WCDSB Board Meeting Bulletin — October, 2022
Meetings
Committee of the Whole Board Meeting
Monday, October 3, 2022 – Meeting Agenda Package
Special Public Board Meeting
Monday, October 17, 2022 — Meeting Agenda Package
Regular Public Board Meeting
Monday, October 25, 2022 — Meeting Agenda Package
Highlights
Pastoral Plan Update
Catholic schools exist to support the evangelizing mission of the Church. Catholic parents send their children to Catholic schools with certain expectations. The overriding expectation is that their child will experience education permeated with religious values, religious instruction and be invited to participate in the sacramental life of the church. They also expect that Catholic values will be held, modeled, expressed, and taught within the Catholic educational community.
Our three-year pastoral plan supports and animates the faith life of students and staff in the WCDSB. Additionally, our Multi-Year Strategic Plan indicates that nurturing our Catholic community will be a priority area with opportunities to bear witness to our faith through joyful discipleship and our relationships with and in Christ as an essential strategic direction. To this end, we endeavor to provide opportunities to live out and inform our faith through implementation of our Pastoral Plan, which is informed by the Ontario Bishops’ pastoral letter, Renewing the Promise.
As our three-year pastoral plan, Called to Belong, Gathered to Become and Sent to Build came to a successful conclusion, we embarked upon a deep dive into developing another spirit led, three-year Pastoral Plan to animate our system. With the help of a diverse staff, representing all employee groups, we went to work, meeting, listening, and praying to ascertain where the spirit was moving up. It became clear that the next WCDSB three-year Pastoral Plan needed to provide an encouraging and uplifting message to our staff, students and families that would help usher us from pandemic, and provide healing, and spark.
Thus, we arrived at our Year One theme, AWAKEN, fueled by scripture “It is now the moment for you to wake from sleep” (Romans 13:11), and animated by the charge, “We are the People of God, diverse yet united, awakened to heal in Community! With this in mind, we move forward into our next Three-Year Pastoral Cycle (Awaken, Strengthen, Ignite)!
As we move further into our year of Awakening, we begin with two key initiatives:
- Each school will receive the Pastoral AWAKEN painting, and during that time they will have the opportunity to engage with some hopeful and age-appropriate resources to support the work Pope Francis has asked us to do with respect to Walking Together.
- Each school community will receive a signed PRINT of the painting which will reside at their school – and which will be auctioned off on or around Catholic Education Week, with funds going to support the Diocesan Reconciliation Fund and the Native Women’s Association who has done much work around the issue of Human Trafficking and Indigenous women.
The report is available beginning on page 10 via this link: Meeting Agenda Package
IT Summer Update
The Information Technology Services (ITS) department had a very busy Summer preparing for the 2022/23 school year. The focus in the classroom was preparing for a full return to in person learning and having technology updated and ready for this. Security has also been a big focus in educating WCDSB staff and digital citizenship for students.
ITS successfully completed many technology related projects and initiatives that aligned with the Multi-Year Strategic Plan, which will enable staff and students to excel in the coming year in these unique times.
The report is available beginning on page 17 via this link: Meeting Agenda Package
Learning Renewal Plan
While the COVID-19 experience has posed many challenges for students and staff, it has also provided many opportunities for positive change.
The report presented on October 3, 2022 provided details regarding the following key learning renewal priorities:
- Tutoring Supports Program
- Integrating Science and Technology with Math and Literacy: Sept. 2, 2022, Cross-Curricular Learning
- Supporting the Development of Foundational Early Reading Skills Through Evidence-Based Systematic and Explicit Instructional Strategies
The outcome for the Tutoring Supports Program is to support academic achievement and well-being for students at risk who have been impacted by learning disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The short-term outcomes for the program included:
- Achievement of students as measured by the tutoring program
- Improve literacy and math skills in students to promote learning recovery and help address achievement and skills development gaps.
- Increase students’ engagement in learning
- Increase students’ confidence and positive attitudes to learning
Elementary: Tutoring Support Program (April – June 16, 2022)
- 521 students registered to take part in the in-school tutoring program.
