Board to take lead in early learning

The Rainy River District School Board will discuss its lead role in the Thunder Bay School District’s strategy on early reading and math education at its monthly meeting here tonight.
The local board has been chosen as a lead board in the government’s focus on improving learning and achievement levels of Ontario students announced by Education minister Elizabeth Witmer last May.
Two reports were compiled to develop instructional methods, assessment techniques, and intervention strategies to help students reach higher levels of achievement in math and reading.
These Early Math and Early Reading Strategy reports are the basis of an intensive training program for teachers.
The local board will be the lead board in implementing this training program for JK to Grade 3 teachers by provide training and support for all eight district school boards and 10 school authorities within the Thunder Bay District.
The report to be discussed at tonight’s meeting will call for all primary teachers in all schools to complete the training by December.
Also tonight, the board will discuss the recent meeting with the Town of Fort Frances on the future of old Fort Frances High School building and property on First Street East.
As well, the monthly recognition of excellence will be given to Crossroads School’s peer mediation program, which is designed to solve non-physical disputes and conflicts between two students with the help of a neutral pair of student mediators.
The concept is based on the principle that children understand children and trust other children, speaking the same language and sharing common concerns.
Students learn to develop a sense of responsibility, and gain an increased sense of confidence and self-esteem through the success of the program.
Other items to be discussed tonight include the J.W. Walker project tender and reports from the finance, special education advisory, and policy committees.
The meeting gets underway at 7 p.m. in the boardroom at Robert Moore School.