Vision to Goal Setting
What is our Vision for Learning?
Vision For Learning
At Ridgeway, we strive to provide a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment for all so we can develop as unique individuals and learners rooted in community, connection, and story. We do this by creating engaging learning environments that honour diversity, collaboration, communication, and equity.
Our Guiding Values
Ridgeway R.O.C.K.S is a set of values that guide our behaviour and actions to ensure that all members of our school community feel valued, connected, and safe.
R -Respect for other, myself, and our place
O -Ownership of our my actions, my learning, and my community
C -Cooperation with others
K -Kindness shown towards other and myself
S -Safety by and for everyone
Our Goal
To foster an environment that values deep student-centered learning and social-emotional well-being for all community members.
Ridgeway’s Deep Learning Definition
At Ridgeway, we use critical thinking skills to reflect and ask questions in order to make authentic connections and engage in our learning. Deep learning requires self-exploration, perspective taking, and sharing.Â
Planning & Implementation
What is our Action Plan?
Our Goal
To foster an environment that values deep student-centered learning and social-emotional well-being for all community members.
Our objectives help us to break down our goal into achievable pieces. Below each objective are our strategies to achieve that objective.
Objective #1 -Increase staff understanding of deep student-centered learning.
- Engage in professional learning about Universal Design for Learning and connections to deep learning (Winter 2023)
- Engage in professional learning about implementing the new reporting order (Winter 2023-Spring 2024)
- Explore shared assessment strategies for numeracy- SNAP Math Assessment (Winter 2023)
- Engage in professional learning led by staff members related to Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its applications to the classroom (Winter 2023)
- Engage in professional learning related to neurodiverse learners and English language learners in relation to the new reporting order (Spring 2024)
- Develop team to explore numeracy instruction, assessment, and deep learning (Spring 2024)
Objective #2 – Whole school feels a sense of belonging at Ridgeway.
- Continue offering student clubs (Ongoing)
- Rainbow Ravens
- ReconciliAction Ravens
- Raven Changemakers
- Chess Club
- Intermediate Intramurals
- Grade 7 RCA leadership in the library
- Grade 7 Announcers
- Grade 5 Peer Mediators
- Intermediate Choir
- Work with PAC to host a new family tea to build connections in the community (Fall 2023)
- School-wide assemblies with explicit teaching of Ridgeway ROCKS code of conduct (Ongoing)
- Hosted parent information evenings about combined grades and the new reporting order (Fall and Winter 2023)
- Increase student voice in School Planning Team from two students to four (Soring 2024)
- Explore methods to gauge student sense of belonging (Spring 2024)
Objective #3- School wide use of common SEL strategies
- Continue to implement Second Step program school-wide (Ongoing)
- Build on work with Second Step program and create support staff lanyards with strategies for each emotional zone to support positive student behaviour at break times (Winter 2023)
- School-wide use of The Grandfather Teachings (Ongoing)
- Explore executive functioning strategies and resources using the book, Smart but Scattered (Spring 2024)
- Create staff conduct report for Ridgeway ROCKS to enhance use of shared language (Spring 2024)
Monitor Evaluate & Adapt
What are our Indicators of Progress?
As a team, we consider how we will monitor and evaluate our progress towards our specific objectives and larger school goal using the reflective questions:
- How will we know we are making progress towards our objectives?
- What are our indicators of success for this objective?
Click here for our 2023-2024 reflection and see below for progress.
Objective # 1: Increase staff comfort and understanding of deep student-centered learning.
- We will know we are making progress with this objective with the full implementation of new reporting order (Winter 2023)
- We will know we are making progress with this objective by guaging staff feedback on digital form related to feelings of success with new reporting order (Winter 2023 and Spring 2024)
- We will know we are making progress with this objective when an increasing number of complex learners have Individual Education Plan (IEP) updates embedded in their written learning updates (Spring 2024)
2023-2024 Evidence:
- Staff:
- Full implementation of BC new reporting order across all classrooms
- Monthly teacher professional learning about Universal Design for Learning, student-focused assessment practices, and the new reporting order
- Staff collaborated to include IEP updates in written learning updates
Students:
- With teacher support, students connected STF Conference goals with the BC Core Competencies
- Offered three student support programs with a focus on pro-social behaviour, language support, and class work completion/review
Families:
- Hosted a parent information evening about Combined Classes for parents
- Hosted an information evening about the new reporting order.
