Presentation to: The Ontario School Counsellors Association

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Presentation to The Ontario School Counsellors
Association

• November 6, 2006
• Kirsten Parker
• Student Success/Learning to 18
• Implementation, Training and Evaluation Branch

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We can make a difference

• One Student at a Time
• One Teacher at a Time

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Student Success Key Goals

• Every student deserves a good outcome
• Connecting with students by providing new and
  relevant learning opportunities
• Building on students interests and strengths
• Effective transitions from elementary to
  secondary school and from secondary to
  postsecondary
• Increasing graduation and reducing drop-out rates

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Student Success Key Goals

• Changing pedagogy and culture through strong,
  focused leadership in schools and boards
• Engaging the community to support student success

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The Importance of Education in Society

• Our Moral Purpose-Our
• Legacy Opportunity
• Our Students Our Future
• We want Success for All Students
• We care about All of our students

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• We cannot always build the future for our youth,
  but we can build our youth for the future
• Franklin D. Roosevelt

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Four Pillars of Student Success

• Literacy
• Mathematical Literacy
• Program Pathways
• Community, Culture, Caring

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• A Guidance Counsellor is critical in meeting the
  needs of all students, particularly those who are
  struggling.

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Guidance Counsellors in Ontario

• Provide leadership and support to all teachers in
  the school.
• Provide support and expertise to Student Success
  Teams and Student Success Teachers.
• Provide all students with up-to-date career
  information that respects and reflects all post
  secondary destinations.

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Guidance Counsellors in Ontario are

• Advocates for every student
• Collaborators, contributors and active
  participants in creating positive and healthy
  school cultures, where every student is welcomed
  and cared for.
• Valuable conduits between parents, community
  partners, social agencies and the school.

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Progress so far

• Student Success strategy and leader in every
  board
• Student Success Teacher in every secondary school
• More staff in targeted areas
• Changes in compulsory credits (Co-op, Guidance
  and Career courses)
• Transition Planning, Lighthouse projects, Rural
  Schools initiative
• Board Action Plans
• Piloting Specialist High Skills Major,
  School-College-Work Initiative, Dual Credits

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Progress so far

• Think Literacy cross curricular/focus grade 7
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• Revised mathematics curriculum and focused
  resources and support
• Ongoing research on student learning and
  engagement
• e-Learning in Ontario schools

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School
Student Success Teams
Student Success Teacher
Principal
Guidance Leader Special Education Leader
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• Effective learning results from the collaborative
  efforts of everyone working together to ensure
  each students success.
• Richard Villa

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Teachers are AGENTS OF HOPE

• The great essentials to happiness in this life
  are something to do, something to love and
  something to hope for
• Addison

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Importance of the Teacher

• We all know how much can be accomplished by a
  knowledgeable, caring and dedicated teacher.
• How can we help all teachers to see the adult
  that each student could become?

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How can we do it?

• Every teacher must commit to the success of every
  student!
• The best models/mentors are competent, confident,
  connected, caring teachers who consistently
  demonstrate the character we wish our students to
  have!
• Dr. Bruce Ferguson
• Hospital for Sick Children
• University of Toronto