Green light for
Students solving problems
solar at
arena
with new techniques
newsroom@eap.on.ca
S T -I SIDORE
newsroom@eap.on.ca
Dr. Lyn Sharratt, co-authors of the book
Realization , began working with teams from
V ANKLEEK H ILL
each school in the system to deepen district-
An engineering firm has given the green
wide reform.
light to the installation of solar panels on
The staff at St. Jude Catholic Elementary
Through a series of six sessions, they
the roof of the St-Isidore arena.
School in Vankleek Hill is working to
empowered school leaders to embrace
The engineering firm Genivar, which has
increase students’ problem-solving skills
change. School specific strategies were
inspected the structure, has concluded the
by introducing new techniques.
developed in support of effective assessment
building can support the panels, part of an
St. Jude Catholic School Principal
and instruction. The Realization initiative
electricity-producing solar energy project
Marlene Picard explained recently to
provides a model that embraces the belief
that was unveiled last year. The renewable
Catholic District School Board of Eastern
that all students can learn, progress, and
energy plan had been put on hold when the
Ontario trustees how the use of a variety of
achieve.
arena was closed temporarily in January
problem solving strategies is helping to
During each session, school teams
when defects in beams were found. Still,
achieve that goal. The project was part of the
worked collaboratively to analyze their
time is not on the side of The Nation
board-wide Realization initiative.
school data, plan appropriate interventions
municipality, which faces possible fines if
In January, 2010, Dr. Michael Fullan and
for students who are not achieving the
the panels are not in place by the end of
provincial standard, and set targets for
April. If the municipality does not meet the
sustained student improvement. The St. Jude
deadline, the Ontario government will
Fire calls rise
problem-solving strategy is a result of the
require that 50 per cent of the material used
Realization process.
come from Ontario. When the system was
newsroom@eap.on.ca
Picard told trustees that results from the
originally approved, Ontario-made panels
P LEASANT C ORNER
Education Quality and Accountability Office
were not available.
(EQAO) assessments prompted the school
to focus on problem solving and math skills.
Members of the Champlain Fire
Expansion talk premature
“Our staff reviewed the EQAO results in
Department handled 59 fires last year, one
math over the last few years. It was noted
more than they responded to in 2009.
richard.mahoney@eap.on.ca
that the students required implicit teaching
The Vankleek Hill brigade fought 16
H AWKESBURY
in problem solving.”
residential and 15 commercial blazes, while
The result was the development of a
the L’Orignal firefighters battled 20
method to help students see improved
residential and eight commercial fires last
One of the biggest buildings in Hawkesbury may become even bigger – sometime
results. Teachers instructed students on the
year, according to a report presented by Fire
in the future.
use of problem solving prompts.
Chief Roger Champagne.
Le Groupe Jean Coutu inc. is considering the expansion of its distribution centre on
Picard explained that graphic organizers,
In 2009, there were 18 residential and
Tupper Street, Mayor René Berthiaume said at a recent town council meeting. However,
a visual means to view and solve a problem,
nine commercial fires reported in L’Orignal
the company has for the moment no plans to add to the facility, says Hélène Bisson, vice-
are being used in the school. “Students used
while there were 20 residential and 11
president, communications, with Le Groupe Jean Coutu (PJC) inc. When PJC built its
pictures, words, and numbers to solve
commercial fires reported in the area served
250,000-square-foot facility in 2005, the firm referred to plans to add phases 2 and 3, says
problems. This really allows them to focus
by the Vankleek Hill-based firefighters.
economic development director Marc Chénier. Berthiuame relates that during a recent
on specific pieces of information required to
Overall, the Vankleek Hill station handled
visit to the centre, Pharmacie Jean Coutu officials mentioned the possibility of tripling the
solve the problem.”
115 calls, including 26 medical emergencies
size of the building. No plans have been presented to the town, relates Marc Chénier.
Two problem-solving tasks have been
and 31 motor vehicle accidents.