Objective #2: Whole school feels a sense of belonging at Ridgeway.
- We will know we are making progress towards this objective when an increased number of students are represented in our school activities and classroom learning.
- We will know we are making progress towards this objective when students and staff feel knowledgeable about well-being strategies and supports.
2023-2024 Evidence:
Staff:
- Staff-wide staff-led professional learning about executive functioning skills and supports
- Ridgeway team participated in Learning Rounds with Sherwood Park Elementary with a focus on inclusion and assessment; Ridgeway restructured our self-regulation rooms based on our learning front the project
- Education Assistant (EA) collective learning about self-regulation and positive student behaviour strategies
- Regular staff community building opportunities; highlights include an ice cream social and a dance party
- PAC hosted Staff Appreciation Treats
- Implemented Positive Behaviour Intervention and Supports (PBIS) to respond to need for increased student support (Light up Ridgeway and Lift up Ridgeway)
- Implementation of Staff ROCKS Reports (student conduct reports)
Students:
- Hosted first annual student-led Black Excellence Day assembly
- SOGI Rainbow Ravens club led sticker fundraiser to purchase an inclusive âAll Welcomeâ banner for the school and host an inclusive rainbow dance party
- Raven Change Makers raised money for Project Backpack to support youth in need in our local area
- Worked with PAC to provide the GRIT program (resiliency training) in all classrooms
- Implemented physical literacy school-wide with sensory pathways
- Continued student clubs like Chess Club, Choir, Just Dance, etc
- Students participated in Light up Ridgeway and Lift up Ridgeway to reflect on our Code of Conduct; this resulted in fewer referrals for behaviour and increased student understanding of our ROCKS code of conduct
- A student led survey shows majority of students asked know what ROCKs means and can give an example
- Ridgeway has a high student attendance rate
Families:
- Created a newsletter specific to new families with information about Ridgeway as well as being new to Canada
- Hosted a new family welcome tea with PAC
- Worked with PAC to host Slice Night, an open-house and family picnic
- Worked with PAC to facilitate a parent information evening about the GRIT resiliency program
- Continued with our regularly Week Ahead communication to families
Objective #3: School wide use of common SEL strategies.
All classrooms implementing Second Step program (Ongoing)
Shared language is visible throughout the school (MPR, Library, Office, Student Break Rooms, Music Room, Gym bulletin board) (Ongoing)
Ridgeway ROCKS
The Grandfather Teachings
- Zones of Regulation
- Ridgeway ROCKS langauge and information is regularly shared with families
An increasing number of students are able to independetly identify components of our shared programs (Ongoing, ROCKS Reflections, Student led survey)
A May 2024 student led survey shows majority of students asked know what ROCKs means and can give an example
Our next steps for 2024/25:
- Develop new objective around numeracy connected to studentcentered learning (use FSA results as data to drive decision-making)
- Refine/continue objective around executive functioning and self-regulation
- Review ways to measure progress for all objectives with a focus on data
Communicating Progress
How do we Communicate our Progress?
Our school planning process at Ridgeway supports an ongoing dialogue with input from all stakeholders in our community. We value the opportunity for feedback and share our progress in a variety of ways including monthly reports at PAC meetings. We also share our progress with our Ridgeway’s Week Ahead sent to all families. This weekly communication includes important dates, reminders, and an emphasis on information about school wide events and teachings.
