Pathways Program

Successful Student Pathways Program

The Successful Student Pathways program, offered at Bruce-Grey Catholic for the first time in the 2003-2004 school year, provides students At-Risk with the tools they will need to be able to choose a pathway to success in later life.

1) Literacy and Numeracy
2) Course Selection and Program Pathways
3) School-to-Work Transitions

Literacy

Good literacy skills are essential for all students to be successful, both in school and beyond.

At Bruce Grey Cathholic, the following took place in the 2004-2005 school year.

Grade 7-12 Literacy Committee
The Grade 7-12 Literacy Committee met on a regular basis throughout the year, providing directions for the literacy initiative in Grades 7-12. A plan for the year was developed and distributed.

Show Me How course
Twenty-one teachers participated in this voluntary six session after-school literacy program developed by OISE. The course provided teachers with practical strategies to help students improve their level of literacy. The course was delivered by Deb Carter, a teacher at St. Mary's High School.

It's Just Good Teaching Conference
The Bruce-Grey Catholic District School Board and the Bluewater District School Board combined to put on this one-day conference which provided the twenty teachers that attended with numerous literacy-based strategies.

Barrie Regional District Literacy Conference
This two-day conference provided the twenty Grade 7-12 teachers who attended a variety of workshops which dealt with practical ways to improve literacy instruction in their classes.

Ontario Secondary Schools Literacy Test (OSSLT) Preparation Program
Each of the board's secondary schools conducted 10 hour OSSLT preparation program for students within their schools in September and October as part of their preparation of students. OSSLT results increased from 77% in 2003-04 to 82% in 2004-05

Literacy Workshops
Workshops in the area of literacy were provided by Dr. Helen Bochar and Sylvia Gunnery in the areas of program development and writing respectively.

Think Literacy
The provincial Think Literacy document was provided to new teachers in August, 2004. Posters from the document were made available to each Grade 7-12 classroom teacher.


Literacy Curriculum Writing Teams
A number of literacy-based curriculum writing teams were formed, resulting in the production of a variety of classroom-ready resources. These resources were posted on the board's Literacy conference to allow all teachers to access them.

Literacy Strategy of the Week
A different literacy strategy was sent to each Grade 7-12 teacher via e-mail on a weekly basis to provide them with access to strategies they could easily use in their classroom.

Resources
A variety of resources were purchased for schools to enhance literacy instruction in these classrooms

Numeracy

A greater emphasis was placed on the area of numeracy in the 2004-2005 school year. Initiatives in this area included the following.

After-School Numeracy Program
Three elementary schools held after-school numeracy program to enhance skills and knowledge in this area. Teachers currently at each of the schools delivered the program to the 40 students involved.

Grade 7-12 Numeracy Committee
A board-wide Grade 7-12 Numeracy Committee was developed and a plan for Professional Development ( called MANIPS) was formulated.

Barrie Regional Math Conference
Twenty teachers attended this conference at which a variety of practical strategies were presented.

Math Workshops
Grade 7-12 math teachers attended two different board-sponsored workshops in the area of mathematics. Topics included the use of manipulatives and assessment in the area of mathematics.

Resources
A variety of resources, including manipulatives, were purchased for schools to enhance numeracy instruction in classrooms.

Math TIPS
New teachers were provided with the Math TIPS resource, and professional development prior to the beginning of the new school year.

Provincial Conference
Attended a provincial Report of the Expert Panel on Mathematical Literacy conference. Recommendations from this report will be examined for implementation in the 2004-2005 school year.

Pathways

Locally Developed Compulsory Courses
All teachers of these courses received training in this area. As well, the new Grade 9 courses were implemented in Semester 2 of 2004-05 with the Grade 10 courses being implemented in September , 2005.

Learning to 18 Pilot Project
The Students Support program was implemented in each of the secondary schools in Semester 2. This program involved the delivery of the new Grade 10 Guidance course (GLD 20) with a credit recovery program. The program will continue in the 2005-06 school year.

