Table of Contents

Message from the Director of Education. 1

Overview of School 4

Our School Community. 4

Key Highlights/Special Projects. 4

Partnerships. 6

3-4 Year School Development Plan. 7

Summary Report on the School’s Most Current Data. 12

School Development Plan for Current School Year 15

Appendix A – Summary of School Fundraising. 18

Message from the Director of Education

Since Eastern School District’s inception in September, 2004 many changes have occurred. Our efforts have now moved beyond structural reform and reorganization to developing our schools as caring, professional and purposeful places of learning and excellence. The School District has engaged in a process designed to accomplish this. Our strategic plan identifies the mission of our District to enhance achievement and success for all students within a healthy, active, safe, caring and socially just learning environment.

On behalf of Eastern School District, I acknowledge the many efforts of our teachers, administrators, support staff, parents and community representatives, particularly through School Councils. I encourage you to review this document and to converse with your school representatives. It is in this conversation that the school's goals and expectations come to life, in an atmosphere of support and accountability. When a community is better informed about its school, participation and ownership increases. The value of this report lies not only in what it says, but also in what it does.

I wish to congratulate each school for their commitment to achieving success as evidenced by this Annual School Report. Keep up the good work!

FORD RICE, B.A., B.Ed., M.Ed.

C.E.O./DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION

Message from Principal

The 2009–10 school year at Pearce Junior High was an extremely successful time for the students and staff. By working together, the students, staff, and parents have made Pearce Junior High a better learning community and this collaborative effort has enhanced the positive feeling towards the school.

As part of the school development process, the school completed the peer validation section and received an excellent review of the entire learning community. This positive review would not have been possible without the strong leadership provided by the teachers at the school. Their diligent work over the past three years provides the foundation on which we move to make Pearce Junior High an exceptional school. Our goals have been set in the areas of technology, communication, creating a safe and caring school, and student motivation. These goals remain our guide as we continue to work towards improving the school.

This year also saw improved results in our Criterion Reference Tests in the areas of Math and Language Arts. A strong focus on academics has been fostered at the school and the results are indicative of these efforts. We continue to strive to improve student achievement in all subject areas by planning activities such as Math Week, Healthy Commotion - Amazing Race, and Public Speaking.

Our students were also very involved in many extra curricular activities this year. Students participated in choir, drama, soccer, basketball, ball hockey, volleyball, and cross country. The students represented the school at many tournaments and events and showed outstanding dedication and sportsmanship. We continually promote these activities to our students as a means to improve their overall personal development.

The school development report that follows is meant to provide all stakeholders an opportunity to view the school’s progress and to open dialogue regarding where we go in the future. It is my belief that our motto, Teaching, Learning, Caring shows Pearce Junior High is developing an enhanced professional learning community based on hard work and partnerships that it has created over the years.

Greg Farrell

Principal

Message from School Council

2009-2010 was a busy year for the school council. This year’s focus was on the development of a breakfast program for the students. Preliminary work was done through surveys and contact with the School Lunch program to help assess our needs. Early results did show the need for such a program at our school and the process of what needs to happen within our community to help arrange support was started ie the need to solicit letter of support from various community groups.

The school council also played a role in monitoring fund raising for the school and helped to always have an understanding of what fundraisers were ongoing throughout the year amongst all the various teams/groups within the school.

This year the school council also had a very active role in teacher appreciation week and had a well supported lunch meal provided to all staff. There were many parents who helped in this successful endeavour and staff was treated to some door prizes as well.

The school council continued to have a positive collaborative working relationship between parents, community and teachers which in the end contributed to an overall great year at Pearce Junior High.

Leslie Ann Rowsell

School Council Chair

Overview of School

Our School Community

Pearce Junior High School is located in Salt Pond, Burin and is part of the Burin Region of the Eastern School District. The school currently has an enrolment of 269 students in grades 8 and 9. Our school serves the towns of Marystown, Burin, Fox Cove, Mortier, Port au Bras, Lewin’s Cove, Salmonier, Epworth, Winterland, Garnish, Frenchman’s Cove, Mooring Cove, Spanish Room, Rock Harbour, Jean-de-Baie, and Red Harbour. All students who attend Pearce Junior High are bussed.

Our school has a total of 18.5 full-time teaching units which includes 15.5 regular teaching units and 3 instructional support teachers. Within the 15.5 regular units we have 100% Guidance, one French Immersion teacher, and three specialist teachers in the area of Music, Physical Education, and Technology/Learning Resources.

