HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2007-10-04, Page 28School boards across Ontariorecently revealed the success rates oftheir students in the 2006-07versions of the annual standardized
Grade 3 and 6 math, reading and
writing tests, and Grade 9 math tests,
from the Education Quality and
Accountability Office (EQAO). And
a province-wide “plateau” of
elementary results was mirrored by
both publicly funded school boards
in Huron and Perth Counties.
“There is some concern being
expressed over the leveling off of the
results in Grades 3 and 6 for writing
and mathematics,” stated a news
release from the Avon Maitland
District School Board.
A similar news release from the
Huron-Perth Catholic District
School Board noted, “after four
years of significant improvement
and progress, we have experienced
some decline in our scores.”
Of particular note for the Catholic
board was a success rate of 61 per
cent among Grade 3 students in the
writing test, down from 73 per cent
in 2005-06. The average success rate
across the province, meanwhile,
remained at 64 per cent both years.
Grade 3 and 6 reading success
rates were also down for the
Catholic board compared to 2005-
06, as were success rates in Grade 6
reading and math.
Grade 3 math was the only
discipline in which students in 2006-
07 achieved success at par with
students from the previous year – at
80 per cent.
It’s important to note, however,
that in only one of the six disciplines
– Grade 3 writing – was the Huron-
Perth success rate lower than that of
the average Ontario school board.
“As a board, we still surpass the
provincial average,” explained
education superintendent Martha
Dutrizac, following a regular board
meeting Monday, Sept. 24. She
noted the board ranks very near the
top among Ontario’s school boards
in some disciplines, including the
success rate in reading for Grade 6
students with special needs, and “we
continue to celebrate those
successes.”
The Avon Maitland board news
release, meanwhile, boasted of
“significant” improvement in one of
the elementary disciplines: Grade 6
reading.
Success rates were up five points
from the previous year, with 69 per
cent of students achieving success.
There was also a two percentage
point improvement in success rates
in Grade 3 math.
For the most part, however, theAvon Maitland elementary resultshovered at or slightly below theprovincial average, with little changefrom last year.“The scores pretty mucheverywhere across the province have
plateaued,” explained Dutrizac. She
said the education ministry needs to
begin taking seriously the idea of
putting in place increased supports
for teachers in these areas.
The education superintendent also
told trustees at the Sept. 24 meeting
that she hopes to use the latest
information to highlight schools
where the leveling-off or decline in
success rates is most evident.
“There are a few disappointments
in terms of particular schools (and)
we feel we need to put in place a
pretty aggressive and rigorous plan
to address those schools’ needs.”
In results from the EQAO’s 2006-
07 Grade 9 math test, meanwhile,
students from both local boards once
again succeeded at rates above the
provincial average.
And as has been the case for
several years, Avon Maitland
students fared particularly well.
In the academic stream, 83 per
cent of Avon Maitland Grade 9s and
76 per cent of Huron-Perth Catholic
students achieved success. Province-
wide, 75 per cent passed the
standardized academic-level test.
In the applied stream, 56 per cent
of students from the Avon Maitland
board and 52 per cent from the
Catholic board achieved success.
The provincial rate was just 35 per
cent.
“Specifically, the students and
staff at St. Marys’schools need to be
commended, as the secondary
school results were exceptional,”
noted the Avon Maitland news
release. “Ninety-seven per cent of
academic students at DCVI reached
standard or higher and 68 per cent of
applied students, a number almost
double the provincial average.”
According to Huron-Perth
secondary superintendent Dan Parr,
the Catholic board will concentrate
on two things in an attempt to
“sustain that progress and to make
further progress” in Grade 9 math.
He told trustees that
communication with elementary
teachers and parents will be
improved, to enable graduating
Grade 8 students to make better
decisions about which high school
math courses to pursue.
And he explained “literacy” is
becoming an increasingly important
aspect of all high school
curriculums, including math, so
efforts will be made to promote
literacy through math teaching.
Away they go
Hullett Central Public School ran the Terry Fox run last week, raising money and awareness
for cancer research, as all of the schools in the area did. The weather was windy, but it was
sunny as the kids took off, Canadian flags in hand for their run. (Shawn Loughlin photo)
PAGE 28. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2007.
Habitat for Humanity Huron
County (HFH HC) is taking steps on
a number of fronts that indicate
2008 will be a busy year for the
organization.
The group announces that its next
build will be in Goderich. A site on
Bruce Street has been selected and a
group of volunteers has put up a
sign on the site. In addition, HFH
HC has announced that it plans to
build a “re-store” in Goderich as
well. A re-store is a retail operation
that accepts donations of building
materials and then sells them to the
public.
All profits after operational
expenses go to fund more Habitat
houses. Negotiations are currently
underway to secure a suitable site
for the operation.
A beef barbecue luncheon to
support the Goderich build will be
held on Oct. 17 at the Knights of
Columbus Hall in Goderich. All
proceeds will go towards the latest
Habitat house on Bruce Street.
The luncheon will take place from
11:30 to 1 p.m.
Fresh off another successful build
in Hensall, HFH HC has also
announced that after the 2008 build
in Goderich, Exeter will be the site
of the 2009 build. HFH HC has been
successful not only because of the
hard work of its volunteer base, but
also because of the generous support
of many individuals, businesses,
schools, faith groups and others in
Huron County.
“The response has been
overwhelming,” states HFH HC
chair Terry Taylor, “The Goderich
volunteer base is beginning to take
shape and we have a great core of
people there who are already
working hard towards our goals in
Goderich.”
Local boards mirror EQAO province-wide plateau
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Habitat plans take shape