PALES program
This new program allowed students in Grade 7 and 8 who were identified as being at-risk by their schools to participate in as series of field trips intended to provide a variety of career explorations. Trips included visits to various industries, including Wescast, Hobarts, and Bruce Power as well as to the Y Employment centre.

Learning Strategies Course for Grade 8 students
Students in Grade 8 were able to work on and complete the Grade 9 Learning Strategies course, using the materials developed by the Independent Learning Centre. One teacher in each of the three schools that were involved, was responsible for the delivery of the program.

Pathways Booklet and Selecting the Right Courses in Grade 9
These two information pieces have been developed and distributed to Grade 8 parents and students to give them a better understanding of the program in Grade 9 and what they need to know to make informed choices.

Workshop for Grade 8 teachers
A workshop was held for Grade 8 teachers on the current secondary school program to give them a better understanding of the secondary school program so they can best provide the support for the students in their classes as they make the transition from elementary to secondary school

At-Risk Profile
An At-Risk profile from has been developed and distributed to all schools to help them track those students that fit the criteria outlined. This is done electronically to facilitate the transfer of information between teachers as necessary.

Pathways Committee
The board's Grade 7-12 Pathways Committee met regularly throughout the school year. A year plan, outlining goals, steps to be taken, timelines etc was developed and distributed.

Billboard Campiagn
A billboard campaign, in conjunction with Passport to Prosperity and the Bluewater District School Board, was undertaken to promote the involvement of employers in our schools as providers of co-operative education placements, guest speakers etc. Four billboard were placed around the area.

School-to-Work Fair
A School-to-Work Fair was held at St. Marys High School in May. This fair brought thirteen employers to the school to provide information on entry level jobs primarily to students planning to enter the workforce directly from secondary school. Employers included Home Depot, Zehrs, Wal-Mart, Bruce-Grey CDSB and Grey Bruce Health Services.

Job Information Night for Parents
An Information Night for parents was held in November, outlining current and future job trends and prospects in the Bruce Grey Area.

Information Sessions
Presented information about the program as part of the Grade 8 Parent Information Nights at St. Mary's High School and Sacred Heart High School

Presented information about the program to both students and parents at a number of elementary schools

School-to Work Transitions

Community, Culture and Caring

Teaching the Applied Level Learner
Over eighty teachers at Sacred Heart High School and St. Mary's High School received training on instructional strategies highly suited to the learning needs of the applied level learner. These took place in August as well as during sessions in October and December.

The AAA Classroom Conference
Twenty teachers participated in this conference co-hosted by our board and the Bluewater District School Board which focused on the learning needs of at-risk students.

Committee
A board-wide School to Work committee was formed to provide guidance in this area. A plan was developed to provide future directions

Exploring Jobs

A number of opportunities were provided to students to explore the world of work.

1. attendance by all Grade 8 as well as Grade 10 and 12 students at the Career Symposium held in Owen Sound in November
2. presentations by Skills Canada representatives regarding the trades
3. attendance at the Career Showcase in Waterloo in November

Other Initiatives

1. Developed a partnership with the Bruce-Grey Huron Perth Georgian Triangle Training Board,
2. Participated in Bruce-Grey Skills Survey and Excellence in Manufacturing Consortium
3. Signed a Partnership Agreement with Georgian College and Bluewater District School Board in the Skills Challenge and Teacher Linkage program
4. GEARS program
5. Data Collection re: At-Risk Students
6. Secondary School Transitions Program

Future Plans for 2004-2005

1. Student Enhancement Program
2. Numeracy Initiatives
3. Parent/Student Pathways Education
4. Literacy Initiatives ( CAT 3 Project, Grade 8 Learning Skills Course)
5. Peer Tutoring Program at Sacred Heart HS
6. Bruce-Grey conferences for Literacy, Classroom Management and Co-operative Education
7. Improving Communications re: programs
8. Enhancing Technical Programs ( Hospitality, Construction)