School Plan for Continuous Growth 2020-2023 (year 3)

School Mission: Ecole/Escuela Holy Child is a Christ-centered environment in which students develop the necessary competencies to be successful and ethical global citizens. Languages, culture and faith deepen our sense of community..
School Vision: Within our Christ-centered school community, students, staff and parents: • value continuous language and cultural development through connection with the local and global community; • encourage a safe, supportive school community where we are respectful of ourselves, of others and of the environment; • foster independence, self-efficacy, perseverance, resilience through learning opportunities that nurture the child’s dignity; • are motivated to acquire current attitudes, skills and knowledge to see beyond self-interests in order to achieve the school community’s success.
School Charism: Celebrating our faith through language and culture in the heart of the city.

Priority: Growing in Faith
Our students and staff will learn and live the Word of God through worship, witness, and service.
Key Strategies:
F.1 Re-engage families, parishes, and Catholic organizations to provide opportunities for growing in faith.
F.2 Understand that we are in a Catholic school as the result of Christ’s call and recognize ourselves as members of the Catholic Church.
F.4 Provide formation opportunities for students and staff that further their participation in our faith and enable them to discern the presence of God in their lives.
Actions we will take
Admin and Chaplain will contact St. Joseph's Basilica to coordinate dates for classes to visit for teaching masses, school visits for liturgical celebrations and parish team visits to classrooms throughout the year Coordinate visits from other religious orders such as Faithful Companions of Jesus and the Franciscan Friars. Students and staff at Holy Child will begin their work at discerning and describing the charism of our school given our new name Encourage parents and students to share pictures of their sacramental celebrations to post in the school and in our monthly newsletters Increase student participation in liturgies and celebrations by practicing hymns and liturgical songs in music class throughout the year
Performance Measures:
Our performance in this area will be evaluated using the following Local Measure:
  • ECSD Assurance Survey of Theme - Catholic Identity.
  • Students will understand and represent our school charism to their peers and families through writing and/or art
  • Increase in overall student participation in liturgical celebrations
Priority: Student Success
Through a holistic approach, students will develop to their fullest potential through multiple pathways.
Key Strategies:
S.1 Identify and apply best practices for curriculum implementation to ensure student success.
S.2 Implement teaching and assessment practices to deepen students’ understanding and to increase ability to target teaching and improve learning.
S.4 Continue to support students’ diverse needs through best practice and responsive and flexible programming.
S.5 Support student achievement by engaging in collaborative, whole school approaches to capacity building in First Nations, Métis and Inuit education.
S.6 Continue programs and enhanced academic and cultural supports for all students that lead to successful transitions and encourage life-long learning.
Actions we will take
All staff (including Educational Assistants and Multi-Disciplinary Team) will participate in Collaborative Response Model (CRM) meetings to facilitate discussions on supporting all of our student needs Staff will increase student L2 oral proficiency by increasing the amount of time teachers speak vs. opportunity for students to speak in class throughout the day Create a Language PD Teacher lead position to lead teachers in PD in the areas speaking and written production. Teacher will be provided 4 school-based PD session to discuss assessments practices targeted at student growth in literacy and numeracy Students will participate in various activities during the Spanish Bilingual Cultural event -Indigenous Peoples of the Americas Cultural Day in June of 2024
Performance Measures:
Our performance in this area will be measured using:
  • Alberta Education Assurance Measure of Student Learning (Provincial Achievement Tests and Diploma Exam Results)
  • Alberta Education Assurance Measure of High School Completion
  • Alberta Education Assurance Measure of Citizenship
  • Alberta Education Assurance Measure of Student Learning Engagement
  • Alberta Education Assurance Measure of Welcoming, Caring, Respectful and Safe Learning Environment
  • Alberta Education Assurance Measure of Access to Support and Services
Local Measures:
  • ECSD Assurance Survey of Theme - Access to Help, Support and Resources
  • ECSD Assurance Survey of Theme - Student Engagement
  • ECSD Assurance Survey of Theme - Safe and Caring Learning Environment
  • ECSD Assurance Survey of Theme - Foundational Knowledge about First Nations, Métis and Inuit
  • Survey time students are spending speaking throughout the day- create a survey for teachers and students
Priority: An Excellent Place to Work and Learn
We will provide an optimal learning and working environment that fosters a culture of faith, trust, unity, inclusivity, confidence, respect, value and appreciation for one another.
Key Strategies:
E.1 Ensure that all teachers and leaders have the acquired skills to meet the foundational knowledge of First Nations, Métis and Inuit standard as outlined in Alberta Education Teaching, Leadership, and Superintendent Leadership Quality Standards.
E.3 Provide and engage in professional learning to enhance the level of subject matter, conceptual, and procedural knowledge expertise and competency.
E.4 Ensure that ECSD recruitment, hiring, and teacher development practices enhance and promote the best Catholic educational learning environments and experiences for student success.
E.6 Continue to create an excellent Catholic educational working environment through the provision of faith formation, health, and wellness opportunities and supports for all staff.
E.7 Begin to implement the ECSD Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Anti-Racism Strategic Plan.
