Pubdate: Sat, 13 Sep 2003 Source: Oakville Beaver (CN ON) Copyright: 2003, Oakville Beaver Contact: http://www.haltonsearch.com/hr/ob/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1600 Author: Lou G. Piovesan Note: see next to last paragraph for drug policy relevance NEW YEAR BRINGS NEW CHALLENGES Catholic Board Sustains Its Tradition Of 'Distinctiveness' The Halton Catholic District School Board welcomed more than 26,215 students to the new school year at our 35 elementary and seven secondary schools. This year will be marked by an ongoing concerted effort by all of our 2,560 staff members to successfully pursue our goal of providing the best in Catholic education to those we serve in Halton. I would like to share the new initiatives that will be launched and some of the challenges that the year will present. Our system is committed to maintaining and promoting its distinctive mission in publicly funded education with a budget that continues to reflect an emphasis on the effective use of available funding to support student learning, especially in the Early Years (JK - SK), in Special Education and the acquisition of new curriculum resources in elementary and secondary schools. In particular, attention will be focused on the school improvement planning process, with special emphasis on literacy skills, numeracy skills, technological studies, instructional strategies that promote and improve student learning and planning pathways to support success for all students. Each of our system goals is aligned and focused on improving student achievement with an approach that is inclusive and contains an accountability component for its results. Four new initiatives that will be launched during this year include: * The new 'Student at Risk' program, through a province-wide network of Board leaders, will develop and co-ordinate strategies and supports to improve the outcomes and promote success for students in Grades 7-12, who may be at risk of not achieving their educational goals. The three key areas of focus will be in literacy, numeracy and program pathways transitions. * Our board is proud to have been chosen by the Ministry of Education as one of only 10 school boards across the province this academic year to pilot the new standards for Special Education programs and services related to autism. * A new Blue Box Recycling program that parallels the Region's residential recycling program is being introduced this September in all schools. This joint initiative between the Region and the two Halton school boards is intended to increase recycling at school and at home, thereby reducing waste collection, increasing the life of landfill sites and reducing energy in order to improve our environment. * As part of the ongoing joint programs with the Halton Regional Police Services to keep school environments safe, the Safe Schools Canine Initiative is being re-introduced in Halton high schools this year. It is designed to maintain and improve safety and well being of all students within the school environment by reducing and deterring the presence of drugs or weapons. Through the use of a trained detector dog, the police will search and indicate if there are drugs and/or weapons in the hallways or parking areas of schools. In closing, I would like to commend our dedicated Leadership Team, who daily promote and articulate a vision of excellence in education, that ensures our schools remain distinctive and valuable contributors to the vitality of our communities. Our board advocates a 'servant leadership' model, which develops and promotes leaders who are team players, team builders and team leaders who demonstrate a strong sense of service, collegiality, commitment to accountability, dedication to life-long learning and a capacity to foster and manage change. Working with all of our stakeholders, the efforts of our leaders and staff have enabled our school system to sustain its tradition of distinctiveness and its commitment to student learning and to excellence in Catholic education. - --- MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart