Adaptive Challenges

Reaching the goal of learning for all has proven impossible for most schools....... These technical solutions are based on current knowledge and usually have a limited long-term impact. If learning for all is to be a reality, schools must face adaptive challenges. These challenges require the staff to close the gap between aspiration and reality by going beyond their current way of operating. Schools are aligned to get the results they are getting. To improve the level of school and student success the staff must reconsider their purpose and align their actions. They must shift the school culture from teaching to learning, from command, control and comply to collaborate, from pass\fail to eliminating failure, and from learning by most to learning by all. This session will highlight the actions needed for the shift to occur.

Wayne Hulley, keynote speaker, Effective School Conference for board administrators, Nov. 3-4.

Using data to set goals, collaboratively

For some people, using data and setting goals is as natural as breathing and walking. Others find it frustrating and counter-intuitive. Regardless of your own personal orientation to goal setting, doing so in a team environment brings its own challenges and benefits. In this session you will learn a practical set of tools for collaborative goal setting based on your school's greatest areas of need. (more) Anne Conzemius, keynote speaker of upcoming Effective Schools Conference on Nov. 3-4

CULTURAL SHIFTS : Becoming a Professional Learning Community

CULTURAL SHIFTS : Becoming a Professional Learning Community - It has been said that the '80s was the decade of reforming schools and that the '90s was the decade of restructuring schools. Unfortunately, the evidence is clear that neither of these national trends made much difference in overall student achievement.... (more) Robert Eaker, keynote speaker

Our administrators will be hearing the message of "reculturing our schools" at the From Vision to Practice (Effective Schools) conference on Nov. 3-4.

We teachers will be invited to become a learning community, beginning with our September 29 early dismissal meeting. The documents and information are posted on First Class. Quite interesting... the goal is for us will be to develop a dialogue amongst ourselves about how to improve student learning in our building, to set a framework for success and a map to get there.

Terry Fox: Re-living 1980

I'm watching the show Terry on CTV about Terry Fox. It's wrecking me... the images, the cars...there's our old tent trailer....there's Trudeau.....there's April Wine singing Say Hello....there's Rush playing Closer to the Heart. Those Ontario and Quebec towns he runs through, I recognize them. It's all coming back to me now. 25 years ago I was enjoying my summer holidays in Oakville. Terry passed through Oakville in the early morning hours without much fanfare. I remember the picture in the Oakville Daily Journal Record. Later that day I put on my Teen Tour Band uniform because we were playing for the reception at the RBG. I saw Terry that day, but didn't realize that history was in the making.

"This isn't about me....kids are dying."

"I'm not gonna miss a step."

"The kids are the ones who keep me going."