School Improvement Plan

Nova Scotia School Accreditation Program

School Improvement Plan

Bridgewater Junior/Senior High School

South Shore Regional School Board

April 9, 2009
CONTENTS

A. Executive Summary

B. Participants

C. Procedures

D. Goals

E. Strategies

F. Action Plans

G. Measuring Growth Plan

H. Professional Learning Plan

I. Declaration

Section A

Executive Summary

School Improvement Plan Executive Summary

The second phase of Bridgewater Junior Senior High School’s accreditation process- the school improvement plan- began with two days of in-servicing in Bridgewater at the School Board office for co-chairs and principals of the six schools from the South Shore Regional School. At the end of the two day work shop time was allotted for the co-chairs to review comments and recommendations from the board staff on the first phase of their document. Editing of the document began at that time.

The co-chairs attended the three scheduled School Advisory Council meetings through this phase of the process. SAC members were provided with copies of the Internal Review document. Time at the meeting was allotted to answer questions pertaining to the document as well update the members on each phase of School Improvement Plan. SAC members were invited to all school based in-servicing. Their participation in the process was encouraged.

During the month of January 2009 the co-chairs spent time editing the Internal Review documents. Much time was spent reviewing the student and school data to aid in the facilitation of staff the School Improvement Plan process. School Principal, Chuck McLellan, lent much of his time and support to ensure that the co-chairs were confident in what they were interpreting and presenting to staff.

Two days in February 2009 were spent on planning and organizing the February 6^th school-based in-service day. This day was granted to the school through a special request made by our School Advisory Council and approved by our school board. Staff and SAC members participated in activities that resulted in determining out two school goals and corresponding strategies. It was during the February 16^th staff meeting that staff was able to reflect on the two goals and choose the strategy they would like to participate in. Later that month the co-chairs organized the staff into their designated groups to start the action plan process.

The co-chairs spent time March 2009 recording the accumulated information obtained during both in-servicing and staff meetings into the accreditation SIP document. The draft of the SIP document was emailed to Ann Moore, Coordinator, Support and Evaluation and Bill Roblee, accreditation facilitator for review. Ann forwarded the document to board staff for their perusal. All members responded with their thoughts and suggestions.

April 2, 2009, a school based in service day, allowed for one final time for the staff to come together and finalize their decisions on their sequencing of strategies, development of year one action plans and corresponding growth and professional plans. The staff was divided into two groups – student achievement and school performance. Grouping was determined according to the strategy they were previously assigned to.

The co-chairs spent two days (April 8^th and 9^th) finalizing the accreditation document. Dates were also set for the co-chairs to meet with the student council and the student body to inform and update them on the internal review document, SIP and the upcoming visit from the External Review Team. On Tuesday April 14, 2009 the document was printed and couriered to the various members of the Internal Review Team.

Section B

List of Participants

Jeanie Rhodenizer

Co-Chair

René Gaudet

Co-Chair

Chuck McLellan

Principal

Edwina Ramsey

SAC Chair/Parent

Tom MacDougall

Teacher

Engelina Crouse

Support Staff/Secretary

Amanda Mullen

Student

Deanna Rawding

Vice-Principal

Sara Harding

Parent/ SAC vice-chair

Bonnie Minard

Parent/ SAC vice-chair

Suzanne Baker

Community representative

Bill Roblee

Mentor

All Staff

Peter McCracken

Health Promoter

Ann Moore

Accreditation Advisor

Section C

Procedures

Log of Activities

Date	Activity
January 13 &14^th,2009	· Attended a 2 day workshop for Co-chairs and Administration on how to facilitate and write the SIP Plan · Began editing process on Internal Review document
January 20, 2009	SAC Meeting · Asked for feedback on draft copy of Internal Review Paper · Recapped on the two day in-service received at the board office from the Dept of Ed.
January 25, 2009	· Continued with the editing of document
January 28, 2009	· Continued with editing the of document
January 30,2009	· Meet in the morning with C. McLellan (principal) to review school and student data
Sunday February 1, 2009	· Planning and organizing school in-service day
Wednesday February 4, 2009	· Planning and organizing school in-service day
Friday February 6, 2009	School In-service Day · Choosing goals and strategies for SIP · Bill Roblee was present to help in the facilitation of the day’s inservice
Monday February 9, 2009	· Collated results from staff in-service
Tuesday February 17, 2009	SAC Meeting · Presented our two goals and the strategies associated with each one
Monday February 16, 2009	Staff Meeting: · To revisit goals and strategies and allow time for reflection · Staff to submit preferred strategy
Thursday February 26, 2009	· Collating data from staff responses to preferred strategy they wish to participate in
Tuesday March 24, 2009	SAC Meeting · Provided update · Informed members that both co-chairs would be away from their teaching assignments to continue work on the School Improvement Plan
Monday March 30, 2009	· Developing SIP · Email Anne and Bill for feedback on SIP draft · Anne forwarded SIP draft to board staff members for feedback
Sunday April 2, 2009	· Organized agenda for staff meeting by dividing staff into two groups- student achievement and school performance for the purpose of editing and revising action plans
Monday April 3,2009	· The co-chairs facilitated two groups simultaneously · Each was responsible determining the sequence of the strategies for each year of the SIP plan as well as revising and editing year one’s action plan and accompanying growth and professional plans
Wednesday April 8, 2009	· Co-chairs spent the day finalized action plans, growth plans, and professional plans
Thursday April 9, 2009	· Co- chairs spent the day ensuring all documents were ready for print for the External Review Team · Dates were set to update student council as well as inform the student body on the internal review document and the upcoming visit from the External Review Team
Wednesday April 15, 2009	· Document was printed and couriered to the various members of External Review Team

