Nova Scotia School Accreditation Program
School Improvement Plan
Draft Version
Dr. John Hugh Gillis Regional High School
Strait Regional School Board
May 4, 2010
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
In January, the Co-Chairs attended a two day work shop on School Improvement Plans in
Mulgrave. The Co-chairs worked on revising the internal review report and preparing a 1.5
hour in-service for January 28th. During the staff in-service on January 28th, school
performance/school achievement priorities were finalized. Through a process of private
balloting, a unanimous acceptance of sufficient involvement with respect to school
performance was given. With respect to student achievement, a very close to unanimous
acceptance was given as well.
In February, the SAC committee was presented with a summary package of materials by
Mr. Farrell at their monthly meeting. This package contained information as well as results
with respect to the Reverse Weight Prioritization (RWP) activities which were used to
determine accreditation goals. Also in February, the accreditation team met to finalize the
wording of the SMART goals. Mr. Farrell, Mr. Berry and the Co-Chairs met with respect to
these finalized goals. Near the end of February, the staff was involved in another
accreditation in-service to develop strategies and action plans.
In March, the Co-Chairs worked on the school improvement plan and finalizing the strategy
leads. Each lead worked on the development of action plans for their strategies and submitted
their report by the month’s end.
In April, the Co-Chairs met for a one day in-service to finalize all outstanding aspects of the
school improvement plan. On April 1st the Co-Chairs entered the information received from
the strategy leads, and completed the outstanding sections of the school improvement plan
and forwarded it to Danny Berry. Co-chairs prepared and delivered final documents t o staff,
support staff, SAC committee, student body, Board Accreditation Coordinator and the External
Review Team.
PARTICIPANTS
Co-chairs:
Joe Duggan and Sylvie Stirling
Strategy Leads:
Dave MacFarlane*, Yvonne Quik, Janie Lumsden*, Melissa Boudreau
Team : Theresa Thompson, Darren Teasdale, Jenn Laudadio,
Mary MacDonald, Janice Gough
Allan Armsworthy SAC chair
Bill Marshall Past SAC chair
Brendan Murphy Community member
Shauna Grant-Smith Health Centre Nurse
Joanie Broussard Teacher assistant
Dave MacNeil Parent/Teacher
Leedi Penny Teacher
Justin Chisholm Student
Pat Thompson Student
Catherine Partridge Student
*also part of team
PROCEDURES
Jan 13 2010 Joe Duggan, Co-Chair, attended Day 1 of workshop on SIP’s in
Mulgrave.
Jan 14 2010 Sylvie Stirling, Co-Chair, attended Day 2 of workshop on SIP’s in
Mulgrave.
Jan 15 to 27 Co-chairs worked on revising the Internal Review Report; and preparing for
the 1.5 hr in-service on Thursday, Jan 28.
Jan 28, 2010 Staff in-service from 1 to 2:30. School performance/student achievement
priorities finalized. Private balloting resulted in unanimous acceptance of sufficient
involvement with respect to school performance; and very close to unanimous acceptance with
respect to student achievement (1 vote of non-acceptance).
Feb 8, 2010 Mr. Farrell presented a summary package of materials to SAC committee
members at their monthly meeting, containing information, as well as results, with respect to
the Reverse Weight Prioritization activities which were used to determine accreditation goals.
Feb 10, 2010 Team meeting with respect to finalizing wording of SMART goals: Janie
Lumsden, Theresa Thompson, Dave MacFarlane, Jenn Laudadio, Leedi Penny, Dave
MacNeil, Mary MacDonald, Darren Teasdale, Janice Gough, and the Co-Chairs.
Feb 19, 2010 Meeting with respect to Accreditation Goals: Danny Berry, Arnie Farrell,
and the Co-Chairs.
Feb 26, 2010 Accreditation In-Service. Staff were randomly assigned to one of 8 groups
for the day. Chronological summary follows:
(A) 4 groups worked on strategies for goal 1; 4 groups worked on strategies for goal 2.
(B) All groups participated in strategy ranking (selection), through reverse weight
prioritization (2 strategies per goal were selected through this process).
(C) 2 groups worked on action plans for goal 1 strategy 1;
2 groups worked on action plans for goal 1 strategy 2;
2 groups worked on action plans for goal 2 strategy 1;
2 groups worked on action plans for goal 2 strategy 2.
(D) All groups participated in action plan ranking (selection) through reverse weight
prioritization (4 action plans were generated per strategy; top 2 or 3 were selected)
March 11, 2010 Co-Chairs worked on S.I.P. and finalizing facilitation leads.
