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Director's Annual Report 2022

The Director's Annual Report for 2022 covers the 2021-2022 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 ˿Ƶ District School Board Director's Report.

Messages from the Director of Education and the Chairperson of the Board

“Serving as Director of Education with the ˿Ƶ District School Board is a sincere privilege for which I remain truly grateful. The caring and dedication of our staff, the energy and joy our students bring to learning, makes me smile every day.

With our Annual Report for 2022, we once again take pride in sharing our journey over the past year, and celebrating all that makes ˿Ƶ such a special place.

Our staff continue to lead our way forward, and with the help of the families, countless volunteers, and partners we serve, we are heartened by their tireless care and compassion for our students.

To all our staff, we thank you once again for building places of learning that are rich and engaging for our students, that are clean, safe and make students feel like they belong."
Rita Russo, Director of Education

"It is with sincere pleasure and great pride that, on behalf of my Trustee colleagues on the ˿Ƶ District School Board, we share a sampling of the incredible accomplishments of our students and staff over the past year.

Although 2022 began with a continuation of the COVID protocols from the last couple of years, the situation gradually shifted. Last spring and this fall have brought our students and staff together to share, once again, the many experiences inside and outside the classroom that build lifelong memories for everyone.

While each year will bring its own amount of challenge, we truly believe that our students' educational experiences are improved immeasurably by being with their friends and peers at school. This year has marked a long-awaited return to those days.

As always, we extend our sincere thanks to our passionate and dedicated staff who lead learning for our students, and foster their success. We are also grateful to the many community volunteers, bus drivers and crossing guards who support our students and enrich our schools each day."
Steve Russell,Chairperson of the Board

Read the full messages here

Supporting Student Wellness and Success through Relationship and Connection #WeAre˿Ƶ

Picture of Sharon and student

Using a collaborative, trauma-informed approach to mental health, Sharon Skutovich supports the psychological, emotional and social well-being of students, families and staff at Norwood District Intermediate and High School (NDIHS), Norwood District Public School and Havelock- Belmont Public School. Sharon’s practical, professional approach is appreciated by everyone she works with.

Read the full story here

Bringing Indigenous Education and Learning to the Forefront

Kindergarten teachers Heather Searle and Jennifer Dunham are exploring new and meaningful ways topromote Indigenous Education with the students, staff andcommunity at Charles Bowman Public School.

“At a time when Indigenous voices are getting louder, we felt compelled to do more beyond our own classrooms and make the Passport to Reconciliation a school-wide initiative and bring the monthly focus to the forefront this year.”

Read the full story here

Picture of moccasins

Early Literacy = Early Success

Two elementary students

For our youngest learners, learning to read and write requires thoughtful and intentional instruction. Students in Sue Girard’s Grade 1 class at North Shore Public School last school year focused on building a strong foundation in literacy and increasing their confidence as learners.

“We start off with letters and sounds. How do we match that sound to the letter. How do we print the letter? Then, we move into blending and segmenting, and two- and three-letter words,” says Ms. Girard.

Read the full story here

Small Group Learning Supports Special Education Students

Last April, ˿Ƶ began offering Primary Communications Classes to support students in learning, socializing and communicating effectively, while continuing to have opportunities for inclusion with their peers and in schoolwide activities.

The Primary Communications Class is a small-class placement for students in Grades 1 to 3, who are experiencing significant challenges with communication and who are not achieving significant progress in the regular classroom setting.

Read the full story here

Class of students watching a video

Coding in Science and Math

We are committed to providing engaging learning for all students that builds the skills we know will help them succeed now and into the future. These 21st-century competencies include collaboration, problem solving, critical thinking and innovation.

An exciting area that students and staff are exploring together is the world of computer coding as part of new learning approaches in science and math.

Read the full story here

Reducing Barriers to Learning with Chromebooks and De-streaming

Through ˿Ƶ’s one-to-one initiative, secondary school students receive a Chromebook laptop for use in all subject areas for their entire secondary school career. Through a phased-in approach, this school year all secondary students in Grades 9, 10 and 11 have a Chromebook to support their learning. Students keep the Chromebooks until graduation, with a new group of Grade 9 students receiving Chromebooks each year. For the 2023–24 school year and into the future, all secondary students will have one.

Read the full story here

Students working on chromebooks with their teacher

Keeping Connections Strong in our Virtual School Community

Picture of young student working on laptop

While we continue to promote in-person learning as theideal model for students, ˿Ƶ once again offered virtuallearning during the 2022–23 school year as an option forfamilies who prefer to have their children or teens learnentirely online from home.

