Introducing “The Farm” Grow
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Advanced Registration Edition Advanced Registration Week Jan. 14 – 18, 2019 Introducing “The Farm” Grow. Learn. Together. Learning steeped in agriculture Imagine you’re a student whose typical day starts by pulling Student enrolment information and registration packages on a pair of thick-soled rubber boots and trekking out to a will be available in February 2019. Watch for more chicken coop. You might scatter feed and collect eggs, then information to be released. If you wish to become a sponsor make your way over to the barn to tend to the livestock. or partner with The Farm, contact Sara Martin, RVS’ Once your chores are done, you settle into a classroom setting Learning Specialist, at: [email protected]. Donations to continue your discussion on managing the profits made to this initiative can be made through <https://www. from vegetables sold at the local Farmers’ Market. canadahelps.org/en/charities/rocky-view-schools>. Select, The Farm, from the drop down menu. Welcome to The Farm. With an eye to launch in September 2019, Rocky View Schools’ (RVS) newest program promises Connect with RVS this year! to deliver an engaging learning environment where Gr. 9 and 10 students can explore issues, tackle problems RVS’ January 2019 edition of Ontrack invites parents to and design solutions to real-world problems in a context become familiar with the multitude of services and programs that is relevant to the Alberta way of life. Located just north offered in preparation for the jurisdiction’s Advanced of Airdrie on 14 acres of land, The Farm will allow students Registration process. All schools will be accepting registrations to complete their full curriculum, while learning to manage, beginning Jan. 14, 2019, through SchoolEngage or in person market and operate a business venture. at the school. Although registration will continue through to next September, registering early ensures families have a The Farm’s lens on agriculture, sustainability and successful transition. RVS looks forward to welcoming you and entrepreneurship means that students will be given more than your child in the fall! just the opportunity to take learning beyond the four walls of a classroom. The program is designed to foster a spirit of innovation and forge a deep understanding and appreciation of a thriving industry. Along with community partners who helped bring the program to fruition, students will learn the true meaning of “From Farm to Table”. putting LEARNERS first Rocky View Schools (RVS) assists learners in reaching their full potential through learning opportunities that enable them to think critically, and act intelligently and purposefully. Placing a strong emphasis on literacy, numeracy, and the development of competencies such as problem-solving, RVS’ learning environment also: Puts Students First Fosters Inclusion RVS is focused on building a student-centred approach to RVS takes responsibility for all of its students, focusing on their learning that continues to put the needs of students first. strengths rather than on their limitations. Schools are committed Instruction is designed to help all students succeed, based to meeting the diverse needs of students in all settings, helping on their learning style, passions and interests. Students with to ensure students experience a sense of belonging and complex needs receive additional educational support and acceptance. Teachers work to make learning environments have Individual Program Plans. Across the system, instruction is accessible to all students by providing learners with: being personalized to support opportunities for self-directed • multiple ways of acquiring knowledge and interdisciplinary learning. (e.g., hearing, seeing, online); • Supports Numeracy and Literacy multiple ways of demonstrating what they know (e.g., video, writing); and Building students’ basic literacy and numeracy skills is • multiple means of engagement to tap into their interests a primary focus for all elementary schools. As students and increase motivation. gradually become more proficient and begin to fine-tune these skills, this focus shifts to begin building content literacy in a variety of subject areas – truly a lifelong pursuit. Provides Authentic Learning In RVS, authentic learning seeks to motivate and engage Builds Learner Competencies students in the meaningful construction of knowledge, rather than in the reproduction of existing facts or ideas. Competency development is as important in RVS as Facilitated through real-world projects, authentic learning helping students achieve learner outcomes in the programs of encourages students to: identify, create, and connect existing study. Learner competencies are a set of intellectual, personal and new ideas; draw from their own experiences; consider and social skills needed to become a lifelong learner and alternative perspectives; and, transfer what they’ve learned model citizen. By concentrating on their development in to new situations. Research shows this approach deepens designing K – Gr. 12 learning experiences, RVS students understanding of the content and promotes self-direction. have a head start. Offers Blended Learning As not all learners learn at the same pace, RVS embraces a blended learning approach that takes advantage of a rich multi-media environment and combines it with the best face- to-face classroom experiences. By matching the right learning tool to the right student, for the right challenge, and at the right time, blended learning offers flexibility and choice for where, when and how learning takes place. 2 assessing LEARNER growth It’s fun to compare your six-foot tall 16-year old with that little height mark you put on the wall when he was two. Measuring growth as a learner is a little more challenging than a pencil mark on the wall, but students and parents alike share the same keen interest in being able to see growth. Communication of Student Learning This may be a video of a beginning reader reading aloud, or a video production by a middle school student communicating RVS’ Communication of Student Learning (CoSL) process is original understanding of a world conflict. This gives students, designed to help students build knowledge of themselves as teachers and parents numerous examples of the learning learners, while capturing their proficiency in demonstrating that has taken place to help them determine what steps are learner outcomes and facilitating conversations about needed to further skill development. the next steps on the student’s learning journey. It is a comprehensive strategy based on current assessment research. CoSL includes: Goal-Setting, Three-Way/Triad PowerSchool Public Portal Conferences, Student Portfolios, PowerSchool Public Portal An important component of CoSL for parents and students is and Report Cards. RVS’ PowerSchool Public Portal – a window where parents and students can view ongoing learning progress. To access the Goal-Setting portal, parents must first set up an account via a username and password. After the account is set up, the school will provide Learner goal setting is a shared activity between students, a unique ID for each student to link to the parent account. teachers and parents. Proven to boost both achievement and If students are in K – Gr. 6, progress is best viewed via the confidence in one’s ability, this collaborative activity helps computer. If students are in Gr. 7 – 12, there is an app that students understand where they are in their learning journey can be downloaded to a smart phone (the app does not match and the strategies required to move forward successfully. how RVS reports on achievement for K – Gr. 6 students). The goal is to ensure parents don’t have to wait for report cards Three-Way/Triad Conferences to know how their child is doing, rather they can share the Parent/teacher/student conferences are scheduled learning journey with their child throughout the year. periodically throughout the year to review a student’s progress to date and set goals for the next steps of the Report Cards learning journey. The frequency and format for scheduled Finally, at various times of the year, depending on your conferences varies, depending on grade level and community. child’s grade level, parents will receive a report card, Parents also may schedule a conference with their child’s which provides a snapshot of their child’s learning. Report teacher at other times of the year to learn of their child’s cards outline a student’s academic achievement toward progress as a learner. the outcomes specified in Alberta’s programs of study. It also provides a summary report of how well a student is Student Portfolios developing learner competencies – the skills needed to be an Learner portfolios gather evidence of student learning in one independent lifelong learner. physical and/or online space. It is a place for students to select, organize and reflect on their learning. For beginning To learn more about RVS’ Communication of Student learners, there may be physical artifacts of learning, such as Learning Initiative go to: <http://www.rockyview.ab.ca/ writing samples, essays and works of art. As they advance, home/21stC/assessing>. learners begin to collect a digital archive of their learning. Advanced Registration 3 meeting CHILDREN’S needs early Preschool Intervention Program Kindergarten RVS’ Preschool Intervention Program (PIP) is a publicly Kindergarten is an exciting milestone in the lives of funded, early intervention program designed to support children and their families.