SCHOOL INFORMATION SCHOOL NAME: Loretto Abbey Catholic Secondary School ADDRESS: 101 Mason Blvd Toronto ON M5M 3E2 PRINCIPAL: Lori DiMarco SUPERINTENDENT: Michael McMorrow NO OF STUDENTS: 950 TRUSTEE: Maria Rizzo Kevin Kobus Director of Education Oliver Carroll Chair of the Board
PRIORITY: GOALS: NURTURING OUR CATHOLIC COMMUNITY FAITH DEVELOPMENT To create and celebrate Catholic Community where all proclaim the Good News of the Gospel and where Catholic beliefs are modelled and integrated into the whole learning experience. SAFE, INCLUSIVE AND HEALTHY LEARNING ENVIRONMENT To enhance the quality of the working and learning experience through improving schools and workplaces so that they contribute to positive health and respectful relationships. PRIORITY: GOALS: INCREASING ENROLMENT AND RETENTION IN GRADES JK-12 To support and implement a variety of local and system initiatives that actively enhance the school profile and promote the benefits of Catholic education. IMPROVING STUDENT LEARNING and ACHIEVEMENT LITERACY To improve the overall level of students' literacy skills by enhancing their reading and writing proficiency through an interdisciplinary approach. NUMERACY To improve the overall level of students' Mathematical literacy skills through problem solving experiences that involve the application and communication of concepts in Mathematics. OUR MISSION IN A SCHOOL COMMUNITY FORMED BY CATHOLIC BELIEFS AND TRADITIONS, OUR MISSION IS TO EDUCATE STUDENTS TO THEIR FULL POTENTIAL. PRIORITY: GOALS: SUCCESS FOR ALL To improve opportunities for all our students to achieve their desired destinations through a variety of programs, supports, assessment strategies and pathways (apprenticeship, college, community living, university and the workplace). BUILDING CAPACITY TO LEAD and LEARN EMPOWERING CATHOLIC LEADERSHIP To develop and support Catholic Educational Leaders who are energizing, caring, visionary, student-focused and collaborative role models in building a Catholic professional learning community. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPEMENT To provide job-embedded professional development that focuses on broadening the range of skills, practices and attitudes needed to create sustainable improvement and better results. Wards TORONTO CATHOLIC DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD TRUSTEES 2005-2006 1. Joseph Martino 2. Ann Andrachuk 3. Sal Piccininni 4. Mary Cicogna 5. Maria Rizzo 6. Christine Nunziata 7. John Del Grande, Honorary Treasurer 8. Oliver Carroll, Chair 9. Catherine LeBlanc-Miller, Vice-Chair 10. Barbara Poplawski 11. Angela Kennedy 12. Paul John Crawford Ashley Pereira, Student Trustee 416-512-3401 416-512-3402 416-512-3403 416-512-3404 416-512-3405 416-512-3406 416-512-3407 416-512-3408 416-512-3409 416-512-3410 416-512-3411 416-512-3412 416-512-3413 Kevin Kobus, Director of Education Oliver Carroll, Chair of the Board Page 2 of 9
Nurturing Our Catholic Community b) Evidence of Improvement: Faith Development To create and celebrate Catholic Community where all proclaim the Good News of the Gospel and where Catholic beliefs are modelled and integrated into the whole learning experience. 9-12 1) Strategy: Creating opportunities for students to actively participate in school Masses Chaplancy Student resources Music Department Student resources Established Student Involvement in Liturgical Committee: Committee of students chaired by a student and moderated by Father Delaney. This group of students assumes the responsibility of organizing the readings, petitions, gifts, and the smooth running of the Mass. In addition, these students act as Alter Servicers and Ministers of Communion. Student participation through the Ministry of Music: Abbey Singers and the Abbey Choir are two co-curricular opportunities in which students can participate on a volunteer basis. Currently, there are approximately 60 students participating. Page 3 of 9
2) Strategy: Retreat Opportunities for students and staff Participation in grade-level retreats offered through Religion classes: Gr 9 - participated in faith-related seminars at Camp White Pines Gr 10 - reflected on their relationships with God and others at St. Bonaventure Church under the direction of Maggie O'Rourke (Rosalie Hall) Gr 11 - Make a pilgrimage to the Martyr Shrine in Midland. They study Native Spirituality at Ste. Marie among the Hurons Gr 12 - Spend a day in Mt. Alverno reflecting on their current support systems and how to replace them upon leaving our community Staff - reflected on building community with Noel Martin Individual Staff - opportunities to participate in the board-sponsored Courage to Serve retreats Chaplancy Facilities within the community Student Resources Staff Resources 3) Strategy: Opportunities for Staff to participate in Faith Development through activities outside of the school Sharing resources and experiences through department meetings and conversations with colleagues: Attendance by various staff members at: When Faith Meets Pedagogy Conference In-Service on pastoral guidelines to assist students of same-sex orientation (board policy implementation) High School forum Board-sponsored Principal and Vice Principal Retreats Franciscan University of Stubenville Conference in Ohio Teacher, Vice Principal, Principal Teacher resources 4) Strategy: Active participation by all students in a Religious Studies course in each year at Loretto Abbey Gr 9 - Beatitudes and Ten Commandments Gr 10 - How to be a Follower of Christ in our Culture Gr 11 - World Religions from a Catholic Perspective Gr 12 - Christian Morality Principal Classroom resources Page 4 of 9