Our school also has access to the Burin Regional Office where we have a Senior Education Officer assigned to our school as well as an educational psychologist, speech pathologist, and itinerant teacher for the hearing impaired. We also have secretarial, custodial, cafeteria, and maintenance services provided to the school.

Key Highlights/Special Projects

During the 2009-10 school year there were many educational and extra curricular events scheduled for our students. Our Grade 8 students went on two trips that presented unique learning opportunities. First they went to the Winterland Eco-Museum where they learned about their local ecosystems and secondly, they went to St. John’s to visit The Rooms, the Johnson GeoCenter, and the Confederation Building. Both trips exposed our students to many topics that would be covered throughout the school year in the areas of science and social studies.

This year our students again participated in the Healthy Commotion day which promoted active and healthy living to our students. As well, this year was an Olympic year and with the games in Vancouver the school hosted a Newfoundland day and had our own version of the Olympics during the two weeks in February.

Our choir again participated in the Rotary Festival in St. John’s and the Kiwanis Festival in Clarenville. They performed extremely well at both festivals and were great ambassadors for the school. The choir was asked to sing at a number of functions in the Marystown and Burin area such as the Burin Christmas tree light up and the annual Take Back The Night hosted by the Grace Sparkes House.

Students from Pearce Junior High also participated in the Historica Fair and Science Fair competitions again this year, both in school and at the regional level. Our school sent 10 student projects to the Historica Fair in Terrenceville and won 3 silver, and 7 gold medals as well as the McCain Literacy Award. Again we sent 10 projects to the Science Fair in St. Lawrence and we won numerous awards and recognition for those projects.

Each year, students voluntarily participate in the Grade 9 Pascal Mathematics competition sponsored by the Faculty of Mathematics at the University of Waterloo in Waterloo, Ontario. This year, 64,728 students from over 1427 schools across Canada wrote the test. Our Grade 9 students from Pearce Junior High School, placed 2^nd in Zone 2 (central & southern Newfoundland), 13th in the province, and 767^th in the country. One of our students was recognized with a Certificate of Distinction for ranking in the top 25% of all contestants in Canada. He was also the recipient of a medal for achieving the highest mark in our school. In addition, The Centre of Education in Mathematics and Computing provided a monetary award of $100 for his high score (112) on this test. Our school is very proud of your wonderful accomplishment! Congratulations to all students who participated in this contest.

Pearce Junior High was again involved in the Techsploration program which offers female students the opportunity to explore non traditional trades for women. The teacher sponsor and the students had two trips that saw them visit the Dynamic Air Shelter facility in Grand Bank, as well as a trip to St. John’s to visit such places as the Marine Institute and College of the North Atlantic. This program is managed and sponsored by Women in Resource Development and is funded in part by Exxon Mobil. When the program was finished the students shared their experiences with the entire student body through an assembly at the school.

This year the students at Pearce Junior High participated in a robotics program offered by the Marine Institute. This was the school’s first year and three male students in Grade 9 along with their teacher sponsor created a Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV) which they took to St. John’s and competed against other school in the district. They won an award for Most Aesthetic Design and had a great learning experience.

Each year, our students participate in numerous sports and extra curricular activities. Pearce Junior High won the banner for cross country and one grade 8 student went to the provincial cross country race in St. Brides. As well, our school drama troupe participated in the regional drama festival in Lamaline and came away with numerous acting and directing awards. Finally, our students participated in other local tournaments such as ball hockey, basketball, and soccer, and during each tournament they showed great sportsmanship and represented the school proudly.

The entire learning community of Pearce Junior High School is very proud of the dedication and hard work of both the students and staff.

Partnerships

Over the school year Pearce Junior High has established and maintained many partnerships with the community. These partnerships are very valuable and contribute greatly to our professional learning community. Each year we have a Food Drive for the local food banks and when we ask for donations many businesses in the area donate money, items, and prizes to support this event. Their help makes our food drive a huge success and last year we were able to donate over 2500 items to the local food banks.

Our school library continues to be a shared facility with the Town of Burin. The library has been designated a Community Access Program site which provides citizens with the opportunity to access the internet for free. The school’s learning resource teacher and the town librarian work together to help support our students especially when students are working on Science and Historicia Fair projects. We look forward to continuing this relationship and are eager to find new ways to enhance this partnership.

The local RCMP, Eastern Health, and the Fire Department are also great partners for the school. The are continually visible in the school and are willing to participate in school functions such as our annual Remembrance Day ceremony or coming into the classroom to provide presentations on bullying, drugs, epi-pen training, etc. These groups provide a valuable service and resource to our school and we are very thankful.

