Vision to Goal Setting
What is our Vision for Learning?
VISION
The Visions and Values that underpin this school plan reflect the collaborative planning of Lynn Valley students, staff, and parents. They reflect our fundamental beliefs and hopes and serve as our commitment to each other as we strive together to become our best selves. The vision and values of our community are revisited annually and tend to stay the same over a period of years.
Our Vision
Lynn Valley Elementary is a vibrant learning community where everyone feels a sense of belonging, diversity is honoured, and individuals are valued for their unique gifts and strengths.
Values
- Kindness
- Respect
- Inclusion
Our Process: Engagement and Learning
The school goal is updated or revised annually to reflect the timely needs and interests of the school community. It contains specific objectives, strategies and progress indicators that help to narrow our target and measure our growth. The goal is developed through consultation with community stakeholders and further developed by the School Planning Council, which is open for membership to all.
School Planning Council
Lynn Valley’s School Planning Team represents the voice of all of Lynn Valley’s educational stakeholders and makes recommendations to guide our actions. It is a voluntary team who also provides leadership in the school planning process. The team currently includes:
School Planning Council
Kendra Arkinstall, Vice Principal
Jessica Curry, Parent & PAC Chair
Sue Danieli, Librarian
Kelly DâAoust, Argyle FOS Leader
Sarah Dawson, Teacher
Colette Doan, Teacher
Bonnie Irwin, Parent
Lynsey MacDonald, Teacher
Sheena Montgomery, Teacher
Maggie Owen, Teacher
Jane Pike, Counsellor and NVSD SEL Team
Lisa Upton, Principal
Barb Vondruska, Educational Assistant
Kelly Wren, Parent
Essential Question:
How do we build connectedness?
During the 2022-2023 year we will be focusing on connection.
First Peoples Principles of Learning:
Learning is holistic, reflexive, reflective, experiential, and relational (focused on connectedness, on reciprocal relationships, and a sense of place).
Our Goal
To develop universal learning opportunities that purposely deepen student thinking and connection by:
- Providing access points for all learners to be successful, and
- Intentionally teaching, modelling and practicing social, emotional learning skills (CASEL)
Planning & Implementation
What is our Action Plan?
LYNN VALLEY SCHOOL PLAN
Providing access points for all learners to be successful. Resulting in increased student engagement and students feeling connected and a sense of belonging at school.
Strategies:
-
Universal Design for Learning
-
Making Thinking Visible
-
Thinking Dispositions
-
Annual Instructional Planning
-
Goal Setting
-
Universal Backwards Design
-
Modelling
-
Inquiry (ex. structured, controlled, guided and open)
-
teaching to diversity checklist
-
collaboration – teachers and students
-
multi-age groupings/activities
-
Roger Harts: Ladder of Engagement
-
Various modes of instruction: Visual, Auditory, Kinesthetic, Reading/Writing learners
-
Learning through example; modelling
Intentionally teaching, modelling and practicing social, emotional learning skills (CASEL)
Strategies:
Teach CASEL and Core Competencies using the Squamish Animal:
- Self Awareness: Orca (Social Responsibility)
- Self-Management/ Growth Mindset: Raven (Creative Thinking) & Mink (Critical Thinker)
- Social Awareness: Beaver (Personal Awareness & Responsibility)
- Relationships Skills: Wolf (communicator)
- Responsible Decision-Making: Bear (Personal Awareness & Responsibility)
Kindergarten to Grade 7: Teach Second Step Lessons and Grades 6/7 focus on leadership skills
Independent transference of learning to in the moment/learning opportunities; making connections to real life situations
Literature connections
First Peoples Principles of Learning
Multi-age groupings
Trauma Informed Practice
Classroom Daily Greetings (1:1 at the front entrance of classroom)
community circle to support communication skills and build relationships
class meetings in support of problem solving
Monitor Evaluate & Adapt
What are our Indicators of Progress?
Progress Indicators for Objective 1
- New assessment language
- Formative check-ins and dialogue with students
- students authentically integrate use of visible thinking strategies in their own learning
- Self Assessment of the Core Competencies
- Self-reflection (individual, multi-age group & whole class reflection)Â
Progress Indicators for Objective 2
improved interpersonal relationships/connections- student understanding and application of SEL language
- reduced student conflict
- increased sense of belonging (self-reflection, journaling)
- increased student-led initiatives and voice
- check-ins
Communicating Progress
How do we Communicate our Progress?
Collaboration and Communication
September: Sharing Out Core Values
November: Remembrance Day
February: Pink Shirt Day
April: Day of Pink & Earth Day
June: Year End Assembly
- Teacher representative at each PAC meeting sharing teacher/school news and requests
- PAC – events aligned to supplement “connectedness”
Alphabet AllianceÂ
Students have opportunities throughout the year to self-assess and describe who they are as learners, document their progress, and share their accomplishments. Through this ongoing process, students develop their ability to reflect, set goals, identify their strengths and areas for improvement, and gain greater responsibility and ownership of and for their learning. Self-assessment and reflection of the Core Competencies brings together learning in a way that profiles the uniqueness and individuality of each learner.
In late May/early June, students post their core competencies for the year on the Portal. We encourage families to review the self-assessment with their student, focusing on their accomplishments and future goals.
Window into the Week on Microsoft Teams
Weekly Updates from Lynn Valley Elementary
Foundational Resources:
BC Ministry of Education Curriculum
First Peoples Principles of Learning (FNESC)
BC Core Competencies
Connecting Core Competencies with First Peoples Principles of Learning, NVSD Indigenous Ed Team
CASEL Framework, Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning
Second Step Elementary Program
Zones of Regulation, www.secondstep.org
Greene, Ross. Lost At School. Toronto: Scribner, 2008.
Ritchhart, R. & Church, M. Making Thinking Visible. Hoboken: Jossey-Bass, 2020.
Collaborative Problem Solving Model
Community Feedback
School plan updates are shared as a standing item at all PAC meetings. The school is always interested in feedback and would welcome hearing from you! Please email your thoughts regarding our plan to: lynnvalley@sd44.ca.
National Indigenous Peoples Day
Lynn Valley was honoured to celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21. We were joined by Tchilaqs7chila (Gord Dick) - North Vancouver School District Indigenous Support Worker - to help us celebrate the importance of this day. At Lynn Valley we believe in creating a learning community that is inclusive and where all members are celebrated and belong.