Page 4 - AMDSB DAR 2018-2019

Director’s Message
We are excited to share with all stakeholders our 2018-2019 Director’s Annual Report. We have developed a new format for this Report, that we feel more fully shares the work in Avon Maitland District School Board (AMDSB). We have embedded our data and accomplishments into this document and included pictures and stories that contextualize this work underway. As a system, we are committed to progressive innovation and excellence, as is evident in the many opportunities and programs we offer to meet individual needs and interests. Our mission statements are to promote positive, inclusive learning environments and maximize outcomes for students. As the Director of Education, I am very proud of our staff who work towards these high level goals, each and every day.
Our work is guided by our 2016-2020 Strategic Plan. Being the final year of this plan, we have mapped out specific goals to focus our energies and report our achievements. These goals are outlined in
our annual work plan called the Director’s Work Plan. You can find this plan on our website. In the spring of 2020, we will be sharing a new draft Strategic Plan and asking for all stakeholders’ input before this new plan becomes the driver of our work for the next four years.
This Director’s Annual Report highlights the many ways that we are making a difference to the life and learning of each and every one of our students. We value the experiences children bring with them to school, and it is our focus to know each of our students well (through their academics, social engagement, and their interests and aspirations) and plan for their success. We have made a commitment to each student through our “Image of the Successful Graduate” to prepare them for their next step and for a changing world.
In this year’s edition of our Director’s Annual Report, you will read about some new initiatives underway to support student learning. These include the work of collaborative inquiry teams that examine authentic and relevant tasks connected to the development of critical thinking and communication skills. We call this “deep learning” and we are focusing on helping our students develop these transferable skills. We also began a pilot project for our Mennonite students who migrate back to Mexico for part of the year. Tu Puente (meaning “bridge”) helps these students continue their learning while in Mexico. Our work in the area of mental health and well-being has been a continued focus. This work is guided by the results from our annual OurSchools survey. In the 2018/2019 school year, we specifically focused on differentiating between bullying and conflict. We developed a number of campaigns including #IAmWell, and “Is it Bullying?”, and many of our schools promoted existing campaigns such as Bell Let’s Talk Day, and World Mental Health Day.
I would like to thank our staff, parents/guardians, and community members for their ongoing support of AMDSB schools. I would also like to commend our students for their positivity and passion for learning! A final thank you to our Board of Trustees for their leadership.
Dr. Lisa Walsh
Director of Education
AVON MAITLAND DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD | 2018-2019 Director’s Annual Report | 4