Riverview Middle School

Education Plan

2018 - 2021

 

 

   

SCHOOL PROFILE The core purpose of our Black Gold Regional Division is “To Inspire Success” in every student and employee. Decision making in BGRD is driven by a set of core values: Student focused learning, Relationships, Supportive Environment, Passion and Managing Resources Responsibly. Each school contributes to the attainment of this learning organization’s goal of being the leading School Division in the Province. Riverview Middle School, located in the Town of Devon, is a proud member of Black Gold Regional Division. Our mission at RMS is to create a dynamic learning community which celebrates the uniqueness of each of our 336 students in grades 5-9, provides them with life-long learning skills and empowers them to become knowledgeable, caring, responsible and contributing citizens. The teachers and support staff members at the school are focused on and committed to having our students achieve to the best of their ability in a broad spectrum of areas. On a daily basis, students are encouraged to display the characteristics of what it is to be a Riverview Raider.

SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS During the 2017-18 school year, there were many successes accomplished at RMS towards achieving our commitments. Academically, RMS students in grades 6 and 9 exceeded the percentage of students in the Province attaining the Acceptable Standard on 8 of 12 Provincial Achievement Tests and exceeded the Provincial target of at least 15% of students attaining the Standard of Excellence on 8 of 12 Provincial Achievement Tests. We are very proud of the efforts of both students and staff on keeping a healthy focus on high levels of academic achievement; the 136 students who achieved an overall average of 74.5% or better throughout the year were honored during our fall awards ceremony. 186 students is over a third of our 336 enrollment. Of course, high academic achievement is only one of our focuses at RMS as we work towards the development of well rounded, positively contributing citizens. Throughout the year, our Raiders’ Pride Program was used to celebrate and reward students who attended and were on time on a consistent basis, who came to class prepared to learn with all supplies ready, and who acted and interacted with others in appropriate ways. Raiders’ Pride groups also provide students with a chance to get to know and appreciate each other in a more social setting, thus creating and maintaining a sense of security and well being for all students. Staff also modeled acts of kindness by preparing and serving a delicious pancake breakfast for RMS students and the incoming grade 4 students from Robina Baker. An extensive complementary course program was offered to grade 7 – 9 students to explore and expand areas of personal interest. This program included art, drama, band, Spanish, outdoor education, woods, foods,, robotics, hockey, soccer and football. As well, Raider hockey jerseys and “team jackets”are worn to very publicly display Raider Pride at public events and activities. In addition to activities during the school day, numerous additional activities were planned and offered for students. These included an athletic program involving many of our students in sports such as volleyball, basketball, track and field, badminton, cross country running, and floor hockey. Students also demonstrated their personal interests and passions in the annual RIT show (Riverview Individual Talent). In addition, twenty-five grade 9 students participated in the 9th annual sailing trip off the coast of British Columbia. RMS also hosted two track meets, our own plus the Division’s Elementary Track Meet. Students had the opportunity to participate in our Entrepreneur Days or work in many clubs such as the Robotics, Cheer, Archery or Yearbook. Staff, students and parents were entertained at our Christmas Concert by both our Band and Drama classes. We also held a drive for the Christmas Elves. The Cove, our multi use room, is used after school on three different nights of each week. Several students stay to catch up on homework; seek after school help or to participate in the many activities offered. These activities range from making crafts to Guitar lessons While parents are always welcome at the school, a number of special events such as the fall Meet the Teacher BBQ, Awards Night and the spring Open House were hosted to bring parents into the school. Often parents are accompanying and supervising classes on different school trips throughout the year. Parents were also provided information about their child’s assignments through Power School, teacher blogs, wikis, Web Pages, or emails.

SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES We are continuing on our journey to support reading development throughout the school. In the five previous years, we began gathering literacy data for all students using Renaissance Learning Software. This data indicated that there was a significant need to support the development of reading skills for many of our students. Five years ago, after initial testing was completed, all students were assigned to Tiered level reading groups to receive directed reading instruction during our 30 minute Reading Block. Significant progress was made with the vast majority of students, particularly those who struggled the most with reading. An ongoing challenge for the school is finding the funding to support accessing remedial resources for students who are reading at levels significantly below their expected grade level. We are pleased to receive support for an additional year of funding from our PAC group. Like all schools, Riverview has a number of students with unique behavioral and academic needs. Given limitations of available resources, it can be challenging to program as we would like to meet this plethora of needs. Therefore, we continue to plan activities to meet these challenges, such as: a retreat day for grade 7 boys and girls, a student leadership option which takes on responsibility for running most assemblies including our Remembrance Day ceremony and Awards Night, and a RAIDERS Pride theme that runs throughout the year. The latter focuses on the idea that true RAIDERS (and all RMS students are Raiders) will be Respectful, Accountable, have Integrity, be Determined, Empathic, Responsible and Sincere. These qualities are focused on during morning announcements on a daily basis and students are encouraged to participate in sharing their insights during this time as well. RAIDERS’ Pride challenges and rewards are also included as part of the coordinated focus.