Section D

Goals

Student Achievement

Goal: By June 2012, utilizing school baseline data obtained by 2010, the overall school average for student achievement across the curriculum will increase by 5% through the incorporation of literacy strategies.

School Performance

Goal: By June 2012 there will be a 10% increase in the number of students, staff and support staff who agree that Bridgewater Junior/Senior High School provides a safe, healthy and positive environment, as determined by a school-based survey.

Section E

Year 1 Strategies

Goal #1: By June 2012, utilizing school baseline data obtained by 2010, the overall school average for student achievement across the curriculum will increase by 5% through the incorporation of literacy strategies.

Strategy #1: Create a baseline literacy assessment.

Strategy # 2: Identify areas of literacy that will be a school wide focus.

Strategy #3: Investigate and develop a school wide independent reading time.

Goal #2: By June 2012 there will be a 10% increase in the number of students, staff and support staff who agree that Bridgewater Junior/Senior High School provides a safe, healthy and positive environment, as determined by a school-based survey.

Strategy #1: Review school wide behaviour policy.

Strategy #2: Revise behaviour policy.

Strategy #3: Identify and begin to implement ways to promote team/school spirit.

Strategy #4: Development and continuation of the Backyard Project

Year 2 Draft Strategies

Strategy #1: Re-administer and assess baseline literacy assessment.

Strategy #2: Identify ways technology can be integrated to improve literacy.

Strategy #3: Implement a school wide independent reading time.

Strategy #4: Establish a common understanding of the stages of reading development.

Strategy #1: Implement school wide behaviour policy.

Strategy #2: Evaluate effectiveness of school wide behaviour policy.

Strategy #3: Establishing an in-school suspension/behaviour area

Strategy #4: Revisit and maintain team spirit initiatives.

Strategy #5: Development and Continuation of the Backyard Project

Year 3 Draft Strategies

Strategy #1: Re-administer and assess baseline literacy assessment.

Strategy #2: Assess ways technology can be integrated to improve literacy.

Strategy #3: Evaluate the school wide independent reading time.

Strategy #4: Review the stages of reading development.

Strategy #1: Evaluate (and revise if necessary) effectiveness of school wide behaviour policy.

Strategy #2: Revisit and maintain team spirit initiatives.

Strategy #3: Development and Continuation of the Backyard Project

Section F

Action Plans

Strategy: Create a baseline literacy assessment

Action Steps

Timelines

Begin Complete

Responsibility

Resources

Budget

Schedule a meeting of literacy liaisons.

Form a committee

Create a literacy assessment based on committee’s recommendations.

Administer literacy Assessment baseline

Sept.

2009

Oct.

2009

April 2010

May 2010

Oct.

2009

Oct.

2009

April 2010

May

2010

Deanna Rawding (Vice-Principal)

Literacy Liaisons

(chair to be designated)

Literacy Committee Chair

School literacy mentor (S. Bowers) and Literacy consultant

(S. Jamieson)

3 sub days@

$175

1 sub day

Goal: By June 2012, utilizing school baseline data obtained by 2010, the overall school average for student achievement across the curriculum will increase by 5% through the incorporation of literacy strategies. Strategy: Identify areas of literacy that will be a school-wide focus
Action Steps	Timelines Begin Complete	Responsibility	Resources	Budget
Design a survey for staff to gain input of areas of importance with strategy. Conduct survey with staff. Compile survey results. Review Literacy Assessments to identify areas of weakness in reading and writing. Compare survey results and Literacy Assessment investigation. Compile findings. Communicate to staff. Based on findings teachers will learn or change/refine their practices to be used in Sept. 2011 through information sharing at Staff Meeting and Mentoring	Early Sept. to end of Oct. (2009) End of Oct. to end of Nov. (2009) End of Nov. to end of Dec. (2009) Early Jan. to end of Jan. (2010) Early Feb. to early April (2010) May 2010 to Sept. 2010	Group Members (Leader S. Bowers)	Survey Professional Texts Literacy Assess-ments Board Mentor Board Tech Support

Strategy: Establish a school wide independent reading time.

