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Education wEEk 2018 MESSAGE FROM THE MINISTER

Education Week 2018:

A World of Learning for Every Student

by G ord on Wyant Saskatchewan Minister of Education

October 14 marks the beginning of Education Week in Saskatchewan, an opportunity to celebrate learning, applaud the achievements of our students, and acknowledge the outstanding contributions made by education professionals throughout our province.

This year’s theme – A World of Learning for Every Student – recognizes the multiple pathways to learning that are available to our students and also highlights the tremendous impact of our educators in broadening the horizons and enriching the lives of Saskatchewan students.

Preparing students for future success is at the heart of everything we do. With nearly 190,000 students in our 27 school divisions, and more than 205,000 students province-wide including First Nations students onreserve, our goals outlined in

The Honourable Gordon Wyant, Minister of Education, visits a classroom in one of Saskatchewan’s 27 school divisions.

S u ppl i ed ph oto

the Education Sector Strategic Plan are tied to ensuring each of these students reach their full potential. The positive results can be seen in improved reading levels and graduation rates. The latest data shows a 10 per cent increase in Grade 3 students reading at or above grade level compared to 2013, and

the provincial graduation rate is the highest it has been in 20 years. But the results can also be seen in the inspiring achievements of our students and the innovative student-driven initiatives being created in our province.

Students from across the province are actively engaged in their learning.

We have a high school student in Fort Qu’Appelle who implemented a successful breakfast program for her fellow students through her Leadership 30 class. There are six Saskatchewan high school groups who received awards for their student-led initiatives in areas ranging from peer counselling and mentorship to mental health and bullying. And three Saskatchewan students receiving the prestigious Schulich Leader Scholarships which recognize their achievements as future innovators in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

Whether their efforts are acknowledged publicly or not, whether it is through their academic achievements or their community involvement, we recognize that every student has the ability to be an innovator, a difference maker and a future leader.

As a government, we are proud of the work our teachers do in classrooms across the province to ensure learning is accessible and engaging to all stu-

dents. We know that education in Saskatchewan is not one-size-fits-all. Unique challenges in classrooms throughout the province demand innovative solutions. Our education sector has risen to that challenge, offering a variety of options, learning methods, and locally developed approaches to meet the learning needs of every student.

Innovation and renewal are taking place in a number of areas. Curriculum renewal is ongoing, ensuring we have a modernized education system that meets the needs of today’s students.

New instruction in coding and robotics and financial literacy will create additional opportunities for students, offering them more choices after they graduate and better preparing them for the future with its changing economy and advancing technologies.

Renewal and collaboration will continue to be key elements in our education sector moving forward. Our government has committed

to a renewed and respectful relationship with all of our education partners. With an additional $30 million provided for the classrooms in the 2018-19 school year, we are already seeing that financial commitment making a difference in our schools and benefiting students and teachers in the classroom.

Whether you are a parent, a teacher, or a trustee, everyone involved in the education sector shares the common goal of seeing students succeed and build a foundation for their future. In order to continue strengthening our education system, we must continue working together and that means keeping our focus on what matters most – the students.

On behalf of the Government of Saskatchewan, I encourage everyone to take this opportunity during Education Week to acknowledge the important work of our education professionals and to celebrate the many successes and tremendous potential of Saskatchewan students.

Building the foundation for a bright future Saskatoon Public Schools is “open to all” – our classrooms are welcoming learning environments where teachers guide students to build a foundation for a bright and healthy future.

These lessons begin by first introducing the foundations of literacy to our youngest learners. This year, Saskatoon Public Schools has refined its focus on developing the reading and writing skills of students entering the education system. This work includes instruction addressing the five pillars of reading: phonics, phonemic awareness, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension.

Lessons will be planned that include direct instruction and many opportunities for feedback. Students will hone their language skills through an exploration of the various essential forms of writing.

These lessons will allow them to discover the joys of literacy and become lifelong learners.

This renewed focus on developing the reading and writing skills of our young students is supported and led by the collaborative work of the division’s educators, administrators, speech language pathologists and support staff.

Along with building the foundation for reading and writing, our educators are introducing students to their role as members of a democratic society. Through citizenship education, the school division fosters empathetic, respectful, action-oriented students who will employ their learning in the classroom and carry it out into our community.

In recent years, the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission (SHRC) has led a citizenship education project that developed classroomready resources aligned with the existing curriculum. Facets of citizenship education can be found throughout

the Saskatchewan curriculum in social studies, history and Native studies. Saskatoon Public Schools – with guidance from SHRC – has moved this educational focus beyond being kind and tolerant of others to developing deeper critical thinking and empathetic processes. This allows students to compare their own viewpoints and experiences with someone else’s in a classroom environment, which supports analysis, questioning, and deeper understanding.

Sherry Van Hesteren, education consultant for Saskatoon Public Schools, said what students are able to create in the classroom is what our school division hopes they will bring into their world in the future.

“We want the classroom to be a robust, pluralistic democracy,” said Van Hesteren.