- 38 Elementary schools participated
- 5622- 1-hour sessions occurred
Secondary: School Tutoring Drop-In Program (April – June 16, 2022)
- 1246 students utilized the drop in tutoring support
- 5 Secondary schools participated in the in-school tutoring program
The report is available beginning on page 32 via this link: Meeting Agenda Package
Re-engagement Strategy
The 2020-2021 school year was like no other. Students were impacted by many school closures and the transition to online learning. Across the province many more students than in years past disengaged from their learning — exhibiting an increase in truancy, a drop in achievement and observed changes in their attitude towards school.
Many groups of students were disproportionately affected by the pandemic. Students identifying as Indigenous, Black and racialized, children and youth in care, students from low-income households, those with disabilities, special education needs, mental health needs as well as English language learners were identified as those who would benefit from additional support.
The Ministry of Education provided funding for the 2021-2022 school year to school boards to increase support to families to address gaps in learning, systemic barriers and disconnection with the school community. In budget deliberations during the Spring of 2021 the WCDSB’s senior team made the decision to augment these funds and create a specialized team that would provide concentrated support to families and students by identifying needs and assets, collaborating with all stakeholders and supporting the development and facilitation of an individualized re-engagement plan.
2021-22 WCDSB Re-engagement Team – Grades 7 to 12
The re-engagement team’s goals for the 2021-2022 school year were to:
- Provide support to students experiencing disadvantages as a result of systemic barriers and COVID-19
- Build on existing supports by providing concentrated intervention, collaboration with stakeholders and community resources
- Develop individualized plans for students to reconnect with their school community
- Re-engage students who have languished in their learning and attendance
In total, there were 121 referrals made for re-engagement services. The majority of the referrals were made at the start of the school year and the majority of students referred were in Grade 10 followed closely by Grade 11.
A variety of activities were undertaken to help re-engage students. Using the categories provided by the Ministry of Education, students were supported to feel included and belong at school, engaged in ways that are student centered, connected to caring adults in their learning community, deal with their learning disruption, and connect with supports in the greater community.
Re-engagement Strategy for the 2022-23 School Year
For the 2022-23 school year the Re-engagement Strategy has shifted to include a centrally assigned reengagement teacher dedicated to grade 7 and 8 students, re-engagement sections assigned at each secondary school, and a re-engagement social worker. Based on the collaboration, consultation, and learning that came from the 2021-22 Re-engagement strategy, it became clear that there is a greater need for re-engagement support.
To best meet the needs of the students we examined options and decided that the secondary schools have a variety of supports in place that can assist in continuing the mission of re-engaging students for success.
The report is available beginning on page 42 via this link: Meeting Agenda Package
Re-Engagement Strategy – Grade 12+
Each year, a concerted effort is made by WCDSB staff to assist students in danger of not graduating to gain sufficient credits to earn their Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD). Key components of that work include:
- Lists are generated (Early Leavers Reports) of Year 5 Cohorts who have not graduated and are currently not on roll. Year 6 and 7 Cohorts lists generated as well.
- Lists are generated from each school of Year 5 cohorts currently on roll at each school.
- Individual Reports are generated for each high school (WCDSB, Non-WCDSB, Early Leavers, and Year 6 and 7 Cohorts).
- Meet with Guidance department at each high school to review potential re-engagement students. A brief history of the former student and a potential Pathway to Graduation.
- Re-Engagement Officer attempts to connect with all potential re-engagement students from Year 5, 6 and 7 Cohort lists.
- Prior to contacting Credit Counseling Summary is consulted to check the needs of the school board leaver. This will identify if the leaver needs compulsory and/or elective credits.
- When contacting a student, options are presented will generally be St Louis for compulsory credits and OSSLT.
- If working and Elective credits are needed, they are directed to an Experiential Learning Coop program. If a credit swap is an option – Re-Engagement Officer connects with the Guidance contact at the home school.
- The co-op teacher also supports students in finding work, resumes, tracking hours completed, and submitting credits with the home school.
- The Re-Engagement Officer follows each individual throughout the program.
- Support is also given with Volunteer opportunities in the community.
- The program is now available to Year 4 and even Year 3 students on roll who are falling behind in credits (in collaboration with school re-engagement and caseload teams). If they are working their Pathway will be blended with in-school programming for compulsory credits and Coop for elective credits.
The report is available beginning on page 47 via this link: Meeting Agenda Package
Presentation of the East Kitchener Boundary Review Report
A Special Public Board Meeting was held on Monday, October 17, 2022, at which the East Kitchener Boundary Review Report was presented.