Another partnership which exists at the school is with our local Royal Canadian Legion. Each year we host a Remembrance Day ceremony at the school and when the veterans come they add so much and make it more significant for our students. Our school also helps the Royal Canadian Legion by selling poppies during the days leading up to the event. We also support the Burin Sea Cadets by providing use of the school facilities throughout the school year. Many of our present and former students attend the weekly practices and when needed they represent our school at various functions. Again, we look forward to continuing this partnership.

The school is very fortunate to have access to two major walking trails in the area. The most notable trail is the Burin Walking Trail which is located just behind the school. Our physical education program use the trails frequently for its fitness component and the school’s annual Terry Fox Run occurs on the trail as well. The other trail which is found in Winterland, is used by our science teacher to promote various outcomes in the science curriculum and we also donate money to the trail association each year as a sign of support.

A final partnership has been created with Town of Marystown. The school will work with the town on two projects. The first being a walking program for seniors and the second being a New Horizons for Seniors project. The New Horizons project will see the development of a number of videos showing our students interviewing local seniors around a variety of topics related to the grade 8 social studies curriculum. It is hope that the project will be completed and presented to the town by the end of the 2010 – 2011 school year.

3-4 Year School Development Plan

The 3-4 year School Development Plan outlines a school’s goals and objectives over the life of the plan.

Goal 1: To continue to develop a safe and caring environment for students, staff, and visitors to our school

Year	Objective	Objective	Objective
2009-10	To create a safe and caring schools committee.	To educate students, staff and parents about bullying or youth violence.	To revisit and revise the school wide discipline policy
2010-11	To revise school discipline policy	Continue with school anti-bulling group	Continue with Safe and Caring Committee
2011-12	To be determined	To be determined	To be determined
2012-13	To be determined	To be determined	To be determined

Goal 2: To provide current technologies that will enhance learning opportunities for students and staff.

Year	Objective	Objective	Objective
2009-10	To acquire more computer technology for the school	To create an instructional activity for every subject area using technology.	To have students participate in a technology career day.
2010-11	Update computers in computer lab, classrooms, and the Library	Survey staff regarding the use of technology	Purchase of smartboards for classrooms
2011-12	To be determined	To be determined	To be determined
2012-13	To be determined	To be determined	To be determined

Goal 3: To improve the formal and informal communication between students, staff, parents, and the community

Year	Objective	Objective	Objective
2009-10	To continue to develop the school’s website.	To enhance the showcasing of academic, co-curricular and student achievements.	To improve communication between school/community through the media.
2010-11	To update schools website	To promote students work more within the school and classroom	To use synrevoice as a better form of communication.
2011-12	To be determined	To be determined	To be determined
2012-13	To be determined	To be determined	To be determined

Goal 4: To improve student motivation

Year	Objective	Objective	Objective
2009-10	To motivate students to complete homework and assignments.	To motivate students to see the relevance in studying all subject areas.	To promote increased parental involvement in the school.
2010-11	Survey students about the homework policy	To create subject based days/week to improve student motivation	Create more parent/school partnerships
2011-12	To be determined	To be determined	To be determined
2012-13	To be determined	To be determined	To be determined

Operational Issues

Year	Issues	Issues	Issues
2009-10	Replace windows in south end of school	Limit access for outside groups for use of school.	Fix room in downstairs of the Library
2010-11	Create multi purpose room in Library	Replace all tiles in 2^nd floor hallway	Continue to install electrical outlets to meet changing technological needs.
2011-12	To be determined
2012-13	To be determined

School Development Plan for Current Year

The four goals of the school development plan for 2010 - 11 include, (1) Safe and Caring School (2) Implementing current technologies to enhance learning opportunities for students and staff (3) Improving formal and informal communication between students, parents, staff, and the community (4) Student motivation. These goals are in keeping with the Eastern School District’s Strategic Plan for the years 2008 – 11.

1 Year School Development Plan

School Development Plan 2010_-2011_

Goal 1: To continue to develop a safe and caring environment for students, staff, and visitors to our school

Objective 1.1: To revise school discipline policy

Objective 1.2: Continue with school anti-bullying group

Objective 1.3: Continue with Safe and Caring Committee

Strategies:

1.1.1 Formation of working group

1.1.2 Administration reports

1.1.3 Student observation

1.1.4 Access other data

Strategies:

1.2.1 Enlist new students

1.2.2 Provide presentations from local groups

1.2.3 Get feedback from on presentations

1.2.4 Present information in form of posters and announcements around the school

Strategies:

1.3.1 Review Critical Incidents Policy

1.3.2 Create school response team

1.3.3 Create school response kit

Indicators of Success:

1.1.1Create new document that shares policy with all stakeholders.

