Jan 24, 2009:
First release: v3.0!
McNab Public School, located near the town of Arnprior,
serves approximately 320 students from a large rural
catchment area. Most of the students attending this
Kindergarten to Grade 8 school live in single-family homes
with both parents. The school has built strong patterns of
parental involvement that have led to lasting relationships
between parents and the school. Believing all children
can learn once they begin to experience success, staff look
for opportunities to motivate students to succeed. They
support learning at home by engaging parents in school
programs and in children's learning.
The school's approach includes
teacher collaboration, focused interventions and programming,
and parental participation in student learning. Together,
teachers create a culture of high expectations for all students.
They analyze data, set targets for learning and make decisions
about instructional strategies based on individual needs.
The goal is to reduce gaps in achievement while building on
student strengths. The principal acts as a coach, promoting
shared leadership, prompting discussion and stretching
colleagues to bring about student success for all.
When a group of students is not
meeting their learning goals because of absenteeism,
disengagement or negative behaviour, staff move quickly
to implement the "McNab Student Success Program".
With the support of all staff, the program strategically
focuses on boys' literacy learning through instructional
strategies for engagement, including interactive group
learning, critical thinking, rigorous inquiry and problem
solving.
Staff and parents work together through
the school's Focus Learning Involved Parents (FLIP) Program,
establishing and communicating learning goals for students,
building on parenting strengths and helping families improve
parenting skills. Staff believe that parents are the child's
first and most influential teachers.