When Inspiration Meets Perspiration! - Kitchener-Waterloo ...

K I T C H E N E R -
W A T E R L O O
C O L L E G I A T E A N D
V O C A T I O N A L
S C H O O L
787 King Street West
Kitchener Ontario
N2G 1E3
Phone: 519-745-6851
Fax: 519-745-1549
www.kci.wrdsb.ca
Principal:
Lila Read
Vice-Principals:
Graham Shantz - A-G
Jeff Klinck - H-O
Jim Shantz - P-Z
KCI
A Scent Free Zone
KCI is a very diverse community
of learners and is the
home of Ontario’s first Eco
classroom for students with
serious environmental sensitivities.
We would ask that students
and staff be sensitive to their
needs and keep this in mind
when preparing for the day.
Please refrain from using
strongly scented deodorants,
perfumes, hair products or
body sprays.
Men’s now popular body
colognes / sprays are not
permitted on any student,
staff member or in any form
while on school property.
What is MSIP?
“MSIP” is an acronym for
Multi-Subject Instructional
Period.
MSIP is a scheduled daily
class with an assigned teacher.
Attendance in MSIP is
mandatory in order for students
to meet the instructional
time requirements for credits
as set out by the Ministry of
Education.
MSIP provides opportunities
for the development of
independent learning skills
within the structure of a school
day. Students have a daily
assigned block of time to complete
homework, prepare for
tests and work on projects.
MSIP classes are cross-graded.
Each MSIP class includes
students from grades 9 to 12.
MSIP’s 60-minute periods
provide optimal and effective
learning intervals. Students
who have an opportunity to
prepare for classes are more
likely to attend their classes.
MSIP provides students with
an increased degree of control
and responsibility for success
at school and beyond.
KCI READS!
The first 20 minutes of MSIP
will be dedicated to KCI
READS—a reading program
where every student is expected
to read something. It
can be a magazine, a comic, a
textbook, a novel, no matter,
just read!
Why should students read at
home and during MSIP?
• “Readers are better writers.”
(MacDonell, 2004)
• Readers are better at comprehending
what they’ve
MSIP and..
KCI READS!
read. (MacDonell,
2004)
• In a study involving a
sustained silent reading
program, most of whom
were at-risk students,
the “students gained an
average of 3.9 year
levels on their reading
achievement test scores
during the one year
program.” (Cullinan,
2000)
• “Reading behaviours
such as reading enjoyment,
reading diversity
and time spent reading
for enjoyment had
strong effects on reading,
mathematics and
science results” (OECD
PISA Study, School
Libraries and Student
Achievement in
Ontario, 2007)
Don’t worry if your child
is only interested in
reading comics or books
you might read at the
beach.
• “Feitelson and
Goldstein found that
light reading provides
motivation for more
reading . . . Light
reading became a stepping
stone to further
reading. Increased reading
proficiency and
fluency makes it possible
for students to read
more complex
material.” (Cullinan,
2000)
How Can You Get Your
Child Started?
• Model reading
• Help them find books:
take them to a library
KCI READS!
KCI’s Library:
It was another great year in
KCI’s library.
Students were here as early as
7:30 am and as late as 3:30 pm
on most days. The place was
busy every period of the day
and during lunch. The library
has become a place for students
to catch up on homework,
complete assignments,
and meet with group members
to finish projects. Of course,
they’re also here to read their
favourite magazines, manga
graphic novels and novels. It’s
a true learning commons. Entire
classes come down to use
both virtual library and the
library’s own resources.
The KCI book club continued
its successful partnership with
the Kitchener Public Library.
KPL’s teen librarian, Christy
Geisler, met with Ms. Danic
and a group of students each
month to discuss a variety of
novels. This year Christy received
a prestigious award
from the Ontario Library Association
for her work with
teens. We love her visits and
expect next semester to be
equally productive.
KCI’s circulation numbers
continue to be very high. On
average, 3000 books are
checked in and out each
month. Students who love
graphic novels (manga) often
take out 4-8 books a day.
That’s a lot of reading!
In the last two years, we’ve
received $15,000 from the
Urban Priority High School
initiative. This money has
been used exclusively to buy
books for our students. As
well as buying books that will
appeal to all teens, we’ve targeted
our book purchases to atrisk
students, aboriginal students,
LGBT teens and boys.
Our hope is that every student
will find books they will love.