Dunne Memorial Academy

P.O. Box 349

St. Mary’s, NL

A0B 3B0

School Development Report

2006 – 2007

Phillip Griffiths, Principal

Arlene Fagan, Assistant Principal

OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR                                                              Chair: Milton Peach, B.A., B.A.(Ed.)

                                                                                            C.E.O./Director of Education: Darin King, Ph.d.

Message from the Director of Education

The Eastern School District is committed to providing safe and caring learning environments for its 44,000 students. This goal is supported by a strong team of education professionals who challenge and develop each student to achieve their full potential.

The District’s focus on student achievement is evident in the Eastern School Board’s ongoing strategic planning process, as well as in the goals and objectives set out by individual schools in their school development plans. The Board’s focus on strategic planning will continue into the next school year as it engages with the public on its future goals and directions.

This school report for the 2006/07 school year highlights the activities of your school over the past year in achieving its stated goals. It provides an opportunity to review the challenges, successes and opportunities for your school in providing educational opportunities for students. It also highlights how success can be achieved when teachers, parents and community members work together in a supportive and collaborative manner.

I encourage you to review this school report and contemplate how you can contribute to your school’s success, and to increase educational opportunity for all students.

DARIN PIKE, B.Sc., B.Ed., M.Ed.

C.E.O./Director of Education (Acting)

This is our first year as the administration of Dunne Memorial Academy. We eagerly anticipate what we hope will be a rewarding experience. In conversation with both Mr. Drover and Ms. Gibbons the school has moved through the third year of the school growth and development program, and is now in a position where we have to continue to move forward and conduct both an internal and external review. This phase will involve some consultation with all parties including staff, parents and students. We eagerly anticipate the findings and suggestions that will evolve as a result of this process.

Staff and students alike feel that our building was alive with energy and opportunities for students to continue to grow personally and academically. The efforts of teachers, parents and students are obvious in the accomplishments of individuals from this past year. Academically, we had students win provincial and even national awards and scholarships. The staff here at Dunne has made a commitment to continue to make our school the best possible environment for our students.

Our commitment is simple: Provide a safe and caring environment that allows students to learn to the best of their ability.

We would like to thank the members of our school community for giving the interest that you have in wanting to see Dunne Academy grow and become a leading school in educating the children of this community.  The number of parent volunteers and overall parental support for the school continues to be a strong point and we hope to encourage volunteers to continue to be as active as possible. Together, let’s continue to build on our strengths and plan for solutions to our weaknesses.

Sincerely,

Phillip Griffiths, Principal

Arlene Fagan, Assistant Principal

 Gloria White, Chairperson

The School Council of Dunne Memorial Academy has actively participated in the preparation of this school report and has marveled at the level of commitment of the full school community in the school life of the students. Our students have realized great achievement as seen through the various indicators used to assess their performance. Their achievement is the result of the hard work and dedication of students, teachers, support staff and the community at large. We, as School Council are proud to be a component of that network that is shaping the lives of our students.

As this plan is actioned in the years to come we offer our continued support to all partners in the education of our children. We congratulate students, teachers and parents on the achievements that have been realized and we look forward to sharing all the success of the future.

Dunne Memorial Academy will promote a safe, caring socially just and efficiently resourced community that consistently offers all students and teachers opportunities to actively achieve to the best of their abilities while encouraging an environment that regards integrity, responsibility and mutual respect as key ingredients for individual success.

Dunne Memorial Academy is located on the Southern Avalon and is part of the Eastern School District, which has over 130 schools under its jurisdiction. Our school currently has an enrolment of 167 students and offers programming for grades K – 12. Students come from the rural communities of Peter’s River through Mall Bay inclusive totaling eight (8) communities.

Our school has a total of 17.5 full time and part time educational staff which includes 1 full time administrator, 14.5 classroom teachers and 2 special services personnel. We have half time services of a guidance councilor as well as the support of one student assistant. We have the services of 1 full time custodian and 2 part time janitorial staff and a school secretary.

In addition to our school based staff, we have access to District Offices both in Spaniards Bay and St. John’s including an itinerant teacher for the visual and hearing impaired, an itinerant teacher for Mathematics in the Elementary grades, an educational psychologist and a speech pathologist. We also have close linkages with Eastern Health through the partnership with public health nurse.

Our students are multi- aged in Primary, Elementary and Junior High (grade 7&8)

The average class size is 15 students. There is provision during the instructional day where grade levels have individual instruction.

The following is a list of programs, resources and activities offered at Dunne Memorial Academy to enhance the development and growth of our students:

·   Well- rounded curriculum based on sound Christian Values

·   High expectations for academic achievement, discipline, and respect for others

·   Shared responsibility, leadership, and decision making

·   Strong community involvement and commitment

·   Strong, Supportive, Special Services Program

·   Challenging Needs Program

·   Counseling and Career Program plus a Study Skills Program

·   Itinerant services for hearing and speech impaired students

·   Second language Program

·   Technology Program

·   Physical Education and Active Living Program supported with a strong sports program

·   Peer Tutoring

·   Tutoring for Tuition

·   Participation in drama, art, music, public speaking

·   Resource Center, Science Lab, Fitness Room

·   Safe and Caring Schools Committee

·   Work Place Safety Committee

·   An Active Student Council

·   Annual Science and Art Fairs

·   Tel- Learning Center

·   Computer Lab with Internet access

·   Classroom libraries

·   Math & English Competition Participation

·   Bus – Monitoring System

·   Choir- Festival Participation

·   Level III Memory Book

·   Scholarship Committee

·   Parent Volunteers ( sports/ field trips/ classroom activity)

·   Early Intervention – Kinderstart

·   D.A.R..E Program

·   C.D.L.I. Courses

·   37 high school courses including courses using CDLI

Kinderstart

This year Dunne Memorial Academy had the opportunity to hold nine kinderstart sessions for nine pre-school children. The purpose of this program is to help children make a safe and reassuring transition from home to school. The program gives parents an understanding of the importance of kindergarten and offers suggestions that will make the adjustment from home to school easier and more fluent.

