Building Community Through Collaboration and Excellence
January 2026
Staff Meeting
Programming Update
Connected North Programming: Expanding Our Reach
Connected North continues to provide transformative learning experiences for our students. Through virtual connections with educators, artists, and knowledge keepers across the country, our classrooms are expanding beyond traditional boundaries.
We're thrilled to share that TDSB has generously contributed funding for additional programming credits, allowing us to offer even more diverse learning opportunities throughout the remainder of the school year.
Share Your Experiences
During today's meeting, we'll hear from teachers about their classroom experiences with Connected North sessions. Please come prepared to share what resonated with your students and your booking plans for upcoming months.
Special Recognition
A heartfelt thank you to Fiona for stepping up to coordinate and support teachers with Connected North programming. Her dedication ensures our students and teachers have seamless access to these valuable learning experiences.
Cultural Learning
Elders in the Classroom: Honoring Tradition and Knowledge
The presence of Elders in our classrooms is essential to creating authentic, culturally responsive learning environments. Their teachings connect students to language, land, and culture in ways that textbooks simply cannot.
Language Learning
Elders share traditional Oji-Cree language, helping students connect with their linguistic heritage through conversation and storytelling.
Land-Based Teaching
Traditional ecological knowledge and land-based practices are woven into classroom learning, grounding students in their relationship with the environment.
Cultural Practices
Through storytelling, crafting, beading, and writing, students engage with cultural practices that strengthen identity and community connections.
Our grades 7/8 classes have established regular Elder visits with tremendous success. Students particularly respond to storytelling sessions and hands-on cultural activities like beading. Today, teachers will share presentations showcasing how they've integrated Elder teachings into their curriculum and classroom routines.
Elder Lunch Dates
We're also excited to continue our Elder lunch dates, creating informal opportunities for students to build relationships with knowledge keepers in a relaxed setting.
School Community
Year Book Committee: Preserving Our Story
Led by Liza and her dedicated team, our yearbook committee is hard at work creating a visual record of this school year. The yearbook serves multiple important purposes in our school community.
More than just a collection of photos, the yearbook preserves the history of HCMS and documents the growth, achievements, and daily life of our students and staff. It becomes a cherished keepsake that families treasure for years to come.
Classroom Contributions
Every classroom plays a vital role. Please submit photos and highlights from your learning activities throughout the year.
Family Connections
The yearbook strengthens family engagement by giving parents a window into school life and creating shared memories across generations.
Please connect with Liza's team about submission deadlines and photo requirements. Your contributions ensure every student is represented and every significant moment is captured.
Student Support
Attendance Framework: Supporting Every Student
Student attendance remains a critical priority. Currently, approximately 40 percent of our students fall into categories of concern: no attendance, rare attendance, or irregular attendance. We're implementing comprehensive initiatives to support these students and their families.
01
Identify At-Risk Students
Track attendance patterns and categorize students by level of concern
02
Family Outreach
Personal contact with families to understand barriers and offer support
03
Flexible Programming
Homework program, synchronous learning options, at-home lessons, alternative programming
04
Incentives & Recognition
Gifts for families and positive reinforcement for improved attendance
Our Next Steps
Today we'll discuss what's working, what challenges remain, and what additional resources or strategies we need to implement. Please come prepared to share your experiences reaching out to families and any creative solutions you've discovered.
Key Question: How can we make school more accessible and appealing for students who are currently disengaged? What specific barriers have families shared with you?
Family Engagement
Classroom Celebrations: Bringing Families to School
Family engagement strengthens student success and builds community connections. We're excited to share multiple opportunities for bringing families into our classrooms this winter.
1
December Door Contest Winners
Congratulations to our winning classrooms! Your creativity and holiday spirit made our hallways festive and welcoming.
2
Classroom Celebrations
Plan your celebration with Jordan's support. Consider inviting families you haven't seen yet this year—celebrations are excellent opportunities for connection.
3
Bingo Nights
Primary Division and Junior/Senior Division Bingo Nights are coming! These fun, informal events bring families together for games, prizes, and community building.
Strategic Family Engagement
When planning celebrations, think strategically about which families to invite. Prioritize personal invitations to families whose students you don't often see. A personal invitation can make all the difference in helping families feel welcome and valued in our school community.
Coordinate with Jordan to ensure you have the support and resources needed to make your celebration successful. Whether it's a cultural activity, holiday event, or curriculum showcase, these gatherings create meaningful connections.
Academic Progress
Lexia and Symphony Math: Progress and Goals
Current Status
Our students are making steady progress with Lexia and Symphony Math programs. These adaptive learning platforms provide personalized literacy and numeracy support tailored to each student's needs.
Our goal is ambitious but achievable: two years of academic catch-up through consistent engagement with these programs. Regular usage at school and at home accelerates learning gains significantly.
