June, 2013 Page 1
School Plan for Continuous Growth
2015-2018
School: Holy Family
Elementary Junior High School
Date: 11/26/2015
“This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24
June, 2013 Page 2
Edmonton Catholic School District Foundation Statements
District Mission Statement Inspired by
• Love of the Father
• Faith in Jesus Christ
• Hope from the Holy Spirit
We believe in God and we believe
• that each person is created in the image and likeness of God
• that each child is a precious gift and sacred responsibility
• in the goodness, dignity and worth of each person
• that Christ is our model and our teacher
• in celebrating and witnessing our faith
• in transforming the world through Catholic education
• that Catholic education includes spiritual growth and fulfillment
• that learning is a lifelong journey
• that all can learn and develop their gifts
• in building Christ-centered communities for service to one another
• that all have rights, roles and responsibilities for which they are
accountable
• that Catholic education is a shared responsibility in which parents
have a primary role
The mission of Edmonton Catholic Schools is to provide a Catholic education
that inspires students to learn and that prepares them to live fully and to serve
God in one another.
District Vision Our students will learn together, work together and pray together in answering the
call to a faith-filled life of service.
June, 2013 Page 3
Our School’s Foundation Statements
Holy Family Elementary Junior High School Vision –
Holy Family will provide a learning environment that maximizes the opportunity
for each person to be recognized as a unique and worthwhile human being.
Holy Family Elementary Junior High School
Mission Statement:
We, at Holy Family School, provide a learning environment that maximizes the
opportunity for each person to be recognized as a unique and worthwhile human
being. Students will have the opportunity to learn and develop in a positive and
creative family environment, allowing them to discover their own gifts and
uniqueness and to show an appreciation of others. The dignity of self-worth of
each individual will be manifested during curricular and extracurricular activities,
thus enhancing the student’s self-esteem. Our model in daily living will continue
to be our savior, Jesus Christ.
June, 2013 Page 4
Review of Holy Family School Goals for 2014-2015
Review of Holy Family Goal One 2014-2015
Focus on meeting the needs of our diverse population. We will work to improve the
reading and writing competencies of all students paying particular attention to our English
Language Learners.
District Goal Two
Success for every student
2.1e Explore, identify and implement strategies related to the success of our English
Language Learners
Strategy: Identify our ELL students and support them based on their abilities.
Action: Our level 1 and Level 2 ELLs will be supported by our Learning Coach and
teachers, by providing them with small group support targeted at assisting them in improving
their understanding of Basic English.
In Div. 1 our Learning Coach will work with these students in the classroom as well
as one on one using guided reading as a way of helping to improve their English.
Met: Not Met: On Going: X
In Div. II the classroom teacher will work with their Level 1 & 2 students during the
French block using guided reading, and extra support for all subjects in a small group
setting.
Met: Not Met: On Going: X
In Junior High a designated teacher as well as the Learning Coach will work with the
Level 1 and Level 2 students using a guided reading format to assist with improving
these students basic English.
Met: Not Met: On Going: X
June, 2013 Page 5
At lunch time a conversation club will be developed to allow our English Language
Learners an opportunity to practice their oral language skills.
Met: Not Met: X on Going:
This strategy was not met; it was attempted however students were not
interested in participating; they wanted their break at lunch time.
Strategy: Change our teaching pedagogy to better meet the needs of our students, and
improve our Provincial Achievement Test scores by improving the reading and writing
ability of all students.
Action: We will have our English Language Learner Consultants come in to
provide our teachers with strategies to use in the classroom that will strengthen our
English Language Learners abilities.
Met: X Not Met: On Going:
Action: Teachers will be expected to present a strategy, during a staff meeting,
that they have used in their classroom and discuss its impact on learning.
Met: Not Met: X On Going:
Need to carry this over to 2015-2016
Action: Teachers will be expected to choose a paradigm shift and will consider
what changes to their practice are needed in order to better meet the learning need of our
ELL students.
