EQAO Profiles the Hard Work and Dedication of Four Schools in Eastern Ontario

EASTERN ONTARIO, Sept. 12, 2012 /CNW/ - "Data is a critical tool used to guide our progress," said Brennan Trainor, principal at Renfrew County Catholic District School Board's St. Joseph Catholic High School, discussing how EQAO data assist in identifying areas where interventions are needed in his school. "It reveals what needs to be done and shapes our next steps to provide quality instruction for our students. Using information from classroom, board and EQAO assessments, we will continue to refine our practice to increase our achievement in both the academic and applied levels."

St. Joseph Catholic High School is one of four schools in eastern Ontario being profiled in the Education Quality and Accountability Office's (EQAO's) Provincial Reports, released today, for their committed efforts toward improving student achievement. The other three schools are the Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board's Centennial Secondary School, Ottawa-Carleton District School Board's Elmdale Public School and the Ottawa Catholic District School Board's St. Emily Catholic School. The 27 schools being profiled this year are notable for their leadership, data-driven strategies and whole-school approaches to helping every child succeed. Although faced with its own unique circumstances, each profiled school has adopted an action plan to work toward improved student outcomes using provincial assessment results as a guide.

Assessments of Reading, Writing and Mathematics, Primary Division (Grades 1-3) and Junior Division (Grades 4-6)

• Elmdale Public School, Chatham
  "Using EQAO data has allowed us to start conversations and to be very specific in targeting the areas of need and making the most efficient use of time, when teaching kids, so we make sure all students are moving forward."
  —Suzie Robertson, principal

• St. Emily Catholic School, Ottawa
  "You have to believe that data is crucial in bringing kids along. You've got to use the data to decide what your school needs to get better. Make curriculum your focus."
  —Micheline Harvey, principal

Grade 9 Assessment of Mathematics

• St. Joseph Catholic High School, Renfrew
  "Data is a critical tool used to guide our progress. It reveals what needs to be done and shapes our next steps to provide quality instruction for our students. Using information from classroom, board and EQAO assessments, we will continue to refine our practice to increase our achievement in both the academic and applied levels."
  —Brennan Trainor, principal

Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test

• Centennial Secondary School, Belleville
  "We have a passion for literacy, and teach literacy the same way in geography as we do in science and in English. We teach literacy skills to make children successful, not only on the OSSLT, but in all their courses."
  —Ian Press, principal

"EQAO results not only help schools identify areas of student learning that need attention, they also help them gauge the effectiveness of their improvement efforts," said Marguerite Jackson, EQAO's Chief Executive Officer. "The schools being profiled this year will surely inspire other schools and their communities across the province."

Some of the common factors in addressing the literacy and numeracy needs of students that the profiled schools have identified are professional learning communities; data-driven decision making; a whole-school approach to literacy, numeracy and student achievement; small-group learning for literacy and numeracy; differentiated instruction; high-quality teaching; early intervention; tracking of all student progress; parental involvement; the coordination of school and board improvement planning and the implementation of Ministry of Education initiatives.

The provincial news release "Ontario Students Demonstrate High Proficiency in Literacy. Success in Math Not Keeping Pace" and a backgrounder are also available.

Results for all publicly funded elementary and secondary schools and their school boards are available on EQAO's web site.

Les résultats des écoles de langue française sont disponibles en français.

SOURCE: Education Quality and Accountability Office

For further information:

For further information and to arrange interviews, please contact

Katia Collette
Senior Communications Officer
416-212-7047
[email protected]