 

 

Message From The School Chair

The Riverview Middle School Parent advisory Council is a group of committed community and volunteer based parent and guardian representatives within Devon. We take pride and value in our communication with the Riverview Middle School staff. We meet one evening per month to discuss current and future needs of the students and staff. Needs that will further the education, physical wellbeing and mental growth of each student. We strive to maintain the purchase of the "STAR Reading Program" which is a valued piece of software that all students can improve and grow in their reading abilities and comprehension. Something we feel is vital for all ages and levels of education now and in their future education beyond elementary and junior high. The Parent Advisory Council also raises funds through the weekly lunch program, the Red Eye Wake a than as well as the internal and external district track meet concession. Smaller fundraisers have and will also take place such as Cobs bakery, Purdys Chocolate and with our own local bottle depot. This is just to name a few. We are also working towards contributing towards the maintenance of the current play structure located on RMS grounds. We provide the PE department and the entire student and staff body with exceptional speakers and programs that continue to teach and reaffirm the value of each human beings physical and emotional health. For the up and coming year the Riverview Parent Council will continue to aspire in providing support to the classrooms and other areas of the school by aiding and assisting with funding towards technology and helping to accommodate our student’s education and wellbeing.

Shantell Galloway Chair of Riverview Middle School Advisory Council

 

 

 

 

School Goal 1: All students at Riverview will become mathematically proficient. Alignment with Division Goals / Strat Plan / tech plan: Timeline: 1 - 3 year goal Rationale: Why did you pick this goal? Provide Data (Quantitative or qualitative)

● We would like to improve PAT results in the areas Acceptable Standards and Standard of Excellence

Students Acceptable Standard

Standard of Excellence

Grade 6 (2017) 53 69.8% 3.8%

Grade 6 (2018) 57 71.9% 22.8%

Grade 9 (2017) 75 78.7% 24%

Grade 9 (2018) 62 73.4% 17.%

Grade 9 K & E (2017) 7 57.1% 0%

Grade 9 K & E (2018) 10 70.0% 20%

● We would like to increase the number of students obtaining Acceptable Standards on the MIPI test

● We would like to complete a longitudinal study of students’ September MIPI scores who attend Riverview for the complete 5 years of programming in mathematics to determine the effectiveness of our Mathematics program.

● Using Classroom Improvement Fund (CIF) to provide Numeracy support for all grade levels.

● We would like to foster a love for learning mathematics. o The view of mathematical proficiency goes beyond being able to understand, compute, solve,

and reason. It includes a disposition toward mathematics that is personal. Mathematically proficient people believe that mathematics should make sense, that they can figure it out, that they can solve mathematical problems by working hard on them, and that becoming mathematically proficient is worth the effort.

Timeline Strategies Supporting Data 2017-18 ● Starting Oct 26, 2017, all math

teachers will have access to a 0.6 FTE math teacher to assist with student learning in and out of the classroom. Support will be provided by team teaching, individual student support, enrichment tasks, assignment completion, homework assistance, and other supports as the need appears.

● As of Dec 1, another 0.2 FTE was added for numeracy and school wide LSt support

● results from the October 2018 MIPI

● June 2017 PAT results ● Longitudinal study of students’

final math grades from 2017- 2022 ● Tracking number of students

referred to LST and the number of students choosing to access math help.

● Community feedback

2017 - ongoing ● Establishing mathematical norms in the classroom

● Students know where to find and are aware of the 7 mathematical norms

● Posted throughout the school January 2017 and

on ● To prepare for the written

component of PATs, there will be a focus on computational fluency throughout all grade levels. Limited calculator use over all grades.

● Comparing yearly results of Part A

● Comparing data monthly within our PLC

2017-18 ● A grade 5 math fair for the all students to participate in

● Satisfaction survey

2018-19 ● Focus students and staff on the Mathematical Norms distributed to students and posted in classrooms

● Students know where to find and are aware of the 7 mathematical norms by Jo Boaler

● Posted throughout the school and in student binders

● Pre and Post Survey on the norms 2018-19 ● To prepare for the written

component of PATs, there will be a focus on computational fluency throughout all grade levels by

● Teacher grade books ● Tracking student improvement in

the classroom on numeracy skills ● Part A of the Math PATs

implementing bi-weekly quizzes without the use of a calculator.

