Mid Year Review and Reflection by Principal

Good afternoon staff,

In his first speech to a joint congress in 2009, Barack Obama said, “in a global economy where the most valuable skill you can sell is your knowledge, a good education is no longer just a pathway to opportunity - it is a prerequisite.” I am here to invite you today to join me as we reflect, refresh and renew our promise as educators to the children of SMMK. As educators, we work tirelessly each day; we strive to provide our students with the best education that a society can possibly give to them. With the knowledge and tools at our disposal, we also strive to guide students to become the best that God intended them to be.

I would like to review with you the progress that we have made this semester guided by the four school pillars; We, Not I Philosophy; Creation of S.A.F.E zones; Communication and Wellness. As a collective, we have guided our students to a 96.7% pass rate at mid-term in 2017/2018. The Student Success Teams have worked tirelessly to support students who were not successful at mid-term. The teams met with parents in some cases, checked in with you, teachers and provided you with strategies to help these students succeed.

Department heads were provided with data that showed how students had performed at mid-term. Administrators and guidance reviewed the Taking Stock data from the ministry. We analyzed this data, broke it down and put faces on these numbers. We now know who these students are and have a better idea of how we can better serve them. Thank you for putting a face on the data and intervening because you are teachers. According to Vatterott, 2015 p9, teachers “teach with the goal of having all students learn.. Our students are successful academically because of your passion and dedication to your profession. The after-school help that you offer to our students daily is greatly appreciated by both the parents and students.

This semester, several departments participated in collaborative exercises. George Couros 2015, p. 73 in Innovators’ Mind has said that, if we are going to be innovators, we should “create environments of competitive collaboration, where educators at all levels push and help one another to become better.” This semester, I got to witness first hand, departments spending time designing course materials, others designing new materials for their students while others were sharing new ideas on how to engage students. I was impressed that the time was spent on finding ways to improve the learning of students and being innovative.

Preciousstatus, 2016 in xxxxx, states that “study after study has reaffirmed that participation in after-school activities results in better grades, better behavior in the classroom and better work habits, which are all necessary for success later in life. They also serve to help reinforce a student’s relationship to their school and community, resulting in a lower risk of dropping out.” SMK boasts of many extra-curricular activities. Thanks to you, teachers, for giving up your personal time to support students in such a significant way. This semester we had several teams compete at both district and provincial levels. Of note, our junior girls golf and cross country teams participated at the highest level of competition at OFSAA. We celebrated the magnificent Remembrance day, Christmas concert, Drama play, Maine. We have teams that are traveling in the evening to participate in skiing and snowboarding exercises. The robotics team is currently working to build another robot this year. We held our first ever “girls” in the trade symposium.Thank you staff for all this hard work.

Everything that we do, should always be guided by Christian principles. Pope Francis in 2014, said that “Education cannot be neutral. It is either positive or negative; either it enriches or it impoverishes; either it enables a person to grow or it lessens, even corrupts him. The mission of schools is to develop a sense of truth, of what is good and beautiful. And this occurs through a rich path made up of many ingredients. This is why there are so many subjects.” As we end semester 1 and begin semester 2 let us reflect on this challenge from Pope Francis. To me, this is a call to take a stand and reflect on how I interact with students. Am I equipping the students with skills such as collaboration, citizenship, catholicity etc.,

We live in a country that is built on multiculturalism. Everyone is created in the image and likeness of God. I urge each and every one of us to be cognizant of our diversity. Let us support those who are marginalised, those who feel that their voices or their being is not heard, those who do not fit the confines of the so-called norm binary.

As a school community, I urge you to continue to look after yourself. According to The World Health Organisation wellness is "...a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity." Our bodies are the temple of God and we therefore need to take care of them. When we are well we will be better for ourselvels, our families and our students. After hearing your recommendations, we will continue with Wellness activity every PA day. February 23, 2018 is currently scheduled for our first massage session with Steven.

Nelson Mandela on talking about xxxxx, said that, “education is the key to eliminating gender inequality, to reducing poverty, to creating a sustainable planet, to preventing needless deaths and illness, and to fostering peace. And in a knowledge economy, education is the new currency by which nations maintain economic competitiveness and global prosperity”. I, therefore, urge you this year to reflect on this as you continue to do your part. As educators, we are called to support our students and help them grow this new currency. Teaching them in the 20th century style is no longer an option.

As we juggle our multiple commitments and do life together as colleagues, as teachers, as spouses, as parents and as neighbours this semester, let us pose to THINK each time we open our mouths to speak; pose to consider if what we will say is:

Truth

Helpful

Inspiring

Necessary

Kind:

Especially KIND because: show caption by Robin Williams

Thank you!