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 justice.
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 everyone at all times
O -Ownership of our own actions
C -Cooperation with others
K -Kindness shown to and for everyone
S -Safety by and for everyone
Our Goal
To foster an environment that values deep 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.
Ridgeway’s School Plan Journey
In 2018-2019, we began our first steps:
- Staff watched the movie Resilience, which explored childhood trauma and its effect on a child’s ability to regulate and demonstrate readiness for learning.
- Ridgeway Code of Conduct was revised to embed values of problem solving
In 2020-2021, we reflected on our progress so far and began adapting our goals to reflect that progress and our next steps:
- The 2020/21 School Planning Team consisted of diverse representation from Ridgeway staff including representation from Primary, Intermediate, and Non-enrolling teachers as well as members of CUPE and administrators
- The team sought feedback from the larger staff to reflect on our goal and determine our next steps
- Over several months, the team worked to revamp our school goal with specific objectives to reflect the progress we have made and the direction we want to go
- We began the work of developing a shared understanding of deep learning and are moving towards the implementation of a school-wide SEL program
In 2021-22, our team:
- Worked with school team, staff, and larger community to renew our vision statement
- Implemented Second Step school wide as a research-based school-wide SEL program to enhance well-bent and mental health literacy
- Implement the Seven Grandfather Teachings to support shared language and SEL for all
- Gathered staff input about deep learning
Planning & Implementation
What is our Action Plan?
Our Goal
To foster an environment that values deep 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 – Develop a shared understanding of deep learning.
- Gather staff input about the meaning of deep learning (Spring 2022)
- Team to analyze exisiting definitions and literature about deep learning (Fall 2022)
- Gather student and community input about deep learning (Fall 2022, FOS School Plan Workshop)
- Reflect on shared definition of deep learning (Winter 2023)
Objective #2 -Increase staff comfort and understanding of deep learning strategies and approaches.
- Provide opportunities for staff reflection and input into shared definition of deep learning (Fall 2022)
- Engage in professional learning about Universal Design for Learning and connections to deep learning (Winter 2023)
- Develop team to explore numeracy instruction, assessment, and deep learning (Winter 2023)
- Engage in appreciative inquiry to determine what we are doing well and where we can grow in terms of deep learning (Spring 2023)
- Explore professional development opportunities for the year ahead related to deep learning strategies and appraoches (Spring 2023)
Objective #3 – Whole school feels a sense of belonging at Ridgeway.
- Develop a teacher and EA welcome package (Winter 2021, library, teacher, and EA volunteer leaders)
- Create and administer a visiting staff survey to gauge sense of belonging for larger staff community (Spring 2022, ongoing- Update Winter 2023)
- Rainbow Book Club for Intermediate Students (Fall 2022)
- Reinstate student clubs and activities (Ongoing since post-pandemic Lunch Time Intramurals, RCAs, Peer Mediators, Skipping Club, Choir, Game Masters, Lunch Monitors)
- Engage in whole staff learning about Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) and Ridgeway SOGI resources (Fall 2022, November School Based Pro D Day)
- Create a welcome package for families new to Ridgeway (Winter 2023- with ELL team and Office team)
- Engage in spirals of inquiry for equity process (Winter 2022)
- Explore methods to guage student sense of belonging (Spring 2023)
- Intentionally plan for school-wide activities once a term to build sense of belonging among students (Ongoing- Dot Day Story Walk, Not A Box, Orange Shirt Day Project, Slahal, National Indigenous Peoples Day Activities)
- Families feel informed about school events and shared SEL language (Ongoing- Weekly communication through “Week Ahead” on Thursdays, Ridgeway Twitter, PAC Meetings, STF Conferences, Refuge Open House, Welcome Back Slice Night, Combined Grades Information Night)
Objective #4- School wide use of common SEL strategies
- Implement Second Step program school-wide (Winter 2021)
- Develop staff understanding of Second Step problem solving model to support positive behaviour (Spring 2023)
- Reinforce Ridgeway ROCKS as our shared values (Ongoing, announcements, assemblies, problem-solving)
- School-wide use of The Grandfather Teachings (Ongoing, student led monthly assemblies, shared bulletin boards, announcements, monthly resources for classrooms
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 obective?
Objective #1: Develop a shared understanding of deep learning.
- Our indicator of success for this objective is having a written definition of deep learning that resonates with staff and the larger community so we can continue to build our collective understanding about, and strategies for, deep learning (Winter 2023)
Objective # 2: Increase staff comfort and understanding of deep learning strategies and approaches.
- Our team is currently working on ways to monitor progress for this objective. Check back soon for updates!
Objective #3: Whole school feels a sense of belonging at Ridgeway.
We will know we are making progress towards this objective from anectodal evidence of students, staff, and community members continuing to greet each other (Ongoing)
We will know we are making progress towards this objective based on data from aff and visiting staff survey feedback indicating a welcoming, positive, and supportive atmosphere (Ongoing- update survey Winter 2023)
- Anecdotal evidence that families feel informed about school events and shared SEL language (Ongoing- PAC meetings, informal feedback)
Objective #4: School wide use of common SEL strategies.
All classrooms implementing Second Step program (Ongoing)
Staff demonstrate understanding of Second Step problem-solving model (Spring 2023)
Shared language is visible throughout the school (MPR, Library, Office, Student Break Rooms, Music Room, Gym bulletin board) (Ongoing)
Ridgeway ROCKS
The Grandfather Teachings
An increasing number of students are able to identify components of our shared programs (Seven Grandfather Teachings, Ridgeway ROCKS, etc)
Student self-assessment/sample survey (Spring 2023)
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
- Ridgeway’s Twitter account
In June of 2021, we published a school plan report detailing our progress towards our previous plan and sharing our updated goal and objectives. This can be found on our school website here.