Met: Not Met: X On Going:
Could be a focus for our 2015-2016 year.
Action: Our Grade 4 & 8 teachers will be involved in the Cohorts offered by our
district to help them learn how to create inclusive classrooms; thereby better meeting the
needs of these diverse students.
Met: X Not Met: On Going:
Strategy: To deepen our practice of balanced literacy by incorporating the Daily
5 strategy into our classrooms.
June, 2013 Page 6
Action: Teachers will be provided with the book entitled “The Daily 5 Fostering
literacy independence in the Elementary classroom.” A book study will be done as a staff.
Met: Not Met: On Going: X
Action: Our elementary teachers will be involved in a workshop offered by our
district consultant to help them understand how to incorporate the Daily 5 practice in
their classrooms.
Met: X Not Met: On Going:
Action: Our Junior High teachers will deepen their understanding of how to use
Nelson Literacy to assist our English Language Learners in their acquisition of the
English language.
Met: Not Met: On Going: X
June, 2013 Page 7
Review of Holy Family School Goal 2 2014-2015
Holy Family Goal 2
Continue our commitment to setting aside Thursday mornings for Project Based
Learning, involving our students in meaningful projects that connect to the curriculum
and target competencies set out in the Ministerial Order on Learning.
District Goal 2.2
Ensure that every school and department is committed to improving student
learning and achievement within the context of a 21st Century Catholic learning
community.
2.2a Continue with the “Transform! Engage in Christ-Centered Learning for
Today and Tomorrow” plan focusing on the goals as described in the Ministerial Order
on Student Learning.
2.2 c Ensure that technologies are embedded into the instructional design.
Strategy: To develop projects that meet the curricular outcomes for each grade;
and ensure that they are teaching the 21st century competencies; of critical
thinking/problem solving, collaboration, communication and creativity and innovation.
Action: A project planning sheet will be used to not only track the projects we
are developing, but also to help ensure that we are connecting to curriculum and teaching
the 21st Century competencies.
Met: X Not Met: On Going:
Action: We will work through a debriefing activity twice in the year, (December
and April), to help us reflect on the projects that have been created; to assess how they
have met the curricular outcomes and the competencies.
Met: Not Met: On Going: X
Strategy: To continue to ensure that students have the technology they need to be
actively engaged in the projects on Thursday morning.
June, 2013 Page 8
Action: Devices will be purchased so that all students have access to the
technology they need.
Met: X Not Met: On Going:
Action: Adapters will be purchased so that each device is able to display on the
SMART board.
Met: Not Met: X On Going:
Action: Teachers will be in-serviced on how to best use devices and software so
that they are being used to their full potential.
Met: Not Met: X On Going:
Strategy: To develop our teachers understanding of how to create projects that
reflect 21st Century skills
Action: More of our teachers will be involved in the Buck Institute Project Based
Learning workshop offered by the Edmonton Regional Learning Consortium. Our target
will be to have at least 6 more teachers trained by year end.
Met: X Not Met: On Going:
Action: To revise the Solution Fluency to better meet the problem solving process
used with the Buck Institute model.
Met: X Not Met: On Going:
June, 2013 Page 9
Review of Holy Family School Goal 3 2014-2015
Holy Family School Goal Three
Work to increase parent involvement in our school; centering around building a
strong Catholic faith community.
District Goal
5.1 Demonstrate the distinctiveness and advantages of Catholic education.
Strategy: To invite parents to be involved with activities here at Holy Family or
at St. Theresa’s parish that will help to develop their understanding and appreciation of
the Catholic faith and education system.
Action: Christmas concert evening, a chance to bring everyone together in
celebration of Christ’s birth.
Met: X Not Met: On Going:
Action: Advertise on our website the faith formation activities that are already
happening at St. Theresa’s.
Met: X Not Met: On Going:
Action: To develop Faith At Home bags for each classroom. These bags will
contain the necessary materials to invite families into prayers.