The kindergarten sessions provided children and parent an exposure to classroom routines and expectations. Each session involved hands on experiences and fun learning. Each month, children were provided with a variety of books and given the opportunity to purchase a book .The importance of reading was stressed and encouraged and children quickly developed a love for reading.

Children and parents were also invited to take part in the annual field trip. This trip is a good experience and will provide the opportunity for the children to socialize and interact with other teachers and students. This valuable experience will assist in the development of relationships outside the home.

Literacy Development

At Dunne Memorial Academy, literacy still remains an important priority. Again this year our K-6 students were actively involved in achieving literacy outcomes across the curriculum both at home and in school.

Students track their reading minutes on a daily basis and awards are presented monthly for various amounts of minutes. Students also received reading medals at the end of the year at the Awards Day ceremony held for students and parents. These medals are awarded based on the number of minutes read during the year.

We are very proud of our students, teachers and parents for their continued interest in and support of the literacy program. We look forward to the same level of enthusiasm next year.

Drama

During the 2005- 2006 school year The Theatre arts group participated in the Remembrance Day celebrations and performed two selections for the general public. It brought a new awareness to the senior drama department and generated a renewed interest in drama among the senior students.

Enterprise Olympics:

Each year of Grade 11 ( Level III) students take Enterprise 3205 . This course provides the opportunity for the students to develop a business plan .The school holds a showcase where the students have the chance to present their idea and plan to their peers and the general public. This year all our students took part in the showcase and were successful in achieving good reviews from teachers and students. Five of our students were chosen to compete in the provincial competition. Nanci Barnes and Karla White placed second in their category with their product “Cloud Nine “, Amy Ryan finished second for her business plan, and Michael Lewis and Blake Molloy also took part. All members represented the school well and took an active part in conference

Music

2006 – 2007 was another great year for the Music Program at Dunne Memorial Academy. Our K-9 students participated in regular Music classes and all students from K-12 took part in school and community activities such as Graduation, and school concerts.

Dunne Academy also took part in the Rotary Festival again this year , where they received a Bronze ranking. With the amazing talent in our area, our Music program can only improve.

Robotics

The grade eight students of Dunne Memorial Academy are involved in an exciting and fun filled robotics program. They meet regularly to develop and improve their skill in anticipation of the up-coming robotics provincial competition and Skills Canada

French Exchange

We have one student; Mariko Lavalee-Durand attending Dunne Memorial for the first term of this school year as part of a French Exchange program, she is from Quebec. One of our students, Danicka Hicks will travel to Quebec after Christmas for Term II. She will stay with Mariko’s family. This is an excellent opportunity for both students to experience new cultures and involve themselves in life long learning. We are very pleased to have the opportunity for our students come forward and engage in such an experience

Sports:

Our students are continuously achieving well in the field of sports. There has always been a high level of involvement and success in the sport of basketball and most recently a renewed interest in both softball and cross-country running. Our senior boy’s basketball team won the 2A Provincial banner in 2006- 2007, and has moved up to the 3A level for the 2007-2008 season. Our girl’s team was active in during last year’s season and showed great potential. We are looking forward to their continued efforts this year.

The cross-country team were off and running early in the school year. The new level of involvement and the success of the team in all divisions are very encouraging. Sports are another example of the dedication of students, teachers, parents and community.

Partnerships:

Dunne Memorial developed very effective partnerships with several departments of government that had a positive affect on the school life of our students. Through the department of Municipal Affairs, we were able s to provide a resource person for our school library and recycling program. This enabled our recycling committee to grow the proceeds from recycling which in turn were used to assist the school in providing resources for the students.

Dunne also developed a partnership with Human Resources Development Canada to provide a person to serve the students in the Library/ Resource Center of the school. It also enabled our school to use that person and a small amount of funding to develop a database for all resources in the school. This makes it more convenient for students to find the necessary material they need to complete project etc. it also supports our reading program as it clearly identifies all resources by name and author.

Both programs were very helpful and we look forward to further partnerships.

The Festival of the Sea partnered with Dunne Academy in early September to prepare a delightful night of music and drama. It was a true example of community and school working together. The night was a magical bonding of roots of the Irish and Newfoundland. It was a rare experience that allowed our students to appreciate their rots and culture.

Newfoundland Power partnered with Dunne Academy in early June for an Envirofest. The student body held a major clean-up of the school grounds and painting of playground equipment. Through this ceremony Dunne Academy planted in excess of 40 trees, had picnic tables and benches placed on the school grounds, and displayed our school initials DMA on the bank in front of the school. the day consisted of displays for environmental awareness, a concert, a barbeque and a tree planting ceremony. We were very pleased with the amount of support and involvement from all of our communities.

Dunne Memorial can boast of an excellent partnership with all local organizations and community groups. Their contribution is invaluable.

3 -Year School Development Plan

Goal 1: To improve student learning and achievement in all core subject areas in K- 12 by June 2009