Cape St. Francis Elementary School

2008-09 School Development Report

Vision: Cape St. Francis is a welcoming community of life-long learners.

Mission: Cape St. Francis will continue to improve upon student achievement in Language Arts and Mathematics in a healthy, safe and caring and socially-just school community.

 

OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR                                                                                                             Chairperson:  Milton Peach, B.A., B.A.(Ed.)                    

CEO/Director of Education:  Ford Rice, B.A., B.Ed.,M.Ed.

 

Message from the Director of Education

The strategic plan of the Eastern School District identifies the mission of our District to enhance achievement and success for all students, within a healthy, active, safe, caring and socially-just learning environment.  We are supported by a strong team of professionals both at the school and district level who work diligently to achieve the goals of our individual school plans.

This report is an opportunity for schools to highlight the challenges and successes experienced over the past year. It celebrates the accomplishments of the school as it works to achieve its stated goals.  Success is possible when teachers, parents, and community members work together in a supportive and collaborative manner.

I encourage you to review this report, reflect upon the information and discuss with your school’s administrators and teachers items of interest.  It is the ongoing dialogue and engagement that maintains the commitment to our goal of enhanced learning for all.

I would like to congratulate each school for their dedication to learning and teaching as evidenced by this Annual School Report.

                                                                              FORD RICE

 

Principal’s Message

            The 2008-09 school year focused on student achievement and school development at Cape St. Francis Elementary School. This past year our school community focused on increasing student achievement through a variety of strategies directly related to providing enhanced educational opportunities within the classroom. Teachers worked very hard with students and the home to ensure that all outcomes were covered.

            The entire staff felt it important to continue to celebrate student success on various levels.  Student of the Month Assemblies were conducted throughout the year and students were presented with a certificate at some point during the process recognizing achievement, inter-personal respect, kindness or some other worthwhile area. We value these assemblies as they give our entire school community of students, teachers, parents, grandparents, friends and relatives, a chance to get together every month and acknowledge our students.

During 2008-09 students continued their focus of environmental consciousness by taking part in the recycling program. During the past four years our school has expanded the program by having a bi-weekly Recycling Blitz. Parents and community members continue to be very responsive to this program. These funds allowed us to purchase various resources for the school and to supplement various field trips.

Cape St. Francis operated an Early Literacy Program for parents of infants to 6 year old children. This program is open to all parents/caregivers of preschool children at no cost to parents. Each bi-weekly session lasts for approximately one hour and focuses on a different topic each time. Teachers and parents recognize the importance of early intervention and believe this is an extremely valuable program for the communities of Pouch Cove, Flatrock, and Bauline. This program, led by our Assistant Principal/Grade Two Teacher, Ms. Spurrell, provides a very direct and positive impact upon the reading scores and literacy levels of our students as they prepare to enter school. For the 2009-10 school year we are pleased to report that our new Assistant Principal, Ms. Knott and one of our grade 5 teachers, Ms. Wall, will continue with the Early Literacy Program.

Providing a safe and caring learning environment is a continuing strategic goal not only for Cape St. Francis, but also for the entire School District. A safe and caring goal along with goals for Language Arts and Mathematics were developed during the completion of the internal review during the school development process. The School Development Team and entire staff worked towards the completion of the internal review process during the 2008-09 school year. During this process all aspects of the functioning of the school are taken into consideration. A one year and three year plan was developed to guide the running and focus of the school. Implementation of this plan will commence during the 2009-10 school year.

Thank you.

Brendan Walsh, Principal 2008-09         Sean Noah, Principal 2009-10

 

Message from the School Council

At this time, on behalf of the School Council,  I would like to thank all of the volunteers, staff, parents and especially the students for making the 2008/2009 such a successful school year.

   The 2008/2009 school year has been very productive for the School Council.  With the support of everyone, we have been able to limit our fundraising to the Hot Dog Days and the Spring Fair.  With the funds raised, we were able to cost share a number of items in the school including two new Smart Boards for the Grade 6 classrooms, upgrades to the computers used by the students, uniforms for the Performance Choir, and many smaller items used throughout the school.  The Performance Choir once again looked great when they performed at the Fairmont Hotel for the NTV Christmas Choirs Program.

