Kenora Catholic District School Board

On September 9th the Kenora Catholic District School Board held the board's Board Improvement Planning Day for Student Achievement. Typically the room is filled with teachers, principals, coordinators and administrators. This year the room was also filled with students at the planning tables as well.

Twelve students from across the board participated in the Board Improvement Planning day for Student Achievement. Students were in grades 4 - 6 from Pope John Paul II School, St. Louis School and École Ste-Marguerite Bourgeoys. There were also 2 students from St. Thomas Aquinas High School. St. John School sent their Board Improvement Planning Team. In the image above you can see Innovation and Creativity Coordinator Jamey Robertson working closely with a group of students to capture their thoughts and input into an online form using an iPhone.

“This is the first time the board has ever included students at the full planning day and it was a great success”, says Mary Cunningham, Superintendent of Instructional Services. “This is something that we really felt strongly about doing and including student voice in our planning is a vital way to ensure that our students are able to share their thoughts. The students were very articulate about how they want to see things changed. They spoke about homework, engagement, hands on learning and how hands on learning can connect with numeracy. They told us that if we provide them with more opportunities to follow their interests, even for part of the school day, they will be more energized and engaged in their learning”.

The Board Improvement Planning Team will now analyze the trends and input from the day and create a new plan for student achievement for the 2015 - 2016 school year.