Directors Annual Report 2021
The Director's Annual Report for 2021 covers the 2020-2021 school year and provides a view into the many amazing things happening in our schools and our school board.
A sampling of stories is highlighted here in the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board Director's Report.
Messages from the Director of Education and the Chairperson of the Board
“I am sincerely grateful and proud to serves as Director of Education with the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board. Since joining the board last year, I continue to be in awe of the brilliant KPR students across our district who inspire us all with their passion and energy.
An important theme in this report is the work we are continuing collectively to ensure our schools are a place where everyone feels a sense of belonging. From our new culturally relevant toolkit for learning, to menstrual equity, to welcoming newcomers, to our purposeful focus on Indigenous education and mental health, there are many amazing stories of us, our KPR family, doing brilliant work.” Rita Russo, Director of Education
“It is with great pleasure and pride that, on behalf of my Trustee colleagues on the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board, we once again share a small glimpse into the incredible accomplishments of our students and staff over the past year.
These remain unprecedented times for our communities, and we extend our sincere thanks and appreciation to the students and families we serve for their continued patience and understanding as we work through the school year.” Diane Lloyd, Chairperson of the Board
#WeAreKPR Cindy Clitherow, Special Education Resource Teacher
At Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board, KPR, we are very fortunate to have a community of staff who not only are amazing at their jobs, working with and supporting students and schools in many ways, but they are also just great people who deserve appreciation and recognition!
Principal Lyn Westlake describes Cindy as a true gift to Colborne Public School and to KPR!
“Cindy has incredibly strong relationships with students. She can be seen shooting hoops with them on the yard, high fiving them in the hall, and co-regulating with (supporting) them during a difficult moment. She lights up their faces when she walks in their classrooms and has a way of making everyone's day just a little better.” Says Lyn
Cindy leads numerous student leadership activities including the school's Terry Fox Run, Recess Peer Helpers, Student Council, and many more. She frequently gives up her lunch and opens the gym at recess for students to play volleyball.
The Importance of Making Mistakes in Math!
KPR educators are focusing on the importance of perseverance and making mistakes to help students succeed in math.
Clarington Intermediate School teacher Yassmin Sandoval is seeing promising results by focusing on these skills with students.
“Math is one of those subjects that tends to prompt a lot of anxiety and stress for students,” says Mrs. Sandoval. “Social Emotional Learning, SEL, empowers students with the power of ‘yet' – you're not there yet…mistakes are part of the learning process, they provide immediate feedback for learning. We need to get comfortable with making mistakes.”
SEL skills help students with important math processes such as problem solving, reasoning, making connections, reflecting, communicating, and selecting the right tools and strategies.
ReconciliACTION at KPR: Expanding Our Awareness of Indigenous History, Culture and Perspectives
As a school board, we are committed to championing Indigenous education, achievement, and awareness. In recognition of Indigenous Peoples Awareness Month, Board Trustees received an educational presentation outlining the ways I which KPR can continue recognizing and celebrating November as Indigenous Peoples Awareness Month as well as deepening our collective understanding of Indigenous culture and history year-round.
The students, staff and school council at Dr. G. J. MacGillivray Public School engaged the community in learning and reflecting on the impact of residential schools and the thousands of children whose lives were lost and whose families were broken.
Students and their families were invited to paint rocks and place them at the bottom of the school's flagpole in memory of residential school children. The idea was originally proposed by a parent in the school's Facebook group – and shortly after, a collection of colourful, hand-painted rocks created a beautiful memorial garden at the front of the school.
Celebrating Student Success in Virtual Learning
For the 2021-22 school year, KPR offered a Virtual Elementary School, VES and Virtual High School, VHS for families who prefer to have their children or teens learn entirely online. While we still believe that in person learning is best for most students, thanks to our dedicated team of administrative staff and teachers, access to technology, and technical support, we have continued offering interactive and engaging learning opportunities online this year.
We believe that regardless of the format, students should have access to a school community, a support network, and authentic educational experiences to continue to progress in their learning.
