Engaging School Community Councils for Student Success

1. School Community Councils Engaging Parents and Community in Learning

2. Agenda • Introductions and Greetings • Sun West Personnel and Initiatives • SCCs – Roles and Responsibilities • Planning for Improvement and Networking • Workshop Planning

3. Guy Tetrault – Director of Education Karen Itterman – Sun West Board of Education Chair and Sub-Division No. 3 Ruth Griffith – Sun West Board of Education Vice-chair and Town of Kindersley

5. Ryan Smith Superintendent of Business

6. Shari Martin – Superintendent of Curriculum, Colony Schools and Davidson School • Parent Tool kit • Parent Brochures • Books for Babies • Ideas for SCC Involvement

7. Senior Science Curricula

8. Darren Gasper – Superintendent of Technology, Distance Learning School and Kenaston School

9. Kathy Grad – Superintendent of School Operations: OES, OHS, RCHS, Eston, Loreburn, Lucky Lake Educational Sector Strategic Planning (ESSP)

10. Shelley Hengen – Superintendent of Student Services, IndEp Schools Positive Mental Health Goal: Improve graduation rates and engagement levels in Sun West School Division by understanding and improving the mental health of students and staff.

11. Purpose: • Create a common understanding of positive mental health • Support all staff in becoming more responsive to mental health • Help students in become more aware of their own mental health • Create and share mental health resources • Engage the community in mental health discussions

12. Kim Hobbs – Assistant Superintendent of School Operation: KCS, Westberry, Elizabeth, NWCS, Coleville, Westcliff, Eaton Personalized Learning www.brainshark.com/sunwestsd/vu?pi=zHkzPgTRdzLVFnz0&intk=149246635

13. The Canadian Innovators in Education Award

14. School Community Councils • What is the role of the SCC? • What is the role of the Chairperson? • What supports are available?

15. What are SCCs? School-level councils that involve parents and community members in working together on issues that affect student learning and well-being

16. Background Need for local voice in new larger school divisions Ensuring authentic engagement of youth, parents, and community in learning success

17. Purpose Advisory bodies elected to work with families and the community to: • Develop shared responsibility for learning successes and well-being of children • Encourage families and community members and youth to be involved in school planning and improvement

18. Partners For Creating a Better Education System

19. Who is The SCC? • Elected parents/community members • Appointed members: ~ school staff ~ students ~ groups/individuals that meet the needs/interests of the school community

21. Duties • Develop an understanding of the needs and goals for student learning in school and the community • Help develop and carry out school learning improvement plan (A3)

22. Provide advice and represent parents and community to Board of Education and school staff on policies and programming • Communicate work being done • Participate in training and development https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOhZ6U5yaXA

23. Take action to engage parents and community in child and youth learning and well-being:

24. Role of the Chairperson Council Development • Oversee committees • Support member training • Work with the Council to manage the operating budget • Chair and oversee planning for the Annual Meeting

25. ESSP Planning (A3) • Work with the Principal to development of the school A3 • With the Council provide advice on the school learning program • Support School A3

26. Community Development & Partnerships • Lead the Council in providing supports to parents to become more directly involved in their children’s learning and well-being • Working with neighbourhood, community agencies, groups to address issues affecting students and families

27. Communications • Meet regularly with the Principal to communicate Council issues and advice • Chair Council meetings and develop agenda, communicate times and locations to families and community members, share work with stakeholders

28. Monitoring Results and Planning to Improve • Discussions at meeting how to continue to support student learning and wellbeing • Getting feedback on SCC work • Celebrate successes

29. Division Support • Meeting Visits • Family Engagement Circle • Sun West SCC Site • Networking Opportunities • Workshop • Rural Congress 2016 - Imagine the Possibilities

30. How Are We Doing?

31. Stage 3 – Engaging • Interdependent leadership between Chair & principal • Works effectively in supporting student learning and wellbeing • Annual report prepared on activities, plans and results • Council knowledgeable of the social, health & economic conditions of the community & the needs, aspirations of students & families • Engages a diverse base of the community • Stage 2 – Involving • Active executive leadership • Members clear on roles & responsibilities • Communications in place to inform parents and community members • Council experiencing successes in involving family & community members • Stage 1 – Informing • Reliant on principal leadership • Members learning roles & responsibilities • Council learning to work together as a team • Establishing relationships with staff & principal & working to involve broader school community SCC Continuum of Development and Effectiveness

33. Activity One • Check the color of the dot on the cover of your yellow folder. • Go to the table marked with your color. • Individually complete Handout 1. • Discuss your results with your group • As a group, complete Handout 2. • Make sure each group member records the information for Handout 2.

34. How Might We Move Forward?

35. What are Our Next Steps? Activity Two • Move to your new group. • Share information from both handouts with your group. • As a group, identify: - 2 things we are doing well - 2 areas we need to work on soon (Hand in worksheets when all discussion has ended.)

36. SCC Workshop Planning May 10th 2016