In 2018-2019 there was an increase of 3% over the previous year of Senior Kindergarten students reaching Level 5 reading. The Emergent Literacy Project will continue to focus on building educator knowledge and understanding of how to support emergent readers and writers with effective assessment and instructional strategies.
The proportion of students achieving the provincial standard on the Grade 3 EQAO Reading assessment has increased by 3% to 82% since the baseline data in 2015-2016. The HDSB has continued to focus on sustaining effective Comprehensive Literacy Programs in our primary classrooms which include assessment for learning, differentiated responses and monitoring student achievement. The Board has also continued using the Levelled Literacy Intervention Program to support students.
The proportion of students achieving the provincial standard on the Grade 6 EQAO Mathematics assessment remains unchanged. The HDSB Math Plan continues to be implemented. It includes extensive support for student and staff learning. Highlights in the plan include developing learner profiles, effective instructional/assessment strategies and resources to support math learning.
In Applied courses in secondary schools, results continue to hover around 52% - 54% of students achieving Level 3 or higher in Applied courses. There was a slight increase in 2016-2017 to 2017-2018, however a decrease to 52.9% was seen in 2018-2019. The cohort size for students in Applied courses is significantly smaller than the Academic cohort, and the number of students with Individual Education Plans (IEPs) continues to increase. It is important to note that pass rates in Applied courses remain high.
When the current Multi-Year Plan (MYP) came into effect in 2016, there was a baseline of 53%. This has moved as high as 54% and as low as 52%. The data for 2018-2019 has remained flat. School Programs Department efforts have focused specifically on Applied classrooms and will be moving to “all” classrooms for identified “transformational practices”.
Pathways Planning and Supports
HDSB continues to support all students in their pathway choices (apprenticeship, college, community living, university, or the workplace). The HDSB continues to increase awareness of and exposure to technology, the skilled trades, and apprenticeship. In addition to the co-operative education program that exists in all HDSB schools, Grade 10 students came together for a day at Country Heritage Park to learn about various regional programs available through Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) programs and concentrated OYAP opportunities; local business also attended to provide authentic information on local career opportunities. Four regional Pathways Info Evenings occured to inform parents and students of HDSB programs and pathways. Six hundred Grade 8 students were able to choose between the Young Women’s Conference or the Career Exploration Day at the Skills Ontario Competition. In addition, MyBlueprint, an online pathway planning tool, is used by Grades 6 to 12 students and a Gold Collar Worker Kit is used in Grades 7 and 8 so students can have a hands on experience exploring the skilled trades. Co-curricular opportunities such as Halton Skills and Robotics allow students further opportunities to participate in skilled trades such as coding, precision machining, welding and more.
EQAO RESULTS
I-STEM program
I-STEM is a regional, innovative program for secondary students. The four-year program, located at Aldershot School, begins with students entering Grade 9. The first cohort began in September 2019.
The
idea for the program was developed in the 2017-2018 school year and the development of the program, along with the Year 1 (Grade 9)
framework, was developed in the 2018-2019 school year.
Available to students in Halton and beyond, I-STEM (Innovation - Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) enables students to develop innovation skills related to engineering design and design thinking, entrepreneurial thinking skills and global competencies. Students will have enhanced learning opportunities through community and post-secondary partnerships.
On Nov. 13, 2018, more than
1,000 people attended the I-STEM Open House to learn about the new program.
All staff will contribute to collaborative and inclusive learning environments to enhance innovative practices and build a strong learning organization.
Initial baseline data (2017) indicated that administrators (Principals/VPs) reported being proficient in all three areas of practice (Performance Management, Progressive Discipline, and Equitable Recruitment). Re-surveying in 2018 indicated an increase in proficiency levels, with all three areas over 90%. In 2019, there was a dip in the results with all three areas showing that administrators required more training in these areas. The Human Resources Department has incorporated training in these areas into the administrator onboarding process that newly appointed Principals and VPs receive.
Facilities and Maintenance
Initiatives include:
- the development of new guidelines for the repair, maintenance and upgrades of technical program spaces in schools
- development of new protocol to manage asbestos in facilities shared with corporate and academic teams (HEPA & HSPA)
- implementation of new
School Construction Projects webpage on the HDSB website and the development of the system-wide
#HDSBbuilds hashtag to promote improvements, new builds/renovations to schools.
Student
| Staff
|
System
|
We will engage stakeholders using strategies to build relationships and enhance confidence in our public education system.
The Have Your Say survey is an opportunity to engage students, staff, parents/guardians and community members. This year the survey was provided in multiple languages (Arabic, French, Hindi, Mandarin, Punjabi, Urdu).
There was an increase from the previous year in the number of respondents from all stakeholder groups:
- Students - 28,303 (2018-19) up from 25,797 (2017-18)
- Staff - 3,806 (2018-2019) up from 2,715 (2017-2018)
- Parents/Guardians - 5,856 (2018-2019) up from 4,791 (2017-2018)
- Community - 58 (2018-2019) up from 30 (2017-2018)
Launch of Director’s Cut video series
Director’s Cut is a video series bringing the community big-picture, Board-wide stories about the innovative and engaging activities and practices taking place in HDSB schools, classrooms and work spaces. Through the series, the HDSB explores broad educational themes that reflect the important and creative learning taking place in schools every day.
Exceptional teaching, innovative learning, and the many ways the HDSB engages students in the classroom and provides experiential learning opportunities in highlighted. These stories are shared in various “episodes” throughout the school year.
In the 2018-2019 school year, the following two episodes were released:
Social media supports communications efforts
Platform |
2018-2019 |
2017-2018
|
Twitter Followers
| 27,800
| 21,800
|
Facebook Followers
| 6,651
| 2,689
|
National recognition for communication and engagement with stakeholders
The HDSB Communications & Engagement Department completed work on two projects which received recognition at the national Canadian Association of Communicators in Education (CACE) conference with two BRAVO Awards. The CACE conference recognizes and honours exemplary work in all aspects of school public relations, communications, marketing and engagement.
The two BRAVO Awards of Distinction were for the launch of the
HDSB Mobile App with
SchoolMessenger and the
2018 Human Rights Symposium - Indigenous Realities.