Our School Inquiry:
Last year, Delview secondary started a process engaging our staff in discussions and collaborations to narrow our focus around what staff feel will have the most positive impact on student learning and achievement.
For the past three years, Delview Secondary has focused on student connection, engagement and mental health, and well-being. Through school community events like Thanks for Giving, extra-curricular opportunities in various school clubs, athletics, performing and fine arts, Delview students felt connected and a sense of belonging to our school community.
Continuing from those goals, Delview Secondary is focusing on the concept of “academic belonging” through the following two school goals:
- Building foundational literacy skills in all curricular areas
- Building foundational numeracy skills in all curricular areas
Our school inquiry question is:
- Will focusing on the development of foundational literacy and numeracy skills in classrooms create a sense of academic belonging for students that will result in increased success in their learning as well as an increased level of connection, engagement, and well-being to school?
Where We Are:
Last year, we began to scaffold and develop a multi-year plan to scaffold and develop a multi-year plan to support staff and students in building capacity levels and understanding around foundational skills in literacy and numeracy.
2024-2025
- Our Science Department began working on tier one literacy supports for their students with Ms. Tashi Kirincic, District Coordinator, for Inclusive Literacy Practices in Classrooms.
- Science teachers co-taught and worked with Ms. Kirincic to implement various literacy supports into their classrooms
- Students reported back on the tiers one supports they were exposed to and the positive impacts they had on their understanding of curricular concepts as well as their ability to demonstrate their learning/knowledge
- In June, our Science Department shared their inquiry and findings with our school staff which resulted in a larger school-wide approach to learning more about tier one literacy strategies in classrooms
2025-2026
- For this school year, our school Professional Development Committee is continuing the work around literacy through workshops with Ms. Kirincic for our August and November professional development days.
- Three Delview staff members have also volunteered their time to be part of a Delta School District Teacher Literacy Team to further our growth and knowledge in literacy.
- Our Delta Youth Advisory Council (DYAC) is in the early stages of working with the concept of “academic belonging” and gaining student voice and perspective around this topic.
Next Steps:
- Continue to seek opportunities to engage a diverse group of students to incorporate student voice into the process.
- Look into how we can use a similar process and structure for professional learning and development to focus on building foundational numeracy skills in all curricular areas
This past year, there has been a lot of enthusiasm around our school goals and the positive impact it has on student learning, achievement, engagement, and connection. We will continue to share our story and update our community on our progress.
If you have any questions regarding our school goals, please do not hesitate to contact the school and speak with your child’s grade administrator.
Sincerely,
Mr. John Pavao, Ms. Christine Oliver,
Principal (Grade 11 & 12) Vice Principal (Grade 8 – 10)