Staff
The staff at Mine Centre School are being lauded for purposefully teaching and employing strength-based practices in order to build a stronger school community.
The Rainy River District School Board will present them with its monthly “Recognition of Excellence” during tonight’s meeting.
Results of a survey completed by Grade 4-8 students during the last school year “indicated a need to improve school culture, with the goals of creating a stronger sense of belonging, improved self-esteem, enhanced interest, and motivation to learn in order to reduce anxiety and to prevent bullying.”
In order to achieve that, staff created clubs and activities that were suggested by the students.
“More cross-graded activities and learning opportunities were implemented and the staff worked to incorporate more Ojibwe language and culture into the daily learning at school,” noted a reported to the board.
“Staff [were] trained to deliver a brain-based curriculum to help reduce stress and anxiety, and to teach coping mechanisms to kids,” it added.
Staff also reached out to parents by having more community visits, focusing on student strengths, and recognizing accomplishments.
“The journey towards reshaping the culture at Mine Centre School is well underway,” the report said.
“Students and staff have responded positively to the strategies,” it added.
“Staff are recognizing improved attitude, engagement, and self-regulation amongst students.”
Also at tonight’s regular meeting, trustees will:
•hear a report regarding numeracy supports in schools;
•look to approve the following policies: 1.07 (Role of the Board), 6.11 (Tobacco-Free Environment), and 1.08 (Trustee Code of Conduct);
•look to rescind the following policies: 3.14 (Approval of Tentative Agreement), 1.23 (Student Trustee), and 1.21 (Representative of First Nations’ Students);
•look to approve the new Riverview/Sturgeon Creek Attendance Zone to be established to match the existing east boundary of the Grey Zone, which is the Morley Dilke/Forrester Road, and that students on and west of this road would have a home school zone of Riverview School;
•decide on writing to the Northwest Catholic District School Board requesting that the boards cost-share the addition of a bus in Atikokan to reduce ride times;
•authorize administration to execute the Facility Partnership Agreement with the OPP;
•discuss striking a committee as per Section 5.4 of the Board By-Laws, with the mandate of creating a policy reflective of the changes outlined in the new Pupil Accommodation Review Guidelines and Community Planning and Partnerships Guidelines; and
•look to approve Policy 3.18 (Recognition of Service) for stakeholder consultation.
The meeting gets underway at 7 p.m. at the Education Centre here (board office).
