SCHOOL GROWTH PLAN
Our 2024-25 School Growth Plan is on the way!
We are excited to include two new goals to our updated plan: numeracy and sustainability.
2022-2023
Our Story
Edgehill Elementary is at ‘the top of the hill’ from Willingdon Beach on Abbotsford Street. The school brings together students from along Manson Avenue starting in the south by the Music School and going north through the Cranberry Lake region and stretching to the old Townsite. This current 2022-2023 school year we have a student population of approximately 240 students in 10 divisions/classrooms.
Our code of conduct is based on the motto: At Edgehill We Take Care of: Ourselves, Others, and Our Place This culture means that we work hard to be an inclusive learning environment that will meet the diverse needs of all our families. We are a growing school. Our numbers continue to increase which has meant that portables are in use for classrooms, music experiences and StrongStart as we provide a diverse learning program for learners of all ages! Our music program is annually highlighted by a vibrant winter concert and a spring whole-school performance. We highlight student abilities through an annual Talent Show. We have a Primary Choir, and Intermediate Choir and a School Band. They perform monthly at our assemblies and are often performing at our neighbourhood senior centre as well as throughout the community! Outdoor Education and Experiential Learning is very important to us. We have 4 outdoor classrooms in our neighbouring forest as well as a new playground featuring a Mud Kitchen, garden area with edible plants and a new bike park. Our Rippers Bike Club even has bikes that can be ‘signed out’ as in the spring and fall we do weekly rides to encourage more bikers! We build school spirit and connections through week long events such as Awesome Autumn, Name That Tune, and Literacy Week (always themed around one particular book/theme with fun dress up opportunities!). We also collect points for ‘school teams’, though admittedly the focus is not on competition, and the points don’t matter as much as the fun does!
Our Learners
Our students are the heart of our school. They are keen, they are creative and they love to learn.
Some specifics about our learners this year:
- 11% of our learners are of Aboriginal Ancestry
- 13% of our learners have individual education plans
- Some of our learners are not reading at grade level but most students are improving reading year-over-year
- Our primary cohort (K-3) is the largest and fastest growing part of our population
Goal 1 - To improve literacy achievement for all students.
Action
- Two professional development days in the summer and ongoing professional learning
- Reading intervention support
- Team Meetings twice a year with classroom teacher, reading intervention specialist and principal
- Establish goals for students based on June 2022 results
- Dibels assessments to be given to all students three times throughout the year.
- Ensure that levelled reading materials are readily accessible for all reading abilities
- Monitor to continually assess effectiveness and adjust interventions and supports accordingly
- Review literacy goals throughout the year at all staff meetings
- Support and encourage the continuation of a one-to-one reading program – which continues with the support of a team of committed volunteers
- Literacy celebrations throughout the school year
- Continue with plan to enhance our Learning Commons
- Continue to build on our library collection with new materials
Evidence - Performance Indicators
- Dibels Reading Assessment
- PAST (Phonemic Awareness Screener)
- Teacher classroom assessments
- Intervention and support teacher data
- FSA results in grades 4 and 7
Goal 2 - To support student well-being and developing core competencies by engaging students in their learning through outdoor educational opportunities
Action
- Increase opportunities for students to in outdoor education
- Developing procedures and protocols for staff to use.
- Investing in more outdoor educational resources
- Students will participate in a survey related to their thoughts and feelings towards healthy living, wellness, and outdoor education
- Students will have opportunities to explore and learn in our school Outdoor Classroom.
- Sharing out outdoor experiences with school community
- Engaging our PAC in our outdoor education pursuits for support
Evidence - Performance Indicators
- Track the number of outdoor Ed opportunities
- Results of our student survey(s)
- Establishment of baseline data
Our Story is Beyond
Edgehill Elementary is well-known for its strong connections with our wider school community. We work hard with all partners to create a safe, rich learning environment for all students. The 2022-2023 school year is unique in that we have had many long serving staff members move on from our school in June 2022. We have 10 divisions this year and 7 of them have new teachers. We also have a new school admin team this year as well. This influx of new staff members is exciting. We look forward to working collaboratively with our school partners to preserve everything that makes Edgehill such a wonderful place for students to learn, as well as bring some fresh ideas to our school.