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 The dynamic team of educators at Tweedsmuir Public School couldn’t be more upbeat about starting this coming school year. Since being one of only 40 schools selected for the Ministry of Education’s Schools on the Move: Lighthouse Program last school year, Tweedsmuir has emerged as one of the most educationally progressive schools in Ontario.
The goal of the program is to increase the capacity to connect schools who, like Tweedsmuir, are consistently celebrating success in literacy and numeracy. It is designed to develop collective leadership and teamwork, increase support to teaching staff within the classroom, and implement strategies to change the approach to teaching writing, math, and reading.
Innovations in teaching strategies such as the use of assistive technology in the classroom and extensive assessment data resources have really paid off for the elementary school. Grade 3 EQAO Mathematics results have improved dramatically over the past three years, rising from a mere 26% to an overwhelming 96% of students meeting the provincial standard. Improvements have been seen throughout the school, especially in Grade 6 Math and Reading scores. Results indicate this year’s reading scores are the best yet and 35% more students are meeting the Provincial standard in Math.
The welcoming atmosphere of the school emphasizes the ‘family’ Tweedsmuir strives to maintain. A strong sense of community is what they believe is the driving force behind the exemplary standards in student learning and achievement.
The Literacy Numeracy Secretariat (LNS), an organization that promotes the improvement of reading, writing, and mathematics at the Eduaction Quality and Accountability Office(EQAO) chooses schools from all across Ontario that exemplify such traits as:
· A concise focus on student learning and achievement
· EQAO scoring improvement over the course of 3 consecutive years
· Using research-proven teaching strategies to increase student success
· Closing the gap- identifying and helping students who are not reaching their potential
There is much to be said about Tweedsmuir’s teamwork and the success working together has achieved. Specialized staff such as Literacy Coaches, Reading Recovery Teachers, and Differentiated Learning Resource Teacher within the school environment work collaboratively with teachers to support and challenge students to reach their full potential. Staff at Tweedsmuir see their involvement in the community and their own professional development as an essential part of being lifelong learners. Every success is celebrated and shared.
“Tweedsmuir has a highly motivated, skilled, and cohesive staff. They work very much together as a team, and every pupil is eveyone’s responsibility. Many other schools in the Near North District School Board have similar achievements; ours was noticed. I’m very proud of the initiative and tenacity of the entire school team. They have all worked together to earn this recognition" said principal Barlow Patten.
Tweedsmuir Public School shares this provincial honour with just over 100 schools, a network of professionals shared strategies and solutions to the challenges today’s public schools face.
Leah Misener is a summer student at the Near North District School Board. She is looking forward to starting Grade 12 at Widdifield Secondary School and plans to pursue communications as a career.
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