Hillcrest Elementary 24-25
OUR CONTEXT
Hillcrest is located on the shared traditional territory of the Katzie, Kwantlen, Semiahmoo and other Coast Salish Peoples. We recognize their continuing connection to land, waters and culture. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.
Our Clayton area school enrols approximately 480 students from K – G. 7. The community consists largely of young families, many with two incomes. The parents at Hillcrest work tirelessly helping to build a positive school community with special events and fundraising to support the school. Many parents volunteer on a regular basis. The staff, students and parents work together to establish a strong collaborative and caring culture.
At Hillcrest we believe in the importance of developing a love of learning and sense of inquiry with staff and students alike. Hillcrest staff members are proud of and continue to dedicate efforts towards building and maintaining a strong collaborative and caring culture. Hillcrest is a very special learning environment where the staff willingly and regularly involve themselves in a multitude of activities to inspire and encourage the love of learning and sense of community. These activities include the Student Leadership program, athletic teams, lunch monitors, ongoing professional development, and exploration of innovative teaching practices. At Hillcrest, we are proud of our caring, energetic, informed and thoughtful learning community.
OUR LEARNERS
Hillcrest Learners are Focusing on Writing
The students of Hillcrest are learning to write because writing is an important life skill necessary for both formal and informal communication. Writing practice also helps develop reading skills.
Hillcrest students work on developing writing skills daily through journal-writing, cross-curricular essays, digital presentations and other written assignments. We are a community of writers.
Some writing goals Hillcrest students are working on:
1. Hillcrest students can write to share who they are with the world.
2. Hillcrest students can write to express creativity.
3. Hillcrest students can write for basic communication.
OUR FOCUS
Students at Hillcrest are Developing their Writing Skills
It is demonstrated, through evidence gathered from our cohort of students and reflected in the larger group of primary students, that our writing focus is positively impacting students.
Language from the provincial assessment scales was used to identify successes and remaining challenges. There was a noted improvement for all student identified in the sample cohort in relation to the writing goals. These goals included:
- create texts to deepen awareness of self
- communicate using sentences and most conventions of Canadian spelling, grammar, and punctuation
A cohort of grade 2 students was selected to collect specific writing data from. They were given a cold write assessment in the Fall and then again in the Spring so that they could show how daily writing practice had improved their writing ability over the course of the school year. Below are pictured two examples of student writing in Fall and then again in Spring.
OUR NEXT STEPS
EVIDENCE OF STUDENT LEARNING
With consistent instruction and practice, the cohort of students demonstrated notable growth towards the goals. To monitor growth over time student writing was assessed using the proficiency scale pictured below.
The two tables below demonstrate how many students progressed towards the student goals.
The cohort showed notable growth towards each of the above goals. They particularly demonstrated growth from "developing" to "proficient" on both of the above tables.
Next Steps
To support students with further development in writing the school staff is looking to focus on assessment practices in the area of writing instruction in the 2025-2026 school year.
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.
