Goldstone Park Elementary 22-23
OUR CONTEXT
We have a dedicated and caring staff who are committed to improving student learning by promoting the well-being of the self, the family, the community, and the land. We believe social and emotional learning provides a foundation for safe and positive learning, and ultimately, enhances aptitude for academic success for each individual learner. Our students have a range of talents, perspectives, cultural backgrounds, ways of knowing, and diverse skills and abilities. Every individual student is invited to our supportive and welcoming school environment where perspectives and identities are valued to ensure they have a feeling of belonging to better contribute to their learning and to that of their peers.
The staff, students, and parents have worked hard to build a positive, connected and engaged school environment where everyone feels a sense of belonging. Everyone is welcome in our Galaxy.......
OUR LEARNERS
Our learners continued to incorporate the First People's Principles of Learning into all areas of learning, by focussing on learning activities that are holistic, reflexive, reflective, experiential and relational.
We begin the year with a simple understanding of ‘self’ Next, we progress to what is significant to us and how that may differ from others. We then explore how our identity is linked to our culture. Where do our ancestors come from? What cultural items are special to us? We examine the similarities and differences among our classroom cultures at all age levels.
Our students continue to demonstrate their thinking in a variety of modes. Our students are provided with and are increasing in their proficiency to develop their thinking and understanding through a variety of modes from reflection pieces, to presentations, hands on "show what we know" building 3D models, using alternative forms of communication, art, drama, writing and reading students' interests, learning modalities and ways they learn best, are all utilized..
Our learners are developing in their abilities to show their growth over time.
Our learners continue to reflect on their learning journey and make adjustments as needed to be successful.
Our Grade 4 and 7 students when surveyed about their learning, specifically asked " I continue to get better at Writing" " I continue to get better at reading, and I continue to get better at math," the majority felt they were indeed showing improvements.
OUR FOCUS
Our Focus was to continue to use the lens of the First Peoples Principles of Learning to build upon areas we noted in last year's plan. Specifically for teachers to:
- Increasing opportunities for students to regularly engage in peer and self evaluation
- Increasing opportunities for students to demonstrate their thinking in a variety of modes
- Increasing opportunities for students to become proficient in the types of thinking they can use to develop their own understanding by asking questions, identifying puzzles, increasing wonder,
- Build on and evolve explanations, interpretations, and theories based on growing knowledge and understanding.
- Continue to make connections, comparisons, and contrasts between and among concepts - including connections across disciplines as well as to one's own prior knowledge.
- Continue to examine issues, ideas, and events from different perspectives and alternative points of view in order to discern bias, develop balanced views, and build empathy for others.
OUR NEXT STEPS
For our next steps we would like to continue to build on:
- Our learners being critical thinkers and continuing to ask questions to help guide their learning
- Increasing opportunities for students to become proficient in the types of thinking they can use to develop their own understanding by asking questions, identifying puzzles, increasing wonder,
- Continuing to explore and understand the best fit strategies for "me" as a learner
- Continue to understand the importance of self advocacy as a learner
- Inquiry learning practices across more grade groups
Further:
Teachers will continue to develop and use instructional strategies designed with a recognition that learning is influenced by: social and cultural context, background knowledge and understanding, and individual needs, interests and passions.
Surrey Schools
Formed in 1906, the Surrey School District currently has the largest student enrolment in British Columbia and is one of the few growing districts in the province. It is governed by a publicly elected board of seven trustees.
The district serves the cities of Surrey and White Rock and the rural area of Barnston Island.