We communicate our progress in a number of ways including:
- School website
- Ridgeway Week Ahead (Important dates and reminders sent weekly to families)
- Regular communication with PAC
- Staff sharing at PAC meetings
- Term newsletters
- Classroom communications
- School-based and FOS-wide parent evenings and special guest speakers
- Opportunities for input with students, staff, families
- Year end reflections published each spring noting our progress and areas for further growth related to our school plan, click here for these documents on our school website
Vision For Learning
At Ridgeway, we strive to provide a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment for all so we can develop as unique individuals and learners rooted in community, connection, and story. We do this by creating engaging learning environments that honour diversity, collaboration, communication, and equity.
Our Guiding Values
Ridgeway R.O.C.K.S is a set of values that guide our behaviour and actions to ensure that all members of our school community feel valued, connected, and safe.
R -Respect for other, myself, and our place
O -Ownership of our my actions, my learning, and my community
C -Cooperation with others
K -Kindness shown towards other and myself
S -Safety by and for everyone
Our Goal
To foster an environment that values deep student-centered learning and social-emotional well-being for all community members.
Ridgeway’s Deep Learning Definition
At Ridgeway, we use critical thinking skills to reflect and ask questions in order to make authentic connections and engage in our learning. Deep learning requires self-exploration, perspective taking, and sharing.Â
Our Goal
To foster an environment that values deep student-centered learning and social-emotional well-being for all community members.
Our objectives help us to break down our goal into achievable pieces. Below each objective are our strategies to achieve that objective.
Objective #1 -Increase staff understanding of deep student-centered learning.
- Engage in professional learning about Universal Design for Learning and connections to deep learning (Winter 2023)
- Engage in professional learning about implementing the new reporting order (Winter 2023-Spring 2024)
- Explore shared assessment strategies for numeracy- SNAP Math Assessment (Winter 2023)
- Engage in professional learning led by staff members related to Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its applications to the classroom (Winter 2023)
- Engage in professional learning related to neurodiverse learners and English language learners in relation to the new reporting order (Spring 2024)
- Develop team to explore numeracy instruction, assessment, and deep learning (Spring 2024)
Objective #2 – Whole school feels a sense of belonging at Ridgeway.
- Continue offering student clubs (Ongoing)
- Rainbow Ravens
- ReconciliAction Ravens
- Raven Changemakers
- Chess Club
- Intermediate Intramurals
- Grade 7 RCA leadership in the library
- Grade 7 Announcers
- Grade 5 Peer Mediators
- Intermediate Choir
- Work with PAC to host a new family tea to build connections in the community (Fall 2023)
- School-wide assemblies with explicit teaching of Ridgeway ROCKS code of conduct (Ongoing)
- Hosted parent information evenings about combined grades and the new reporting order (Fall and Winter 2023)
- Increase student voice in School Planning Team from two students to four (Soring 2024)
- Explore methods to gauge student sense of belonging (Spring 2024)
Objective #3- School wide use of common SEL strategies
- Continue to implement Second Step program school-wide (Ongoing)
- Build on work with Second Step program and create support staff lanyards with strategies for each emotional zone to support positive student behaviour at break times (Winter 2023)
- School-wide use of The Grandfather Teachings (Ongoing)
- Explore executive functioning strategies and resources using the book, Smart but Scattered (Spring 2024)
- Create staff conduct report for Ridgeway ROCKS to enhance use of shared language (Spring 2024)
As a team, we consider how we will monitor and evaluate our progress towards our specific objectives and larger school goal using the reflective questions:
- How will we know we are making progress towards our objectives?
- What are our indicators of success for this objective?
Click here for our 2023-2024 reflection and see below for progress.
Objective # 1: Increase staff comfort and understanding of deep student-centered learning.
- We will know we are making progress with this objective with the full implementation of new reporting order (Winter 2023)
- We will know we are making progress with this objective by guaging staff feedback on digital form related to feelings of success with new reporting order (Winter 2023 and Spring 2024)
- We will know we are making progress with this objective when an increasing number of complex learners have Individual Education Plan (IEP) updates embedded in their written learning updates (Spring 2024)
2023-2024 Evidence:
- Staff:
- Full implementation of BC new reporting order across all classrooms
- Monthly teacher professional learning about Universal Design for Learning, student-focused assessment practices, and the new reporting order
- Staff collaborated to include IEP updates in written learning updates
Students:
- With teacher support, students connected STF Conference goals with the BC Core Competencies
- Offered three student support programs with a focus on pro-social behaviour, language support, and class work completion/review
Families:
- Hosted a parent information evening about Combined Classes for parents
- Hosted an information evening about the new reporting order.
