STAR Program - Saskatchewan Rivers School Division No.119

Education Centre
545 11th Street East • Prince Albert, SK • S6V 1B1
Phone: (306) 764-1571 Fax: (306) 763-4460
www.srsd119.ca
Robert Bratvold, Director of Education
STAR Program
2011-2012 Learning Improvement Plan
School Address: 511 5 th Avenue East
Prince Albert, SK S6V 7Z6
Telephone: 922-6522
Fax: 922-6524
Website:
www.srsd119.ca/schools/star.html
Principal:
Trishia Hastings
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Mission
School Mission Statement
The STAR program reflects Saskatchewan's Goals of Education by providing opportunities for students to develop
knowledge, skills, and attitudes related to the Broad Areas of Learning.
Building Lifelong Learning - students build skills and strategies to become more confident and competent learners
Building a Sense of Self, Community and Place - self-concept development
Building Engaged Citizens - understanding and relating to others in a positive way
Description:
The STAR program provides a temporary placement for students with behavioural, emotional, and social challenges and
promotes opportunities to learn strategies to self- manage, solve problems in an effective way, and to improve success in
authentic life situations such as the mainstream school.
Vision
School Vision Statement
Ready to Learn
Demographics
School Enrolments and Configurations
There are approximately 20 students enrolled in the STAR program at any given time. Enrollment changes constantly as
new students are referred and existing students are integrated back into the mainstream classrooms. Staff at STAR remains
in contact with schools who have students who are in the process of transitioning back into the regular classroom. STAR is
divided into three classrooms- Pegasus (grades 1-3), Hercules (grades 4-5), and Leo (grades 4-7 students).
There is also a classroom at the Victoria Union Hospital which has a varied number of students daily based on needs. At
any given time, there are a number of students in the process of transitioning back into regular classrooms at their
neighborhood schools.
Students and School Demographics
The STAR program provides a short term placement for students with behavioral, social and emotional challenges who
have been referred from neighboring schools in collaboration with parents/caregivers. At STAR, students learn strategies to
calm themselves, self-monitor and solve problems effectively, so that they can re-enter a regular school setting and be more
successful than they were before entering the STAR program. The STAR Program accepts students from Saskatchewan
Rivers School Division and the Prince Albert Roman Catholic Separate School Division.
A panel comprised of representatives from the school divisions provides guidance and ongoing support to program staff and
determines which students are accepted into the program.
The STAR Program also offers educational services for students who are admitted to the Youth Assessment and
Stabilization Program of the Prince Albert Parkland Regional Health Authority which is located in the Mental Health wing of
the Victoria Hospital.
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The STAR program is a school within Riverside School, located in the city of Prince Albert Saskatchewan. It is comprised of
20-30 students from various schools from the Saskatchewan Rivers School Division and Prince Albert Catholic School
Division. There are more male students enrolled in the program than female, based on who is referred from neighbouring
schools. There are varied levels of socio-economic status, as well as religious and ethnic backgrounds. Approximately 13%
of the students at the STAR program are living in foster care.
Overview
Within small, academically focused classrooms, STAR students are able to improve their reading and math skills as they
become better “self-managers.” When students are able to use good “self-manager” skills most of the time, they begin the
process of returning to their home school full-time.
The STAR Program is located at Riverside Community School, and students are transported by school bus to the program.
School days end at 2:30 for students, and at 12:00 on Thursday afternoons.
Governance Structure
School Community Council
-Not applicable at the STAR program
First Nations and Metis Organizations
-Not applicable at the STAR program
Communication Plan
-The STAR program informs parents and guardians of individual student performance and progress through written
communications, regular phone calls home and regular scheduled meetings. Each student has a behaviour plan to meet
individual needs. Parents are informed of the Learning Improvement Plan through the monthly newsletter in which the
website is listed.
Programs and Services
Overview of Curricular Courses and Programs
Regular core academic courses are offered to STAR students with the exception of Science. Each classroom has a SMART
board, and all STAR teachers are involved in current curricular implementation and Assessment for Learning Assessments.
The STAR program is committed to the following Saskatchewan Rivers School Division initiatives:
Language Arts
- The Early Literacy Project
- Literacy In Action
- DRA reading assessment
- School division in-service opportunities
- ELA coaching
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Math
- Math coaching
- School division in-service opportunities
Our Caring and Respectful School Environment
- character education for all students
- building a sense of citizenship and Community by providing opportunities at various times throughout the year to volunteer
at community agencies including the Prince Albert Food Bank and the Salvation Army
- anti-bullying initiatives and accessing resources including participation and learning about pink t-shirt day
Use of Instructional Technology
Each classroom at STAR is equipped with a SmartBoard and laptops for student use. Many lessons are presented by
incorporating technology to engage students.
Student Leadership Opportunities
Students at STAR have opportunities to be leaders within our program, by helping with jobs such as recycling, serving the
snack program, being buddies to younger students and making positive choices.
Out-of-School Educational Experiences
STAR students contribute to our city through ongoing community volunteering, including at the Prince Albert Food Bank,
Salvation Army, SPCA, and local nursing homes.
Extra-Curricular Programs
- not applicable at the STAR Program
Supports for Learning
Student Support Services Initiatives:
- using assistive technology
- living PPP learning plan
- School Social Worker
- Dental Clinic
- The Hub
- Public Health Nurse
- Nutrition
- Snack program (Riverside School Partnership)
- Emergency Lunch Program (Riverside School Partnership)
- Respect Ed
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Staff Learning Initiatives
The STAR staff meets frequently in PLC groupings to reflect, problem solve and learn. In division support personnel
including; Speech and Language Pathologist, Psychometrist and Occupational Therapist provide ongoing professional
development opportunities for all STAR staff.
Throughout the year we host a variety of special events, including:
· First day family breakfast
· Monthly assemblies, with student presentations
· Annual STAR Terry Fox Walk and fundraiser
· Little Red Family Fun day in December
· June Family Picnic
· Year-end Awards Assembly
· Ongoing celebrations for students integrating back into their home school
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Higher Literacy and Achievement
Literacy
SMART Goals
Language Arts: By June 2012, all STAR students will increase by one benchmark level as measured by the Developmental
Reading Assessment (DRA).
Indicators
DRA2: Comprehension
Expanding Expression Toolkit Rubric
Strategies
Expanding Expression Toolkit
Actions
invite Sandra Quayle to conduct an informational session regarding the EET
invite SLP, Cheryl Mullner to provide other opportunities that may support student success with using the EET
provide professional development for staff to use the EET.
staff dialogue sessions to meet, share and discuss concerns
Graphic Organizers
Actions
implement the use of graphic organizers from the EET kit to assist student learning
provide learning opportunities for students to express themselves using the EET tool
staff will collect pre-test data
staff will have time to go through the EET kit
staff will use the graphic organizers from the EET toolkit to compose a story of their own
SLP Support initiative
Actions
Cheryl Mulner will provide informational sessions regarding the proper use of the EET in the classroom
Each staff will be provided the EET tool to have in their classroom
Staff will learn how to use the SmartBoard tools on the SRSD website in the SLP file for the EET
Students will create tactile tools to be available for use
Staff Dialogue Sessions
Actions
EAs will be instructed as to how they can facilitate learning
Staff will discuss progress with the EET and how it is being used in the classroom
staff will meet bi-weekly
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SMART Goal
Timeframe
Long-term
Medium-term
Short-term
Not Assigned
Strategy Priority
High
Medium
Low
Not Assigned
Action Status
Draft
In-Progress
Cancelled
Postponed
Completed
Indicator
Progress
On Target
Warning
Off Target
Not Assigned
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