Lavington Elementary School is nestled in the beautiful District of Coldstream, just east of Vernon, British Columbia. It is a rural school of approximately 160 students from Kindergarten to Grade 7. At Lavington Elementary School our mission is to develop skills, attitudes and knowledge, which enable all students to develop to their full potential as individuals and as responsible citizens in a changing world. We believe that encouraging our students to be caring and compassionate individuals within the school and the community will ensure that these values will be embedded intrinsically throughout their lives.
Lavington Elementary School offers students a strong academic program, an outstanding music program that includes choir, as well as several intramural and extramural activities. Lavington promotes the use of technology in all subject areas. Our school is well equipped with current technology that is utilized for learning by all students. We believe strongly in inclusion for our special needs students. As a school community we follow a Belief System that was created by students and staff.
Lavington Elementary School benefits from a strong community connection. Students have access to a beautiful park which has an outdoor pool, tennis courts, dog park and a covered picnic area. The community provides an outdoor skating rink which is located across from the school and is available during school hours. Parents and community members are invaluable partners in the well-rounded experience provided for our students. Long standing traditions are an important part of the Lavington community. May Day is celebrated every year and is a historical event that is valued and celebrated by the entire community. This year will mark the 70th May Day celebration.
Our community garden is located adjacent to the school and is a valued source of learning. All of our students participate in cultivating the garden. Each fall we harvest the vegetables and every student is involved in preparing ‘Stone Soup’ which we share as a school. This past school year each student created a tile to represent the learning the community garden provides. There is one mural hanging in the garden and one in the entrance of the school.
Art is also a focus for our school. Art is integrated in most curriculum areas and evidence of the students artwork is represented throughout the school.
At Lavington we pride ourselves on being a “Caring and Compassionate Community of Learners”.
At Lavington Elementary School all students are presented with a variety of enriching ways to both learn and present their learning. Students learning is based on their unique learning needs and the staff at Lavington focus their practice based on the student’s developmental growth. Students are afforded many different learning opportunities that ensures growth across a learning continuum and encourages curiosity, critical thinking and experiential learning. Our Lavington Community Garden is a source of higher level learning that engages every child in our school. Our indigenous plants which is located at the front of our school, focuses on cross-curricular areas of learning with emphasis on Aboriginal Education. Every child at Lavington Elementary is provided with opportunities to learn, succeed and most importantly, to discover and nature their passion.
There are several key aspects that work well at Lavington Elementary. As a staff we are proud that we work together as a team on a daily basis and we work collaboratively to ensure that our students receive the best education possible. Communication is another key aspect that works well in our school. All staff understand that communicating with parents and each other is critical to a successful educational experience for every child in our school. All staff follow consistent language that is based on our Belief System Matrix. Every student receives the same message from all staff members. Focus on community is embedded in our school culture.
We are going to continue being caring and compassionate learners. At Lavington we will be focussing on the social/emotional and mental well-being of our learners as we move past the pandemic. Once we re-establish our baseline and meet our student’s basic learning needs, we will move on to the higher level thinking that is necessary for academic success. Wish us luck!
Lavington Elementary School is nestled in the beautiful District of Coldstream, just east of Vernon, British Columbia. It is a rural school of approximately 160 students from Kindergarten to Grade 7. At Lavington Elementary School our mission is to develop skills, attitudes and knowledge, which enable all students to develop to their full potential as individuals and as responsible citizens in a changing world. We believe that encouraging our students to be caring and compassionate individuals within the school and the community will ensure that these values will be embedded intrinsically throughout their lives.
Lavington Elementary School offers students a strong academic program, an outstanding music program that includes choir, as well as several intramural and extramural activities. Lavington promotes the use of technology in all subject areas. Our school is well equipped with current technology that is utilized for learning by all students. We believe strongly in inclusion for our special needs students. As a school community we follow a Belief System that was created by students and staff.
Lavington Elementary School benefits from a strong community connection. Students have access to a beautiful park which has an outdoor pool, tennis courts, dog park and a covered picnic area. The community provides an outdoor skating rink which is located across from the school and is available during school hours. Parents and community members are invaluable partners in the well-rounded experience provided for our students. Long standing traditions are an important part of the Lavington community. May Day is celebrated every year and is a historical event that is valued and celebrated by the entire community. This year will mark the 70th May Day celebration.
Our community garden is located adjacent to the school and is a valued source of learning. All of our students participate in cultivating the garden. Each fall we harvest the vegetables and every student is involved in preparing ‘Stone Soup’ which we share as a school. This past school year each student created a tile to represent the learning the community garden provides. There is one mural hanging in the garden and one in the entrance of the school.
Art is also a focus for our school. Art is integrated in most curriculum areas and evidence of the students artwork is represented throughout the school.
At Lavington we pride ourselves on being a “Caring and Compassionate Community of Learners”.