Met: Not Met: X On Going:
June, 2013 Page 10
Review Data
Provincial Achievement Results with Regression Analysis
2014-2015
Grade Six
Subject Number of
Students
Actual Score Predicted Score Result
Language Arts 51 62.59 66.13 -
Mathematics 51 52.31 59.69 -
Science 51 59.37 66.45 -
Social Studies 51 59.33 65.77 -
Group Acceptable Standard Standard of Excellence
Language Arts
School 81.8 16.4
District 91.0 20.5
Province 91.4 21.5
Mathematics
School 72.5 5.5
District 81.4 15.3
Province 80.5 15.3
Science
School 78.2 12.7
District 83.0 25.5
Province 84.8 28.9
Social Studies
School 69.1 3.6
District 77.8 18.6
Province 78.0 21.0
June, 2013 Page 11
Provincial Achievement Results with Regression Analysis
2014-2015
Grade Nine
Subject Number of
Students
Actual Score Predicted Score Result
Language Arts 59 64.68 66.17 =
Mathematics 55 57.34 58.53 =
Science 59 57.41 64.97 -
Social Studies 60 64.13 63.15 =
Group Acceptable Standard Standard of Excellence
Language Arts
School 76.7 16.7
District 87.7 19.2
Province 85.5 16.3
Mathematics
School 71.4 17.9
District 73.1 17.4
Province 72.1 19.7
Science
School 70.0 13.3
District 83.1 27.2
Province 82.0 25.6
Social Studies
School 77.0 19.7
District 77.0 23.7
Province 73.1 22.7
June, 2013 Page 12
Accountability Pillar Overall Summary from May of 2015 shows many areas
of success. We are low in the number of students reaching acceptable
standard on our PATs. Our Parent involvement is still low, we have tried a
number of strategies to increase our parent involvement, and feel the low rates
are due more to our parents’ inability to get involved at our school due to the
fact that we have many new immigrant families who are working two or three
jobs and cannot find time to volunteer. As well these same families reluctant
to get involved because of the limited ability in English.
Evaluation of our School According to the 5 Marks of Catholic Education
Benchmarks
On November 5, 2015; staff evaluated how well our school is meeting the 5
Standards of Catholic Education. We developed a rubric based on the 5 Marks
of Catholic Education Benchmark document, using a three point scale to rate
our school community. The scales used were, Not yet; Getting there; and Got
it. Staff were asked to give examples of how we have reached that specific
benchmark. The results were collated and evaluated. After analyzing this
information we found out that we are well on our way to reaching the
standards for Mark One. It was identified that some work needed to be done
with our school mission statement and although this is not a goal for us this
year, we will work on improving our staff, student and community awareness of
our mission statement. This will be done by posting it in prominent places in
our school.
We found that we have reached many of the benchmarks of Mark Two,
and although we would like to create a chapel for prayer, we do not have the
physical space to create a quiet place for prayer.
We have reached many areas of benchmarks Four and Five. We
continue to work on the development of the faith lives of our staff by ensuring
that there is prayer and reflection time before each of our staff meetings. The
book “Rediscover Jesus” by Matthew Kelly was purchased for those staff
members who wished to have a resource that helped to deepen their faith life.
The decision was made to focus on Mark Three; “Animated by a Faith-
Infused Curriculum” in the establishment of Goal 3 for the 2015-2016 school
year.