The report is available via this link: Meeting Agenda Package
Well-Being Plan
Early in 2022, The Waterloo Catholic District school board administered the Middle Years Development Instrument (MDI) as a School Climate measure requirement by the Ministry of Education. The MDI uses a strengths-based approach to assess areas of development that are strongly linked to wellbeing, health and academic achievement.
Our 2022 data suggests that our students have experienced an overall decline in positive wellbeing since our pre-COVID survey in 2019. The data can be used to understand the overall wellbeing of students and to plan interventions.
Two primary mental health practices and approaches that can be linked to MDI measures such as Social and Emotional Well-being, Connectedness, and School Experiences are Trauma Informed Classroom Practices, and Social Emotional Skill Building. These two practices are complementary and both essential for classrooms in terms of student mental health and wellbeing.
Trauma Informed Practices are ‘Good for All’ Classroom approaches that focus on how we understand how students’ brains are impacted by stress, how we see and relate to them with curiosity and compassion. Social Emotional Learning are skills that we support students in building, ideally in everyday classroom interactions. Years of research have demonstrated that Social Emotional Learning promotes academic learning and achievement in addition to fostering social and emotional competencies (Corcoran et al, 2018).
Embedding both of these practices and approaches in WCDSB classrooms are a primary focus of the work of the Mental Health Lead in 2022-2023. Our annual plan 2022-2023 Mental Health and Addictions Action Plan provides the broader objectives of what we hope to achieve over the course of the year, while remaining flexible and adaptive as the needs of our students and system evolve.
The report presented on October 25, 2022 addressed the following key areas:
- Summary of 2021-2022 Mental Health Supports
- Mental Health Leadership Development for Student Wellbeing
- Tier 1 Mental Health Lead Support
- Tier 2 and 3 Mental Health Supports
- Student AWARE
The report is available beginning on page 20 via this link: Meeting Agenda Package
Board Improvement and Equity Plan (BIEP) 2022-23 Update
The Waterloo Catholic District School Board’s Board Improvement and Equity Plan (BIEP) sets specific operational direction to ensure that the key components outlined in the WCDSB’s Multi Year Strategic Plan as well as other relevant initiatives and priorities are addressed.
This document is updated annually and is responsive to shifting contexts and needs throughout the year. The BIEP reflects our system’s continued commitment to improved student achievement and responding to planning for equity/diversity and well-being. It assures that the board’s mission, “As disciples of Christ, we educate and nurture hope in all learners to realize their full potential to transform God’s world”, is embedded in all we do and aligned with our Ontario Catholic School Graduate Expectations (OCSGEs).
Next Steps to 2022-23:
- The 2022-23 WCDSB Board Improvement and Equity Plan (BIEP) reflects current Board and provincial priorities and contexts and helps guide individual school sites as they set targets and priorities reflecting their particular needs. School plans are articulated through each site’s School Improvement and Equity Plan (SIEP).
- SIEPs are to be created collaboratively (School Improvement Team) and are to identify targets within each pillar, with Equity considered throughout.
- SIEPs state student learning needs, identify a learning outcome, and set out a plan to reach these goals.
- The 2022-23 school year will include a focus on working towards eliminating disparities and disproportionalities that impede achievement, well-being, and success. This aligns with the Ministry of Education (MOE) goals.
- The WCDSB BIEP will be shared with the Ministry of Education and will guide ongoing discussions with our partners there throughout the year as we work collaboratively to ensure goals are met.
- SIEPs are developed with the beginning focus on data collection and goal development — which then will move into identifying our learners, basing goals on that, improvement actions, monitoring the program and responding to needs. School SIEPs are shared with superintendents in November and form the basis of year-long conversations regarding and monitoring of student learning.
- SIEPs are shared with each school community via Catholic School Advisory Councils and are posted on school websites
- The WCDSB will support educators through a responsive and renewed professional capacity-building strategy that leverages instructional coaching in a job-embedded format (i.e., PD Days, coaching, staff meetings, etc.) that differentiates according to audience and school/staff need and readiness.
The report is available beginning on page 26 via this link: Meeting Agenda Package
Learning Commons Update
In 2021-22, board staff created Learning Commons project plans for the board’s final ten schools:
- David
- Sir Edgar Bauer
- Luke
- Holy Family
- Our Lady of Fatima
- Agnes
- Elizabeth
- Nicholas
- Brigid
- Vincent
2021-22 was a very full year for library staff across the system, with a particular focus on the Right to Read Recommendations. In response to those recommendations, additional supports were provided to Library Technicians including:
- Ensuring a Library Technician is available in schools every day through a change to the absence/replacement policy.
