Student Achievement and Success

Measures of Student Achievement and Success

Our school follows the guidelines set out in the OCDSB Policy and Procedures for Assessment, Evaluation and Reporting, available on the Board's website. We also adhere to the practices in the Growing Success, Assessment, Evaluation, and Reporting in Ontario Schools, first edition covering grades 1-12 inclusive and published by the Ministry of Education 2010. Student achievement is measured through a variety of assessment tools such as portfolios, rubrics, student-led conferences, observations, peer and self-assessments, written tests, oral presentations, anecdotal records, checklists, student logs or journals, projects, audio or video tapes, etc. Our teachers utilize the Early Literacy Observation Tool, Levelled Literacy program, Empower for decoding, PM Benchmarks, GB+,  and evaluation rapide as part of the reading assessment, and our students participate in the Grade 3 Provincial Testing (EQAO).

We assume responsibility for the success of all our students. Our Year 2 Kindergarten students take part in the EDI (Early Development Instrument) screening in the early spring. Any students who require additional support and assistance are referred by their classroom teacher to a School Based Team Meeting. The team, which includes the Principal, Learning Support Teachers and the classroom teachers, assess the needs of the student and determine a course of action in consultation with the parent. This includes further observation or assessment, accommodations and modifications within a regular class setting, additional support from one of our Special Education team, or referral to outside specialists. Our Special Education Team works closely with classroom teachers to assist in planning for the needs of their students.

Student Leadership and Community Involvement


Students demonstrate strong leadership skills in numerous school and community activities such as reading buddies, lunch monitors, leadership groups, school tours, social service club; students demonstrate a strong commitment to charitable activities, raising money for underprivileged members of society at the regional, national and international levels (Youth Bureau Services, Boys and Girls club, hat and mitten drive for schools in need, raising money for a school in Ghana Africa, and the Education Foundation). 

School Improvement Plans and Initiatives

Our Literacy and Numeracy goals are developed after carefully reviewing EQAO results, our PM Benchmark, the results of our pre- and post-tests of School Improvement goals, along with daily observation and assessments, report card results, Our SCHOOL Parent Survey, demographic factors, and other available resources. To achieve our literacy goals we have a number of literacy initiatives. These include; the early literacy program, reading buddies, the home reading club, and public speaking activities. We have recently expanded our library resources in French, English and dual language books. We have also expanded our collection of levelled books for classroom use. In an effort to further improve our student achievement, teachers incorporate the four branches of literacy: shared/guided reading; self-selected reading; writing, and working with words.

An Inclusive, Safe and Caring School and Community Team has been established as part of the Ministry and School Board mandate. An anti-bullying school wide program (WITS) has been established. This year we have introduced many new clubs and intramurals for the students at Forest Valley.  We also have several focus groups to support social-emotional relationships.  We are working closely with Indigenous coaches to support the students at Forest Valley.  We were gifted with a smudging kit in November and will be working with students to build a shared understanding and a respect for the gift.

This year our School Learning Plan  will be to focus on High Impact Instructional Strategies in all subject areas.  These strategies support students in their learning as it focuses on the development of conceptual understanding and procedural fluency, skill development, communication and problem solving. 

In Wellness, our goal is to support our students’ emotional and social development. We offer many sport teams, intramurals, clubs and small focus groups to support the interest and the support positive social interactions.

School Council supports our student community by providing funding to support all students at Forest Valley. They provide funds for clubs, for the Arts, the Sciences and Technology as well as funding for each child so that costs for field trips, bussing or class activities are kept at a minimum.
It is a tradition at Forest Valley to generously support a number of charitable organizations each year. The purpose is to teach our students the importance of sharing, developing empathy for others and to increase their awareness of how much we have and how much we need to share with others.

Other Initiatives:

We pride ourselves on the variety of special programs and activities that are sponsored by our School Council such as our Book Fairs, the Valentine Family Dance, and a special Moving Ahead activity for our grade 5 students. Our students, staff and families have organized various philanthropic events that have supported; the homeless, impoverished children, the Terry Fox Walk, the United Way, and the Food Banks.

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