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 justice.
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 everyone at all times
O -Ownership of our own actions
C -Cooperation with others
K -Kindness shown to and for everyone
S -Safety by and for everyone
Our Goal
To foster an environment that values deep 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.
Ridgeway’s School Plan Journey
In 2018-2019, we began our first steps:
- Staff watched the movie Resilience, which explored childhood trauma and its effect on a child’s ability to regulate and demonstrate readiness for learning.
- Ridgeway Code of Conduct was revised to embed values of problem solving
In 2020-2021, we reflected on our progress so far and began adapting our goals to reflect that progress and our next steps:
- The 2020/21 School Planning Team consisted of diverse representation from Ridgeway staff including representation from Primary, Intermediate, and Non-enrolling teachers as well as members of CUPE and administrators
- The team sought feedback from the larger staff to reflect on our goal and determine our next steps
- Over several months, the team worked to revamp our school goal with specific objectives to reflect the progress we have made and the direction we want to go
- We began the work of developing a shared understanding of deep learning and are moving towards the implementation of a school-wide SEL program
In 2021-22, our team:
- Worked with school team, staff, and larger community to renew our vision statement
- Implemented Second Step school wide as a research-based school-wide SEL program to enhance well-bent and mental health literacy
- Implement the Seven Grandfather Teachings to support shared language and SEL for all
- Gathered staff input about deep learning
Our Goal
To foster an environment that values deep 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 – Develop a shared understanding of deep learning.
- Gather staff input about the meaning of deep learning (Spring 2022)
- Team to analyze exisiting definitions and literature about deep learning (Fall 2022)
- Gather student and community input about deep learning (Fall 2022, FOS School Plan Workshop)
- Reflect on shared definition of deep learning (Winter 2023)
Objective #2 -Increase staff comfort and understanding of deep learning strategies and approaches.
- Provide opportunities for staff reflection and input into shared definition of deep learning (Fall 2022)
- Engage in professional learning about Universal Design for Learning and connections to deep learning (Winter 2023)
- Develop team to explore numeracy instruction, assessment, and deep learning (Winter 2023)
- Engage in appreciative inquiry to determine what we are doing well and where we can grow in terms of deep learning (Spring 2023)
- Explore professional development opportunities for the year ahead related to deep learning strategies and appraoches (Spring 2023)
Objective #3 – Whole school feels a sense of belonging at Ridgeway.
- Develop a teacher and EA welcome package (Winter 2021, library, teacher, and EA volunteer leaders)
- Create and administer a visiting staff survey to gauge sense of belonging for larger staff community (Spring 2022, ongoing- Update Winter 2023)
- Rainbow Book Club for Intermediate Students (Fall 2022)
- Reinstate student clubs and activities (Ongoing since post-pandemic Lunch Time Intramurals, RCAs, Peer Mediators, Skipping Club, Choir, Game Masters, Lunch Monitors)
- Engage in whole staff learning about Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) and Ridgeway SOGI resources (Fall 2022, November School Based Pro D Day)
- Create a welcome package for families new to Ridgeway (Winter 2023- with ELL team and Office team)
- Engage in spirals of inquiry for equity process (Winter 2022)
- Explore methods to guage student sense of belonging (Spring 2023)
- Intentionally plan for school-wide activities once a term to build sense of belonging among students (Ongoing- Dot Day Story Walk, Not A Box, Orange Shirt Day Project, Slahal, National Indigenous Peoples Day Activities)
- Families feel informed about school events and shared SEL language (Ongoing- Weekly communication through “Week Ahead” on Thursdays, Ridgeway Twitter, PAC Meetings, STF Conferences, Refuge Open House, Welcome Back Slice Night, Combined Grades Information Night)
Objective #4- School wide use of common SEL strategies
- Implement Second Step program school-wide (Winter 2021)
- Develop staff understanding of Second Step problem solving model to support positive behaviour (Spring 2023)
- Reinforce Ridgeway ROCKS as our shared values (Ongoing, announcements, assemblies, problem-solving)
- School-wide use of The Grandfather Teachings (Ongoing, student led monthly assemblies, shared bulletin boards, announcements, monthly resources for classrooms
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 obective?
Objective #1: Develop a shared understanding of deep learning.
- Our indicator of success for this objective is having a written definition of deep learning that resonates with staff and the larger community so we can continue to build our collective understanding about, and strategies for, deep learning (Winter 2023)
Objective # 2: Increase staff comfort and understanding of deep learning strategies and approaches.
- Our team is currently working on ways to monitor progress for this objective. Check back soon for updates!
Objective #3: Whole school feels a sense of belonging at Ridgeway.
We will know we are making progress towards this objective from anectodal evidence of students, staff, and community members continuing to greet each other (Ongoing)
We will know we are making progress towards this objective based on data from aff and visiting staff survey feedback indicating a welcoming, positive, and supportive atmosphere (Ongoing- update survey Winter 2023)
- Anecdotal evidence that families feel informed about school events and shared SEL language (Ongoing- PAC meetings, informal feedback)
Objective #4: School wide use of common SEL strategies.
All classrooms implementing Second Step program (Ongoing)
Staff demonstrate understanding of Second Step problem-solving model (Spring 2023)
Shared language is visible throughout the school (MPR, Library, Office, Student Break Rooms, Music Room, Gym bulletin board) (Ongoing)
Ridgeway ROCKS
The Grandfather Teachings
An increasing number of students are able to identify components of our shared programs (Seven Grandfather Teachings, Ridgeway ROCKS, etc)
Student self-assessment/sample survey (Spring 2023)
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
- Ridgeway’s Twitter account
In June of 2021, we published a school plan report detailing our progress towards our previous plan and sharing our updated goal and objectives. This can be found on our school website here.