April 1, 2010 The Co-Chairs met to input information from the strategy leads into the
SIP, as well as finalize the SIP. The SIP draft was forwarded to Danny Berry.
April 2nd to 22nd Co-Chairs prepared for April 23 in-service. Co-Chairs made alterations to
SIP as per Mr. Berry's advice.
April 23, 2010 Final draft version of SIP plan presented to staff.
April 23rd-30th Staff updated student body on accreditation plan.
April 26, 2010 Joe Duggan presented the SIP plan to the Student Council.
By June 2014, there will be a 15% increase in the percentage of teachers that agree
that they plan and learn together.
STRATEGIES & ACTION PLAN
Year: 2010-2011
Strategy Action Step Timelines Responsibility Resources
Focus on providing Develop a survey to Sept 2010 Greg Hadley / Janie Sharepoint / Online
planning opportunities determine learning Lumsden software
for teachers and/or opportunities
support staff. desired by staff.
PD Coordination September and Janie Lumsden / A block of time
In-Service. Organize October, 2010 Danielle Boyd / Greg dedicated within the
school based, subject Hadley frist in-service day,
area in-service days, and classrooms to
to facilitate teacher have subject area
collaboration. meetings. Materials
needed for team
building.
Create a website that February to April, Communication Communications
would support and 2011 technology students, Technology 11/12
enable the coordination Janie Lumsden, and classes. Ednet Web
of curriculum Danielle Boyd. Space. Web design
outcomes.(subject module within the
specific) Comm Tech
curriculum could be
achieved with this
website as its goal.
Website Management April to June, Communication Communications
In-Service. In-service 2011 Technology Students, Technology 11/12
all teachers in using Janie Lumsden, classes. Ednet Web
and updating a website Danielle Boyd. Space. School
that is subject specific. Computer lab for
This would support and after school training.
enable the coordination
of curriculum
outcomes.
Establish subject area Select a PD Committee Sept 2010 to June
Accreditation Team
goals. that is representative of 2014
each Department in the
school.
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Year: 2010-2011
Strategy Action Step Timelines Responsibility Resources
Establish subject area Schedule time for the September 2010 PD committee and Library Resource
goals. PD committee to administration Room; possible
organize meetings, substitute coverage
determine resources
and timelines, assign
responsibilities, and
develop budgets for
continual professional
development from
2010 to 2014 as it
relates to establishing
and implementing
goals within each
subject area.
Organize groupings of September 2010 PD Committee, Library Resource
staff members in Melissa Boudreau, Room; possible
conjunction with their and Administration substitute coverage
teaching assignments
(planning PD
sessions).
Establish a committee September 2010 Accreditation team:
to study the feasibility to June 2011 Melissa Boudreau,
of developing more Janie Lumsden, Dave
grade and subject MacFarlane, Yvonne
specialization, as they Quik
relate to teaching
assignments.
Staff brainstorming September 2010 Accreditation team:
session with respect to June 2011 Melissa Boudreau,
to determining Janie Lumsden, Dave
appropriate meeting MacFarlane, Yvonne
times. Quik
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PROFESSIONAL LEARNING PLAN
2010-2011
Knowledge and Learning Participants in the Schedule Human / material
skills opportunities learning opportunities resources required
Effective meeting In-services All Staff September 2010 Janice Gough,
strategies, group Joanne Thompkins
work/ collaboration,
sharing of knowledge,
developing
consensus and PLCs.
Utilize and enhance a In-service All Staff April 2011 to June Janie Lumsden and
curriculum 2011 Danielle Boyd
coordination website.
Co-ordinating In-services PD groups Sept 2010 to June School staff
curricular outcomes 2011
within subject areas
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MEASURING GROWTH
2010-2011
Data Collection Method Schedule Responsibility
Teachers will respond to a survey containing Juner 2011 (first time) Janie Lumsden, Melissa Boudreau
the NSSAP question : teachers at this school
take the time to plan and learn together
(question 26 of the teacher survey).
Same survey will be re-administered
annually in June.
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BUDGET FORECAST
2010-2011
Budget Amount
Total of predicted expenses for Strategies 1 and 2, of Goal 1. $1,100.00
$100 Online software for developing a survey
$200 Team building materials
$800 Substitute coverage
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By June 2014, there will be a 5% decrease (of the current percentage) in the average
percentage of students, in all subject areas, achieving from 0% to 60% in final marks.