1.1.2 Place policy on school website

Indicators of Success:

1.2.1 See less discipline referrals for bullying behaviour

1.2.2 More students standing up to bullying (Stand Up day, etc)

1.2.3 More pride in school (supporting school events, etc)

Indicators of Success:

1.3.1 Critical Incidents Policy on display in office and staff room

1.3.2Both team and kit created and staff is aware of where it is located and how it is to be used.

Goal 1. Support Plan

Financial

Professional Development/Time Required

1.1.1 Purchase promotional material

1.1.2 Allocate funds for guest speakers, research, etc on safe and caring schools.

1.1.1 Have teachers attend PD sessions which relate to topic.

1.1.2 Continue to find organizations to present to school about what it means to be a safe and caring school.

Goal 2:To provide current technologies that will enhance learning opportunities for students and staff.
Objective 2.1: Update computers in computer lab, classrooms, and the library	Objective 2.2: Survey staff regarding the use of technology		Objective 2.3: Purchase of smartboards for classrooms
Strategies: 2.1.1Check computers already in school for working capability 2.1.2 Report to technology teacher any computer problems 2.1.3 Access to Districts computer support personnel.	Strategies: 2.2.1 Create survey via programs such as surveymonkey, etc 2.2.2 Tabulate and analyze results 2.2.3 Formulate plan on a go forward basis		Strategies: 2.3.1 Establish cost of smartboards 2.3.2 Find out interest from staff regarding possible use smartboards 2.3.3 develop timeline for purchase of smartboards
Indicators of Success: 2.1.1 Old computers removed from school 2.1.2 Teachers using new computers more frequently 2.1.3 Less downtime for computer services	Indicators of Success: 2.2.1Teachers wanting and willing to use new technology 2.2.2 Plan created so as to identify how much technology to purchase		Indicators of Success: 2.3.1 Smartboards in some classrooms 2.3.2 Teacher using smartboard to improve instruction and student learning
Goal 2. Support Plan
Financial		Professional Development/Time Required
2.1.1 Purchase new computers, LCD units, smartboards, etc		2.1.1Provide teachers with PD in the area of technology and its benefits to them and their students. 2.1.2 Ongoing throughout the year

Goal 3: To improve the formal and informal communication between students, staff, parents, and the community
Objective 3.1: To update schools website	Objective 3.2 To promote students work more within the school and classroom		Objective 3.3: To use synrevoice as a better form of communication.
Strategies: 3.1.1Find time to provide tech teacher to work on website 3.1.2 Survey parents, teachers, and students about what they would like to see on the website 3.1.3 make website user friendly 3.1.4 Place counter on website	Strategies: 3.2.1 Place student work on classroom walls and in hallways 3.2.2 Ask students to complete more visual projects 3.2.3 Encourage students to be proud of their work 3.2.4 Foster student motivation		Strategies; 3.3.1Learn more about syrnevoice and it uses 3.3.2 Talk to other school who are using the program 3.3.3 Send more messages home using synrevoice.
Indicators of Success: 3.1.1More people using the website 3.1.2 Parents receiving more accurate and current information about the school 3.1.3 Improvement in student work and motivation	Indicators of Success: 3.2.1 More student work on walls in classrooms 3.2.2 Teacher/Parent feedback regarding student motivation 3.2.3 Students completing more project on time and getting better grades		Indicators of Success: 3.3.1 More messages being sent home 3.3.2 Parent satisfaction with communication from school
Goal 3. Support Plan
Financial		Professional Development/Time Required
3.1.1 Money to buy items, attend in service, etc 3.1.2 Purchase board coverings and posters on motivation		3.1.1 PD for administration in the use of synrevoice 3.1.2 Ongoing PD through the year.

Goal 4: To improve student motivation
Objective 4.1 Survey students about the homework policy	Objective 4.2 To create subject based days/week to improve student motivation		Objective 4.3 Create more parent/school partnerships
Strategies: 4.1.1Continue with homework checks 4.1.2 Contact home when homework is starting to not be completed 4.1.3 Use of House system points for students completing homework	Strategies: 4.2.1 Have more student activities in all subject areas 4.2.2 Have guest speakers on various subject areas 4.2.3 Identify relevant people who are famous in particular subjects and display in classrooms		Strategies; 4.3.1 Invite parent to school functions such as Science and Historica Fairs 4.3.2 Create list of parents who can complete presentations and relevant topics 4.3.3 Survey parents regarding ways to be more involved in the school
Indicators of Success: 4.1.1 More homework being done 4.1.2 Students getting better grades 4.1.3 More students receiving the Principal’s Award and Distinction Award.	Indicators of Success: 4.2.1 Improved academic performance 4.2.2 Improved grades in all subject areas		Indicators of Success: 4.3.1Improved academic performance 4.3.2 Positive parent feedback regarding involvement in the school
Goal 3. Support Plan
Financial		Professional Development/Time Required
4.1.1 Travel costs 4.1.2 Gym activities 4.1.3 Promotional materials		4.1.1 Motivation training for parents, students, and teachers 4.1.2 Increased media relations.

