Lexia Reading Program Presentation
The Board heard first-hand about the difference that the Lexia Reading Program is making for Avon Maitland students.
Presenting was Missy Pfaff (System Vice-Principal, Learning Services), Skye Peck (grade 6 teacher at Stephen Central Elementary School), Madison Bannister (grade 7 student from South Huron Elementary School and former student of Ms. Peck’s), Erica Bannister (grade 4 student from Stephen Central Public School), Kerry Bannister (Madison and Erica’s mom) and Donna Gregus (Principal of Stephen Central Public School).
Both Ms. Peck and Ms. Gregus remarked on how quickly a notable improvement could be seen in the initial 7 readers that began with the program last January. At the beginning of the year in Ms. Peck’s class, only 5 students out of 20 were reading at Grade level. By the end of the year however, only 3 missed the mark of accomplishing the level required. Standardized testing by the Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) mirrored their findings as the data revealed a dramatic jump in engagement with Ms. Peck’s students – 85% exceeded the provincial average in reading and 75% exceeded the provincial average in writing.
It helped me a lot and got me ready for Grade 7 – Madison Bannister
Missy Pfaff told the Board that 75% of Avon Maitland schools are using Lexia and that the rollout continues as more licenses are being allocated to elementary schools. The program at this point is being used as an intervention rather than a blanket approach to learning.
Madison became much more fluent in reading. When she got home from school she immediately wanted to complete her daily minutes (100 per week) on the program. My daughter Erica found the worksheets so fun that she worked on them throughout the summer – Kerry Bannister (Madison and Erica’s mom)
Ms. Gregus applauded both Skye Peck for her phenomenal leadership in the classroom and Kerry Bannister for her unwavering leadership and encouragement in the home. She emphasized that, with programs like Lexia, a home and school partnership is key and that Madison’s and Erica’s academic success is due to the joint efforts of these two women.
About Lexia
Lexia’s Core 5 supports educators in providing differentiated literacy instruction for students of all abilities in grades pre-K–5. Lexia’s research-proven program provides explicit, systematic, personalized learning in the six areas of reading instruction, targeting skill gaps as they emerge, and providing teachers with the data and student-specific resources they need for individual or small-group instruction.
- Engages and motivates students in a game-like environment
- Provides progress-monitoring data without administering a test
- Accessible via iPad, Android tablets, Chromebook, browser, or download
Lexia Strategies is designed for struggling readers in grades 6 and above who are having difficulty with their fundamental literacy skills. Using a simple, age-appropriate interface, the program begins with skills at the first-grade level, covering basic phonological awareness through advanced decoding skills, vocabulary development, and comprehension activities. Students work independently to develop reading skills in a structured, sequential manner while teachers receive the data and resources they need to support intervention and direct instruction.
- Engages and motivates students in a mature, age-appropriate environment
- Provides progress-monitoring data without administering a test
- Accessible via iPad, Android tablets, Chromebook, browser, or download
Good News
12 members of our Central Administration team set off on a road trip today.
Visiting Stratford Northwestern Secondary School and Anne Hathaway Public School, the crux of the trip was to give them (as staff working outside of the school environment) the opportunity to see first-hand the effect of their work in schools, to experience how the inclusion of all students is being embraced and delivered and to connect the dots of how the Board’s strategic plan plays out in school and student life.
“It was also a chance to finally put faces to the names of people we’ve worked with for years”, emphasized one road-tripper. A similar trip to other schools is in the works for Spring to allow more central staff to go, to connect with students and teachers and to see their work come to life.
Approval of Tender: Heating Propane and Equipment
Five Avon Maitland school locations require propane for heating purposes. The five schools are: Brookside PS, Howick Central PS, Milverton PS, Mornington Central PS and North Easthope PS. The most recent tendered three-year contract to provide propane and propane storage tanks expired on March 31, 2016. Given the expiration of this contract, Procurement Services staff issued a Request for Tender (RFT) to supply propane and propane storage tanks on September 16, 2016 for the five buildings.
Based on the review of the submissions received and the estimated annual cost, staff are recommending that the three-year contract in supplying propane and propane storage tanks to the five school locations be awarded to Primemax Energy Inc.
The Board moved to award the three-year contract for five school locations for the supply of propane and propane storage tanks to Primemax Energy Inc., for the tendered price of $0.242 per litre for propane for the first year of the contract and $0.00 per month for storage tank rental for the duration of the contract.
Please see the full report.
Primary Class Size Plan – Elementary Class Size Reporting
In staffing the elementary schools, school staff are generated by a formula in the spring, using official projected enrolment (OPE). An analysis of class sizes is conducted at that time, using projections, to assess adherence to both Collective Agreement and Ministry of Education requirements. Once actual student enrolment data is available the first week of school in September, a second review of class sizes is conducted and additional staff, if necessary, are added.
Avon Maitland DSB’s filing of the Primary Class Size Plan on October 11, 2016, based on actual student enrolment at September 30, 2016, indicates achievement in all required areas as set out by the Ministry of Education:
- 90.07% of Primary classes (Grades 1 to Grades 3) have 20 or fewer students;
- 100% of all Primary classes (Grades 1 to Grades 3) and Grade . classes have 23 or fewer students;
- The Board-wide average size of FDK classes is 25.51 students; and
- The Board-wide Junior/Intermediate (Grades 3/4 to Grades 8) average class size is 25.85 students.
Enrolment data will be shared with the Board following the October 31, 2016, Ministry submission and a review of class sizes will be conducted using enrolment data as at October 31, 2016, to ensure that they have remained within Collective Agreement requirements.
Future Board Meetings
(at Education Centre unless otherwise noted)
- Tuesday, October 25, 2016 – 8:00 p.m. Regular Board Session
- Tuesday, November 8, 2016 – 5:00 p.m. Audit Committee, 8:00 p.m. Regular Board Session
- Tuesday, November 22, 2016 – 6:00 p.m. Committee of the Whole – Open Session, 8:00 p.m. Regular Board Session
Future Meetings/Events with Trustee Representation
(at Education Centre unless otherwise noted)
- SAL: Tuesday, October 25, 2016 – 9:00 a.m.
- Director’s Selection Committee: Tuesday, October 25, 2016 – 2:30 p.m.
- Director’s Review Committee: Tuesday, October 25, 2016 – 5:00 p.m.
- Student Senate Committee and Trustees: Tuesday, October 25, 2016 – 7:30 p.m.
- SEAC: Wednesday, November 2, 2016 – 4:00 p.m.
- Audit Committee: Tuesday, November 8, 2015 – 5:00 p.m.