What We're Tracking
Weekly usage rates per student
Progress toward grade-level benchmarks
Areas where students need additional support
Effectiveness of home access programs
Support Needs
What additional supports do you need to help students succeed with Lexia and Symphony? Consider:
Scheduling challenges and solutions
Technology access or connectivity issues
Student motivation strategies
Data interpretation support
Family Engagement Opportunity: Have you made Lexia available for online home use? Family engagement with these programs can dramatically increase learning gains.
During today's meeting, we'll review class-by-class data and discuss strategies for maximizing the impact of these powerful learning tools.
Student Recognition
Monthly Contests: Making Learning Visible
Our monthly contests celebrate student learning and make it visible throughout the school. This initiative showcases the incredible work happening in every classroom while connecting to the pillars of Marten Falls First Nation: Land, Language, and Culture.
January Bulletin Boards
What learning do you want to showcase this month? Consider student work that demonstrates growth, creativity, or deep understanding.
Connect to Land
How does your bulletin board reflect land-based learning or traditional ecological knowledge?
Celebrate Language
Include Oji-Cree language elements or showcase language learning achievements in your display.
Honor Culture
Feature cultural practices, traditional teachings, or connections to community and identity.
These bulletin boards serve multiple purposes: they validate student work, create pride in learning, give families insight into classroom activities, and reinforce the cultural foundations of our school. As you plan your display, think about how it fits into your curriculum planning and addresses the three pillars that guide our work.
Professional Development
Teacher Evaluations: Support and Growth
Teacher evaluations are an important part of professional growth and development. Understanding the process helps ensure a positive, productive experience for everyone involved.
New Teachers (NTIP)
New Teacher Induction Program participants will complete two formal evaluations during the school year, with ongoing mentorship and support.
Returning Teachers
Returning teachers will complete one formal evaluation, focusing on continued professional growth and excellence in practice.
Evaluation Criteria
All evaluations are based on the Ontario College of Teachers' standards of practice and the Teaching Quality Standard. The process examines:
Commitment to students and student learning
Professional knowledge and practice
Leadership and community engagement
Ongoing professional learning
Support Throughout the Process
Remember that evaluation is designed to be supportive, not punitive. Administration is here to help you shine and to provide resources for continued growth. Schedule your pre-evaluation meeting early to discuss your goals, strengths, and areas where you'd like support or feedback.
Cultural Learning
Orville Councillor's Cultural Projects: Bridging Culture and Curriculum
Orville Councillor's cultural projects offer our students unique opportunities to engage with Indigenous knowledge and practices while developing essential academic and life skills. These initiatives integrate cultural learning with curriculum expectations, fostering holistic growth.
Public Speaking
Students develop confidence and clarity by presenting their cultural project findings to peers, teachers, and community members, honing their oral presentation skills.
Interview Skills & Media Preparedness
Students build familiarity and comfort with the interview process through peer-to-peer practice. These experiences help them refine their interview skills and gain confidence. Orville's projects then provide authentic opportunities for students to apply these skills in real media interviews, preparing them to confidently handle such situations.
Oral Communication
Through storytelling circles and group discussions within culturally rich contexts, students not only articulate ideas and engage in dialogue but also develop skills of persuasion, advocacy, and express cultural representations of identity and nationhood, fostering a deeper understanding of diverse perspectives.
Oji-Cree Introductions
Learning traditional Oji-Cree self-introductions connects students to their heritage and enhances their linguistic and cultural fluency.
These projects directly align with curriculum expectations in areas like oral communication, media literacy, and Indigenous studies. Students gain hands-on experience, bridging theoretical knowledge with practical application.
The value of authentic learning experiences with community leaders like Orville Councillor cannot be overstated. Students benefit from mentorship, real-world connections, and a deeper understanding of their cultural identity and its place in their education.
Communication & Reporting
Wrapping Up: Newsletters and Special Education Support
December Classroom Newsletters
Due: Wednesday, January 7
Your December newsletter should highlight specific learning from the month. Include photos that showcase curriculum in action and identify specific curriculum expectations addressed.
Be precise in your descriptions. Instead of "In math we covered addition and subtraction," try "Students explored multi-digit addition with regrouping using base-ten blocks and developed strategies for solving word problems involving money."
Anderson & Creative Therapies Reporting
Utilize special education support resources fully. Request regular progress reports from Anderson and Creative Therapies staff and communicate this progress with families.
We recognize staffing challenges exist, but regular communication with families about special education supports demonstrates our commitment to every student's success. Make special needs support a visible, celebrated part of your family communication.
Looking Ahead
Thank you for your continued dedication to HCMS students and families. Together, we're building a school community rooted in excellence, cultural responsiveness, and genuine care for every student. Your contributions to each of these initiatives strengthen our collective impact.