Operational Issues for 2010_-11_

Operational Issue	Intended Action
Replace floor tile in upstairs hallway	Continue to communicate with Regional Maintenance Personnel regarding time frame for complete fix of tiles.
Create multi purpose room in Library.	Communicate with Regional Maintenance Personnel regarding time frame for completion of room.

Appendix A – Summary of School Fundraising

As per school fundraising policy:

Overview of Fundraising Events

Event	Funds Raised	Funds Disbursed
Drama Troupe	3825.20	2866.91
Boys Basketball	3029.47	1876.81
Pearce Choir	9747.31	9582.50
Terry Fox Run	1044.05	1044.05
Grade 8 Trip To St. John’s	3270.00	3589.50
Grade 8 Trip To Eco Museum	237.00	200.00
Grade 9 School Leaving Ceremony	801.00	1379.56
Burin Pen. Health Care Radiothon	206.25	206.25
Jean Day (Staff) Burin Pen. Health Care Foundation	741.00	741.00
Social Justice	1900.00	1900.00
EF Tour	2635.00	2635.00
Technology	195.00

Goal 1. To continue to develop a safe and caring environment for students, staff and visitors to the school.
Objective 1.1 To create a safe and caring schools committee.	Objective 1.2 To educate students, staff and parents about bullying or youth violence.	Objective 1.3 To revisit and revise the school wide discipline policy.
Commendations 1.1 Committee created.	Commendations 1.2 Created a school student and teacher committee to focus on topics related to goal.	Commendations 1.3 Good discussion on changes to discipline policy.
Recommendations 1.1 Continue with committee work and find new ways to support the goal	Recommendations1.2 Continue with committee and find new ways to inform people about the bullying	Recommendations1.3 Create committee to edit and present new policy to staff, students and parents.

Goal 2. To provide current technologies that will enhance learning opportunities for student and staff.
Objective 2.1 To acquire more computer technology for the school.	Objective 2.2 To create an instructional activity for every subject area using technology.	Objective 2.3 To have students participate in a technology career day.
Commendations 2.1 Purchased LCD units for mobile carts to be used by staff.	Commendations 2.2 Various staff presentations on uses of technology.	Commendations 2.3 Grade 9 girls participated in Techsploration program.
Recommendations 2.1 Look into purchasing smartboards for classrooms	Recommendations 2.2 Create expanded source for all teachers over all subject areas.	Recommendations 2.3 Find ways for more boys and girls to participate.

Goal 3. To improve the formal and informal communication between students, staff, parents and the community
Objective 3.1 To continue to develop the school’s website.	Objective 3.2 To enhance the showcasing of academic, co-curricular and student achievements.	Objective 3.3 To improve communication between school/community through the media.
Commendations 3.1 Made changes to the layout of webpage.	Commendations 3.2 Created more areas to showcase student work.	Commendations 3.3 Use of syrnevoice.
Recommendations 3.1 Continue to make the website more user friendly.	Recommendations 3.2 Have teachers showcase student work more in their classrooms.	Recommendations 3.3 Look for ways to invite community more to the school.

Goal 4. To improve student motivation in all subject areas.
Objective 4.1 To motivate students to complete homework and assignments.	Objective 4.2 To motivate students to see the relevance in studying all subject areas.	Objective 4.3 To promote increased parental involvement in the school.
Commendations 4.1 Use of homework page on website.	Commendations 4.2 Purchase of posters on motivation to be placed around the school.	Commendations 4.3 Use of synrevoice and local radio station.
Recommendations 4.1 Guest speakers to tell students about the need to improve motivation.	Recommendations 4.2 Continue with motivation program.	Recommendations 4.3 Use school website to achieve goal.

*Year*	*Issues*	*Issues*	*Issues*
2009_-10_	Fix windows in the Library	Fix wheelchair ramp into school	Fix room 106
*Report*	Completed	Completed	Completed