Meetings
Committee of the Whole Board Meeting
Monday, January 10, 2022 – Meeting Agenda Package
Public Board Meeting
Monday, January 24, 2022 — Meeting Agenda Package
Highlights
Learning Recovery Strategy Update
On January 10, 2022, WCDSB staff presented a highly detailed report reviewing the Board’s committed response to the interruption of learning that has occurred over the past two years.
As we work to recover some of the implicit learning opportunities that our students have missed, our planning and curriculum focus remains strong. Our work to move students along the continuum of learning has not faltered – particularly with respect to numeracy and literacy, core priorities in our Multi-Year Strategic Plan.
This report highlights three important elements of this overall strategy:
- Mathematics Grades K to 8 Student & Educator Supports: Summer Learning (for students who are identified as needing additional supports), Math Professional Learning of Social Emotional Learning and Targeted & Board Identified School Math Coaching.
- Mathematics Grades 9-12 Student & Educator Supports: Grade 8 and 9 Transition Teams, Grade 9 De-streamed Math, and Creating Teacher-Student Partnerships in Math Learning.
- Literacy Grades K to 8 Student & Educator Supports: Supporting the Development of Early Literacy Skills, Kindergarten-Grade 3, In-year Evidence Based Reading Intervention and Summer Evidence-Based Reading Intervention Programs.
Going forward, while we continue to navigate learning challenges with some of our students, we are wholly committed to a very specific student achievement agenda with the goal of student academic success. Literacy and numeracy development will continue to be high focus areas, and while there are inherent challenges to moving forward in the current landscape, we are applying a lens of resilience and creativity in how we bring some fidelity to our stated goals. We continue to creatively approach our students’ learning with vigour and from all possible angles of support, to aid in them finding a high level of confidence in their ability to learn despite the setbacks that have occurred.
The report is available beginning on page 7 via this link: Meeting Agenda Package
Well Being – Healthy Active Living
The 2020-21 school year saw evidence of much success within the Healthy Active Living program’s five key priority areas:
- School Step Challenge
- Physical Education/Daily Physical Activity COVID Supports
- Cannabis & Vaping Education
- Staff Wellness
- Outdoor Education
Teaching Physical Education and DPA through COVID — with all the restrictions placed on movement, spacing and manipulatives — was a significant challenge in 2020-21. Teachers were challenged with teaching lessons, “outside where possible, inside when necessary” to provide the safest environment for physical activity as possible.
Additionally, the Outdoor Education program needed to pivot to a virtual mode of learning this past year. While visits to Shades Mills/Laurel Creek could not exist in person in the 2020-21 school year, our partners at the Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) converted all lessons such that they could be offered to classes virtually both in school and when in at-home learning mode. Feedback received from teachers was overwhelmingly positive. Educators appreciated the new learning opportunity for students and the flexibility provided by the GRCA staff.
Finally, a highlight of the year was a seven-part virtual learning series for students and educators on the important issue of cannabis use and vaping. Led by addictions specialist Jackilyn Vallesi and supported by WCDSB staff, the series yielded an important ongoing support document for educators.
The report is available beginning on page 20 via this link: Meeting Agenda Package
French as a Second Language (FSL) Update
English-language school boards in Ontario are required to provide students with a minimum of 600 hours of French instructional hours by the end of elementary school. In Secondary, one FSL credit (110 hours) is compulsory for the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD). A second FSL course can be counted towards the compulsory credits required for the OSSD.
The Waterloo Catholic District School Board currently offers three program options for French as a Second Language:
- Core French
- Advanced Placement French
- French Immersion
Below are some of the highlights and key accomplishments of the various FSL programs:
- French Immersion continues to be a popular choice. 142 Grade 1 students were registered in Fall 2021, while 41 were not able to be accommodated. In total 706 students are registered in the program this year.
- 1300 students participated in virtual events and concerts in French in 2020-21.
- Teachers spent more time outdoors with students, connecting learning to real life situations.
- Smash Education has been widely implemented as a teaching tool for virtual and in person learning, with 5000 students, 120 teachers, and 46 schools registered.
- Five French teachers became certified to administer and mark DELF exams. This will expand our capacity to offer the DELF exam by allowing us to run 2 sets of oral interviews at the same time.
- A teacher was certified over the summer to teach the Grade 12 AP course at Resurrection.
- The FI Review was completed in June 2021 and recommendations were shared with the Board.
