MOOSE JAW — Catholic trustees have approved their schools’ learning improvement plans for this year, with the documents’ priorities aligning with those of the province and division while also promoting faith permeation.
The provincial priorities for the 2024-25 school year include learning and assessment, mental health and well-being, Aboriginal education and student transitions.
The priorities of Holy Trinity Catholic School Division for this year include inspiring success, mental health and well-being, learning and assessment, student transitions, and infusing the Catholic faith into all aspects of learning.
Meanwhile, the school learning improvement plans (SLIPs) respond to and build on the priorities of the Ministry of Education and the division office.
For example, each SLIP includes details about a provincial pillar, the school’s goal to address it, the strategies used to fulfill it, and how the school will use funds to support the strategies.
All schools will review their plans in February and provide a year-end report to the division office in June.
Ward Strueby, director of education, told the board during its recent meeting that division administration meets virtually with school principals and vice-principals three times a year to discuss the SLIPs.
“I’m very impressed this year to hear about all the good work they are doing,” he said, noting administration posts all the SLIPs on a bulletin board outside the board room and encourages schools to post their plans in the staff room so teachers can comment on them.
“Those plans are evergreen, too, so if something comes up in the year and we need to make changes, (or) if schools come across something, like a drop in reading levels, they can make changes,” Strueby added.
Trustee Alison Bradish said she appreciated reading in a few plans how some schools are working together on initiatives, while she enjoyed “the simplicity” of some schools’ priorities, such as purchasing a piano to support the student choir.
“They were creative and … it gives me hope about what our division is doing,” she added.
The next Holy Trinity board meeting is Monday, Dec. 16.