  Continuing with discussions that started last year during the School District Public Hearing, we have maintained a dialogue with the School District concerning the amount of space available in the school for the various activities that take place during the day.  One of the biggest concerns we felt that needed to be addressed is the lack of storage space in the school.  During the fall the discussions continued with an agreement being reached in December to increase the storage capacity in the school.  The new storage area will be constructed on the back of the Gym and attached to the building.  This new storage is slated to be constructed during the summer break.

  The School Council has also entered into discussions, with the School District, concerning the growing population, not only in the communities, but also in the school.  Every year there is an increase in the number of students enrolled in Cape St. Francis.  The discussion with the School District has been to expand the school to not only alleviate the increasing demands on the existing infrastructure in the school, but to prepare for the increasing number of students.  To date the discussions have been very positive, with the School District indicating that they would be willing to make a presentation to the provincial government to expand the school.  This process, while moving along, will take time.

Again, thank you for your support for the School and School Council during the year, and I hope everyone has a safe and wonderful summer.

Thank You,

Jim Titford

Chairperson, School Council

Cape St. Francis Elementary

 

Overview of the School

Our School Community

          Cape St. Francis Elementary is located at 31 Satellite Road in the community of Pouch Cove. The school serves the communities of Flatrock, Pouch Cove and Bauline with an enrolment of 262 students during the 2008-09 school year. Staffing consists of 12 regular teachers, three special needs teachers, part-time guidance, physical education, music and band teachers,  one full-time principal, a part- time assistant principal, one secretary, two student assistants, one evening cleaner and one maintenance person.  We also receive the services of a visual itinerant teacher, a program specialist at the district level and various other Eastern School District personnel as needed.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Key Highlights/ Special projects of the 2008-09 year were:

- The Terry Fox Run, Curriculum Night, and D.A.R.E Program for Grade 6 students

- Sponsorship of a child in Africa

- Recycling blitz every second Wednesday and paper recycling in cooperation with the Pouch Cove and Flatrock councils

- Bus Monitor Training by the Nfld. & Lab. Safety Council

- Thanksgiving Day Assembly, Remembrance Day Assembly

- Canadian Flag signed by students and staff and sent to our troops in Afghanistan

- Fire Prevention Week Activities

- The School Choir performed at NLTA Christmas Suite, and the Elementary students hosted the Christmas Concert

- The Performance Choir entertained at the Fairmont Hotel during the Christmas season

- A skating program ran from November 08 to December 08 for grades1 to 6 at the Jack Byrne Arena in Torbay

- The students performed and received feedback at the M.U.N. School of Music Choral Connections program

-  In School Public Speaking

- Intramural Sports Program for Elementary students during lunchtime and after school

- The Annual School Fair

- Student of the Month Assemblies throughout year recognizing and celebrating academic achievement and character education

- A Volunteer Luncheon was hosted for parents, community members and teachers

- There were Field trips to the Fluvarium, Geo-Center, Brigus and Cupids by various classes as well as other educational field trips

- The Primary students hosted the Spring Concert

- Students participated in a Sports/Fun Day

- Grade Six students completed tile painting and planted a tree to commemorate their years at CSFE

- Grade Six School Leaving Activities

- There was an Awards Day and talent show

- School week began with O Canada and ended with the Ode to Newfoundland

 

Partnerships

            Cape St. Francis Elementary in an effort to increase environmental awareness throughout the school partnered with the Pouch Cove and Flatrock Town Councils to effectively recycle as much paper as possible during the school year. Students in grade five were responsible for collecting, sorting and storing of paper. Transportation of the paper to the recycling depot was carried out by the town councils on a regular basis. The school also expanded the use of the school facilities by opening the school to the Pouch Cove Recreation Commission and the Flatrock Recreation Commission during the Christmas and Easter holidays as well as the summer months.  This fell in line with the school’s healthy living goal. Children and adults in the community used the school facilities outside regular school hours. These initiatives were very efficient and worthwhile in linking the school and the community.

School Development Plan 2009 – 12

Goal 1: To increase student learning and achievement in Mathematics

Year	Objectives	Objectives	Objectives
2009-10	Students will demonstrate and improve their mathematical reasoning and communication skills through a variety of means	Students will demonstrate an understanding of number concepts through a variety of means	To increase teacher knowledge of current math approaches
2010-11	To integrate Mathematics across the curriculum.	To use consistency and a variety of assessment tools in mathematics	Students will demonstrate an understanding of shape and space through a variety of means
2011-12	To introduce the philosophy of differentiated instruction.	To introduce the philosophy of differentiated assessment

 

School Development Plan for the school year 2009 – 10

Goal 1: To increase student learning and achievement in mathematics
Objective 1.1: Students will demonstrate and improve their mathematical reasoning and communication skills through a variety of means	Objective 1.2: Students will demonstrate an understanding of number concepts through a variety of means	Objective 1.3: To increase teacher knowledge of current math approaches
Indicators of Success: 1.1.1 Increased consistency of agreed upon terminology 1.1.2 Improved student responses 1.1.3 evidence of school wide word wall usage	Indicators of Success 1.2.1 Improved scores on number concept assessments 1.2.2 Enhanced journal entries 1.2.3 Improved CRT scores	Indicators of Success 1.3.1 Regularly scheduled meetings of Math Action Team and/or School Development team 1.3.2 Development of individual staff sharing resources binder for each teacher 1.3.3 All teachers be placed on district level math conference for their grade. 1.3.4 Greater use of NCTM lesson plans, approaches and standards 1.3.5 Teacher use of problem solving approach in the classroom
Strategies: 1.1.1 Consistent use of terminology across grade levels 1.1.2 Identify and use activities that give students mathematical communicating and reasoning experiences. 1.1.3 Begin to develop math word walls	Strategies:  1.2.1 Regular use of manipulatives when developing number concepts 1.2.2 To use math journals regularly 1.2.3 Teach number concepts through problem solving approach	Strategies: 1.3.1 Reinstate Math Action Team 1.3.2 Sharing “Best” strategies at staff meetings 1.3.3 Access and use of math conferences 1.3.4 Increase awareness of benefits of NCTM membership 1.3.5 Increase awareness of the ‘Problem Solving” approach to the teaching of mathematics

 

Goal 1. Support Plan
Financial	Professional Development	Communication	Time Allocation
1.1.3  $2000 word wall resources 1.2.1 $1500 replenishment of manipulatives 1.3.4  $2000 NCTM membership and resources	1.1.1Close out for planning and collaboration 1.3.5 PD day with program specialist on problem solving approach to mathematic 1.3.1PD and substitute time for members of Math Action team to increase teacher knowledge by sharing information gained with staff.	Staff meetings, Sectional meetings, First Class conferences, Communicaper, School Council, Curriculum night, School Report	PD for Using Problem Solving Approach by November 30th, 2009   Collaboration close-out by November 30,2009

 

Goal 2: To improve academic achievement in Language Arts
Objective 2.1: To improve student’s critical responses to Poetic text	Objective 2.2: To improve student’s critical responses to Visual text	Objective 2.3: To improve student’s Listening skills
Indicators of Success: 2.1.1. Student improved response to poetic text 2.1.2. Use information gathered from rubrics to assess student performance 2.1.3. Access to a variety of poetry resources 2.1.4. Improved CRT’s scores on poetry	Indicators of Success 2.2.1. Increased student awareness of visuals 2.2.2. Access to visual literacy resources 2.2.3. Improved CRT’s scores on visuals 2.2.4. Teacher provided with a variety of critical visual text questions 2.2.5. Teachers appropriate model constructed response to visual text.	Indicators of Success 2.3.1. Student improved response to listening activities 2.3.2. Teacher observation of improved listening skills 2.3.3. Improved CRT’s listening skills 2.3.4. Improved ability to follow directions 2.3.5. Improved responses to oral text 2.3.6. Each classroom contains quality listening equipment
Strategies: 2.1.1. Regularly scheduled opportunities to critically respond to poetic text  2.1.2 Develop and use rubrics appropriate for each grade 2.1.3. Purchase poetic resources 2.1.4. Use previously administered CRTs to critically respond to poetry	Strategies: 2.2.1 Regular scheduled opportunities to critically respond to visual text  2.2.2 Develop a bank of visual literacy resources 2.2.3 Use previously administered CRTs to critically respond to visual text 2.2.4 Develop question bank 2.2.5 Teacher modeling of constructed responses to visual texts	Strategies: 2.3.1 School wide listening activities (announcements, O Canada, Ode to Newfoundland) 2.3.2 Teach appropriate listening skills in all settings 2.3.3 Teacher developed strategies for listening skills 2.3.4 Student opportunities to listen to text and follow directions 2.3.5 Student opportunities to listen to text and respond 2.3.6. Purchase equipment for listening activities