June, 2013 Page 13
Holy Family School Details and Demographics 2015-2016
Total Population:
Total # of students: 598
100 Voices & Kindergarten: 70
Elementary: 267
Junior High: 263
English Language Learners
Total 185 - 30 % of total population is ESL
100 Voices & Kindergarten: 38 - 20% of ESL pop
Elementary: 80 - 43% of ESL pop
Junior High 67 - 36% of ESL pop
FNMI statistics
Total 31 – 5% of total population
Kindergarten: 1
Elementary: 16
Junior High 14
Number and severity of special needs students
Total 12
Elementary: 4 (Code 42)
1 (Code 44M)
Junior High 4 (Code 42)
3 (Code 44M)
June, 2013 Page 14
Goals for 2015-2018
Holy Family Goal One
To improve our standing in Mark 3, Standard 3 of Catholic Education by assisting our teachers in
creating an academic curriculum that integrate a vision of faith within the learner outcomes
and teaching strategies.
District Goal
1.7 Develop an action plan for the District based on the recommendations brought forward in
the ACSTA "Growing Forward” report form the 2014 Catholic Education Symposium.
Strategy: To improve our teachers’ ability to develop lessons that meet Bench Mark 1; “When relevant, the curriculum reflects the social teachings of the Catholic Church.”
Actions:
1. Teachers will be supported through time with consultants and other resources (parish priest, Archdiocese staff, articles, etc.) to link curriculum with todays’ Catholic social teachings of the Catholic Church
2. A monthly email reminder will be sent to teachers, reminding them to check on teacher
share, for articles on Catholic social teachings to support teacher growth.
Strategy: To improve teachers understanding of and ability to create lessons that meet Benchmark 3 and 8; (3) “The school offers a Catholic faith-infused curriculum (the lessons of which) that could not be duplicated in a non-Catholic school.”
(8) “Teachers meet on a regular basis to discuss methods of infusing faith in their subject areas.” Actions 1. Teachers will be provided exemplars of what a Catholic faith – infused curriculum looks
like through work with consultants.
2. Teachers of ‘same grade,’ and cross curricular where plausible/relevant, will be supported to have collaborative time together and/or with resources persons to develop relevant lessons around the Catholic Faith to enhance their current units.
June, 2013 Page 15
Strategy: To improve our standing on benchmark 5 “Teachers are knowledgeable on Church
teaching as it applies to the subject areas in which they teach.” This will be done by supporting
our teachers with professional development opportunities.”
Action:
1. The Chaplain will support teachers on Church teachings and teachers will be encouraged to attend PD (Newman college, parish to provide inservice, SPICE, etc) to help them grow in their understandings on Church teaching.
June, 2013 Page 16
Holy Family Goal Two 2015-2018
Focus on meeting the needs of our diverse population. We will work to improve the
reading and writing and numeracy competencies of all students paying particular attention to
our English Language Learners.
District Goal Two
Every Student is Successful
2.5 e Explore, identify and implement strategies related to the success of our English
Language Learners.
2.6a Continue with “Transform! Engage in Christ-Centered Learning for Today and
Tomorrow” plan focusing on the goals as described in the Ministerial Order on Student
Learning (May 6, 2013), which includes a focus on literacy, numeracy and the competencies
described therein.
Strategy: To continue to identify and support our English Language Learners, and our
struggling students.
Actions:
1. Our Level 1 and Level 2 English Language Learners will be supported by our
Learning Coach in the Junior High, and lower Elementary, with one on one
support. Once their language skills improve, they will be integrated back into the
classroom, and receive support by adapting their programs to meet their needs.
2. Our Division 2 ELL Level 1 & 2 students will be supported by their classroom
teacher with targeted support offered during their French block. They will use the
strategy of independent conferencing in reading and writing to support their needs.
Once they have reached a Level 3 on the ELL Benchmark scale, they will be
supported in the regular classroom with adaptations made to their program.
June, 2013 Page 17
Strategy: Change our teaching pedagogy to better meet the needs of our students, and improve
our Provincial Achievement Test scores, by improving the reading, writing and numeracy ability
of all students.
Actions:
1. Our staff will continue to hone their skills in using the CAFÉ method of teaching
reading in their classrooms. Professional development opportunities will be offered
to teachers, and resources will be purchased.
2. RAZ Kids software licence will be purchased for all elementary classrooms, to
support students at school and at home with levelled reading material appropriate
to their identified reading level.