Action Steps

Timelines

Begin Complete

Responsibility

Resources

Budget

Investigate the feasibility of establishing an independent reading time will fit into our school’s timetable.

Identify common rules and guideline for the implementation of the independent reading time

Find resources (inventory) that will be used for the independent reading time

Monthly Comprehension Strategies determined, resources found, put together and mapped as per school needs

Create progress tracking sheet (Reading Log) to follow student and school participation

Sept 2009

Oct 2009

June 2010

Charles MacNeil, Deanna Rawding

Charles MacNeil

Tanya Brittain

Committee, BHS literacy mentor (S. Bowers) & S. Jamieson

Charles MacNeil

2 sub days @175.00

$200.00

$200.00 & 2 sub days@$175

$100

May need to buy books depending on inventory in school

Strategy: Review school wide behaviour policy

Action Steps

Timelines

Begin Complete

Responsibility

Resources

Budget

Review our schools behaviour policy.

Review other schools behaviour polices. Specifically New Germany Rural High plus one other Junior/Senior High School

Review school board policy.

Examine specific policies surrounding defiance and attendance.

a. Consistent/Specific Consequences (Positive & Negative)

b. Majors vs. Minor behaviours, create a list, define behaviour and consequence

c. Responsibility of teacher, student, and administration in accountability.

d. Reinforcing/communicating/promoting the policy school-wide throughout the year.

e. Behaviour tracking and reporting form for teachers and administration so that we have a record of student behaviour/attendance to refer to when making decisions about students.

Students involved in the policy-making process, ownership and awareness via focus group

Sept. 2009-Feb. 2010

Administration (Chuck McLellan), teaching staff member(s) (Jane Berrigan) and support staff member(s) (TBA)

Contact:

Former NGRH, VP

Bill Brhum,

Another High school principal (TBA)

PEBS binder

PEBS board lead team

WIN school

Gord Walters

Sub days:

$175 x 10

Strategy: Revise Behavior Policy

Action Steps

Timelines

Begin complete

Responsibility

Resources

Budget

Review findings of the conclusions and recommendations from previous strategy

Investigate possible in-service/training for staff on behavioural programs ie. Visit modelling schools

Create a student/teacher survey to evaluate the effectiveness of the School detention policy with the help of the Tell Them From Me survey

Identify highest areas of concern for behaviour.

Examining how aspects of the PEBS philosophy could be incorporated into our behaviour policy

Feb 2010

June 2010

Administration

(C. McLellan)

Administration

(C. McLellan)

Junior High Staff participating in afternoon detentions

Administration

(C. McLellan)

Administration

(C. McLellan)

Administra- tion, Dept. of Ed

Winschool data

Sub-rate 175 x 2

Sub-rate 175 x 5

Goal: By June 2012 there will be a 10% increase in the number of students, staff and support staff who agree that Bridgewater Junior/Senior High School provides a safe, healthy and positive environment, as determined by a school-based survey. Strategy: Identify ways to promote team/school spirit
Action Steps	Timelines Begin Complete		Responsibility	Resources	Budget
Develop a 5 question survey for staff around team building and a 5 question survey for students around school spirit Administer surveys to staff and students Analyse results of surveys Coordinate one team building activity for staff Coordinate one team building activity for staff and students (winter carnival) Explore various off-site (within 100 km radius) venues for staff development during scheduled in-service days. Choose one off-site professional development day. Devise various ways to celebrate our accomplishments.	Sept 09 Oct 09 Nov 09 Sept 09 Jan 2010 Sept 09 Oct 09 Feb 2010	Sept 09 Oct 09 Nov 09 Nov 09 Feb 2010 Oct 09 Oct 09 May 2010	Elsa Veinot Elsa Veinot Elsa Veinot Jane Berrigan Spirit council and Staff representative Administration and Staff representative Administration and Staff representative Staff and Student Committee	Betty-Jean Aucoin Refreshments Cost of renting off-site facility Stationary supplies	$500 $2000 500$

