School+and+District+overview


 * __School:__**
 * Classroom Teacher:Student ratio less than 25:1
 * An educational assisstant in every classroom;possibly more than one in classes with high needs students
 * Full time Teacher Librarian AND a clerk AND a library club full of student and adult volunteers
 * Staff who are committed to using Student-led Inquiry teaching methods
 * Variety in Fine Arts and Applied Skills - Exploratory courses such as Scriptwriting, Video game development, Fashion Design, Stagecraft for the Musical Theatre Program...
 * Instruction is aimed to a wide variety of learning styles...diverse learners are incorporated into all areas, whether they are physically present in the building or are a part of distance education or an alternate educational setting
 * Classrooms designed like Google headquarters; They have collaborative work stations, no individual desks
 * Max size of pods / groups / entire school = **150** - as per Gladwell's (2000) //The Tipping Point// (Chapter 5 p.169-192)
 * No zeros given for "late work". No retention necessary - (DuFour&DuFour "Whatever It Takes" Philosophy)
 * Students can progress through courses at their own rate. They may advance via individual determination rather than being stymied at a level based on the year they were born. A student who excels in Mathematics, for instance, can take coursework at a higher "grade level" and even being post-secondary coursework while still in high school.
 * Authentic Assessment Practices - self / peer / teacher assessment...student-teacher-parent conferences and portfolio assessment
 * Collaboration is a given
 * Volunteer projects that get students involved with their community, country and world making a difference[[image:542cofiproject/BP.png width="71" height="116" align="right"]]
 * Brad Pitt as the Principal =). (Ummm... maybe we will settle for a qualified principal who is excited about student-centred learning and is up to date with educational transformation writings and is comfortable using technology and having her/his staff and students move away from "traditional" practices.)
 * Our new middle schools will have the public library and will also be connected to the town rec centre that will have gyms, rinks, fitness club...
 * Our building is a Middle Years Facility designed for students aged 10 - 15.
 * School-Within-A-School Model holds promise for disadvantaged students and is an effective and affordable way to capture the benefits of a smaller school within larger school buildings as reported by Dewees (1999, p.4).

**DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE SCHOOL**
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 * __The Community:__**
 * Urban/Rural - about an hour's journey (on reliable green rapid transit) from a major urban centre(i.e. Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto)"We provide world-class instruction and a rich diversity of engaging programs to inspire success for every student and bring communities together to learn, share and grow." (Similar to NVSD 44: [])
 * Community has its own sustainable industries - agriculture / tourism / clear-air manufacturing
 * has a mid-sized college or university
 * professionals and highly skilled workers from a variety of ethnic backgrounds
 * a strong aboriginal heritage and population
 * natural beauty, artistic and cultural attractions
 * a "history" - the streets, schools and buildings are named after famous "pioneers" and aboriginal figures from the area
 * A progressive town government who invite progress while still maintaining the character of the community
 * __Needs & Realities of the School and District:__**
 * **Mission**: "We believe that student literacy, academic achievement and social development are fundamental to everything we do. We believe in a safe, caring, equitable, accountable and collaborative learning and working environment where it is our aim that every student becomes a life-long learner prepared for opportunities beyond graduation." (Similar to CSD 33:[])
 * **Vision**: Our motto is “Partners in Learning”. "We are proud of our relationships with our education partners - including parents, businesses, service clubs and other community based organizations. Community support is evident through our Work Experience and Apprenticeship programs, bursaries, scholarships and community representation on various school district committees."(Similar to CSD 33:
 * **Distirct Goals**: "Our objective is to continue to improve and to respond well to the future needs of our students and community."(Similar to CSD 33:
 * **Curriculum**: Schools follow provincial curriculums and also have a variety of locally-developed programs support by the school board and district administration.
 * **Teaching Staff**: The District has twenty elementary schools, five middle schools and two secondary schools. In addition, there are 3 alternate schools and a distance learning school. These facilities are attended by more than 10,000 full and part-time students and are served by approximately 1,500 teachers and support staff.

Dewees, S. (1999). The scool-within-a-school model. //Eric Digest//. 1999, December. Eric Identifier: ED438147. Retrieved from: [] Gladwell, M. (2000). The tipping point: How little things can make a big difference. New York, NY: Little, Brown and Co.