can express my thinking clearly in a variety of ways. -I can express myself, where I am in my learning and what I need to do next. (to be developed) - Scope and sequence on number sense (K – 6) Integration of Technology 7.I can use technology to help support my learning in Math. 8.We use technology to help engage our students, and to track success over time. -I can confidently use technology to access, process, express and generate knowledge. -I can use technology safely.

7 Goal Two: East Chilliwack students have a better understanding of number sense, and have confidence in math computation. ACTIONS: -Develop a scope and sequence of number sense and computation (primary and intermediate teachers). -Provide collaboration time in the 2013/2014 school year. -Explore and create a math assessment for Kindergarten and Grade 1 students. -Provide a parent night, highlighting changes in elementary math. -Provide an inservice for teachers/education assistants (eg. school pro-d session in the school year – “Hands on/Minds on”). -Ensure that we are using assessment “for”, “as”, and “of” learning to provide clear learning targets for all of our students. -Structures will be in place to ensure that students will have targeted instruction based on formal assessment. Targets: 1.Every year, all East Chilliwack students will show growth in numeracy. 2.Cohort data will indicate that 90% of ECE students will be fully meeting/exceeding expectations on grade-specific performance standards by April 2016.

8 How is East Chilliwack supporting the Aboriginal Educational Enhancement Agreement? Goal – To increase Aboriginal students’ sense of belonging at school - We expect that all of our students will participate in school and district programs, activities and cultural events. -Aboriginal students will feel supported in a culturally appropriate manner at school. (eg. using Aboriginal learning material throughout the school – “Turtle Voices”) -Aboriginal students will have an opportunity to be involved in the peer leadership program. -We hope to increase the number of Aboriginal students who will serve as role models. -We will provide adequate learning resources to meet the needs of students.

9 Looking Back: Over the past year, East Chilliwack staff have continued to focus on shifting their instructional practices to better engage students though critical thinking activities. Now, students tend to have fairly strong foundational skills by the end of their primary years. These students are now using a common language (connect, infer, predict, reflect, etc.) Data indicates that our students will continue to require additional instruction and practice on the use of higher level thinking skills, especially our Grade 5 students this year ( ….See RAD data from last June). Our after-school collaboration used to focus on critical thinking/ higher level thinking skills. The staff worked on inquiry groups who studied “Reading Power”, “Café”, “Smart Learning”, and “Daily 5”. Even though most of our students have made significant gains in their critical thinking skills, we believe that continuing to pursue instructional practices that highlight critical thinking is necessary in order for us to push our school from “good to great”. Looking Forward: Over the next year, and as the new principal learns more about the East Chilliwack school community, we will continue our focus on helping to create truly “flexible” thinkers. Our staff is committed to after-school collaboration with new research happening for the following topics: technology, social responsibility and numeracy. They have not forgotten about the work they have already done, and continue to do, around critical thinking. The collaboration team looking at numeracy is studying the essential learning that needs to be in place, helping to create smoother transitions to middle school. We also have a collaboration group looking at citizenship and self- regulation, as we continue to encourage children to gain independence in their learning. Another inquiry group is studying the effects of new technology in our building and how this is helping to engage more students, while creating better communication for parents. Our final inquiry group is continuing their work on implementing Café into their daily classroom activities. East Chilliwack staff are using data to move forward with student success, while supporting the District’s Achievement Contract and Aboriginal Educational Enhancement Agreement.

10 School Planning Council: I certify that to the best of my knowledge, the information provided in this report is accurate. ___________________________________________________________ Principal’s NameSignatureDate ___________________________________________________________ Parent’s NameSignatureDate Superintendent: I approve the Annual School Growth Plan: ___________________________________________________________ Superintendent’s NameSignatureDate Chair – Board of School Trustees: ___________________________________________________________ Chair – Board of School Trustees’ NameSignatureDate