Saskatoon Public Schools receives support from the Concentus Citizenship Edu-

This year, Saskatoon Public Schools has refined its focus on developing the reading and writing skills of students entering the education system. p hot o: Sp S cation Foundation to provide Grade 12 will help foster a rea comprehensive learning spect not only for democracy, resource for teachers to use but our increasingly multiin the classroom. The re- cultural and diverse comsource aims to strengthen munity. The resource places the knowledge and skills of a strong emphasis on the students to participate fully rights and responsibilities inin Canadian democracy by herent in the treaty relationfocusing on five Essential ship, and empowers students Citizenship Competencies: to respond to the Truth and Enlightened, Empowered, Reconciliation Commission’s Empathetic, Ethical, and En- Calls to Action. gaged. Developing these comProviding a welcoming petencies in age-appropriate educational environment ways from Kindergarten to for all students means being

responsive to their unique needs. In the 2017-18 school year, Saskatoon Public Schools introduced Indigenous student advocates in three of our collegiates. The Indigenous student advocate’s priority is to support Indigenous students, academically and socially, to successfully transition through and out of school. These teacher leaders work with students and staff to develop Indigenous students’ sense of identity and belonging through supports such as culture, extra-curricular activities and events. Positive feedback and promising results from students has led to a renewal of this program for this school year.

By building a foundation of vital skills and fostering critical thinking and belonging, Saskatoon Public Schools is instilling students with its four key values: respect, excellence, joy and responsibility.

THIS STORY WAS PROVIDED BY SASKATOON PuBLIC SCHOOLS. THIS SECTION WAS CREATED BY CONTENT WORKS, POSTMEDIA’S COMMERCIAL CONTENT DIVISION.

A world of learning for every student.

Education Ed ti W Week k–O Oct. t 14 - 20

Rooted in faith. Growing in knowledge.

Reaching out to transform the world.

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Education wEEk 2018 The world has come to the classroom

Walk the halls of almost any school within Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools and you may hear some unfamiliar sounds coming from classrooms. No, it is not the beginner band classes where notes are sometimes unrecognizable. The sounds are the languages being spoken.

You will hear the familiar English. And most will recognize at least the occasional word coming from coreFrench classrooms or French immersion schools. There will also be languages you may be less familiar with, like Ukrainian from Saskatchewan’s only Ukrainian bilingual school, Bishop Filevich, or Cree from the thriving Cree bilingual school, St. Frances.

Outside of formal learning you are likely to hear conversations taking place in a variety of other languages. Classrooms are naturally a reflection of the larger community.

Saskatchewan has more people immigrating from a wider range of countries. The world has come to the classroom, and it has brought a diversity

to achieve equality – teach every student the same thing the same way. The concept of equity is more prominent now. We want all students to achieve at the same high level, and that means different approaches to learning. It also means being responsive to change and being able to adjust quickly.

Technology in the classroom has helped educators be more flexible and responsive. Asthma-attack-inducing plumes of chalk dust from blackboards have given way to Smartboards (internetconnected whiteboards) that have literally brought the world to the classroom. With few exceptions, the textbook being the primary source of information and method to impart knowledge to students is going by way of the dodo.

Technology is a tool of the trade; much more is needed to make personalization of learning a reality. Gay pointed out that it’s the dedicated work of educators – teachers, counsellors, educational assistants and others – who

Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools have become adept at welcoming new Canadians and teaching English as an additional language. ph oto: G S CS

like we have not seen before.

A decade ago, Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools (GSCS) served a few hundred students who were new to Canada and learning English.

Scott Gay, superintendent of learning at Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools, said that has grown to about 2,500 students who are currently learning English as an additional language. “It presents

challenges to us as a school division, but over the years, we’ve grown quite adept at welcoming new Canadians and teaching English as an additional language.

“You can’t just put a nonEnglish speaking student in the classroom and expect them to keep pace with the rest of the class,” said Gay. “The same can be said for students in a variety of other

scenarios. Each student is different and may require a different approach to how they are being taught.”

Gay said that the division has been able to adapt some things learned from teaching English language learners – like flexible, personalized lesson plans or working in smaller groups – and apply them in other settings.

Years ago, educators tried

use all the various sources and tools at their disposal to develop, execute, and adapt learning plans that lead to student success.

Online learning is playing an increasingly prominent role how education is being received and delivered. Cyber School – Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools’ online and distance education tool – is a viable option for more and more students. Reasons to take online courses vary.

Some may need a convenient way to pick up an extra high school credit. Some may find it easier to learn at their own pace. It may fit a busy schedule better for others. Whatever the reason, the ability to adapt learning through Cyber School is an increasingly popular option. And with more international students using the locally-developed and -operated tool, it is another way the world is coming to the classroom.

As our communities and classrooms continue to adjust, so too will the way we teach and the tools used.

THIS STORY WAS PROVIDED BY GREATER SASKATOON CATHOLIC SCHOOLS.

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Students should implement cyber security practices at home and in school.

