• Strategic Theme #2

    Student, Parent, and Community Engagement

    2

    At the Cree School Board, we believe that student success is a group effort. Community support, parent involvement, and student engagement are needed to provide a learning environment that is culturally relevant and academically sound.

    Student, Parent, and Community Engagement is measured in a number of ways:

    • How many Cree students are enrolling in our schools and maintaining good attendance?
    • Are parents attending parent-teacher nights and other school events?
    • Does community support allow students more learning opportunities and career paths?

    We have collected statistics, testimonials, and stories from across the Cree School Board to answer these questions for the 2016-2017 year.

  • ᒋᔅᑯᑕᒧᐧᐋᑲᓂᒡ᙮ᐧᐋ ᐄᔑ ᐱᐦᑯᐦᑖᑲᓅᑦ #2

    ᒋᔅᑯᑕᒧᐧᐋᑲᓂᒡ, ᐅᓃᒋᐦᐄᑯᒫᐅᒡ ᑲᔦᐦ ᐊᓂᑌᐦ ᐅᑎᐦᑖᐧᐃᓂᐧᐋᐦᒡ ᐁ ᐃᐦᑖᐧᑖᐤ ᒉ ᒌ ᒥᔪᐧᐄᒉᐅᑐᐧᑖᐤ

    2

    ᐆᑌᐦ ᐄᔨᔫ/ᐄᓅ ᒋᔅᑯᑕᒫᒉᐧᐃᓂᐦᒡ, ᑖᐧᐯᐦᑌᓈᓐ ᒉ ᒌ ᒥᔪᐸᔨᐧᑖᐤ ᒋᔅᑯᑕᒧᐧᐋᑲᓂᒡ ᐁ ᒫᒨᐋᐸᑎᔒᔥᑕᑲᓄᐧᐃᒡ᙮ ᐊᐧᐁᓂᒌ ᐊᓂᑦᐦ ᐃᐦᑖᐧᐃᓂᐦᒡ ᑳ ᐃᐦᑖᐧᑖᐤ, ᐅᓃᒋᐦᐄᑯᒫᐅᒡ ᑲᔦᐦ ᒫᒃ ᐧᐄᐧᐋᐤ ᒋᔅᑯᑕᒧᐧᐋᑲᓂᒡ, ᒥᓯᐧᐁ ᒋ ᓂᑐᐧᐁᔨᐦᑕᑯᓱᒡ ᒉ ᒌ ᐧᐄᒋᐦᐄᐧᐁᐧᑖᐤ ᒉ ᒌ ᒥᔪᐸᔨᔨᒡ ᒋᔅᑯᑕᒫᒉᐧᐃᓐ᙮

    ᒋᔅᑯᑕᒧᐧᐋᑲᓐ, ᐅᓃᒋᐦᐄᑯᒫᐤ ᑲᔦᐦ ᐊᐧᐁᓂᒌ ᐊᓂᑦᐦ ᐃᐦᑖᐧᐃᓂᐦᒡ ᑳ ᐃᐦᑖᐧᑖᐤ, ᓂᓈᐦᑰ ᐧᐁᔅ ᐄᔑ ᓇᓂᑑᑎᐱᒋᔅᑖᑲᓅ᙮

    • ᑖᓂᐦᑑᐦᑦ ᐄᔨᔫ/ᐄᓅ ᒋᔅᑯᑕᒧᐧᐋᑲᓂᒡ ᒫᒨ ᒣᓯᓈᓯᐧᑖᐤ ᐊᓂᑌᐦ ᒋᔅᑯᑕᒫᑑᑲᒥᑯᐦᒡ ᑲᔦᐦ ᑯᐃᔅᒄ ᐋ ᓈᑕᒧᐦᒡ ᒋᔅᑯᑕᒫᒉᐧᐃᓂᔫ᙮
    • ᐃᑐᐦᑌᐅᒡ ᐋ ᐅᓃᒋᐦᐄᑯᒫᐅᒡ ᐁ ᓂᑐᐧᐁᔨᐦᑕᑯᓯᐧᑖᐤ ᒋᔅᑯᑕᒫᑐᑲᒥᑯᐦᒡ ᒉᐧᑳᔫ ᐁ ᐃᐦᑎᓈᓄᐧᐃᒡ ᒋᔅᑯᑕᒧᐧᐋᑲᓐᐦ ᐅᐦᒋ᙮
    • ᐃᔅᐸᔨᔫ ᐋ, ᐁ ᐧᐄᒋᐦᐄᐧᐁᐸᔨᒡ ᐊᓂᑦᐦ ᐃᐦᑖᐧᐃᓂᒡ ᐅᐦᒋ, ᒦᓐ ᐁᑎᑑ ᐁ ᐃᐦᑕᑯᓂᔨᒡ ᒉᐧᑳᔫᐦ ᒉ ᒌ ᐧᐄᒋᐦᐄᑯᐧᑖᐤ ᒋᔅᑯᑕᒧᐧᐋᑲᓂᒡ᙮