STRATEGIES & ACTION PLAN
Year: 2010-2011
Strategy Action Step Timelines Responsibility Resources
Ensure consistent Develop a Survey to September 2010 Yvonne Quik, Theresa survey expertise
teacher expectations, determine how to November Thompson, Glenda
across all subject teachers deal with or 2010 Broussard, Stephanie
areas and grade handle in-class work Spencer, Marilyn
levels, with respect to and homework in their McLellan
student completion of specific subject area.
in-class work and
homework.
Schedule time for the September 2010 Yvonne Quik, Theresa
teachers to share their to November Thompson, Glenda
best practices, and 2010 Broussard, Stephanie
results as determined Spencer, Marilyn
by the survey. McLellan
Develop an electronic September 2010 Janice Gough Student Information
tracking system, for to May 2011 System software
efficient, user-friendly,
and consistent
accessibility for all
teachers and staff.
Items flagged may
include missed tests,
incomplete homework,
incomplete classwork,
and assignments not
submitted.
In-service all teachers May 2011 to Administration, and Learning Package
on usage of electronic December 2011 IEI teachers
tracking system.
Utilize the newly December 2011 All support staff,
formed electronic to June 2014 teachers, and
tracking system. administration
Improve the course Develop a visual September 2010 Dave MacFarlane, binders,
selection process. representation (ie. a to September Bruce MacDonald, photocopies,
graphic organizer) for 2011 Mike Stewart and websites
all IN-SCHOOL Nikki Callaghan
COURSE
SELECTIONS for
grades 10 to 12 to
assist in making
appropriate selections
based on their abilities
and interests.
Display newly formed September 2010 Dave MacFarlane and signage, pamphlets,
graphic organizer to June 2014 Administration hand-outs
regarding IN-SCHOOL
COURSE
SELECTIONS in the
school, on the website
and included in
literature sent home.
Year: 2010-2011
Strategy Action Step Timelines Responsibility Resources
Improve the course Establish a tracking September 2010 Dave MacFarlane, binders,
selection process. document to help to September Bruce MacDonald, photocopies,
students/parents and 2011 Mike Stewart, Nikki websites
teachers determine Callaghan
pre-requisite courses
for POST
SECONDARY
programs.
Display throughout the September 2010 Dave MacFarlane and signage, hand-outs,
school, on a website, to June 2014 Administration pamphlets
and in literature sent
home, the newly
formed graphic
organizers depicting
course selection
options as they relate
to POST
SECONDARY
programs.
Strategy Action Step Timelines Responsibility Resources
Analyze and Teachers will October 2010 Dave MacFarlane,
Improve brainstorm to Bruce MacDonald,
assessment Mike Stewart, Nikki
determine used
practices by Callaghan
and valued
subject area..
assessment
practices (subject
area teachers).
Attend school - September 2010 Adminstration
based in-service
on assessment.
Subject area January 2011 Dave MacFarlane,
teachers will meet Bruce MacDonald,
Mike Stewart, Nikki
to initiate the
Callaghan
development of
policies regarding
an acceptable
level of
standardization as
it relates to
assessment.
PROFESSIONAL LEARNING PLAN
2010-2011
Knowledge and Learning Participants in the Schedule Human / material
skills opportunities learning opportunities resources required
Developing effective In-services. All staff. Sept 2010 Yvonne Quik,
surveys. Theresa Thompson,
Glenda Broussard,
Stephanie Spencer,
Marilyn McLellan
Use of new student In-service All staff. Sept 2010 to June Janice Gough and
information tracking 2011 school lead team to
system. be determined.
Collaboration of Scheduled Curriculum area Sept 2010 to June Janice Gough and
curriculum area meetings. teachers. 2011 school lead team to
teachers. be determined
Assessment School – All teachers September 2010
practices based in-
service
MEASURING GROWTH
2010-2011
Data Collection Method Schedule Responsibility
WinSchool Data (or other student Late June or early Dave MacFarlane,Yvonne Quik, Joe
information system) September on an annual Duggan, Sylvie Stirling
will be used to calculate the percentage basis
of students in the
0% to 60% zone.
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BUDGET FORECAST
2010-2011
Budget Amount
Total of projected costs for Goal 2, Strategy 1 and 2. $2,200.00
$300 survey expertise
$200 student information system software
$300 learning package
$400 binders, photocopies, websites
$1000 signage, pamphlets, hand-outs
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