Good News
United Arab Emirates (UAE) Eyes Our Inclusion Practices
Ministry level education representatives from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are on a mission to bring greater levels of inclusive education to their school districts. They recently visited Canada to experience various inclusive practices and how to implement them and sought advice from school boards that are championing this cause.
The Canadian Centre of Inclusive Education at Western University suggested that the contingent visit Avon Maitland as a leader in the field.
“The education landscape in the UAE is changing at a very fast pace. There is a very unprecedented educational reform going on on all levels” says Mohamed Helmi Gritli, Advisor – Minister of State for General Education. “The quality that is expected from educators and leaders in education needs to be elevated to international standards, and everyone needs to take responsibility to achieve those goals.”
Members of the delegation are looking at promising practices of inclusion to fulfil their commitment of long-term inclusive education in their school districts.
Members from the UAE met with Learning for All coaches and other systems leaders and toured some of our Secondary Schools to observe various practices first hand.
Communication and Advocacy Plan 2017/2018
The Avon Maitland District School Board is committed to improving communications.
Trustees reviewed their Communications and Advocacy Plan during the Committee of the Whole, Open Session on September 26, 2017.
Please see the revised Communications and Advocacy plan.
Elementary Class Size Reporting – Requirements and Compliance
Avon Maitland DSB’s filing of the Elementary Class Size Report on September 27, 2017, based on actual student enrolment at September 27, 2017, indicates achievement in all areas required by the Ministry. Specific results are as follows:
- 92.2 % 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 3/4 classes have 23 or fewer students;
- The Board-wide average size of FDK (Full-Day Kindergarten) classes is 25.67 students; and
- The Board-wide Junior/Intermediate (Grades 3/4 to Grades 8) average class size is 25.57 students.
All Collective Agreement class size requirements have been met at this time.
Updated enrolment data will be shared with the Board following the October 31, 2017 Ministry submission.
A further formal review of elementary class sizes will be conducted using enrolment data as at October 31, 2017, to ensure that class sizes continue to be in accordance with Collective Agreement requirements.
Please see the Elementary Class Size Report.
Future Board Meetings
(at Education Centre unless otherwise noted)
- October 24, 2017 – 5:00 p.m. Committee of the Whole, Open Session, 7:30 p.m. Regular Board Session
- November 14, 2017 – 5:00 p.m. Audit Committee, 6:30 p.m., 7:30 p.m. Regular Board Session
Future Meetings/Events with Trustee Representation
(at Education Centre unless otherwise noted)
- AODA: Wednesday, October 11, 2017 – 4:00 p.m.
- PIC re School Council Orientation: Wednesday, October 18, 2017 – 6:15 p.m.