| Ambitious Third Year for Student Success Initiative
As the newly appointed Superintendent of Successful Pathways, I would like to update you on the latest developments in the Student Success Initiative. This is the third year of this initiative which has several goals: Increasing the graduation rate, reducing the drop-out rate, increasing the credit accumulation rate of Gr. 9 & 10 students, improving student achievement in core subject areas, and valuing the post-secondary choices of all students.
The program consists of four pillars of success: Literacy, Mathematical Literacy, Program Pathways and Community, Culture and Caring. Work on defining the fourth pillar has just begun. A committee made up of Student Success Leaders from all regions of the province as well as Ministry of Education support personnel have had an initial meeting and begun to flesh out the direction of this pillar.
Through the Community, Culture and Caring pillar we hope to promote success for all students, especially those at risk of not completing their OSSD, by decreasing the risk variables and in creasing the protective factors in our system. This may be achieved through increasingly strong curriculum objectives, implementation of proven teaching strategies and a clear definition of the fourth pillar.
At the same time as this is happening, work on the three other pillars continues. As you can see the government is supporting our students through expansion of the COOP opportunities which will earn credits. This is being supported by our board through a process of increasing the number of COOP placement opportunities available to our students in our own departments: facilities services ,and business services.
We have seen improvement in student achievement through our “Skills for Success and Workplace Pathways Program”in credit accumulation and look forward to more students completing their OSSD and continuing on to post-secondary destinations. Stay tuned for further updates.
We are in the process of reorganizing the Pathways Steering Committee for our board which will guide the continuation of our programs into the future.
Jean McHarg,
Superintendent of Successful Pathways
673-5620 ext. 301
mchargj@scdsb.edu.on.ca
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