October 2007 - Page 3 of 3 - Sudbury Catholic District School Board

Raise the Bar is an exciting new program designed to improve the quality of intramural programs in schools across Ontario. Supported by the Ministry of Health promotion, Raise the Bar offers students, regardless of previous experience or skill level the opportunity to become more engaged in the school community through sport and exercise. By their inclusive nature, intramurals provide St. John’s students with an even playing field allowing everyone the chance to play on a team and enjoy physical activities that are fun.

St. John Catholic School Grade 7 & 8 students have fun playing floor hockey as part of the schools’s Raise the Bar initiative – an intramural sports program which promotes Active,Healthy Kids! St. John Catholic School began the intramural season with floor hockey available to all grade 7 and 8 students. Currently, eight teams have signed up and participate every lunch and recess in the gymnasium. The school’s junior grades (grades 4, 5, and 6) will also have the opportunity to participate in Raise the Bar as their season is slated to begin in mid October.

Sudbury Catholic District School Board has hired Laura Kuzenko as its newest principal in charge of the Ministry of Education’s Schools Effectiveness Framework – (a Ministry directed initiative designed specifically for the purpose of improving student achievement).

Kuzenko is a former principal of the Sudbury Catholic District School Board having served in that position at both St. John and St. Theresa Catholic Schools before leaving to become Science North’s Director of Education. Kuzenko’s zeal and enthusiasm coupled with her commitment to bringing about increased effectiveness and improved student achievement in both the public and private sector make her an ideal candidate for the job.

In May 2007, the Ministry of Education established a working group representing supervisory officers, principals, federations and diagnosticians to develop an effective school framework which would be used in school boards across Ontario. The key purposes of the School Effectiveness Framework are to;

■ ensure specificity and intent in instruction that responds to student learning needs
■ build board and school capacity in diagnosing strengths and areas which require attention
■ foster introspection, reflection and analysis
■ act as a catalyst for student improvement from within
■ implement high-yield research based strategies
■ provide a forum for consensus building around school improvement
■ communicate, celebrate and build public confidence around school effectiveness
■ assist in planning district strategies as a response to needs identified in school evaluations

Director of Education for the Sudbury Catholic School Board, Catherine McCullough welcomes the Ministry of Education’s initiative to support boards in working with their schools to identify strengths and to target areas of improvement. “The School Effectiveness Framework headed by Laura Kuzenko will implement strategies which will continue to improve student achievement at our Board,” stated McCullough. “We will also be able to equip those who work in our schools with the diagnostic skills they need to bring about or sustain improvement.”

Sudbury Catholic District School Board

Month: October 2007

St. John Catholic School Raises the Bar

Former Sudbury Catholic Board Principal Returns to Oversee New Ministry Initiative