    ᓂᒌ ᒫᒨᑎᐱᒋᐦᑖᓱᓈᓐ ᑲᔦᐦ ᓂᒌ ᓂᑐᐦᑌᓈᓐ ᑎᐹᒋᒧᐧᐃᓐᐦ ᐊᓂᑌᐦ ᐅᐦᒋ ᓂᓈᐦᑰ ᐋᐸᑎᓰᓱᒡ ᐊᓂᑦᐦ ᐅᐦᒋ ᐄᔨᔫ/ᐄᓅ ᒋᔅᑯᑕᒫᒉᐧᐃᓐᐦ, ᐊᓂᑦᐦ ᒉ ᒌ ᐅᐦᒋ ᓂᔥᐧᑫᐅᔥᐧᑖᔮᐦᒡ ᐊᓂᔫᐦ ᑲᐧᑫᒋᔅᒉᒧᐧᐃᓐᐦ ᐆ ᐊᔅᒌᐅᒋᐦᑖᓱᐧᐃᓐ 2016-2017᙮

  • Thème stratégique #2

    Implication des élèves, des parents et de la communauté

    2

    À la Commission scolaire crie, nous croyons que la réussite des élèves est un effort de groupe. Le soutien communautaire, l’implication des parents et la participation des élèves sont nécessaires pour offrir un environnement d’apprentissage qui est culturellement pertinent et solide sur le plan scolaire.

    L’implication des élèves, des parents et de la communauté est mesurée de plusieurs façons :

    • Combien d’élèves cris s’inscrivent dans nos écoles et maintient une bonne présence?
    • Est-ce que les parents assistent aux soirées parents-enseignants et aux autres activités scolaires?
    • Est-ce que le soutien communautaire procure aux élèves davantage de possibilités d’apprentissage et de cheminement de carrière?

    Nous avons recueilli des statistiques, des témoignages et des histoires de l’ensemble de la Commission scolaire crie pour répondre à ces questions pour 2016-2017.

Key Initiatives

2.1 Define the value of the student learning experience at the CSB. 

2.2 Actively engage family members in the promotion of student achievement and well-being.

2.3 Create opportunities for meaningful dialogue and involvement with the community.

2.4 Foster an environment of life-long learning.

2.5 Enhance visibility and awareness of Sabtuan Adult Education Services and Post- Secondary Student Services, and access to their programs and partnerships.

2.6 Establish and nurture mutually beneficial relationships with employers, industry and community groups.

2.7 Clarify and align mandates between the CSB and external education providers to avoid overlap and duplication.

Strategic Action Plan - Theme #2

Student, Parent, and Community Engagement

At the Cree School Board, we believe that student success is a group effort. Community support, parent involvement, and student engagement are needed to provide a learning environment that is culturally relevant and academically sound.

Student, Parent, and Community Engagement is measured in a number of ways:

  • How many Cree students are enrolling in our schools and maintaining good attendance?
  • Are parents attending parent-teacher nights and other school events?
  • Does community support allow students more learning opportunities and career paths?

We have collected statistics, testimonials, and stories from across the Cree School Board to answer these questions for the 2016-2017 year.

Engaging Family Members in Student Success

Report Card and Parent-Teacher Nights

One of the main ways to measure the engagement of parents and guardians is by seeing how many attend report card nights or parentteacher interviews. Many of our schools were incredibly pleased with the increase in parents who attended these events in 2016-2017. At Wabannutao Eeyou School in Eastmain, 70% of parents/guardians attended the report card evening and parent-teacher meetings. Schools in Waswanipi reported a 72% participation rate for the first report card night compared to 70% the year before.

Regular communications with parents through social media, teacher letters, and even phone calls were cited as some of the reasons for the increased participation rate. Some schools grew these events by involving the community. In Oujé-Bougoumou, Waapithtiiwewan School experienced a record turnout to their parent-teacher night thanks to the participation of local businesses and entities. Waswanipi schools saw similar results after creating an event in partnership Waswanipi Community Centre early in the school year. This led to a 5% increase in parental presence compared to last year’s event.

"One of the main ways to measure the engagement of parents and guardians is by seeing how many attend report card nights or parent-teacher interviews."

Special Events for Families

Many parents, guardians, and grandparents participated in events at our schools throughout the year.

