Philosophy
The central goals of education are intellectual, social, and career development. We at A. R. MacNeill Secondary School believe that this development is more a journey than a destination. MacNeill has been founded on the guiding principles of effective practice, flexibility, and choice.
We are a composite of small schools with a challenging academic core, and we believe that positive relationships among students, teachers, and family are fundamental to student success. As part of a community of learners, we believe in extending learning outside the walls of the school building.
Students learn to set goals and formulate plans for healthy intellectual, physical, emotional and social development.
We value:
Small size - Separate academies within one building ensures that, while the school population grows, each academy will remain small.
Positive climate - Every student is known, appreciated, and included; staff and students participate in the school’s decision-making process.
Dynamic teaching – Teachers explore and employ a growing repertoire of instructional and learning strategies with their colleagues and students
Depth - Students engage in challenging inquiry with their teachers. Students are actively engaged in their own learning.
Community experience - Students are involved in their community.
Flexible scheduling - The structure of the school day provides for flexible and variable learning times.
Technology - Technology is a tool that supports students as thinkers, researchers, writers, and presenters.
Assessment - Teachers help students to set goals and to monitor, guide and assess their own thinking in mastering learning outcomes.
Professional development - Teachers as learners explore opportunities to enrich the MacNeill community.
Balance – We recognize the need for balance in the lives of our students and staff.
Important Features:
Scheduling
§ Academic classes are offered primarily in the morning, allowing for more flexibility in the afternoon schedule.
§ The school day begins at 8:45 am. Research shows that teenagers learn better when their school day starts later.
§ The school day ends at 3:10 pm. This extended day will facilitate early dismissal one day a week.
§ Wednesday is an early dismissal day. Students are dismissed at 1:10. This allows time for staff to plan and for students to pursue other activities.
§ Physical education periods will be scheduled frequently throughout the school week, contributing to the acquisition of a healthy, active lifestyle.
§ Individual supervised reading periods will be scheduled into each school day. Educational research indicates that regular reading improves student performance and raises skill levels in many areas.
Interactions
§ Students will have the opportunity to develop and sustain meaningful relationships with staff and peers through our advisory programme. The advisory class will meet for 20 minutes four times a week. This programme will allow each student to be part of a small group with an ongoing connection to an individual teacher.
Curriculum
§ Students in both academies will have access to wireless computer technology to enhance learning in their classrooms. This creates a natural relationship between the curriculum and this technology.
§ Where possible and appropriate, curriculum will be integrated through theme-based studies, special projects, scheduling flexibility, and regular teacher collaboration and co-planning.
Advisement Program
Students will have the opportunity to develop and sustain meaningful relationships with staff and peers through our advisory programme. The advisory class meets for 25 minutes four times a week, and 30 minutes on Wednesday.
This programme will allow each student to be part of a small group with an ongoing connection to an individual teacher. On Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday the time will be used for country-regionplaceUSSR. On Wednesday the main focus of the Advisory programme is to assist students in the development of their social responsibility.
Supporting resources include:
Building Moral Intelligence by Michele Borba.
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens
In addition, staff will support the students in the area of academic goal setting and planning. During the year, the Advisory teacher will help the students select their work to be part of their portfolio presentations in June.
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