Whether in VES, VHS, or in-person learning, all KPR students have benefitted from virtual opportunities this year, such as:
- Virtual Remembrance Day
- A joint KPR and Peterborough Victoria Northumberland Clarington Central District School Board Environmental Symposium with virtual fieldtrips focused on sustainability and hope for change
- A virtual fieldtrip to Ripley's Aquarium and Knox Pumpkin Farm for Learning and Life Skills students
Queen Mary Students Welcome Newcomers/Spreading Kindness to Newcomers
Students at Queen Mary Public School have been living our KPR values and demonstrating their commitment to inclusivity by taking an active role in welcoming newcomers to the community.
Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board is s proud partner of the New Canadians Centre, NCC, which supports immigrants, refugees, and other newcomers to our area. This past September, the NCC was please to support the welcome orientation of approximately 78 Afghan refugees in the City of Peterborough.
As part of this important work, students in Grad 5, 6, 7 and 8 at Queen Mary Public School created vibrant and thoughtful note cards, drawings, and messages for each of the new arrivals. According to the school principal, Sonal Gohil, approximately 100 students came together on short notice to take part in the initiative.
Menstrual Equity for All. Period.
Championed by KPR's Student Trustees for 202-21, Roan Haggerty-Goede and Justine Mackay, we were pleased to support the introduction of a new Menstrual Equity, ME, project this school year. As part of this important project, dispensing devices for free menstrual products are being installed in at least one female washroom and one all-gender washroom in all KPR high schools and 26 pilot elementary schools. In 2022-23, ME will expand to all schools, with product dispensers and waste receptacles also installed in at least one male washroom.
The ME program will better serve students who have difficulty affording menstrual products, transgender students who are transitioning and students who do not feel they fit traditional male/female definitions. A critical component of the initiative is to ensure that students who menstruate do not face barriers to accessing school, and that menstruation should not carry social stigma.
Exploring Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, STEM, Through Experiential Learning
As part of our commitment to student achievement and success, KPR is pleased to offer a variety of experiential learning opportunities for students of all ages. By offering a unique combination of classroom learning and practical experience, experiential learning is valuable for all students, whether they plan to go to work, apprenticeships, college, or university after secondary school.
This past October, Grade 7 and 8 students participated in the TakeTech Week! Design Challenge Event, which included a week's worth of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, STEM, activities, and guest speakers.
The event culminated with a design challenge between three KPR schools, John M. James Public School, James Strath Public School, and C.R. Gummow Public School, where students were tasked with building a prototype of a product that would respond to a specific school need. With the help of two certified secondary construction teachers, the students brought their prototypes to life, benefiting from a hands-on, unique learning experience!
Culturally Relevant and Responsive Pedagogy-School Toolkit
Above all else, we need to ensure all students feel a sense of belonging at school. Belonging fosters wellness and engagement, which in turn support achievement and success. One path to make that happen is to ensure our educational content and teaching practices allow students to see themselves in their learning. We want the cultural identities and experiences of our students to be a part of their daily experience in the classroom.
Port Hope High School Students Create Eye-Catching Posters in Support of Local Fare Share Fundraiser
PPHS students in Nadé Nixon's, visual art and photography classes used their creativity to support the local community through a series of captivating posters for Northumberland Fare Share Food Bank.
Applying their creative, digital art and graphic design skills, fourteen students from two of Nadé's classes collaborated to create large-scale photos' that featured Port Hope residents posing with eating utensils I fun and unique ways! The aim of the project was to engage students in the community by supporting an initiative that both resonates with them and relates to their area of study. The posters were placed in the windows of a local supermarket, Davis' Independent Grocer, where cashiers collected donations for the Fare Share Food Bank from customers.
Leading the Way in Mental Health
At KPR, we recognize the importance of mental health and the significant role it plays in our students' daily lives and academic achievement. This year, schools have been focused on learning different strategies for improving mental wellness, coping with stress and anxiety, and supporting the wellbeing of others.
Vincent Massey Public School has introduced a new relationship-based approach to teaching and learning, known as “The Third Path.” This method is designed to create a learning environment that supports students' education and wellbeing simultaneously.
The Third Path provides a foundation to support the development of programming and strategies that respond directly to students' individual, unique circumstanced and mental health concerns.
EQAO, Education Quality and Accountability Office
The Board maintains reading and writing improvements over time; math remains a focus.
Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board students have largely maintained the improvements they have made in provincial testing over time in the areas of reading and writing, while mathematics results remain an area of concern. EQAO individual school results.
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Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board
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