So with an empty parking lot on the morning of Friday, January 29, 2010, some parents might have been wondering if the principal finally got his way and took the staff snowmobiling… or to paintball… or if everyone got to sleep in. Instead, staff from HMS, Wilma Hansen, Queensland Downs, Deer Run, and Prince of Wales met at Lord Beaverbrook for a learning day centered on “Connecting the Dots.” The morning was designed to help this “family of schools” establish connections between a number of CBE and Area V initiatives, present this school year. The CBE Three Year Plan, Alberta Initiative for School Improvement (AISI) cycle IV, the McKinsey report, Friesen’s “What Did You DO In School Today,” and Richard Elmore’s “Instructional Core,” all “connect” to form the basis of our work with students. Area Director, Jane Rogerson, led teachers through a presentation that helped link each document to our work with students. This allowed teachers in all five schools to hear a common message, ask questions, clarify thinking, and (heaven forbid) meet colleagues in buildings down the road.
At the end of the day, the message was simple: the “core” consists of the relationship between students, teachers, and the content, with task at the centre. Focus on each of these three will result in improved teaching and learning. Keep students and student work at the centre of our attention. Everything we do must have a connection to the classroom.
A nice corollary to the day was that teachers were able to connect with other teachers and discuss opportunities and challenges, or simply to put faces to names. Having the chance to meet colleagues at the junior high level also helped teachers understand the challenges and opportunities available for students as they move on from HMS. So, all in all, while it wasn’t paintball or snowmobiling, it was a productive and enjoyable day.
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