Community Leaders

C M Y K WINNIPEG FREE PRESS - SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2019 COMMUNITY LEADERS 3 C M Y K Manitoba is taking the first steps of a major review of Kindergarten to Grade 12 education, and Winnipeg School Division is prepared to take a leadership role in helping identify what a long-term vision could look like. "Winnipeg School Division fully supports the province's plan to review K to 12 education," says Pauline Clarke, Chief Superintendent and CEO of Winnipeg School Division. "Many factors have an impact on students' learning and performance, and we look forward to exploring those with the review commission." WSD is the largest school division in Manitoba, and that comes with its own interesting challenges and great opportunities. "We have the capacity within WSD to serve a hugely diverse population, which includes not just diversity in languages and cultures, but also in socio-economic backgrounds," Clarke says. WSD has developed a long-term strategic plan that emphasizes its Principles of Learning (inclusion, assessment, engagement, collaboration and understanding) and focuses on student needs. There are 33,000 students currently enrolled in WSD – nearly one-quarter of whom live with first generation newcomer parents and 37 percent who speak English and another language at home. Another 23 per cent of students in the division identify as Indigenous. The school division also operates in both the lowest and the highest income neighbourhoods in the city. "Our diversity is one of our greatest strengths," Clarke says. "It has compelled us to think, plan and act creatively in order to meet the individual needs of all of our students, in an inclusive learning environment in which diversity is valued." WSD has developed many unique initiatives to respond to the needs of its students. At the forefront of those efforts, it has introduced programs to improve results in mathematics and literacy when compared nationally. Ensuring WSD educators have the skills and knowledge to teach math so that students understand and retain their learning is essential to excellent mathematics programming. WSD is supporting its educators in their ongoing learning of numeracy skills. This support is having a significant impact on continuously improving classroom instruction, student learning and program efficacy. WSD leadership is working in partnership with post-secondary schools of education to incorporate math training for all new educators. There has been dramatic progress in numeracy within WSD, as shown in the percentage change in Grade 3 outcomes from 2009 to 2017, which have improved by more than 132 per cent. The tremendous positive increase over the eight years has resulted in not only closing the gap with provincial results, but exceeding them in 2017 by four percentage points. WSD is also leading in improvements in literacy and has developed two highly effective programs called Talk to Me and Read to Me. For example, Grade 3 reading levels in WSD have improved by 50 per cent since 2009, according to WSD's annual report to the Province. WSD's focus on early years education, such as listening and talking, are the foundation for reading and writing, and to building a solid base for students at an early age. Talk to Me is a speech-language program designed to help Nursery and Kindergarten students improve their communication skills. Studies have shown that students with stronger speech and language skills become better readers and learners, setting the stage for later academic success. "Talk to Me is a partnership between our classroom teachers, the speech-language support team and parents to help students who need this support," Clarke says. Read to Me picks up where Talk to Me leaves off, targeting support for early years students to learn to read while making the connection to writing, building oral language and expanding vocabulary. Over the past few decades, WSD has taken a leadership role in developing partnerships with business and industry to respond to labour market needs. A good example of this is WSD's response to the flourishing aerospace technologies business in Winnipeg. Working with members of Manitoba Aerospace Incorporated, WSD developed the Aviation and Aerospace Technologies program that provides students with an introduction to the manufacturing and maintenance of aircraft. Another response to industry need is WSD's Sisler High School Network and Cyber Security Academy, the first of its kind in Canada. Grade nine students begin in the academy learning how to build and fix their own computer, install an operating system, design a network, and explore cyber security. Also at Sisler High School is the Interactive Digital Media program. Through partnerships with industry organizations such as Ubisoft, New Media Manitoba, Vancouver Film School and Disney Pixar, students are embracing the technology skills needed in all industries from agriculture to engineering to sales and fashion. At Children of the Earth High School, a Medical Careers Exploration program has been developed to prepare Indigenous students for post-secondary studies. WSD, in partnership with Pan Am Clinic, Health Sciences Centre, Grace Hospital, WRHA and University of Manitoba, provide internships for students to explore various roles in health care. "The provincial review of K to 12 education is a huge opportunity for our industry and education partners, and our parents, teachers and communities, to be part of building a system that is going to serve the needs of students to be successful in our quickly changing world," says Clarke. "We look forward to hearing those voices and being part of this important discussion." ❚ Culturally appropriate education a priority In 1979, Winnipeg School Division established an Indigenous Education consulting position. In 1996, WSD adopted an Indigenous Education Policy, one of the first in Canada. Through the WSD Indigenous Education and Newcomer Services Department, instructional and support staff are supported in understanding and implementing appropriate programming for WSD's widely diverse student population. WSD Intercultural Support Workers and interpreters work with families in their home languages. WSD has established initial assessment protocols to welcome families new to Canada, and help program for students' English language needs, which is tracked to help them achieve academic success. Through WSD partnerships with community organizations such as Needs and Welcome Place, and through educational partnerships for the community-based Aboriginal Teacher Education Program and the recently launched Build From Within teacher development program, WSD is providing the groundwork for Indigenous students to acquire a positive self- identity through learning their own histories, cultures and contemporary lifestyles. Non- Indigenous students develop an understanding and respect for the histories, cultures, and contemporary lifestyles of Indigenous peoples. Top le: Students in the WSD Aviation and Aerospace Technologies program are introduced to the equipment and technology needed to work in the industry. Top right: The Winnipeg School Division has developed two highly effective literacy programs in Talk to Me and Read to Me. Bottom right: The WSD Talk to Me program helps build a foundation in listening and talking which in turn leads to improved opportunities for academic achievement. Bottom le: A Pan Am Clinic employee works with a Children of the Earth student enrolled in the Medical Careers Exploration program. Student Ayla Laforte, one of the first wave of Build From Within students, speaks at the Nov. 13 launch of the program.. WINNIPEG SCHOOL DIVISION LEADING THE WAY IN EDUCATION Phone: 204-775-0231 Website: winnipegsd.ca Email: wsd@wsd1.org "Our diversity is one of our greatest strengths, it has compelled us to think, plan and act creatively in order to meet the individual needs of all of our students, in an inclusive learning environment in which diversity is valued."

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