How We Know We Are Succeeding

Assessing Student Progress

Provincial testing is one way we assess our students. The EQAO testing process is a useful instrument which offers us a "window" of individual school performance relative to the expectations set out in the new Ontario curriculum documents. It provides a valuable snapshot for measuring student achievement in the writing and reading strands for Language as well as in all five strands in Mathematics.

In May 2000, the EQAO conducted the provincial Grade 3 and Grade 6 Assessment. Both assessments engaged the students over a period of five days in an integrated unit of work. During these units, students produced work to show how well they met the Grade 3 and Grade 6 expectations in reading, writing and mathematics. Additional information pertaining to the students attitudes towards reading, writing and mathematics, their perception and self-evaluation in these academic areas and their activities in these subjects outside school were gathered and graphed as illustrated below.

The St. Luke students like others enrolled in an Early French Immersion program, share a unique position as participants in this province-wide testing process. As such, a number of factors must be taken into account when reviewing the achievement results. We must consider that although our students in Grade 3 write the identical test as their peers in the regular program, many have been introduced to formal English instruction only 8.5 months prior to taking the test. Lower results can be and are expected at this grade level as a result of the disparity of intensity of first-language instruction. The grade 3 Mathematics component was written in French using a translated version of the English test. In Math as well, expressive language skills become increasingly important as the students are expected to describe their thinking and the steps they follow in solving Math problems while correctly using proper terminology.

Student/School Achievements

We are proud of the continued growth and improvements made by our student body in provincial and national assessments. St. Luke School participates annually in the EQAO provincial testing as well as the CAT test. Results are shared with the families and staff. These scores are used to make professional decisions to best meet the individual and collective needs of our students.

On-going DRA scores also are used to guide teachers in their pursuit for helping children to achieve their personal best. These goals are communicated regularly to parents through the agenda, phone calls, report cards, formal and informal evaluations.

Plans For The Future

Continuous learning growth and increased student achievement has been noted in our school and in our Board. The staff at St. Luke School believes in the concept of continued improvement in student learning. With the on-going support from the Board and with the continued assistance of its specialized personnel as well as that from its home partners, we will continue to strive to prepare our students to reach that EQAO goal of improved academic performance and achievement.

It is from the EQAO assessment information base that we as a school, together with the Board, can formulate an action plan to address those areas of greatest need for improved student learning and performance.