The report is available beginning on page 23 via this link: Meeting Agenda Package
Early Literacy Strategy
The highly detailed report presented to the Board of Trustees on January 24, 2022, covered the following main topics with respect to literacy programs, Kindergarten to Grade 12:
- Overview of the updated resources purchased to support effective literacy instruction using culturally responsive texts, resources and materials
What’s Next? We will continue to update our literacy resources, texts, and materials to ensure students are receiving instruction rooted in current research and pedagogy. We will continue to update the instructional texts we use to ensure students are exposed to current and culturally responsive information within lessons that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion.
- Professional Learning
What’s Next? We will continue to support the professional development of our educators to ensure students receive responsive and effective literacy instruction across the grades rooted in updated assessment practices. This will ensure that we are meeting students where they are — moving them forward within their zone of proximal development.
- Itinerant Early Literacy Support Teachers (IELST) — supporting growth in literacy learning through responsive instruction
What’s Next? IELSTs are continuing to work with classroom educators to support their professional learning. They are continuing to work collaboratively with educators to provide targeted and responsive small group instruction to students who would benefit from this approach based on assessment data. We are preparing to transition from Term 1 into Term 2 schools.
- Phonological and Phonemic Awareness Support — provided by Speech Language Pathologists in Kindergarten classrooms
What’s Next? Additional Speech Language Pathologists (SLP) and Communicative Disorder Assistants (CDA) are being hired to provide more specific and targeted SLP’s in classrooms, increased SLP time focused on phonological awareness and oral communication skill development for students who are scoring below standard on the Rosner Test of Auditory Skills and Oral Language Tool B in our Balanced Literacy Assessment Measures (BLAM), K-3. A new cycle will begin in Term 2 as we hope to reach as many students and educators as possible.
- Reading at Home
What’s Next? We are continuing to build awareness of this issue with educators and families and will continue to promote our Cuddle Up and Read Initiative and library partnerships in our communities.
- WCDSB Joy of Reading Clubs — After School Literacy Program
- Book Club – 33 schools
- Creative Writing/Storytelling Club – 14 schools
- Literacy Gamify (board games for Literacy) – 25 schools, all divisions
- Cursive Handwriting Club (using workbooks supplied by us) – 15 schools
The report is available beginning on page 27 via this link: Meeting Agenda Package
Leadership Strategy Update
The Ontario Leadership Strategy was developed in 2008-2009 to foster leadership of the highest possible quality in schools and school boards. The WCDSB maintains that our goals mirror the goals of the OLS – that is, to:
- attract the right people to leadership roles;
- develop personal leadership resources in individuals and promote effective leadership practices, to have the greatest possible impact on student achievement and well-being; and,
- develop leadership capacity and coherence in organizations to strengthen their ability to deliver on education priorities.
The Board Leadership Development Strategy goals for the Waterloo Catholic District School Board are the following:
OVERALL GOAL:
To develop leadership capacity to support the achievement of goals outlined in the Multi-Year Strategic Plan and the Board Improvement Plan for Student Achievement.
Goal One:
Create and promote leadership opportunities that engage all school and system leaders to strengthen staff capacity for instructional and spiritual leadership, to enhance organizational effectiveness, and to support succession planning as defined by research, Strong Districts and their Leadership and the Catholic Leadership Framework.
Goal Two:
School and system leaders in the WCDSB will develop the capacity to appropriately respond to the needs of learners by fostering a holistic view of student learning that encourages shepherd, servant and steward leadership.
Goal Three:
Create and provide opportunities for enhancing leadership capacity for the entire system by engaging in active professional lifelong learning, faith formation, mentorship, and coaching.
Waterloo Catholic District Leadership 2021-2022 Strategic leadership planning has been responsive to the ever-shifting landscape that has shaped our most recent experiences since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
For 2021-2022 our comprehensive leadership strategy is structured around the following robust offerings which include:
- Catholic Leadership Through an Equity Lens (April 2021)
- Catholic Leadership Program: Part 1, 2 and 3
- Seeking Positive Solutions: Conflict Management and Equity — Recognizing Power & Privilege
- Deepening the Personal Leadership Resources: Institute for Education Leadership
- Onward Workshop Series
- Information to Transformation Program
- Crucial Conversations Training
- Mentorship 101 Learning Series
- New Teacher Induction Program
- Induction Series for Newly Appointed Administrators
- CPCO Principal’s Qualification Part I and II
- Building Thinking Classrooms Book Club
- Learning and Innovation Fund for Teachers (LIFT)
- Equity, Diversity and Inclusivity Committee (next steps and planning)
The extensive report is available beginning on page 38 via this link: Meeting Agenda Package
Period Poverty/Menstrual Equity Update
On October 8, 2021, the Ministry of Education announced an initiative which will increase student access to free menstrual products in all Ontario schools. The ministry has accepted a donation from Shoppers Drug Mart Incorporated, to provide six million menstrual pads each year, over a three-year term, beginning with the 2021-22 school year. Additionally, 1,200 product dispensers will be provided to facilitate the distribution of the menstrual products within schools.