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Students need to understand cyber security risks Thanks to advancements in technology, students and educators are increasingly turning to both, tablets and computers when working on daily assignments and classroom activities. Students rely on the internet for research and keeping in touch with teachers and other students, and work is even assigned and completed via digital platforms.

Despite the upside of technology, cyber crime is a potential pitfall of all that time spent online. The internet provides instant access, and that can put students at risk.

According to Verizon’s 2016 Data Breach Investigations Report, the education sector ranked sixth in the United States for the total number of reported “security incidents.” Schools are data-rich, meaning they give hackers access to information like identification numbers, birthdates, email addresses, financial data, medical records, and more.

Students must understand cyber security risks when working and sharing data online. The following are some tips students can follow.

• Protect passwords.

Students are urged to keep their passwords to themselves. This prevents others from using accounts maliciously or even in seemingly harmless ways that can put you in trouble, such as searching for inappropriate content in school. Choose complicated passwords that can’t be easily guessed, and opt for two-step authentication whenever offered.

• Use secured WiFi networks. Free or open WiFi connections are not encrypted, meaning they can be accessed by anyone. Many cy-

ber criminals gain access to information through these channels. Schools should have encrypted systems in place.

• Limit what you share on the internet. Students are urged to be aware of what they share online. According to DataManagement, a computing service, information posted to social media is permanent, and deleted items aren’t necessarily gone. Exercise caution on social media.

Don’t post unless it is something you would be comfortable sharing in public.

• Watch out for phishing scams. Phishing usually occurs through fraudulent email messages that mimic the look of reputable solicitations. Scammers rely on these tactics to tempt people to click on links or download attachments that can put malware on a device and

To stay up-to-date on the news while you’re on the go, download our mobile app for iPhone and Android.

steal personal data. Exercise caution with all links and downloads.

• Schedule routine backups. Data can be lost if a device crashes, so routinely back up personal devices and home computers. Backups can be stored on external hard drives or with cloud services.

• Exercise caution when filesharing. U C S a n t a Cruz’s information technology services says viruses and malware can be transmitted by filesharing software, and files offered by others may not be what they say they are. Only used school-approved filesharing options.

Cyber security is something students should prioritize this school year. The right security measures can protect students, their classmates and their schools.

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At Saskatoon Public Schools, our goal is to see all children and youth discover, develop and act upon their potential.

Saskatoon Public Schools Inspiring Learning Learn how we celebrate our students by reading our Report to the Community at saskatoonpublicschools.ca

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Education wEEk 2018 Education needs to evolve in order to meet the demands of the future

If you haven’t been in a school classroom for a while, in all likelihood it would be quite an eye-opener to say the least.

From the much more diverse student population to the proliferation of technology today’s classroom is all but unrecognizable from just a decade ago.

That’s perhaps to be expected since education has to evolve in order to meet not only today’s needs but those of the future – which few of us can accurately predict in terms of knowing what skills students will need then.

It is not overstating it that in many aspects public education in this province is at a crossroads, and there is much to consider as we embark on celebrating Education Week for another year.

As the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation attempts to build momentum for its Re-Imagine Education campaign, there has been a conscious effort to include a wide array of organizations, several of whom would not necessarily be considered traditional education stakeholders.

In an effort to capture as wide a cross section of the population of the province as possible it is very much intended to be a grassroots initiative that encompasses not just those who have experienced success in the education system, but equally

The Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation (STF) is engaged in a comprehensive research and public consultation process that will “Re-Imagine Education”. The goal is to develop a new vision for the future of public education based on the needs and desires of students, parents and the broader Saskatchewan community. phot o: St F

those who the system has failed.

There is a strong focus on establishing whether education in its current format is meeting the needs

of all society. This means engaging the public in the dialogue as to how they see the role of the school and education – not overlooking the fact that there isn’t

a one-size-fits-all formula since the needs are often as varied as the communities themselves.

Ultimately education is far too complex to be neatly

packaged into a prescriptive, arguably questionable, set of arbitrary goals that in the long run won’t serve the purpose the education system was intended to. Statis-

tics and data can never be the sole formula for success when it comes to education.

The primary goal must always be to produce wellrounded citizens.

The reality is that many of the factors that contribute to student success (or lack of same in some instances) are well outside the purvey of the school itself.

Societal ills such as poverty and inadequate housing, for example, can not be dismissed as mere external factors since they can not be separated from a student’s ability to successfully navigate the education system.

Premier Scott Moe has said that “not a wheel turns in the province without education” and that is undeniably true. Ironically though it’s a simple statement with a complex and often challenging task of how do we enhance the education system.

Ideally, by working collaboratively the future can somehow unfold the way all society can benefit from.

Education is far too important to be considered an expense more so than an investment. It would be in everyone’s best interest to keep that poignant message foremost in our thinking.

Not just during Education Week but all year round.

Most assuredly it is worth our collective interest and imagination. There is rich potential to contribute to our future.

THIS STORY WAS PROVIDED BY THE SASKATCHEWAN TEACHERS’ FEDERATION.

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