Objective #2: Whole school feels a sense of belonging at Ridgeway.
- We will know we are making progress towards this objective when an increased number of students are represented in our school activities and classroom learning.
- We will know we are making progress towards this objective when students and staff feel knowledgeable about well-being strategies and supports.
2023-2024 Evidence:
Staff:
- Staff-wide staff-led professional learning about executive functioning skills and supports
- Ridgeway team participated in Learning Rounds with Sherwood Park Elementary with a focus on inclusion and assessment; Ridgeway restructured our self-regulation rooms based on our learning front the project
- Education Assistant (EA) collective learning about self-regulation and positive student behaviour strategies
- Regular staff community building opportunities; highlights include an ice cream social and a dance party
- PAC hosted Staff Appreciation Treats
- Implemented Positive Behaviour Intervention and Supports (PBIS) to respond to need for increased student support (Light up Ridgeway and Lift up Ridgeway)
- Implementation of Staff ROCKS Reports (student conduct reports)
Students:
- Hosted first annual student-led Black Excellence Day assembly
- SOGI Rainbow Ravens club led sticker fundraiser to purchase an inclusive “All Welcome†banner for the school and host an inclusive rainbow dance party
- Raven Change Makers raised money for Project Backpack to support youth in need in our local area
- Worked with PAC to provide the GRIT program (resiliency training) in all classrooms
- Implemented physical literacy school-wide with sensory pathways
- Continued student clubs like Chess Club, Choir, Just Dance, etc
- Students participated in Light up Ridgeway and Lift up Ridgeway to reflect on our Code of Conduct; this resulted in fewer referrals for behaviour and increased student understanding of our ROCKS code of conduct
- A student led survey shows majority of students asked know what ROCKs means and can give an example
- Ridgeway has a high student attendance rate
Families:
- Created a newsletter specific to new families with information about Ridgeway as well as being new to Canada
- Hosted a new family welcome tea with PAC
- Worked with PAC to host Slice Night, an open-house and family picnic
- Worked with PAC to facilitate a parent information evening about the GRIT resiliency program
- Continued with our regularly Week Ahead communication to families
Objective #3: School wide use of common SEL strategies.
All classrooms implementing Second Step program (Ongoing)
Shared language is visible throughout the school (MPR, Library, Office, Student Break Rooms, Music Room, Gym bulletin board) (Ongoing)
Ridgeway ROCKS
The Grandfather Teachings
- Zones of Regulation
- Ridgeway ROCKS langauge and information is regularly shared with families
An increasing number of students are able to independetly identify components of our shared programs (Ongoing, ROCKS Reflections, Student led survey)
A May 2024 student led survey shows majority of students asked know what ROCKs means and can give an example
Our next steps for 2024/25:
- Develop new objective around numeracy connected to studentcentered learning (use FSA results as data to drive decision-making)
- Refine/continue objective around executive functioning and self-regulation
- Review ways to measure progress for all objectives with a focus on data
Our school planning process at Ridgeway supports an ongoing dialogue with input from all stakeholders in our community. We value the opportunity for feedback and share our progress in a variety of ways including monthly reports at PAC meetings. We also share our progress with our Ridgeway’s Week Ahead sent to all families. This weekly communication includes important dates, reminders, and an emphasis on information about school wide events and teachings.
We communicate our progress in a number of ways including:
- School website
- Ridgeway Week Ahead (Important dates and reminders sent weekly to families)
- Regular communication with PAC
- Staff sharing at PAC meetings
- Term newsletters
- Classroom communications
- School-based and FOS-wide parent evenings and special guest speakers
- Opportunities for input with students, staff, families
- Year end reflections published each spring noting our progress and areas for further growth related to our school plan, click here for these documents on our school website