Each school board, school authority and consortium will be provided an allocation of menstrual products for 2021- 22, 2022-23 and 2023-24, and a one-time allocation of product dispensers (in 2021-22). Board allocations of menstrual pads are based on 2019-20 student enrolment data of female students aged 13-18 taken from the Ontario School Information System (OnSIS). Allocations of product dispensers were calculated using the number of secondary schools (2019-20) by board as a proxy for distributing the 1,200 dispensers across all boards.
WCDSB will receive 7 dispensers to use in our Secondary schools and 649 cases of menstrual pads to be distributed to both the Elementary as well as the Secondary panel. The Board expects delivery this month. Dispensers will be distributed as follows:
- 1 at each of the following schools (Monsignor Doyle CSS, St. David CSS, Resurrection CSS)
- 2 at each of the following schools (St. Benedict CSS, St. Mary’s H.S.)
The report is available beginning on page 53 via this link: Meeting Agenda Package
Update on WCDSB Pandemic Management
The latter half of December and the return to school in January has once again provided Waterloo Catholic and indeed the entire province, with a new and significant set of challenges in relation to our ongoing management of COVID-19 and the pandemic.
As reviewed previously, our models of delivery, our processes, our health and safety protocols and essentially all aspects of our operations are informed by direction through the Chief Medical Officer of Health for the province, as well as the Medical Officer of Health for the Region of Waterloo. This will be more important than ever has we examine what has happened and the direction we are following as we review the month of January.
We continue to receive direction through the Ministry of Education, as well as our local Public Health department. We are continuing meetings with Region of Waterloo Public Health and Waterloo Region District School Board to attain a measure of understanding and alignment regarding the most prudent courses of action.
Case and Contact Management is an area where there has been a significant departure in protocol. Schools are no longer considered high risk settings in the guidance set out by the Ontario government.
As per provincial government directive, Region of Waterloo Public Health will no longer be involved in any individual case and contact management. In the Interim Guidance received through the Chief Medical Officer of Health, the threshold for Public Health notification and involvement has changed to 30% absenteeism. Region of Waterloo Public Health has confirmed that this would be the threshold – and even at that benchmark, it would be an invitation to a dialogue to better understand if the school was reflecting the broader community, or an anomaly and/or if there were other reasons that could be contributing to high rates of absenteeism (e.g., parental choice).
Letters will now only be sent home when a school reaches the 30% absenteeism threshold.
The progress report presented on January 24, 2022, includes information regarding the following key issues:
- Return to (In Person) Learning
- Case and Contact Management
- Vaccination and Staff Testing
- Vaccination for Students Ages 5 – 11
- Staffing Pressures
- Masking
- Daily Screening
- PCR & Rapid Antigen Tests
- Sports
- Ventilation
The report is available beginning on page 55 via this link: Meeting Agenda Package
Student Trustees Update
Student Trustees Sarah Simoes and Sarah Wilson presented their monthly update – covering activities in WCDSB’s secondary schools. It is available beginning on page 61 via this link: Meeting Agenda Package
Board Chair’s Update
Each month, the Chair of the Board reports on the activities of the Board of Trustees. Chair Jeanne Gravelle’s report for January 2022 is available on page 64 via this link: Meeting Agenda Package
Upcoming Board Meetings
Committee of the Whole Board Meeting
Monday, February 7, 2022
Waterloo Region Catholic Education Centre
Regular Public Board Meeting
Monday, February 28, 2022
Waterloo Region Catholic Education Centre
The Waterloo Catholic District School Board, representing more than 96,000 Catholic school supporters, operates 48 schools and four adult education facilities, serving more than 40,000 elementary, secondary, and continuing education students in Waterloo Region – continuing a 185-year tradition of quality, inclusive, faith-based education. Follow us on Twitter: @WCDSBNewswire – #WCDSBAwesome.
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