 

Financial	Professional Development	Communication	Time Allocation
2.1.3.$1000.00 for poetry resources 2.2.2 $500.00 for visual literacy resources 2.3.6. $1500.00 for listening equipment	2.1.Professional Development Day to create and develop resources and questions to use in the classroom (Nov 2009). 2.2. Professional Development to plan school wide approaches to teaching visual literacy (Nov 2009)	2.1.Sharing of poetic activities and ideas at staff meetings 2.2. Sharing of visual literacy activities and ideas at staff meetings 2.3. Sharing of listening activities and ideas at staff meetings	2.1.2. October 2009 2.1.3. October 2009 2.2.2. October 2009 2.3.6. October 2009

  

Goal 3: To promote healthy and active living in a safe and caring, socially just school community
Objective 3.1: To promote healthy and active living at CSF	Objective 3.2 To foster a safe and caring environment at CSF	Objective 3.3: To celebrate student and staff success at CSF
Indicators of Success: 3.1.1 School wide participation in healthy living activities 3.1.2 Increase in the number of children bringing healthy snacks 3.1.3 Increase in the number of children ordering hot lunch 3.1.4 Outside groups use the facility for physical activities 3.1.5 Increased family involvement in active living events 3.1.6 Increased use of ESD active living kits within the classroom on a daily basis	Indicators of Success 3.2.1 Less incidence of bullying school wide 3.2.2 Required number of drills happening per school year (10 fire drills/ 3 secure school)\ 3.2.3 Consistency of student behaviour across all grade levels 3.2.4 Fewer visitors in the hallways during instructional time 3.2.5 Increased number of staff first aid certified/orientated 3.2.6 Contributions to various charities	Indicators of Success 3.3.1 Student demonstration of character education qualities (kindness, compassion, honesty, fairness) 3.3.2 Positive feedback from stakeholders/more information on achievements passed to the office by students and staff
Strategies: 3.1.1 To set a day in the schedule for healthy living 3.1.2 To promote nutritious snacks during the day/ To have a fruit and veggie day 3.1.3 Ensuring that the School Lunch Program follows the ESD guidelines 3.1.4 To promote active living in the community 3.1.5 To provide opportunities for family members to become involved in active living events  3.1.6 Use of ESD active living kits within the classroom	Strategies: 3.2.1 Implementation of Anti-Bullying curriculum 3.2.2 Ongoing implementation of fire drills and secure school/lockdown procedures 3.2.3 To develop, promote and model expectations for student behaviour in all school settings 3.2.4 Signage for visitors to report to the office 3.2.5 First aid training/orientation for staff members 3.2.6 School wide participation in various charitable events (eg. VOCM Coats for Kids, SPCA, community food bank, recycling, foster child)	Strategies; 3.3.1 Student of the Month assembly recognizing character education themes 3.3.2 Highlight school, student and teacher achievements through school announcements and publications (e.g., Communicaper, ESD website, NLTA Bulletin)

  

Support Plan
Financial	Professional Development	Communication	Time Allocation
3.1.2 Funding for fruit/veggie days $1000 3.2.1 Funding for Anti-Bullying programming $1000 3.2.5 $500 first aid training  3.3.1 Cost of certificates, awards and prizes $2000	3.1.1 Consultant/Itinerant to provide staff PD for active and healthy living/nutrition 3.1.6 Consultant/Itinerant to provide students with sessions on active and healthy living/nutrition 3.2.5 First aid training and/or orientation provided to staff members	3.3.2 Radio announcements, front foyer display, Communicaper, bulletin boards, School Connects, ESD website, memos, PA announcement, NLTA bulletin, First Class conference/email	3.1.1 To be completed by December 2009 3.1.6 To be completed by December 2009 3.2.5 To be completed by June 2010