- Moving away from in person book fairs to ensure library use is maximized and to ensure dignity is maintained for all students
- Implementing controls to ensure library technicians have access to 10% of their school’s budget to maintain their collections
- Ordering bulk supplies and renewing equipment used by library technicians
The report is available beginning on page 32 via this link: Meeting Agenda Package
Census Recommendation Updates
In spring 2021, the Waterloo Catholic District School Board administered its Workforce Census in response to the Ontario’s Education Equity Action Plan (2017) and the Ontario Ministry of Education Policy/Program Memorandum 165 issued February 2021. Collecting this data was also a priority in the WCDSB’s 3-year pastoral plan.
The goal of this Workforce Census was to assess diversity at the Board, identify gaps in representation, and to develop strategies to ensure this Board is an equitable and healthy environment for all staff regardless of one’s background or status. We hope the outcome of this census collection and the data we collect in the future will help the Board develop programs, priorities, policies, and resources to create an even more equitable, diverse, inclusive, and supportive environment for our staff.
Based on the data from our respondents, the WCDSB’s Executive Council made 10 recommendations. Once the results of the census were disseminated to various constituents, senior staff worked with the research coordinator to develop an action plan to implement each of the recommendations. We created an accountability framework by identifying specific actions that needed to be done, primary responsibility holders, offices or individuals who will support the work, and timetables. Further, for most recommendations, but not all, logic models were created.
The following questions are asked in a logic model:
- What do we need to do (needs assessment)?
- What will we do (program/action plan)? How much?
- How will we do it (program implementation)?
- Is anyone better off (program evaluation)?
The report is available beginning on page 35 via this link: Meeting Agenda Package
East Kitchener Boundary Review Recommendations
On Tuesday, October 25, 2022, WCDSB staff presented a report answering questions posed by Trustees on October 17. The questions centred on:
- Appeal Process
- Siblings of Students with Legacy Exceptions
- Transition Planning
Board staff made the following recommendations.
A) That new Out of Boundary admissions to Canadian Martyrs CES, Saint John Paul II CES, St. Anne(K) CES, and St. Daniel CES be considered by special administrative level committee, prior to the opening of the new St. Patrick CES and East Kitchener 7-12 Catholic School. Admission of Out of Boundary students in unusual and extraordinary circumstances will be considered if:
• A student’s mental, physical, or academic well-being would likely be compromised if they were moved.
• Upon the professional consideration of school and board staff, there is a determination that a student’s unique personal and educational needs are better served at the current school.
• There are unique health and safety considerations pertaining to the student, that are better served at the current school and which are verified by school and board staff.
B) That a Transition Planning Committee, which includes students, be formed in the year prior to the opening of the new St. Patrick CES and East Kitchener 7-12 Catholic School to support all students whose school direction will be affected as a result of the East Kitchener 7-12 Boundary Review and to solicit input from staff who support equity initiatives, as required.
The report is available beginning on page 40 via this link: Meeting Agenda Package
Student Trustees Update
Student Trustees Chloe Armstrong and Anika Fejerpataky presented their monthly update – covering activities in WCDSB’s secondary schools. It is available beginning on page 49 via this link: Meeting Agenda Package
Board Chair’s Update
Each month, the Chair of the Board reports on the activities of the Board of Trustees. Chair Jeanne Gravelle’s report for October 2022 is available on page 53 via this link: Meeting Agenda Package
Upcoming Board Meetings
Committee of the Whole Board Meeting
Monday, November 7, 2022
Waterloo Region Catholic Education Centre
Inaugural Board Meeting
Monday, November 21, 2022
Waterloo Region Catholic Education Centre
Regular Public Board Meeting
Monday, November 28, 2022
Waterloo Region Catholic Education Centre
The Waterloo Catholic District School Board, representing more than 96,000 Catholic school supporters, operates 48 schools and four adult education facilities, serving more than 40,000 elementary, secondary, and continuing education students in Waterloo Region – continuing a 186-year tradition of quality, inclusive, faith-based education. Follow us on Twitter: @WCDSBNewswire – #WCDSBAwesome.
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