“The Virtual Elementary School (VES) has allowedstudents, who otherwise would be unable to access theregular school environment, the ability to experience success in a safe and vibrant learning atmosphere,” says Stephen Fisher, principal of VES.

Read the full story here

Colborne PS Students Bringing Tech and STEM to the School Yard

Building on the success of ˿Ƶ’s Take TECH! event in the fall of 2021, many of our schools were thrilled to participate in the Part 2 Take TECH! Intermediate Design Challenge this spring.

With over 37 classes across the board taking part, this special “Spring Edition” challenge invited students to explore innovative solutions to address a need or opportunity identified in their very own school. After identifying a need, students designed and built a prototype of a product that would support that need using the toolkit and materials provided to each participating class.

Read the full story here

Students building an outdoor bean bag toss

Gaining Skills to Succeed in a Digital World

A picture of Heidi McFadden and Autumn Hanak

As digital technology integrates into more and more aspects of our daily lives, skills in computer science, coding and STEM are becoming increasingly important for our students.

This year, all female-identifying students in Grades 6 to 9 were invited to participate in an after school coding program, offered in partnership by Hackergal and ˿Ƶ’s Virtual Coding Club. Students from 64 ˿Ƶ schools took part in this exciting opportunity.

The club was held virtually every Thursday afternoon and was hosted by Heidi McFadden and Autumn Hanak, two Grade 9 students from Thomas A. Stewart Secondary School who share a passion for text-based coding.

Read the full story here

Literacy and Numeracy Coaches in ˿Ƶ – Supporting Student Success

In support of˿Ƶ’s Board Action Plan, Literacy and Numeracy Coaches work alongside educator colleagues to provide instruction and assessment that is authentic, culturally relevant and responsive, supporting the development of differentiated intensive support in reading and math.

Coaches collaborate daily with colleagues in classrooms to support student learning and success, and to model, co-plan, co-teach and co-debrief student learning and decisions about instruction.

Read the full story here

Young student reading with teacher

Building Relationships and Cultivating Community through Indigenous Student Engagement

Picture of Indigenous Graduation Coaches

˿Ƶ’s Indigenous Education Department had a very successful and purposeful year filled with meaningful learning, partnership, growth and new opportunities for students across all grade levels.

For many years, Indigenous Student Workers (ISW) have played a foundational role in ˿Ƶ’s ongoing commitment to honour Indigenous knowledge, culture, perspective and history. In 2022, ˿Ƶ was pleased to expand this important program and increase support for Indigenous students.

Read the full story here

Building Connection, Engagement and Community at Adam Scott CVI

As a teaching and learning organization, we continually seek to educate ourselves on the lived experiences, diversities and identities of our students and staff. We know there is much work to do and our focus remains on creating safe, inclusive environments where everyone feels seen and heard.

Adam Scott Collegiate Vocational Institute has takenthoughtful steps towards building a culture of inclusionthrough peer mentorship and connection at their school.This spring, the school introduced a Student of ColourAssociation (SOCA) after staff members came togetherlooking for a way to improve support for racialized studentsand students that identify as visible minorities.

Read the full story here

picture of group of students from Adam Scott CVI

Bringing Mindfulness to Literacy Learning

A picture of a MindUP themed tree

By bringing mindfulness and Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) into the classroom, many of our schools are seeing positive results with students’ literacy skills. The MindUP program is currently being implemented at 22 ˿Ƶ schools, where Early Intervention Teachers (EITs) are using evidence-based curriculum to help children develop knowledge and tools to manage stress, regulate emotions and face challenges with optimism, resilience and compassion.

EITs have been intentionally integrating opportunities for students to apply SEL skills during small-group reading instruction. Educators are focused on supporting student learning about self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills and responsible decision-making.
Read the full story here

EDI in Action at Dale Road Senior Public School

At ˿Ƶ, we understand that cultivating a safe, caring and inclusive learning environment requires intentional and ongoing efforts. At Dale Road Senior Public School, students and staff are committed to taking action and actively working together to integrate these values into the school community through their Genders & Sexualities Alliances (GSA).

Read the full story here

chalk picture on school walls with words "love wins"

Opening Doors to New Pathways with Continuing Education

A picture of PACE students from the PSW program

Alternative and Continuing Education programs offer a wide range of opportunities for students of all ages to continue their educational journey at ˿Ƶ.

Whether adult learners are looking to complete or upgrade their high school credits, or current JK–Grade12 students are looking to enrich their school experience, they are supported with their learning needs, goals and aspirations through our alternative and continuing education programming.

