The end of a school year is always a time of reflection. The directors of education for both the Upper Grand District School Board and the Wellington Catholic District School Board reflected on the highlights of the 2015-16 school year this week. Both say it was outstanding year.
Tamara Nugent leads the Catholic board. She said the past year was one highlighted by the high level at which school communities came together and served their broader communities.
She said the project Amazing Home Makeover, which brought students, the business community and the charitable sector together, provided “great learning” for students, not only in the trades, but in social responsibility.
The project renovated and resold a home, turning the $150,000 profit over to Michael House, a pregnancy care centre in Guelph.
Nugent said working through a challenging labour situation and reaching collective agreements with teachers’ unions in the fall was also a definite highlight of the past year.
“That certainly helped us stay focused on student learning and achievement throughout the year,” she said.
Martha Rogers leads Upper Grand. She said one of the extraordinary things about the school year just ended was the welcoming of Syrian newcomers to the board’s schools. Many Syrian children from refugee families became Upper Grand students, and remarkable things happened around that.
“All together we have 56 Syrian students, and that was a highlight to our year,” Rogers said. “Our schools and communities have opened their arms to these folks, and we are looking to settle more of them.”
She said a number of electronic tablets outfitted with the Google Translate program were introduced to help those children communicate with others in classroom settings, and feel comfortable more quickly.
“We got a whole pile of these tablets with Google Translate, and it has just been so great to help our Syrian students,” she said.
Rogers said brand new initiatives were undertaken involving First Nations, Metis and Inuit, including an “amazing” art show in Aboyne, involving eight schools and nearly 100 works of art.
“The kids were immensely proud of their art, and it really engaged students and teachers with indigenous ways of knowing,” she said, adding that the show will move to The Bookshelf in Guelph this summer.
A heritage event during the school year also brought 24 aboriginal elders into schools to talk with students. An increasing number of students are taking native study courses, she added.
“I think events such as the art show and having elders in our school bring the whole concept of education about First Nations, Metis, and Inuit to life for our students,” Rogers added.
Like Nugent, Rogers was also impressed with the fundraising efforts of school communities. In particular, the John F. Ross CVI “Ten 4 Ten” campaign enlisted a number of schools to raise $150,000 for the Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada, money that was matched by a foundation grant program. Another Upper Grand school in Dufferin County raised $12,000 for breast cancer research.
“Our schools are very community minded,” Rogers said. “They do a lot to help those in this world who have less. They’re very globally minded, and I am very proud of that.”
Nugent said the learning environment in her board is being enhanced, particularly through Wellington Catholics new multi-year strategic plan. One of the pillars of it, she said, is a commitment to innovation for student success and staff growth. The plan will bring “fresh energy” to the board’s educational offerings, she indicated.
Nugent said the board is filled with anticipation about the opening in the fall of its new Sacred Heart Rockwood school.
Nugent said the end of a school year is a joyful and exciting time, a “celebration of learning and friendship,” with lots of fun days, excursions and graduations.
“Moving into summer presents them with a range of possibilities for new experiences,” she said, adding that for those graduating from Grade 12 it can also result in some anxiety about the future.
For teachers it is an exciting time in which they are able to look back over the year and see the influence and impact they’ve had on their students’ lives and learning.
“And they let those students go, with a wish for a safe and happy summer,” Nugent said.
Nugent introduced the #HereIAm project to help kids stay connected over the summer. Students were given small postcards and invited to share their summer adventures and activities with all by sending the postcard directly to Nugent. Stories can also be shared online.
“There are mixed feelings at this time of year,” Rogers said. “Most kids are going to be really excited. For the graduating students going out of Grade 12, they’re probably not going to see much of their friends. They’ve been together for four years, so there is always a bittersweet end to the year.”
Pranks are not uncommon at the end of the year, she added. John F. Ross students put a “For Sale” sign up at the school. The price was right - $40. Rogers thought the prank was hilarious.