  • Parents and students in Whapmagoostui enjoyed being served a delicious turkey meal by Badabin Eeyou School staff at Christmas time. This popular event was attended by 40% of parents and guardians. The celebration also allowed parents to recognize the winners of term prizes and academic excellence awards.
  • At Waapithtiiwewan School in Oujé-Bougoumou, parents were invited to a variety of events including Cree celebration day, the Christmas concert, the Halloween celebration, Winter Carnival, Teacher Recognition Day and End-of-Year Celebration Day.
  • Families in Mistissini enjoyed the Scholastic Book Fair, Spirit Days, and Grandparents’ Day hosted by Voyageur Memorial Elementary.
  • Parents enjoyed a special role at the Regional Science Fair in Nemaska, where some had the opportunity to judge the experiments.
  • Waapithtiiwewan School in Oujé-Bougoumou enjoyed art and performance events, including a successful Christmas play, the school’s first talent show, and a local art exhibit.
  • Fathers and male guardians/tutors enjoyed a special Open House event at schools in Waskaganish. Parents were also invited to activities including Haunted Hallways, Fall Festival, Annie Whiskeychan Day, Terry Fox Walk, and First Snow Shoe Walk.
  • The Parent Committee was hugely influential in planning a number of events in Wemindji this year, including a community BBQ and a grand opening celebration for Joy Ottereyes Rainbow Memorial School.

Creating a Welcoming Environment for Parents and Guardians

It is important that parents and guardians feel welcome in our schools. Many steps are taken by teachers and administrators to provide an environment that encourages parent engagement.

Many schools used paper and electronic newsletters, social media, and teacher phone calls to keep the lines of communication open between schools and families. An open-door policy and special days for parents to visit were also common throughout the school board.

At Voyageur Memorial Elementary School in Mistissini, parents and caregivers were treated to a cup of Tim Hortons coffee served by staff one day each month. Teachers in Mistissini also sent Positive Postcards to all elementary children in 2016-2017. The postcards were custom illustrated to depict culturally relevant images of family, pride, and success, such as a father and son in a fishing boat on the lake. These postcards were sent to students at least once before Christmas and at least once during the rest of the school year. This gesture reminded students and parents that the school cares about their individual value and gifts. It also helped to nurture a positive relationship between teachers and students’ families.

 

Opening Doors Through Community Partnerships

Through the Strategic Theme of “Student, Parent, and Community Engagement,” we recognize that there are many groups who can contribute to student success both inside and outside of the classroom. Continued partnership with community entities not only deepens the education of our students but helps them to build lives that are safe, healthy, and centred in Cree culture. We deeply value our past and current partnerships and hope to collaborate with even more community stakeholders in years to come.

Elders in the Classroom

Elders were present in many of our classrooms to speak, teach, and even just sit in on classes. James Bay Eeyou School in Chisasibi increased the presence of Elders in their school with the use of their New Paths in Education Budget, bringing several into the fold as consultants, animators, and spokespeople. Elders also offered a great deal of assistance to our Cree Programs department, where they verified terminology and helped to develop resources. The involvement of Elders adds so much to our students’ experience and understanding of Cree culture, language, and values. We thank those in Chisasibi, Eastmain, Whapmagoostui, and other communities who took the time to be with our students throughout the year.

Working with the Cree Board of Health and Social Services of James Bay

Our schools had several meaningful meetings with the Cree Board of Health in 2016-2017, resulting in collaborations that truly bettered the lives of students and their families. Voyageur Memorial Elementary School in Mistissini was pleased to partner with the Cree Board of Health on its Family Challenge and Healthy Lunches Program, while Badabin Eeyou School in Whapmagoostui enjoyed presentations from nurses and doctors on health and wellness topics. Sabtuan Adult Education Services and Post-Secondary Student Services also worked with the Cree Health Board to provide graduates and professionals with vital healthcare certifications.

Working with the Cree Nation Government Department of Justice and Correctional Services

The Cree Justice Department was deeply involved with behavioural and anti-bullying initiatives this year. At Badabin Eeyou School in Whapmagoostui, they sponsored workshops and speakers on topics ranging from anti-bullying to understanding their legal rights. The Cree Justice Department also helped multiple schools implement their Alternative Suspension Program, which decreased the number of students sent home due to suspension from school. The Cree Justice Department also provided schools with the SNAP (Stop Now And Plan) Program. This program taught problem-solving strategies to reduce bullying and suspension at several schools.

Moving Forward Together

Many of our schools continue to work with community partners, consultants, Elders, and parent groups to understand ways of improving engagement rates across the school board. In 2016-2017, we were pleased to see an increase in parents and guardians attending parent-teacher nights. We also appreciated the involvement of Elders, the Cree Department of Justice and Correctional Services, and the Cree Health Board in bringing more community programming to our schools. We hope that by involving everyone in the educational process, we can reach our goal of student success.

Learn more about how Sabtuan Adult Education Services and Post-Secondary Student Services are working towards this strategic theme.

Next: Strategic Theme 3