Actions we will take
Teachers will participate in PD in the areas of assessment, differentiation, new curriculum (K-3) and FNMI knowledge Staff and students will participate in monthly EDIAR themed assemblies Holy Child in cooperation with the U of A, ECSD Human Resources and ECSD Learning Services will become a language teaching excellence observation site for student teachers wishing to embark in teaching in a language program
Performance Measures:
Our performance in this area will be measured using:
  • Alberta Education Assurance Measure of Education Quality
Local Measures:
  • ECSD Assurance Survey of Theme - Teaching and Assessment Practices
  • ECSD Assurance Survey of Theme - Staff Engagement and Respect in the Workplace
  • ECSD Assurance Survey of Theme - Overall Satisfaction with Edmonton Catholic Schools
  • Student teacher exit survey
Priority: Building Our Future Together
We will engage in good stewardship of all resources through principled governance and engagement.
Key Strategies:
B.2 Continue to walk together recognizing the calls to action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
B.5 Ensure decisions are data-informed; enable best practice indicators and transparency to ensure continuous improvement.
B.6 Engage and inform government and stakeholders in advocacy for equitable access to excellent Catholic education.
Actions we will take
Students, parents and staff will help build and design a Truth and Reconciliation Garden to be used as a learning area and reflection space for our school and community Staff and students will participate in cultural activities by Indigenous Learning Services during our school Faith Day and Dia Holy Child and during Indigenous History Month and the Moosehide Campaign Students will participate in various activities during the Spanish Bilingual Cultural event-Indigenous Peoples of the Americas Cultural Day in June of 2024 Staff will use assurance model measures and ABEd Screeners to address the areas of needs for our students and target areas for continued improvement during CRM meetings Principal will create an "office mail box" where students are able to share their opinion, ideas and suggestions to engage and inform activities for our students
Performance Measures:
Our performance in this area will also be measured using:
  • Alberta Education Assurance Measure of Parental Involvement and,
  • Alberta Education Assurance Measure of Budget-Actual Comparison
Local Measures:
  • ECSD Assurance Survey of Theme - Parent/Guardian Involvement
  • ECSD Assurance Survey of Theme - Implementing Frameworks and Procedures
  • Content found in student letters
November Review:
Goal #1 Our students and staff will learn and live the Word of God through worship, witness, and service: -Parish team visits to school for classroom activities and liturgical celebrations schedule complete for the year -Chaplain to contact Franciscan Friars to set up visits to the school in 2023 -Began in Spring of 2022, work continuing through assemblies to culminate in our Holy Child Day February 2023 -Students have been learning and practicing songs. Some increased participation is being seen in various religious celebrations and in our monthly assemblies Goal #2: Through a holistic approach, students will develop to their fullest potential through multiple pathways: -Spring of 2022 work began on creating a model and template to discuss students with behavior needs and how to address universal supports versus targeted supports -Work will continue in differentiation & SEL with a move towards targeted supports in literacy & numeracy through 2023. -Teachers are creating lessons that involve more interactions allowing for use of target language. Students are heard using target language more throughout conversations with other teachers and administrators Goal #3: We will provide an optimal learning and working environment that fosters a culture of faith, trust, unity, inclusivity, confidence, respect, value and appreciation for one another: -Teachers have participate in PD in the areas of assessment, differentiation, new curriculum (K-3) and FNMI knowledge -Staff and students have participated in monthly EDIAR themed assemblies Goal #4: We will engage in good stewardship of all resources through principled governance and engagement. -School wide activities as well as classroom activities were provided to students for Metis Week as well as during our monthly assemblies. -Staff PD in November centered around screener data and looking at areas of improvement in areas of literacy and numeracy in classes. -Developed a plan to focus on content literacy to help students understand what the screeners were asking them to do (in English and in French) -Principal is receiving on average 15-20 per week from students requesting clubs, activities, field trips, events for the school. Students also write to let us know how they are feeling and what they need us to know about themselves or in their classrooms.
February Review:
Goal #2: Through a holistic approach, students will develop to their fullest potential through multiple pathways: -Work will continue in differentiation & SEL with a move towards targeted supports in literacy & numeracy through 2023. -A new section has been created in our newsletters helping explain SEL and strategies to help support parents and make them aware of the work being done in our clasrooms. -Teachers are creating lessons that involve more interactions allowing for use of target language: We are now moving to include language elements when creating success criteria and learning intentions in content areas. -Students Grade 1-6 were given an opportunity to plan and organize a club of their choice. We now have 5 student created and lead clubs running throughout the week. Goal #3: We will provide an optimal learning and working environment that fosters a culture of faith, trust, unity, inclusivity, confidence, respect, value and appreciation for one another: -Teachers continue to participate in PD in the areas of assessment, differentiation, new curriculum (K-3) and FNMI knowledge -Staff and students have participated in monthly EDIAR themed assemblies Goal #4: We will engage in good stewardship of all resources through principled governance and engagement. -Planning has begun to create 2 Truth and Reconciliation art murals. One will be placed in our main hallway another will be in our Truth and Reconciliation Prayer Garden at the front of the school. The work will be facilitated by an Indigenous Artist in Residence.