1. Presentation to Teachers
The CLC Approach
Presentation to Teachers
February 2016

2. Origins of the CLC Initiative
Initiative is funded by Heritage Canada  MELS  LEARN  English school boards  CLC Schools
 to improve the vitality of English speaking communities across Quebec  to leverage schools as last remaining English institutions within their communities
 Increased community vitality is believed to positively influence student success

3. What is a CLC School? What makes it special?
A CLC is not a place, but an approach to community and school improvement based on the establishment of mutually reinforcing partnerships. While many schools have been building partnerships for years, in CLC schools, there is a coordinator dedicated to the task.
These partnerships help CLC schools and their communities to better leverage existing resources and/or introduce new ones to meet existing needs
Example for teachers: teachers at the school might alert the coordinator to the fact that students entering the school aren’t K ready. Meanwhile, English speaking community members don’t have access to early childhood, literacy based activities in English. The coordinator may therefore work with partners to put a Mother Goose program in place at the school. This would help to meet both a need of the community and the school. Additional benefit is that parents get to know the school and its staff beforehand.

4. The CLC Approach
Much – if not all - of what CLC coordinators do is enable team efforts.
CLC coordinators do not exist in isolation from their school(s). They are meant to be another helpful member of the school team.

5. CLC Impact Areas Student health and wellbeing
Improved sense of belonging
Student engagement in the classroom
Student engagement in the community
Community engagement in the school
Family support and engagement
Partnerships and community vitality
These 7 impact areas reflect the diverse focus of our partners.

6. The CLC Approach
“Getting everyone involved to make the same movie!” Francis Ford Coppola

7. What helps a child succeed in school?
Take a moment to reflect on one of the major reasons that the Initiative came to life.
Probe for answers (what else?) that help to illustrate environmental influences (i.e., why it is important to work holistically - with families, community and partners).

8. Environmental Influences
Family support
Socio-economic conditions
Health and wellbeing
Access to health and social services
Community vitality
Sense of belonging
Political context
There are a number of ‘outside’ influences that can influence student success…
Family support  does a child have access to homework help at home?
Community vitality  are there work opportunities available that allow for support family stability?
Health and wellbeing  do students have access to healthy food choices and exercise opportunities?

9. School Community Partnerships
This complex reality makes school-community partnerships all the more important. Community organizations/individuals living in the community often share certain goals with the school – for example, health partners like your local CLSC are actively trying to foster healthy habits in youth. This is a goal schools everywhere share – by coming together, everyone’s job is that much easier. Health partners like these can be invited into the classroom to share knowledge with students, they sometimes have funding for special projects and can sometimes provide material like educational pamphlets or workbooks.
It all starts with a common agenda…

10. Collective Impact Education has an important place at the table.
As educators working in schools, you see first hand societal challenges and opportunities, and interact daily with youth and families. Teachers are on the ground advocates who can help others in their communities to better understand the needs of students and their families.
Partnerships can also help teachers to receive additional support from community organizations and community members.
Teachers can help create opportunities for young people to contribute to our communities with their knowledge, energy and enthusiasm.

11. Benefits of CLC Approach - Students
Students in CLC schools report:
Higher levels of engagement
Increased sense of belonging
Student voice is amplified
School attendance is more regular
School environment has improved
Some of the things that our data is telling us about the benefits of the CLC approach for students
Source: TTFM Comparative Analysis (2014), Qu’Anglo Report (2014), CHSSN - Minority English Language Framework 2014

12. Benefits of CLC Approach - Parents
Over half of parents in CLC schools report:
Feeling more welcome in the CLC school with new opportunities to participate in school life 
An improved awareness of community resources, services and experts available in English in their communities.
Source: West Ed, 2010; Qu’Anglo 2014

13. Benefits of CLC approach - Community
Enhanced access to school building for lifelong learning and community events/activities
School becomes an access point for service providers.
A lot of community members, including but not limited to parents, play a critical role in shaping the community our youth grow up in. Community vitality contributes directly to a students likelihood of succeeding.

14. Community Based Service Learning - CBSL
A learning strategy that uses the local community as a classroom learning resource
Allows students the opportunity to apply what they learn in the classroom by addressing local community issues
The CLC approach has led to the adoption of a teaching strategy called community based service learning. Most teachers have found CBSL to be an ideal way to engage in school-community partnerships.

15. Community Based Learning
FYI…
Community Based Learning
Service Learning
This teaching strategy is inspired by the work of teachers. CBSL is really a blending of two well established approaches. So like combining a labrador with a poodle…you get......

16. Community Based Service Learning
A labradoodle! CBSL takes the best of both CBL and SL to help drive student engagement and learning while simultaneously helping to keep our communities alive (vital)...a place where students have a sense of belonging and can envision a future for themselves.

17. CBSL CBSL is not an add-on – but is complimentary to the curriculum
May not be appropriate all the time - but it can often be a great fit.
GrEAU - Hydroponic-based Agricultural Business
Mecatina CLC School
Living Map Project
Pierre Elliott Trudeau CLC School

18. Volunteering vs. Community–Based Service Learning
If students collect trash off a riverbank, they are providing a valued service to the community as volunteers.
Let’s pause and reflect on an important distinction.

19. Volunteering vs. Community–Based Service Learning
If students collect trash from a riverbank, analyze their findings with local fisherman, and share the results with residents, they are engaged in community-based service learning.
Grade 6 students at Gaspe Elementary - Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup

20. Benefits of CBSL
Students demonstrate more enthusiasm on school days involving a CBSL project
Community partners provide specialized knowledge/expertise/resources
CBSL projects can be embedded into most subjects at every grade level
Accommodates diverse learning styles
In 2013, 81% of teachers participating in CBSL projects report that their students demonstrate more enthusiasm on school days involving the project
70% report more engagement from typically disengaged students
The experiential nature of CBSL projects allows for diverse students to shine and experience success-hands on
CBSL contributes to the development of school-community partnerships

21. School-Community Gardens

22. Intergenerational -Healthy Eating

23. How can CLC coordinators support CBSL projects?
Help identify authentic need;
Connect teachers with community experts and resources;
Identify videoconferencing opportunities that support the curriculum;  
Secure special funding and assist with project planning.
Emphasize partner roles here. Mention $2000 per CLC to support CBSL, health, aboriginal and intergenerational grant here (if available at the time of presentation).

24. To learn more about the CLC Initiative or how you can get involved with CBSL projects…
Contact your CLC school coordinator
Check out this blog: clc- blog.learnquebec.ca