2018-19 ● After school learning support ● 2tor Tuesday & Thursday at the elementary levels

● Learning Lab from Monday to Wednesday

 

 

School Goal 2: Creating a Safe & Caring Environment by initiating the Raiders Care program in efforts to reach a level of 90% satisfaction. Alignment with Division Goals / Strat Plan / tech plan: Timeline: 1 - 3 year goal Rationale:

● To continuously reinforce the importance of a Safe & Caring school culture.

Safe & Caring Schools Goal

(2016-17) 85.9% > 89% or higher

(2017-18) 80.1% > 89% or higher

● To improve student preparation for lifelong learning, world of work, citizenship.

Percentage of teachers, and parents who agree that students are taught attitudes and behaviors that will make them successful at work when they finish school.

Goal

(2016-17) 64.6% >85%

(2017-18) 65.6% >85%

Percentage of teachers, parents and students who are satisfied that students model the characteristics of active citizenship .

(2016-17) 76.4% >85%

(2017-18) 66.0% >85%

Percentage of teachers, parents and students indicating that their school has improved or stayed the same the last 3 years.

(2016-17) 76.7% >85%

(2017-18) 83.4% >85%

● To improve student preparation for lifelong learning, world of work, citizenship.

Timeline Strategies Supporting Data

● Months? Years? ● What steps are you putting in place to accomplish this goal?

● How will you know that you have reached your objective? Positive statement (Quantitative or qualitative Data)

Year 1 ● R.A.I.D.E.R.S. - Acronym: reinforcing it on a regular basis throughout the school and apply everyday meaning to it

● Meeting and greeting students as they enter the school and classroom

● “Raiders Care” program introduction ● Raiders Pride Program - Fridays with

Elementary ● Seasonal school clean-ups

○ start with keeping the work area clean and organized

● Recycling Program ● Anti-bullying week activities to

encourage positive school community ● Building School Community - Raiders

Retreat, pancake breakfast, year end activities. etc

● The #YouGotThis campaign and pointing students to resources they can access to help them manage and self-advocate for mental health; removing the stigma of mental health issues;

● Accountability Challenges: Passports are to show students how important the work habits are important

● As a part of Mental Health Awareness in January, bringing in speakers from AHS to speak to students about mental health resources

● The LGBTQ2S+ ally stickers in classrooms help students recognize and value diversity

● FNMI - Aboriginal Day - school wide

● Results on Accountability survey ● Media coverage ● Positive feedback from community ● PAC feedback & financial support ● Number of nominations for

Humble & Kind Award ● Number of students who know the

Raiders acronym ● Visual inspection and tracking

increasing numbers of recyclables collected

● Number of passports returned in November and March

● In house survey (strongly agree, disagree etc.)

● FNMI - Integrate awareness into assemblies and student meetings

● Grade 4 transition - “Day in the Life of a Raider”

● Staff creates a draft that outlines what attitudes and behaviors that will make the successful at work when they finish school. Then determine strategies to implement such attitudes & behaviors throughout the school.

○ Attend Skills Canada ○ CTF with links to careers to

students can explore different careers

○ Investigate merits of taking Your Kid to Work Day

○ Guest speakers on careers ○ My Blue Print needs to be

advertised more Year 2 ● Continue with Programs and enhance

from yr 1 ● Utilize the Cove for support groups or

alternate opportunity positive interaction

● Raiders Care program phase 2 ● Organizing staff training regarding

Indigenous and LGBTQ focus (materials outside of Humanities/Health for teachers)

● Providing a focus on organizational skills to students in September

● Raiders Social Media - modeling appropriate use

● Mentorship between grade levels ● Safe and Caring schools have a

monthly assembly to focus on this topic ● Staff implements strategies that instill

the attitudes and behaviors that will make them successful at work when they finish school.

○ Attend Skills Canada ○ Continue to focus CTF ○ Take Your Kid to Work Day

● Results on Accountability survey ● Media coverage ● Positive feedback from community ● PAC feedback & financial support ● Number of nominations for

Humble & Kind Award ● Number of students who know the

Raiders acronym ● Visual inspection and tracking

increasing numbers of recyclables collected

● Number of passports returned in November and March

● In house survey (strongly agree, disagree etc.)

Year 3

● Raiders Care program - phase 3 ● Continue with Programs and enhance

from yrs 1 & 2

● Results on Accountability survey ● Media coverage ● Positive feedback from community ● PAC feedback & financial support ● Number of nominations for

Humble & Kind Award ● Number of students who know the

Raiders acronym ● Visual inspection and tracking

increasing numbers of recyclables collected

● Number of passports returned in November and March

● In house survey (strongly agree, disagree etc.)