School division hopes to improve graduation rates, student relations with strategic plan

To better graduation rates, academic scores, First Nations and Metis relations and student engagement, the Northwest School Division (NWSD) has a strategic plan to reach the goals previously set out in 2013.

Kaitlin Harman, the division’s communications officer, said by the end of the 2020 school year, the NWSD hopes to see at least 90 per cent of its students graduate from high school. They also aim to have 82 per cent of students entering Grade 4 meet the appropriate learning levels for reading, writing and math.

“In schools Grade 9 to 12 students develop a graduation plan. They do career planning using www.saskcareers.ca,” Harman said. Carpenter High School could soon receive a graduation councillor in the fall to help students who might struggle to graduate on time.

“We also have opportunities where students who have not received a credit have the opportunity to do credit recovery. The school has a plan for working towards attaining that credit where students may not have to complete the whole course, just components they previously missed,” Harman said.

Currently the NWSD sees an average of 81 per cent of its students graduate each year.

Trades in Sask.

Skilled trades need not limited to building homes

Apr 17, 2024

Raising concerns

Battlefords and Meadow Lake MPs weigh in on new federal budget

Apr 17, 2024

Tragic events

Sask. Gov't confirms investigation after former Pine Grove inmate passes away in hospital

Apr 16, 2024

To help students achieve reading, writing and math grade scores, schools within the division have reading teams made up of learning coaches and teachers who use a provincial Sask. Reads programs to help instruct reading.

Harman added a new computer program to help the math programs will be installed on division computers.

Initiatives to help better First Nations and Metis relations include an annual fall culture camp for students aged 11 to 14.

“(They have) an opportunity to learn from First Nations leaders and elders and do cultural activities. They then take what they learned in a framework back to school to share and do some leadership activities,” Harman said.

“We have an excellent elders program where teachers will bring in elders for presentations and workshops with the students,” she added.

The strategic plan is a combination of provincial school division directors and representatives from First Nation organizations and tribal councils coming together to develop common goals for the education system that each school division and authorities are working towards.

“As a province, the sector plan targets kindergarten readiness, First Nations and Metis student achievement, graduation rates, reading, writing, and math scores, (being at Grade level) and as a division we have actions we’re taking in support of those goals,” Harman said.

cswiderski@jpbg.ca

On twitter: @coltonswiderski