Phases 2 and 3 would be built on the east side of the centre, on land straddling the
administered with the results showing
The L’Orignal brigade responded to 70
boundary between Hawkesbury and Champlain Township.
implicit teaching does support students’
calls, including 15 medical emergencies and
ability to problem-solve in math. Between
12 motor vehicle accidents.
each of the tasks, teachers studied the results
LAURENTIAN
Grenville (Qc) 819-242-3131
in order to plan specific lessons addressing
Canoe
key areas of concern.
CINEMA
One class’s results were outlined showing
Race
an increase in the students’ abilities to
ROY DUPUIS ALL MOVIE STARTING APRIL 1
problem solve using the graphic organizers.
En français
“However, the results are dependent on the
newsroom@eap.on.ca
L’INSTINCT DE LA MORT
math strand used. We will continue with the
W ILLIAMSTOWN
implicit teaching,” said Picard.
To demonstrate the success of the method,
Sunday, April 17 is the official date of
the principal presented a video featuring
th Annual Raisin River Canoe Race,
the 39
Grade 4 student Madeleine Fortin. “The
the longest race of its kind in Eastern
video clearly shows that Madeleine
Ontario.
understands the material. She is able to
The race is a real crowd-pleaser as
communicate what she has learned through
competitors paddle the rushing waters from
the graphic organizer, and state how she
St. Andrews West to Williamstown.
arrived at her conclusions. It is a wonderful
Everyone is invited to participate, starting
way to see how each student has a unique
with a pre-race breakfast hosted by the
method of retaining information.”
Knights of Columbus Council 10416, at the
Director of Education William Gartland
St. Andrews Parish Hall from 8:30 a.m. to
said the video is a clear indicator that the
12:00 noon. The cost is $5.00 per adult or
FRI. AND SAT. AT 7:30 SUN. AND WEEKDAY AT 7:00 SUNDAY MATINEE AT 1:30
method is effective. “This video is an
$3.00 for children 12 and under.
outstanding way to demonstrate practices.
Registration will take place at the St.
It is apparent, just by looking at the student,
Andrews Catholic School starting at 8:30
that she has grasped the concepts being
a.m. to 10:30 a.m. The cost to participate in
LOVE IS NEVER UGLY
taught, resulting in a successful outcome.
the event is $30 per canoe/kayak. Visit
She is confident in her responses. It’s exciting
www.rrca.on.ca to print and complete a
as a teacher to see a child articulate what
registration form in advance, to attach to
they have learned.”
your payment the morning of the event.
A copy of the video was given to Dr.
The starting gun will fire at 10:30 a.m.
Sharratt, who has now shared it with other
sharp.
school systems in North America and Europe
Classes include Pro, 17 Foot Open, Men’s
as an example of successfully implementing
Rec,Woman’sRec,MixedRec,Adult/Youth,
a targeted strategy.
Student (men’s, women’s and mixed) and
Picard said, “We are honoured to share
Kayak. A trophy will also be awarded to the
our practice. We are very proud to show the
high school or intermediate school with the
improvement in our students’ abilities
most participants.
through the methods we have been using. ”
The finishers’ banquet will be held in
Gartland explained that the Realization
Williamstown, at St. Mary’s Hall from 3 p.m.
initiative is showing far-reaching results.
to 6 p.m. where the medals will be awarded
“These strategies work. This is only one
at the end of the day. A spaghetti dinner will
example of what is happening system-wide.
www.cinemaclock.com Quebec Grenville FRI. & SAT. AT 7:30 SUN. & WEEKDAY AT 7:00 SUNDAY MATINEE AT 1:30
be served during the banquet. The dinner/
Each school within our board has identified
banquet will be opened to the public.
a challenge and discussed how the entire
If you don’t intend to paddle in the race
Catholic school community can work
itself, you are encouraged to walk, run or
together to make a difference. I look forward
drive to a point along the route to watch the
to sharing more stories of success as the year
action and cheer the paddlers on.
progresses.”
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