Read the full story here

A Recipe for Student Success

Students entering Grades 11 and 12 were invited to participate in a unique opportunity this summer to earn a high school credit and a college credit simultaneously through ˿Ƶ’s Culinary Dual Credit Program.
As part of the School-College-Work Initiative (SCWI), thedual credit program is a co-operative effort between schoolboards and colleges in Ontario to assist students in makinga seamless transition from secondary school to college or
apprenticeship.

Read the full story here

A picture of CCI students from the culinary program

Advancing Human Rights, Equity and Accessibility at ˿Ƶ

A picture of the new school equity poster

In May 2022, ˿Ƶ’s Commissioner’s Office of Human Rights, Equity & Accessibility (COHREA) was formed as a resource for all members of the Board community. It provides human rights education, information, assistance and advice in fostering and supporting an inclusive culture, free of discrimination and harassment.

More than 20 school boards in the province now have a human rights office.

“Working in education is a high calling that demands
excellence. As we aspire to help all students excel in learning,succeed in life and enrich our communities, this can be bestrealized by using a human-rights-based approach wherewe acknowledge the basic rights and freedoms that applyto every person,” says Anthony Anirud, Executive Officer,Human Rights, Equity and Accessibility Commissioner.

Read the full story here

Remembrance Day at Lydia Trull PS

Students in the Learning and Life Skills Class at Lydia Trull Public School had a special Remembrance Day experience this year. They learned about being a Canadian Military Reservist from Jordan Bate, who is also an Educational Assistant at the school.

Jordan brought in his gear and students tried on theheavy supplies backpack. He also prepared a military rationmeal of Shepherd’s Pie for students to try, using the fieldwarming bag and some cold water, the same as they woulddo when out on a field mission. Students felt the chemicalreaction as the bag heated up.

Read the full story here

A picture of the Remembrance Day assembly

Enriching our Communities through the Arts

A picture of Zaria Nelson

Zaria Nelson - Recipient of Arthur Hiller Award

Congratulations to ˿Ƶ alumni and former Adam Scott CVI student, Zaria Nelson, who has been named a recipient of the 2022 Arthur Hiller Award for Admission to the Cinema Studies Institute at Innis College at the University of Toronto. This award is given to outstanding racialized and minoritized undergraduate students newly enrolled in the Cinema Studies program.

Read the full story here

Welcoming Newcomers and Refugees

Canada has a strong tradition of welcoming refugees and newcomers, and so does ˿Ƶ. In the last eight years, approximately 500 students have come to our schools as refugees, having fled war, violence, conflict or persecution. We have welcomed these students and thousands more newcomers from around the world, including Ukraine, Russia, Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, Cuba, Djibouti, Mexico, Eritrea, Chad and many more.

˿Ƶ has six Multilingual Learner Itinerant ResourceEducators who work with staff and students across theboard in elementary and secondary settings. ˿Ƶ offers ESL (English as a Second Language) and ELD (English Language Development) classes at Adam Scott Collegiate Vocational Institute, Cobourg Collegiate Institute, Courtice Secondary School and Thomas A. Stewart Secondary School.

Read the full story here

A picture of students at Westmount PS

Turning up the Volume on ˿Ƶ’s Student Voice

A picture of students by the water

In November, ˿Ƶ’s Student Leadership Group (SLG) attended a retreat and team-building session to connect with each other and dive deeper into their goals and priorities for the 2022–23 school year.

The SLG is a committee of student representatives fromeach ˿Ƶ secondary school that solicit, gather and collatefeedback from their student populations. As a group, theSLG uses this information and works together to identifycommon issues, priorities and concerns that are thencommunicated to the Board by the Student Trustees.

Read the full story here

Lunch Buddies at Clarington Central SS

The Lunch Buddies Club at Clarington Central Secondary School has been running since the school opened. The program pairs up students in the Learning and Life Skills (LLS) program with other students in the school. Coordinated for many years by teacher Bruce Rutherford before his retirement and now supported by Reagan MacDonald and Sarah Hegarty, this program promotes inclusion and provides opportunities for students to enhance their social skills.

Paired students have lunch together once a week, either in the cafeteria, in the classrooms or sometimes they go out for lunch. There are also special events and trips throughout the year. Lunch Buddies provides positive peer mentorship, role modeling and leadership development for all the students involved and supports friendships that last far beyond the lunch hours.

Read the full story here

A picture of three students

Contact Us


˿Ƶ District School Board
1994 Fisher Drive
Peterborough, ON K9J 6X6

Phone: 705-742-9773
Toll Free: 1-877-741-4577
Fax: 705-742-7801
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