School Name: Duchess SchoolPrincipal: Katherine GrahamDate: November 30, 2019

Duchess School duchess.grasslands.ab.ca 403-378-4948

ANNUAL EDUCATION PLAN

Where the Spirit Soars

School Demographics

School Address: Box 119, Duchess, Alberta T0J0Z0

School Website: duchess.grasslands.ab.ca

Enrolment Numbers: 357, preK-12

Staffing Numbers: 34

School Facebook Page: facebook.com/duchessschool

School Twitter Account: @duchessschool

School Instagram Account: @duchess.eagles.council

School Mission Statement: We are committed to building strong connections with family, to encourage academic and personal growth, citizenship and leadership

Other Important School Facts/Information:

Duchess School is a K-12 school servicing a sizeable, rural geographic area. While culturally our students are not as diverse as the city schools in our division, Duchess is still a vibrant, complex school. Our students have access to a variety of programs including CTF and CTS options beginning in Grade 5, French, Computer and Music programming beginning in Grade 1 and high-quality supports in place to meet the needs of our students.

Motto: Where the Spirit Soars

Vision: To build a positive community of individual, dedicated lifelong learners.

Stakeholder Engagement

The Duchess School Annual Education Plan, for the 2019-20 year, was created in consultation with a number of stakeholder groups that includes the following:

A. TeachersTeachers reviewed the current AERR results, along with OurSchool Survey data, as part of our November PLC meetings. Results were then incorporated into the school’s professional learning plan.

B. Support StaffSupport staff do not attend PLCs. Support staff were presented with a draft plan and asked to provide input and feedback.

C. School CouncilThe draft Annual Education Plan was presented to the SAC on November 19th. Members of the SAC reviewed the results of the AERR and provided feedback on the professional learning plan goals.

Where the Spirit Soars

DUCHESS SCHOOL - 403-378-4948 - duchess.grasslands.ab.ca

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Accountability Pillar

The Accountability Pillar provides a way for schools to measure success, assess their progress towards meeting learning goals, identify areas that need improvement and set future priorities.

Alberta Education Resources:➔ Accountability Pillar Fact Sheet➔ Measuring the Quality of Your Child’s Education

School Budget

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Division Key Areas of Action

Student Learning - Everything we do in Grasslands supports student learning and achievement. Success for all students starts with exemplary classroom teachers and support staff who are supported in their professional growth in order to meet each student’s unique needs. Grasslands strives for 100% high school completion.Inclusive & Healthy Environments - Grasslands strives to create welcoming, caring & respectful learning environments that foster a sense of belonging for all students, staff & community members. In order for this to occur, the social & emotional well-being and the physical safety of people must be thoughtfully & purposefully addressed.School & Community Relationships - Relationships are at the core of our division. In order for students to be successful, relationships at all levels must be fostered, nurtured & valued.

School Key Areas of Action

(School KAA 1): We are continuing our goal to improve student reading and writing. We have extended BAS testing into our junior high, along with LLI. We are developing an RTI structure which will address students who have not met the division priority outcomes. As well we are beginning work with Concept-Based curriculum and instruction in order to reach deeper learning.

(School KAA 2): Jr/Sr teachers will be working to create RTI classrooms. Teachers will use “Simplifying RTI” and will be constructing a structure that a) takes advantage of our 7/8 POD system b) maximizes our expertise and time as teachers c) uses data to move student learning forward.

Where the Spirit Soars

(School KAA 3): We are utilizing our Leadership Group to distribute leadership across the school. Each member will be expected to begin, and follow through with, year-long project highlighted by a need in our AERR as well as OurSchool Survey data.

Where the Spirit Soars

Strategies

The following strategies will be used by Duchess School to achieve the Objective/Smart Goals outlined in the school’s professional learning plan:

Smart Goal: To improve student writing. Our goal is to achieve the following:Grade 6 ELA: 95% acceptable, Grade 9 ELA: maintain 100% acceptable, ELA Diplomas: 65% acceptable, Social 30: 65%

Rationale: We have identified writing as a continued area of concern on our PAT and DIP analysis. We have seen some improvement since implementing Writer’s Workshop in 2018-2019, but not in our Diplomas as of yet. Strategies:

● Creation of rubrics for WW that align closely with Alberta Education objectives and expectations

○ Teachers will increase familiarity with the Alberta Education curriculum as well as with WW expectations through completing, implementing and fine-tuning these rubrics

● Implementation of Units of Study into Grade 8

Smart Goal: To improve student retention of skills and concepts. Our goal is to achieve the following: A less than 20% spread between Grade 9 scores and Diploma exam scores by improving diploma exam scores. To maintain the spread between Grade 6 and 9 scores.