At Lavington Elementary School all students are presented with a variety of enriching ways to both learn and present their learning. Students learning is based on their unique learning needs and the staff at Lavington focus their practice based on the student’s developmental growth. Students are afforded many different learning opportunities that ensures growth across a learning continuum and encourages curiosity, critical thinking and experiential learning. Our Lavington Community Garden is a source of higher level learning that engages every child in our school. Our indigenous plants which is located at the front of our school, focuses on cross-curricular areas of learning with emphasis on Aboriginal Education. Every child at Lavington Elementary is provided with opportunities to learn, succeed and most importantly, to discover and nature their passion.
There are several key aspects that work well at Lavington Elementary. As a staff we are proud that we work together as a team on a daily basis and we work collaboratively to ensure that our students receive the best education possible. Communication is another key aspect that works well in our school. All staff understand that communicating with parents and each other is critical to a successful educational experience for every child in our school. All staff follow consistent language that is based on our Belief System Matrix. Every student receives the same message from all staff members. Focus on community is embedded in our school culture.
We are going to continue being caring and compassionate learners. At Lavington we will be focussing on the social/emotional and mental well-being of our learners as we move past the pandemic. Once we re-establish our baseline and meet our student’s basic learning needs, we will move on to the higher level thinking that is necessary for academic success. Wish us luck!
Checking
Have we made a big enough difference?
Checking
Have we made a big enough difference?
As a staff and community of learners, we are constantly reflecting on our student’s growth and progress. The global pandemic has impacted the baseline of student performance and behaviour in ways that cannot be fully comprehended at this point in time. With this recognition we have focussed our attention towards student emotional and mental-well being during these challenging times.
Scanning
What's going on for our learners?
Scanning
What's going on for our learners?
Our learners have recently shown a shift in their baseline behaviour and academic performance. Student anxiousness and worry has risen to levels never experienced here at Lavington Elementary. Some areas that have been greatly impacted by this change and uncertainty are: attendance, academic performance, academic production, social struggles, emotional dysregulation, attachment and other mental health concerns.
Focusing
Where are we going to place our attention?
Focusing
Where are we going to place our attention?
The model will include an initial focus on the Social/Emotion & Mental Wellness needs for all students in the school by offering students increased access to tier one and two interventions, while simultaneously building staff capacity to identify and mitigate the impacts of anxiety on both social-emotional as well as academic functioning.
Stages of Delivery:
1. Whole class lessons: addressing anxious behaviour and worry (supported by the E.A.S.E Program, Social Thinking, Zones of Regulation, Mind-Up)
2. Small group/Individual Support for students identified with anxiousness and/or worry (E.A.S.E, Social Thinking, Zones of Regulation, Mind-Up)
3. Small group/Individual Support for the same identified students who are ‘emerging’ in their reading and numeracy competencies. (PM Benchmarks, L.L.I, First Steps in Math)
Each group/individual lesson will include the review and application of the mental well being strategies learned earlier in the year to solidify the competencies/behaviour.
Developing a Hunch
What's leading to this situation?
Developing a Hunch
What's leading to this situation?
Student needs have been identified through the collaboration between parents, school based-team, teachers, education assistants, school counselor, director of student learning, director of student support, administration, and support staff.
67 of our 163 students (41%) have been identified as having recent and/or past struggles with anxious behaviours and/or worry.
PRIMARY: 29 of the 67 students identified are in grades K-3 (43%)
INTERMEDIATE: 38 of the 67 students identified are in grades 4-7 (57%)
Groups and/or individuals in need of special services:
Student needs have been identified through the collaboration between parents, school based-team, teachers, education assistants, school counselor, director of student learning, director of student support, administration, and support staff.
67 of our 163 students (41%) have been identified as having recent and/or past struggles with anxious behaviours and/or worry.
PRIMARY: 29 of the 67 students identified are in grades K-3 (43%)
INTERMEDIATE: 38 of the 67 students identified are in grades 4-7 (57%)
*17 of the 29 primary students identified (59%) are EMERGING in their reading abilities
*21 of the 38 intermediate students identified (55%) are EMERGING/DEVELOPING in their numeracy abilities
Learning
How and where will we learn more about what to do?
Learning
How and where will we learn more about what to do?
Our entire staff has been trained in the E.A.S.E Program (Everyday Anxiety Strategies for Educators) in preparation for beginning of September 2021. We have also accessed support/resources from our Director of Student Support Services and Mental Health Liaison within the District.
Taking Action
What will we do differently?
Taking Action
What will we do differently?
Evaluations of student growth/success will come from the collaboration between parents, school based-team, teachers, education assistants, school counselor, director of student learning, director of student support, administration, and support staff.
Social/Emotional / Mental Well-being:
· Observational/Anecdotal Collaboration: School Based Team Meetings, E.A. Meetings, Fall & Spring Conferences, Teacher Meetings, Parent Meetings
· I.E.P Student Growth Reviews
· Student Learning Survey (see identified questions below)
#8 Am I happy at my school?
#43 Are you learning to care for your mental health?
#44 Are you learning to care for your body?
#54 Does school make you stressed or worried?
#55 What causes you to feel stressed or worried at school?
#56 Do you feel good about yourself?