Measures of Student Achievement and Success
Alta Vista follows Ministry of Education as well as OCDSB Policies and Procedures (please consult the Board's website). Student Achievement is assessed and evaluated according to the expectations in the Ontario Provincial Curriculum documents for each subject area, the Ministry’s Growing Success, the OCDSB Assessment, Evaluation and reporting of Student Achievement (PR.584.CUR, last revised in September 2010) and the OCDSB Educator’s Resource Guide.
Students in our district in grades 1-8 receive an Elementary Progress Report in the fall, followed by two Elementary Provincial Report Cards, the first in early February and the second at the end of June. The Elementary Progress Report provides an early indication of a child’s progress and does not contain grades or percentages.
The Elementary Provincial Report Card (grade 1-8) in February and June contains grades/marks along with comments and next steps. Senior Kindergarten students receive a report card in February and one in June and Junior Kindergarten students receive a report card in June. A number of junior and intermediate students maintain a portfolio of their work.
School Improvement Plans and Initiatives
We at Alta Vista are committed to excellence in teaching and learning in a safe and caring environment for all our students and staff. Professional development, which results in improved instruction for students, is a priority at Alta Vista. Staff is encouraged to model life-long learning; to avail themselves of professional development opportunities and to translate their learning into enhanced opportunities for their students.
The results of the Primary and Junior EQAO provincial assessment (administered in May to students in grades 3 & 6) conducted in May of each year are reviewed each fall to provide additional information on our students’ achievement of the provincial expectations in language (Reading and Writing) and in Mathematics. We are continuing to work on instructional practices which result in improved student achievement. In our school newsletters, you will find information not only on school routines but on ways you can support your child’s learning.
Alta Vista’s current School Improvement Plan for Student Achievement focuses on Mathematics. Our school improvement plan for Cycle one will be completed at the end of December. In February we will commence cycle 2 taking into consideration what our students and staff have learned in the first part of the year. As we work on improving our students’ achievement, we take into consideration the needs of Special Education and ESL students and how boys and girls learn differently.