5) Strategy: Raising the awareness of the necessity to work for the common good in our own community and beyond The money raised by clubs within our school community which work to improve living conditions for the poor and dispossessed locally and globally. School Focus for 2005-2006 in the NSIRIMO HEALTH / MATERNITY CENTRE UMUAHIA, ABIA STATE NIGERIA. Target: $15 000 School Community through clubs and co-curricular activities Community Resources b) Evidence of Improvement: Student participation in volunteer / community service activities. Examples: School volunteer fair providing information about volunteer opportunities Participation in 24 Hours of Service Earth Day - 20-minute community clean-up Serving Christmas dinner to the disadvantaged at Our Lady of Lourdes Food Drives & Christmas Baskets Walk Against Male Violence Against Women Right to Life Activities Sponsoring of 2 Children through the Foster Parents Club School Community Community Resources 6) Strategy: Daily prayer and reflection Prayers and reflections each day reflect feast days and events within the Catholic Church, current events in the Local and Global Community Chaplaincy School resources Page 5 of 9
Nurturing Our Catholic Community 1) Strategy: Provide thought provoking assemblies, workshops, seminars on safety, inclusiveness and healthy learning Safe, Inclusive and Healthy Learning Environment To enhance the quality of the working and learning experience through improving schools and workplaces so that they contribute to positive healthy and respectful relationships. 9-12 Examples: What Works 4 Women Week - Assemblies on anti-bullying, healthy relationships, character building, and healthy lifestyles. Police visits on the Street Crime programme - Gr 9s Mothers Against Drunk Driving Multimedia Presentation Empowered Student Partnership (Toronto Police Services) In the Drivers Seat Committee Vice Principal Community Resources Page 6 of 9
Improving Student Learning and Achievement 2) Strategy: Continue to promote literacy skills in grades 11 and 12 for those who are not successful on the OSSLT Literacy To improve the overall level of students' literacy skills by enhancing their reading and writing proficiency through an interdisciplinary approach. Intermediate (9-10) 1) Strategy: Prepare students to meet with success on the OSSLT Grade 11: After-school remedial literacy sessions for students with compromised literacy skills Grade 12: OSSLC for students who have not been successful in completing the OSSLT Teacher, Vice Principal, Principal Board-wide resources Grade 9 students: Review CAT 3 test results Write the Gates MacGinitie test of Reading Comprehension Compare Gates test results with other available data In English class, writing of supported opinion paragraphs, newspaper articles and grammar exercises which are all components of the OSSLT Implement strategies to focus on literacy skills across the subject areas Grade 10 students: Literacy Test Workbook by Treehouse Press - modules are divided among departments for practice of various types of texts Practice of samples of OSSLT Teacher, Vice Principal, Principal Board-wide resources Page 7 of 9
Improving Student Learning and Achievement Success for All To improve opportunities for all our students to achieve their desired destinations through a variety of programs, supports, assessment strategies and pathways (apprenticeship, college, community living, university and the workplace). 9-12 1) Strategy: Receipt of a staffing allocation for Student Success Teacher Identify a staff member to assume the role of Student Success Teacher Teacher, Principal School resources Completed b) Evidence of Improvement: 2) Strategy: Development of a Credit Recovery Programme SST & Committee School resources Teacher Board-wide resources Student Success Teacher to chair a committee to discuss strategies for dealing with those students who may be deemed at-risk Establish criteria to determine which students qualify for credit recovery Completion of lost credits by students enrolled in credit recovery programme Page 8 of 9
Building Capacity to Lead and Learn 2) Strategy: Establish a Professional Development Committee Professional Development To provide job-embedded professional development that focuses on broadening the range of skills, practices and attitudes needed to create sustainable improvement and better results. 9-12 1) Strategy: New Teacher Mentorship for teachers new to the profession or the community School Community Teacher resources Request representation from each department on this committee The committee assumes responsibility for planning the PD day on Feb 17 and addressing other PD needs among the teaching staff in consultation with the administration Teacher, Vice Principal, Principal Board-wide resources Partnering each new staff member with an established member of the LAT community outside of their department in addition to the mentoring that occurs within each department by collaboration Introductory meeting to review some school policies and procedures and acquaint each mentor with their mentee Commissioning ceremony for new staff at fall staff retreat Informal meetings and progress checks between mentor and mentee Page 9 of 9