2. First Principal’s Presentation to School Council Monday, September 14, 2009

3. Mission Samuel W. Shaw School is a collaborative community of learners creating an innovative environment to facilitate active & meaningful learning for all. Samuel W. Shaw School is a collaborative community of learners creating an innovative environment to facilitate active & meaningful learning for all.

4. Vision Samuel W. Shaw School provides opportunities to achieve success in an ever-changing world. Samuel W. Shaw School provides opportunities to achieve success in an ever-changing world.

5. Whose in our school? 524 Students in Total 524 Students in Total 133 grade 5s 133 grade 5s 143 grade 6s 143 grade 6s 134 grade 7s 134 grade 7s 115 grade 8s 115 grade 8s 26 Teaching Staff 26 Teaching Staff 10 Support Staff 10 Support Staff

6. Who are the learners? 26% of grade 5 are ESL & 20% have identified Learning needs 26% of grade 5 are ESL & 20% have identified Learning needs 24% of grade 6 are ESL & 22% have identified Learning needs 24% of grade 6 are ESL & 22% have identified Learning needs 25% of grade 7 are ESL & 22% have identified Learning needs 25% of grade 7 are ESL & 22% have identified Learning needs 31% of grade 8 are ESL & 13% have identified Learning needs31% of grade 8 are ESL & 13% have identified Learning needs

7. First Weeks Excitement: Building a culture of belonging and learning All school assembly on the First Thursday All school assembly on the First Thursday Buddy lunch and activities Buddy lunch and activities Stampede Breakfast by Downtown Attractions! Stampede Breakfast by Downtown Attractions!

8. What’s Learning Like for your Students? Every grade level is working on an inquiry question related to the concept of Identity! All subjects are related to a topic of meaning for students.

9. What’s Learning Like for your Students? Technology is embedded in most learning opportunities. Technology is embedded in most learning opportunities. We endeavour to teacher students of the 21 st Century in ways we know they learn…..This means: We endeavour to teacher students of the 21 st Century in ways we know they learn…..This means: –We have a digital reference library on-line –We make extensive use of digital cameras, I-pods, centios, smartboards and computers so students can demonstrate their learning in many ways.

10. Why don’t our students have textbooks? Textbooks are outdated the day they are produced! Textbooks are outdated the day they are produced! Textbooks are not the most interesting way to learn anything! Textbooks are not the most interesting way to learn anything! We believe that students learn by doing & exploring! Few textbooks lend themselves to this! We believe that students learn by doing & exploring! Few textbooks lend themselves to this!

11. If our students don’t have textbooks how will I know what they are doing? Teachers will be making extensive use of D2L – our online communication tool with parents and students to detail what students are working on. Teachers will be making extensive use of D2L – our online communication tool with parents and students to detail what students are working on. Log on to the schools website and click on the D2L button. With your students Id number and password, you can see when an assignment is due and what they are working on! Log on to the schools website and click on the D2L button. With your students Id number and password, you can see when an assignment is due and what they are working on!

12. Can our students bring in their own Laptops? Yes Yes No server access right now, however by mid November we should be able to give students access to the internet. No server access right now, however by mid November we should be able to give students access to the internet. School won’t be responsible for damages or theft. School won’t be responsible for damages or theft. Teachers are not computer technicians! Teachers are not computer technicians! Laptops are for learning at school not playing games! Laptops are for learning at school not playing games!

13. What is CTS anyway? CTS stands for Career and Technology Studies…. CTS stands for Career and Technology Studies…. When I was in school we referred to these classes a shop or cooking! When I was in school we referred to these classes a shop or cooking!

14. Other questions! What’s Happening in the grade 5 & 6 Lunchroom? What’s Happening in the grade 5 & 6 Lunchroom? –More students than anticipated. –Students must pay to stay – –Adding more seating with benches and chairs. –Hiring more Lunchroom supervisors

15. What happens with H1N1? Confirmed cases are to be reported by the medical professional to Alberta Health Services. Confirmed cases are to be reported by the medical professional to Alberta Health Services. When they are confirmed cases, AHS contacts the school. When they are confirmed cases, AHS contacts the school. We are advised by the health authority and the appropriate response. We are advised by the health authority and the appropriate response.

16. When can we start volunteering? We really value and want parent volunteers! We really value and want parent volunteers! Without parent volunteers we couldn’t have made the hotdog lunch, stampede breakfast and SUTP books sales work. Without parent volunteers we couldn’t have made the hotdog lunch, stampede breakfast and SUTP books sales work. We have to go through 524 students to ensure parents have appropriate volunteer clearance. This is taking a while. We have to go through 524 students to ensure parents have appropriate volunteer clearance. This is taking a while.

17. Volunteering As soon as the office gets through the paper blizzard we will be letting the Volunteer Coordinator know. As soon as the office gets through the paper blizzard we will be letting the Volunteer Coordinator know. Thank you for your interest. Thank you for your interest.

18. Can we lengthen the lunch time? We are working with transportation to revise the school hours. We are working with transportation to revise the school hours. We would like to start school at 9:00 am. We would like to start school at 9:00 am. Add 5 minutes to the lunch time, so walkers have a bit more time. Add 5 minutes to the lunch time, so walkers have a bit more time. Take 5 minutes from morning break and end 5 minutes earlier. Take 5 minutes from morning break and end 5 minutes earlier. I will let you know as soon as I get confirmation from transportation. I will let you know as soon as I get confirmation from transportation.

19. A High Tech school and what it means for parent communication! We will post newsletter and other important dates and notices on our Website. We will post newsletter and other important dates and notices on our Website. When we get all the email addresses entered into our system, you will get an email reminder to check every month. When we get all the email addresses entered into our system, you will get an email reminder to check every month. D2L is the communication tool regarding homework. Parents are welcome to get on-line to see what’s happening in school. D2L is the communication tool regarding homework. Parents are welcome to get on-line to see what’s happening in school. Interviews are booked on-line Interviews are booked on-line

20. Thank you! The parent feedback and support has been fantastic! The parent feedback and support has been fantastic! Thank you for your interest in the school and support for your students! Thank you for your interest in the school and support for your students!