The Wellington Catholic Program Services Department is responsible for supporting the curriculum provided by the Ontario Ministry of Education.
Working collaboratively with teachers, early childhood educators, principals and community partners, the Program Services Department designs curriculum implementation strategies, provides input on resources and delivers professional development for teaching staff.
Board Improvement Plan for Student Achievement
The student achievement plan for the Wellington Catholic District School Board is a learning structure that embraces job-embedded professional learning, designed to provide a comprehensive approach to teaching, leading and learning.
The student achievement plan is built around four basic shared beliefs and understandings.
All students can achieve high standards given sufficient time and the right support.
All teachers can teach to high standards given the right conditions and the right assistance.
High expectations and early and ongoing intervention are essential.
Teachers need to be able to articulate what they do and why they teach the way they do (ie. theory – and evidence-based.)
(Adapted from Hill and Crévola, 1999)
The outcome of the district plan is increased student achievement by:
• using assessment data to deliver research-based instructional strategies and the appropriate selection of resources;
• building teacher and administrator capacity in instruction for all learners; and
• establishing sustainable, collaborative professional learning communities within and among schools in the district.
The district plan is based on research principles of effective districts and schools.
Components are related to effective literacy instruction, assessment for learning, distributed leadership and job-embedded professional learning.
K – 12 School Effectiveness Framework
The K-12 School Effectiveness Framework: A support for school improvement and student success identifies evidence-based indicators of successful practice in a number of components of effective schools. The indicators, with samples of evidence, assist educators in building coherence and aligning practices across an entire school.
Key Components:
Based on research and practical evidence of what makes schools effective, the following components that impact student achievement have been identified.
• Assessment for, as and of Learning
• School and Classroom Leadership
• Student Voice
• Curriculum, Teaching and Learning
• Programs and Pathways
• Home, School and Community Partnerships
The framework provides indicators of effective instructional practice and pedagogy as well as samples of evidence to assist boards and schools in:
• precise, intentional and strategic improvement planning
• strategic allocation of resources
• determining capacity-building needs
EQAO Results