Educational Assistant Appreciation Day

We do make a difference!

Monday, February 28, 2011 is Educational Assistant Appreciation Day.  The theme of the day is cited above.

We have ten wonderful Educational Assistants (EAs).  These "unsung" heroes are deployed through our Department Head of Special Education.  Educational practice cites that EAs are assigned to the needs of our developmentally delayed students first and foremost in conjunction with teaching staff.  That said, there are many occasions where our EAs are working with other at risk students within the classrooms of our school in association with our teachers.

What does an EA do with these students?

They care for them physically, psychologically, emotionally and academically.  Our EAs do this through love, compassion, care and dignity.  EAs coach, are members of our Catholic School Council and have a voice in the direction of the needs of our special education students.

In short...they "do make a difference" in the lives of our most exceptional students in the school.  Their contributions to our Catholic Learning Community are invaluable.

On behalf of the staff, support staff, students and parents of Christ the King Catholic Secondary School, I would like to extend a sincere thank you to our Educational Assistants for all of the work that you do in relative anonymity.

iPad Pilot Study at CtK

Our school has been approved through 21st Century Learning funding to run a pilot study with a class set of iPads!

In a nutshell, a cohort of students taking Grade 9 Applied Math and English, of which some have exceptionalities, will be given the opportunity to use iPads in a cross-curricular effort.  The students' attendance and achievement will be measured before, during and after the use of the iPads.

So the question is....does technology make learning easier, more efficient or more motivating?

There have been widespread claims to this effect.

We will find out with our pilot study.  Our students and staff will complete a survey that addresses the ease, efficiency and motivation issues.

Either way, it is my opinion that ease and efficiency should not be the leading criteria for advocating and implementing computer technology in schools. I assert that to produce more meaningful learning, computer technologies need to be designed according to sound learning theories and pedagogy.

Thanks for reading.  Looking forward to your comments.  Happy Family Day tomorrow!

Christ the King C.S.S. to be honoured with the Dr. Bette M. Stephenson Recognition of Achievement

The Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) will be honouring Christ the King Catholic Secondary School on February 22, 2011, with the Dr. Bette M. Stephenson Recognition of Achievement.

This honour will be presented in recognition of the school community’s dedication to student achievement and use of provincial assessment results to improve student learning, as well as the school’s leadership, positive attitude and sincere effort to help every student succeed.

As the Principal of Christ the King, I am very fortunate to have such an exemplary array of shared leadership, teaching and support staff that not only  believe in our vision but model it in every aspect within our Catholic Learning Community.

A special thank you is extended to our wonderful students and parents who without their dedication, prepartion and support, this special recognition of our collective efforts would not be possible.

Please refer to the link below for more details regarding our literacy, numeracy and data-driven instructional, assessment and evaluation strategies.

http://www.hcdsb.org/News/Pages/2011-02-07-Christ-the-King-Catholic-Secondary-School-in-Georgetown-to-be-Honoured-by-EQAO.aspx

Thank you for reading.  Looking forward to your comments.

Shepherd Leadership

Isn't this photo from LIFE worth a thousand words?!  It inspired me to mention a book that I have recently read.
 
Specifically, our board has embraced a book called Shepherd Leadership that gleams the wisdom for leaders from King David's Psalm 23. 

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want;
He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters;
He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies; thou anointest my head with oil, my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

The authors, Blaine McCormick and David Davenport parse each verse and draw leadership analogies to how a shepherd tends to its flock and how a leader interacts with those that are under his/her charge.

I will refrain from citing all the key messages from this book because I hope that you will read it.  However, I will touch upon one key message which alludes to the picture and to the most important function that we have as educators for our children.

"Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me."

We are behooved to lead and protect our disenfranchised and/or wayward students with courage and compassion so that we not only role model for them but nurture the resiliency required to effectively meet life's challenges.

Thank you for reading.  Looking forward to your comments.