Our mission is to foster a safe, caring, and respectful community in which everyone learns and achieves individual success.
Challenge #1
Prioritize the Physical and Psychological Well-Being of the Symmes-D’Arcy Students and Staff
Objective #1: Offer an engaging and healthy cafeteria experience
Target #1: Increase healthy food alternatives and options
Indicators:
- Launch salad bar in year 3 of the plan (2021-2022) with fresh options that include complex carbohydrates, healthy proteins and fats and a variety of vegetables
- Introduce at least 1 vegetarian and 1 vegan option on menu each day starting in year 2 of the plan (2020-2021)
- 3 new water-fill stations by year 3 of the plan (2021-2022) to bring the school total to 4 water stations
- Introduce at least 1 vegetarian and 1 vegan option on menu each day starting in year 2 of the plan (2020-2021)
Target # 2: Use student feedback to retro-fit physical cafeteria space
Indicators:
- Introduce new content on Student Voice questionnaire to solicit student feedback on attitudes toward cafeteria starting in year 1 of the plan (2019-2020)
- Integrate student feedback into space redesign concept drawing completed by year 2 of the plan (2020-2021)
- Implement recommendations by year 3 of the plan (2021-2022)
- Solicit student feedback to evaluate implemented changes in year 3 of the plan (2021-22)
- Integrate student feedback into space redesign concept drawing completed by year 2 of the plan (2020-2021)
Objective #2: Develop a school-wide initiative to promote the importance of stress management among students and staff.
Target #1: Support students and staff in understanding the impact that stress and anxiety may have on health
Indicators:
- Hold a symposium in year 2 of the plan (2010-2021) with professionals qualified to speak to students and staff on various aspects related to stress
- Distribute and/or promote relevant materials to students, and staff related to stress and stress-related disorders
- Organize one staff breakfast or lunch per month, beginning in year 1 of the plan (2019-2020)
- Offer yoga and/or meditation classes to students and staff 1 day/9-day cycle, beginning in year 1 (2019-2020)
Target # 2: Reduce perceived stress levels among students and staff year over year.
Indicators:
- Form a working group with expertise in stress research to develop a questionnaire that would be suitable for quantifying self-reported stress in students and staff in year 1 of the plan (2019-2020)
Challenge # 2
Maintain Professional Growth and Development of Staff
Objective # 1: Cultivate a culture of continuous learning and professional growth
Target # 1: Direct engagement with all staff to identify professional development aspirations and provide the necessary support to increase the number of all staff who have professional growth goals
Indicators:
- 100% of staff have learning and professional development goals by year 1 (2019-2020)
- Administration will meet with all staff members to review actual progress in meeting individual growth goals, and offer support to teachers in doing so
- Offer all teaching staff with relevant training to enhance familiarity and comfort with technology as a teaching tool in year 1 (2019-2020)
- Administration will meet with all staff members to review actual progress in meeting individual growth goals, and offer support to teachers in doing so
Target # 2: Increase the number of staff members who participate in and other pedagogical growth initiatives
Indicator:
- 90% of staff participate in at least one pedagogical growth initiative by year 3 (2021-2022)
Target #3: Promote partnership opportunities with other educational institutions
Indicator:
- Develop formalized learning partnerships with at least three educational organizations by year 3 (2021-2022)
Challenge # 3
Maintain the Focus on Individual Student Achievement
Objective # 1: Increase student academic performance:
Target # 1: Increase the success rates on MEES Secondary IV and V certifying exams
Indicators:
- Beginning in year 1 (2019-2020), a year-over-year improvement in the relative percentage of Sec IV and V students that obtain a passing grade on at least one MEES examBeginning in year 2 (2020-2021), a year-over-year improvement in the relative percentage of Sec IV students that obtain a passing mark on all MEES examsBeginning in year 3 (2021-2022), a year-over-year improvement in the relative percentage of Sec V students that obtain a passing mark on all MEES exams
Target # 2: Increase the rate of Symmes students who are successfully promoted to the next grade level
Indicator:
- Beginning in year 1 (2019-2020), a year-over-year improvement in the relative percentage of Sec I students in regular stream that are promoted to Sec II.
Target # 3: Promote LEARN throughout our school community
Indicators:
- 80% of parent respondents indicate they are aware of LEARN by year 1 (2019-2020)
- 90% of Secondary I students have accessed LEARN tool at least one time by the end of year 1 (2019-2020)
- 20% of parent respondents indicate they have accessed the LEARN tool at least one time by the end of year 1 (2019-2020)
- 90% of Secondary I students have accessed LEARN tool at least one time by the end of year 1 (2019-2020)
Target # 4: Increase student access to Chromebooks
Indicators:
- Purchase 150 Chromebooks by the end of year 3 of the plan (2021-2022)
- Explore the feasibility of offering students the option to purchase their own Chromebooks by the end of year 2 (2019-2020)
Objective # 2: Offer services to meet the diverse needs of our students
Target # 1: Pursue alternative programming to accommodate students who are identified as struggling academically
Indicators:
- Identify specific needs and potential strategies in year 1 (2019-2020)
- Study the feasibility of opening a second Alternative Program at D’Arcy McGee in year 2 (2020-2021)
Target # 2: Increase options/opportunities for WOTP profile students
Indicator:
- Create 2 new pilot opportunities for WOTP by year 2 (2020-2021)
Challenge # 4
Maintain a Physical Environment that meets the needs of our community
Objective # 1: Initiate discussions with the school board and the Ministry on short- and long term pressure relative to physical space
Target # 1: Hold regular meetings with relevant stakeholders beginning in year 1 (2019-2020)
Indicator:
- Pursue mitigation options and cost analysis faced by Symmes-D’Arcy related to physical space along with mitigation options and full costing identified by year 2019-2020)
Objective # 2: Enhance student sense of collective ownership of school facilities
Target # 1: Pursue the viability of the “Jenn Paquet” washroom redesign pilot project
Indicator:
- Feasibility study presented to governing board (costs, timeframes, etc) in year 1 (2019-2020)