Rationale: Our PAT/DIP scores are far lower in Grade 12 and Grade 9 than they are in Grade 6.Strategies:

● Concept-based curriculum and teaching - teaching for transfer

● RTI - using the strengths within our building and existing time table to ensure all students achieve the Essential Outcomes

● Data: Use of data to inform our teaching and learning

Duchess School - (403)378-4948 - duchess.grasslands.ab.ca

Striving For the Cup

Data / Evidence of SuccessThe following data/evidence were used to measure the success and effectiveness of the strategies identified:

Course Students achieving ACCEPTABLE on Diplomas Measuring Writing

Grade 6 ELA 93% acceptable writing, 89.3% acceptable on exam

Grade 9 ELA 100% acceptable in writing, 87.1% acceptable on exam

ELA 30-1 68.6% acceptable in writing, 96.5% acceptable on exam

ELA 30-2 67.7% acceptable in writing, 100% acceptable on exam

Social 30-1 46.6% acceptable in writing, 50% acceptable on exam

Social 30-2 33% acceptable in writing, 100% acceptable on exam,

Course 2019 Exam Scores Measuring Other Subjects

Grade 6 Math Acceptable: 66.7%, Excellence: 6.7%, Below: 23.3%

Grade 6 Science Acceptable: 86.7%, Excellence: 16.7%, Below: 13.3%

Grade 9 Math Acceptable: 73.5%, Excellence: 8.8%, Below: 17.6%

Grade 9 Science Acceptable: 85.3%, Excellence: 23.5%, Below: 5.9%

Math 30-1 Acceptable: 61.1%, Excellence: 44.4%, Below: 38.9%

Math 30-2 Acceptable: 46.2%, Excellence: 0%, Below: 53.8%

Biology Acceptable: 50%, Excellence: 30%, Below: 50%

Chemistry Acceptable: 96.3%, Excellence: 53.3%, Below: 3.3%

Where the Spirit Soars

This data was chosen to demonstrate that while our strategies at the 6 and 9 level are improving our results, we still have work to do at the

diploma level. Given the nature of change in a K-12 building, we anticipate that by continuing with our plans, we will see significant

improvement in our diploma exam results within the next three years.

● Lucy Calkins Units of Study○ Purchase final kit for Grade 7&8

● RTI○ Rethinking RTI○ Support from Central Office (obtained in September)

● Concept Based Curriculum○ Planned PLC’s with Julie Stern○ SAPDC sessions on integrating literacy

● Additional Professional Development opportunities related to literacy, concept-based planning and teaching and RTI

Resources Required

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Results - PAT and DIP - Writing

The following diploma results were achieved in 2019:

Where the Spirit Soars

Results - PAT and DIP - Writing

The following PAT results were achieved in 2019:

Where the Spirit Soars

ResultsThe following OurSchool Survey results were achieved in 2019:

Where the Spirit Soars

Results - AERR

Where the Spirit Soars

Results - AERR

Professional LearningProfessional Learning Schedule - 2019-20

PD Day Identified Goal/Strategy PD Learning Activities

September 23, 2019 Improve student writing results in all grades. Explore and build RTI (7-12)

Review ELA essential outcomes and align to Calkins resource by constructing rubrics. Introduction to RTI principles and begin to construct a usable, realistic RTI structure for Jr/Sr.

December 2, 2019 (PM)

Integrate principles of concept-based curriculum into daily practice. Construct RTI structure 7-12 and plan for implementation.

Discussion and takeaways from Julie Stern session. Continue with RTI framework.

March 9, 2020 (PM) Jr./Sr: Reflect on RTI, evaluate data Elem: Writers Workshop Rubric - Informational and Narrative

Fine-tune Writers Workshop rubrics. Review RTI and troubleshoot

May 15, 2020 Jr./Sr.: Outcomes-based Assessment and RTI Elem: Writers Workshop and

Understand and begin process of switching to Outcomes-based assessment. In Elementary, complete rubrics and reflect on data as to whether to continue with implementation or not.

PLC Schedule - 2019-20

Date/Time Identified Goal/Strategy Date/TimeIdentified

Goal/Strategy

Sept 11 - 2 hoursBAS Standard Setting and Refresher/ PAT & DIP Analysis

Feb 26 - 2 hoursConcept-Based Curriculum and RTI

Oct 11 - 2 hoursStudent Support: IPP Requirements and Universal Strategies

Mar 25 - 2 hoursOutcomes-based Teaching and Reporting

Nov 13 - 2 hoursAERR Sharing, Data analysis and Planning and TQS

April 29 - 2 hoursJulie Stern - Concept-Based Curriculum

Nov 27 - 2 hoursRTI Implementation and WW Rubric Fine-tuning and sharing

May 6 - 2 hoursStudent Support - Planning Effective Transitions

Jan 22 - 2 hoursJulie Stern - Concept-based Curriculum

June 10 - 2 hoursCelebration and Planning for 2020-2021

Where the Spirit Soars

Stakeholder Sign Off

The Annual Education Plan was prepared under the direction of the Board in accordance with its responsibilities under the Education Act and the Fiscal Planning and Transparency Act. The school staff have reviewed the results reported in the Accountability Pillar (AERR), have collaboratively developed the Annual Education Plan and is committed to implementing the strategies to improve student learning and results. The School Council has been provided an opportunity to participate in the Annual Education Plan, School Budget and has been informed of the annual results of the Accountability Pillar.

Principal: Katherine Graham

School Council Chair: Cindi Beasley

Date: November 19, 2019

Where the Spirit Soars