Goal: By June 2012 there will be a 10% increase in the number of students, staff and support staff who agree that Bridgewater Junior/Senior High School provides a safe, healthy and positive environment, as determined by a school-based survey. Strategy: Development and Continuation of the Backyard Project
Action Steps	Timelines Begin Complete	Responsibility	Resources	Budget
Prepare powerpoint presentation detailing history, goals, dynamics of projects with lots of visual representation. Do presentations to key stakeholder groups to motivate and promote interest in and support for the project. i.e. Town of Bridgewater, SSRSB, MLA, MP, BJSHS (staff, SAC, parents, student council) Send out request letters to key community stakeholders requesting letters of support for major BFD grant. Increase size of workgroup – diversify with other stakeholders being represented Develop incremental framework for next phases of project – clearly identify the component, cost needs and timeline. Develop framework for phases of fundraising initiatives – define the component, identify needs, set monetary target, set timeline for completion. Maintain on-going presence in media and minds of stakeholders regarding relevance and needs of project. Complete major BFD grant application and submit on time.	Jan. 2009 Jan. 2009 – May 2009 Jan./Feb. 2009 On-going Jan. 2009 – on-going Jan. 2009-Feb. 2010 Began in Fall 2008 – on-going Feb. 2010 Completed by Feb 2010	S. Baker, committee chair D. Rawding & S. Baker D. Nowe & student committee members Committee will diversify & encourage others. Committee Committee C. McLellan S. Baker & S. Mair-Dodman and Deanna Rawding	Paper, address bank from school, list from BES Committee meetings, Color photos of plan, brochures, newspaper Stationary and other office supplies 2 sub-days

Section G

Measuring Growth Plan

Data Collection:

Methods

Schedule

Responsibility

Tabulate results from literacy assessment

Reassess student achievement from literacy assessment

Using WIN school to establish school mean for all subjects.

Provincial literacy assessment results at the grades 6, 9 and 12.

Spring 2010

Spring 2011

Spring 2012

September 2010

September 2011

September 2012

Spring 2010

Spring 2011

Spring 2012

Literacy committee and school administration

Deanna Rawding

Aaron Thompson

School Literacy Mentor

Goal: By June 2012 there will be a 10% increase in the number of students, staff and support staff who agree that Bridgewater Junior/Senior High School provides a safe, healthy and positive environment, as determined by a school-based survey.

Data Collection:

Methods

Schedule

Responsibility

Re-administer parts of the original survey from the Department of Education pertaining to “providing a safe and positive learning environment”.

Tell them from me survey with open-ended question about the effectiveness of the school detention policy

Student Focus Groups

Spring 2010

Spring 2011

Spring 2012

Spring 2010

Fall 2010

Fall 2011

Fall 2012

Co-chairs

(Jeanie Rhodenizer and René Gaudet)

Julie Lohnes (Guidance Counsellor)

Gord Walters (Board Active Healthy Living Consultant)

Section H

Professional Learning Plan

The Professional Learning Plan headings:

1. Knowledge and skills to focus on.

· An understanding of the literacy needs of our students.

· Include a review of current literacy practices in all content areas.

2. Learning opportunities to be provided.

· School based in-servicing on literacy practices

· Exchange of ideas during Professional Learning Communities (built into teacher timetables)

3. Participants in the learning opportunities.

· All Bridgewater Junior/Senior High Staff

4. Learning opportunities schedule.

· 2010-2011

5. Human and/or material resources required

· School based literacy committee

· Board Personnel

· Numerous resources provided by the Department of Education’s “literacy in action” and “literacy success initiatives”

Goal #2: Goal: By June 2012 there will be a 10% increase in the number of students, staff and support staff who agree that Bridgewater Junior/Senior High School provides a safe, healthy and positive environment, as determined by a school-based survey.

1. Knowledge and skills to focus on.

· Survey results, health student results, Tell Them From Me results

· Understanding of school behaviour policy and PEBS initiatives

· Provide opportunities for all staff to communicate with each other

· Learning to enhance interpersonal relationships

2. Learning opportunities to be provided.

· In-servicing on PEBS

· Update behaviour policy

· Effective Team Building Practices

· Workshop provided NSTU

3. Participants in the learning opportunities.

· Bridgewater Junior/Senior High School community (staff and students)

4. Learning opportunities schedule.

· 2009 - 2010

5. Human and/or material resources required

· All Bridgewater Junior/Senior High staff

· Student Council and Spirit council committee

· Gord Walters (Board Active Healthy Living Consultant)

· Representatives from other schools to discuss their behaviour plans

· Financial support for PEBS initiatives

· NSTU Executive Staff Officer of Professional Development

Section I

Declaration

By signing the School Improvement Plan, the Co-chairs, the School Advisory Council Chair, and the Principal, declare that the information is complete and accurate.

Signature	Name	Position	Date(s)
	Jeanie Rhodenizer	Co-Chair
	René Gaudet	Co-Chair
	Chuck McLellan	Principal
	Edwina Ramsay	SAC Chair