3. Our elementary staff will continue to hone their skills in using the Empowered
Writing concept in their classrooms. Time will be set aside so that staff can
collaborate and view lessons on how to use the strategies in their classrooms.
Teachers will be expected to demonstrate how they have implemented this
technique in their teaching of writing.
4. Our Junior High teachers will deepen their understanding of how to use Nelson
Literacy, during the book club portion of their Language Arts lessons, to assist our
English Language Learners in their acquisition of the English language.
5. Teachers will be expected to choose a strategy that was provided by our ELL
consultant to consider what changes to their practice are needed in order to better
meet the learning need of our ELL students.
6. A half day sub will be provided to our teachers to meet with our Learning Coach
and the ELL consultant to plan strategies for our ELL learners. These strategies
will be used cross curricular to build consistency for our ELL students.
June, 2013 Page 18
Strategy: To support all students in gaining a higher level of proficiency in numeracy skills.
Actions:
1. A licence for Mathletics will be purchased so that all students will have access to a
digital resource at home and school for improving their basic math skills.
2. Student progress in Mathletics will be recorded and monitored sharing this
information with students; parents; and administration. This will provide information
for all stakeholders to understand and determine the next steps that are necessary.
3. Benchmarks in math will be developed to assist each grade level teacher to understand
what basic fact ability must be attained by students in their grade. These basic skills
will be tested and monitored to ensure our students are reaching their grade level
goals.
4. All elementary teachers will be involved in professional development that will support
the introduction of Daily 3 in their math classroom. Resources will be purchased to
help implement this teaching strategy in their classrooms.
5. Teachers will use time in Math groups to provide guided math to students in need of
support.
6. An in school professional development opportunity will be arranged to help our staff
understand the best strategies to use to teach numeracy in their classrooms.
7. To involve our students in Numeracy Week, by providing them with activities that
target acquisition of their basic facts and how these apply to their daily lives.
June, 2013 Page 19
Holy Family Goal Three 2015-2018
Continue our commitment to our L.I.F.T. (Learning In-depth For Tomorrow)
initiative; Thursday morning Project Based Learning. This will be accomplished by
involving our students in meaningful projects that connect to the curriculum and target
competencies set out in the Ministerial Order on Learning.
District Goal
2.6 Ensure that every school and department is committed to improving student
learning and achievement within the context of a 21st century Catholic learning community.
Strategy: To develop projects that meet the curricular outcomes for each grade; and ensure that
they are teaching the 21st century competencies; of critical thinking/problem solving,
collaboration, communication and creativity and innovation.
Action:
1. We will work through a debriefing activity twice in the year, (December and April),
to help us reflect on the projects that have been created; to assess how they have met
the curricular outcomes and the competencies.
2. Teachers will be involved in the Buck Institute Project Based Learning workshop
offered by the Edmonton Regional Learning Consortium. Our target will be to have
at least 2 more teachers trained by year end.
3. The teachers who have been involved in the Buck Institute training will share their
knowledge by presenting planning techniques at two staff meetings this year.
4. Purchase resources for teachers on planning projects.
June, 2013 Page 20
Strategy: To begin to develop and use rubrics that will assess our students’ understanding of the
21st century competencies; of critical thinking/problem solving; collaboration, communication
and creativity and innovation.
Actions:
1. Teachers will begin developing rubrics that will assess the competencies.
2. The rubrics will be used to assess and report on students’ understanding of the
competencies.
Strategy: To continue to ensure that students have the technology they need to be
actively engaged in the projects on Thursday morning.
Action: Devices will be purchased so that all students have access to the
technology they need.
Action: Adaptors that will enable students’ presentations to be projected in the
classroom will be purchased.
June, 2013 Page 21
Draft plan shared with:
Staff: Review and development November 5, 2015
Draft: November 26, 2015
Parent Council: December 1, 2015
