You will need the Flash plugin to view this publication
Download the Flash plugin for free here. Just refresh this page after installing Flash.
Also make sure that javascript is enabled in your browser.
Alternatively, you can download this publication in PDF-format - Click here.
Page 1
Page 2
Page 3
Page 4
Elwin_LeRouxHRSB_OfficialFEBRUARY2014SuperintendentstotheHalifaxRegionalSchoolBoardProvidingahighqualityeducationforeverystudenteverydaywww.hrsb.ca33SpectacleLakeDriveDartmouthNSB3B1X7902.464.2000MarchBreakNoclassesAssessmentEvaluationDayP-9NoclassesforstudentsP-9InternationalDayfortheEliminationofRacialDiscriminationTerm3BeginsP-9ViewtheHRSBcalendaronlineMarch10-14inclusiveMarch21March21March31ImportantDatesSchoolVisitsDartmouthHighstudentsposeinfrontofamuralofViolaDesmondtheycreatedinAfricanCanadianStudies11classinpartnershipwiththeBridgeCentreforArtsandTechnologyBridgeCATandlocalartistJoAnnNapier-Chiasson.Clickontheabovephototoseemorephotosfromsomeofmy21schoolvisitssincetheNewYear.FebruaryisAfricanHeritageMonth.ItisatimewhenwecelebratethehistoryandrichAfricanNovaScotiancultureofourprovince.Ialwaysenjoyvisitingschoolsandjoiningintheircelebrations.WhyisitimportanttorecognizeAfricanHeritageMonthPerhapsIcanrelyonthewordsofsomeonewithfargreaterexpertiseinthisareatoillustrate.AfewyearsagoIhadtheopportunitytohearDr.NaimAkbarspeakatanAfro-centricLearningConference.Dr.AkbarsaiditisimportantthatwerecognizethecontributionsofpeopleofAfricandescentsayingstudentsofAfricandescentshouldknowtheycomefromalegacyofexcellence.AfricanHeritageMonthisaboutcelebratingthislegacyofexcellencebydrawingattentiontothehistoryjourneyandcontributionsofpeopleofAfricandescent.ItisimportantforallstudentstoknowabouttheextraordinarycontributionsandachievementsofAfricanNovaScotianslikeViolaDesmondDr.BurnleyRockyJonesGeorgeElliottClarkeandElJones.Andtherearemanymanymorewhohavemadetremendouscontributionslocallyprovinciallynationallyandinternationally.Itisequallyimportantthatourstudentscanseethemselvesreflectednotonlyinthecurriculumweteachbutalsointhepeopleweemploy.TheGoverningSchoolBoardhasmadeitaprioritythatourschoolsystembereflectiveofourdiversecommunity.Eachofourcollectiveagreementsallowsforsomepreferencetobegiventodiversitycandidateswhenwehirestaff.TheGoverningBoardhasalsodirectedstafftofullyimplementArticle10.18oftheLocalNSTUCollectiveAgreementinregardtothehiringofAfricanNovaScotianandMikmaqteachers.Thisyearmarksthe30thanniversaryofAfricanHeritageMonthinNovaScotia.ItisperhapsfittingthatthethemeforthisyearisRisingStarsCelebratingOurYouth.WhenvisitingschoolsIcanseethepridestudentsofAfricandescenthavewhentheirschoolscelebratetheircultureandheritage.Itgivesthemafeelingofconnectednesstotheirschoolandasenseofbelonging.Wewantallstudentstofeelthiswayeveryday.ThisiswhyitissoimportanttocelebrateAfricanHeritageMonth.Letstalkabout...AfricanHeritageMonth DiscoveringOpportunitiesDOisasapilotprograminthreejuniorhighschoolsacrossNovaScotiaincludingGrahamCreightonJuniorHigh.TheprogramissimilartothehighschoolOptionsandOpportunitiesO2programinthatitfocusesonimprovingacademicpotentialandhelpingstudentsbecomemoresuccessfulintheirlearningenvironment.Studentsareexposedtodifferentcareeropportunitiesandthegoalisforstudentstocompletetheprogramwiththeconfidenceandsupportsnecessarytobesuccessfulinhighschool.Midwaythroughthefirstyearstudentssaytheyarereallyenjoyingtheexperienceandaregladtheyareintheprogram.TheyhaveparticipatedinaservicelearningprojectinsupportofFeedNovaScotiaattendedcareerfairsandcompletedworkshopsinbakingcookingandlifeskills.TheyhaveattemptedtomasterteamworkintheTowerofPowerworkshopsdeliveredbytheCentreforEntrepreneurshipEducationandDevelopmentandexaminedtheimpactofdecisionsmadebyyouththroughsessionswithNovaScotiaHealthandWellness.Theclassplanstobringtheseteamworkandproblem-solvingskillstotheupcomingDestinationImaginationchallengebeingheldattheendofMarchandtheyarereadytotakeonanychallengethatcometheirway.TheyarelookingforwardtoanupcomingcrosscurricularprojectthatwillenrichtheirlearninginScienceMathEnglishandSocialStudiesastheyfocusondevelopingaGreenEnergyExpoattheirschool.RecentlythestudentsandstaffoftheDOProgramatGrahamCreightonsharedtheirstorywiththetwootherpilotschoolsaswellasstafffromtheHRSBandDepartmentofEducationandEarlyChildhoodDevelopment.Insmallgroupstheydeliveredanumberofpresentationsthatreflectedlearningthathadbeenmeaningfultothem.Andthentheyworkedwithalocalcheftocateraluncheonforallparticipants.Studentsareproudoftheirlevelofengagementtheyareshowingconfidenceinthemselvesaslearnersandleadersintheschool.AsacohorttheyhavemadeapositiveimpactonschoolclimateandthecurrentGrade8sareeagerlylookingforwardtobeingpartofDOinSeptember2014.FindthisreportontheSuperintendentspageonwww.hrsb.caInFebruaryallhighschoolmathematicsteachersaswellasallelementaryclassroomteachersresourceteachersprincipalsandviceprincipalsattendedprofessionaldevelopmentoneffectiveinstructioninmathematics.GradesPrimaryto3teacherswhoarecurrentlyimplementingtherevisedmathematicscurriculumattendedaconferencestyledaywheretheychosesessionsbasedontheirlearningneeds.Sessionscoveredarangeoftopicsincludingdevelopingnumbersenseassessmentdifferentiatedinstructionmathstationstechnologyandusingmathtoolssuchasrekenreksandnumberbalancestodevelopunderstandingofconcepts.Teachersofgrades4to6continuedtolearnabouttherevisedcurriculumtheywillbeimplementinginSeptember2014.Theylearnedabouttheimportanceofdevelopingyoungmathematiciansbyprovidingopportunitiestosolveproblemsandcommunicatetheirthinkingandhowtohelpstudentsdevelopunderstandingsofmultiplicationanddivision.HighschoolmathematicsteachersstartedtheirdaywithacommonsessionontheimplementationofthehighschoolmathematicscurriculumandthenewGrade11mathematicscoursesbeingimplementednextyear.Teachersthenchosewhichsessionstoattendfromavarietybeingofferedontopicssuchastrigonometryfinancialmathtechnologyintegrationandproblemsolving.Toimprovestudentachievementandpersonalsuccess.Tomaximizeexemplaryteachingpracticestosupporthighqualityinstruction.2 Providingahighqualityofeducationforeverystudenteveryday3Toachieveequitablelearningopportunitiesforallstudents.Webelieveitisessentialtoknowasmuchaswecanaboutourstudentsandthecommunitiesweserve.OneofthewayswedothisisbyencouragingallparentsandstudentstoidentifytheirancestryandAboriginalidentity.Bydoingsoithelpsusbetterunderstandourdemographicsandhowwecanbestsupportourstudentsandschools.Self-identificationisvoluntarybutitdoesassisttheboardindetermininghowresourcesandpersonnelareallocatedtobestsupporttheachievementofallstudents.Inthefallof2013theboardaskedschoolstofocusonincreasingthenumberofparentsguardianswhocompletedtheself-identificationformfortheirchildren.OurDecemberdatarevealedthatwehaveself-identificationinformationfor75percentofourstudentsand74percentofnewgradeprimarystudents.Thisisasignificantincreasefromthe44percentreportedinSeptember.Thenextstepfortheboardistomergeself-identificationdatawithstudentachievementdata.Thisworkisnowunderwayandshouldprovidearichnewsourceofinformation.Asalwaysthefocusisonsupportingstudentachievement.Themoreweknowaboutourstudentsthebetterweareabletosupporttheirneeds.Self-identificationisimportanttoourschoolsystemandtoourstudents.Tolearnmoreabouttheimportanceofself-identificationclickontheimagebelowCommunicationismosteffectivewhenitistimelyandrelevant.Agoodexampleiskeepingparentsguardiansinformedonhowwelltheirchildisdoinginschool.Morethaneverteachersarecommunicatingwithparentsthroughavarietyofmeansincludingphonecallsemailwebsitesandtwitter.Nolongeristhereportcardtheonlyformofcom-municationbetweenhomeandschool.AnimportantcommunicationtoolforparentsandstudentsisiNSchoolNovaScotiasStudentInformationSystem.Nowparentscangetreal-timeaccesstotheirchildsgradesassignmentsattendanceandteacherscommentsthroughtheInternetusingtheStudent-ParentPortalPowerSchoolwebsite.HerearesomestatisticsontheuseofPowerSchoolintheHRSBSept.32013Feb.172014Totalsigninsbyparents496419Totalsigninsbystudents524460Totalsigninsbyparentsandstudentscombined1020879Numberofstudentswhoserecordswereaccessed23101ParentscanaccessinformationabouttheirchildrenatanytimeoncetheyhavesigneduponthePowerSchoolwebsite.Tolearnmoreviewa5-minuteonlinedemonstrationvideoathttpinschool.ednet.ns.caportal.TousePowerSchoolparentsandstudentsneedanAccessIDandPassword.Theseareprovidedbytheschoolthestudentattends.Forparentswithmorethanonechildinthesameschooloratdifferentschoolsallchildrencanbelinkedtothesameaccount.TobuildengagementsupportandconfidenceinHRSB. THEQUESTIONTweetyourresponsetoElwin_LeRouxElwinsQuestionElwinsQuestionTheMinisterofEducationandEarlyChildhoodDevelopmentisaskingNovaScotiansforinputonwhatisworkingwithpubliceducationandwhatneedsimprovement.WhatisonesuggestionyouwouldmaketothepaneloverseeingthisreviewTweetyourresponsetoElwin_LeRouxSomeanswersmayappearinfuturereports.BesuretouseelwinsQTheHRSBPayrollDepartmentwillproduce10040T4andT4Aslipsthisyear.OnaveragePayrollsendsandorrespondstoalmost1350emailinquirieseachweek.Onanygivenday15000studentsareloggedontothepublicwirelessnetworkattheirschoolsusingtheirowndevices.DidyouknowFindthisreportontheSuperintendentspageonwww.hrsb.ca4InJanuaryAmyMacLeodprincipalofAshLeeJeffersonElementarywasnamedoneofCanadasoutstandingprincipalsbyTheLearningPartnership.Shewasoneof40principalstobehonouredthisyearandtheonlyonefromNovaScotia.Candidatesforthisawardarechosenusingthefollowingcriteriacharacteristicsofoutstandingprincipalsevidenceofpartnershipswithparentsandcommunityapersonalstoryillustratingsuccessfulchangeandinnovationthatresultedinimprovedstudentachievementandcorrespondinglettersofsupport.Amyisknownasaninstructionalleaderandforbuildingstrongrelationshipswithstudentsstaffandparents.Sheexemplifiestheboardsmissiontoprovideahighqualityeducationforeverystudenteveryday.Amyhasworkedinanumberofschoolsasateachervice-principalandnowasaprincipal.InearlyFebruaryshetookanewleadershippositionintheSchoolAdministrationDepartmentfortheremainderoftheschoolyear.AspartoftheoutstandingprincipalsprogramAmywillparticipateinanexecutiveleadershiptrainingprogramattheUniversityofTorontosRotmanSchoolofManagementinlateFebruary.CongratulationsAmyOccupationalHealthandSafetyFacesoftheHRSBIn2012theHalifaxRegionalSchoolBoardrecognizedasignificantincreaseinthenumberofworkplaceinjuryclaimsasreportedthroughdataavailablefromtheWorkersCompensationBoardWCB.IncollaborationwiththeWCBstaffdevelopedaplantocreateandsupportaself-sustainingcultureofsafetythroughouttheorganization.Thefirststepwastoidentifywheresafetyknowledgeandprocessgapsexistedwithineachdepartment.AcommitteeofemployeesorDoerswasstrucktoidentifystrategiestocreatethisshiftinculture.ThecommitteeevaluatedHRSBsafetysystemsbytouringschoolsitesandattendingJointOccupationalHealthandSafetymeetings.Approximately1800staffprincipalscaretakersmaintenancestaffeducationalprogramassistantslearningcentreteachersetc.andservicecontractorsweresurveyedtogainabetterunderstandingofthecurrentstateofemployeeworkplacesafetyknowledge.Subcommitteeswerestrucktodevelopprotocolsforcommunicationshazardidentificationincidentinvestigationreturntoworkandparticipatoryergonomics.WorkshopsessionsincludedGettingStartedMakingitWorkHazardIdentificationIncidentInvestigationCommunicatingSafetyandParticipatoryErgonomics.Thisyeartheboardhasobservedareversaloftrendsshownbyareductioninthenumberofinjuriesandasignificantreductionintimelostandbenefitspaid.Thismeansfeweremployeesaregettinginjuredandthosewhoaregettinginjuredaregettingbacktoworksooner.Whilethenumbershavenotyetbeenfinalizedthedecreaseinthecostoflosttimeinjurieswillresultinsignificantsavingstheboardcanreinvestintheclassroom.Everyonewins.HRSBstaffhaveengagedinaWCBWorkplaceCoachingworkshopandhaveaskedtoattendfutureWCBpresentationopportunitiestosharetheexperienceofoursuccessesandchallengesthroughoutthissafetyculturechangewithintheHRSB.
Page 2
Page 3
Page 4
Elwin_LeRouxHRSB_OfficialFEBRUARY2014SuperintendentstotheHalifaxRegionalSchoolBoardProvidingahighqualityeducationforeverystudenteverydaywww.hrsb.ca33SpectacleLakeDriveDartmouthNSB3B1X7902.464.2000MarchBreakNoclassesAssessmentEvaluationDayP-9NoclassesforstudentsP-9InternationalDayfortheEliminationofRacialDiscriminationTerm3BeginsP-9ViewtheHRSBcalendaronlineMarch10-14inclusiveMarch21March21March31ImportantDatesSchoolVisitsDartmouthHighstudentsposeinfrontofamuralofViolaDesmondtheycreatedinAfricanCanadianStudies11classinpartnershipwiththeBridgeCentreforArtsandTechnologyBridgeCATandlocalartistJoAnnNapier-Chiasson.Clickontheabovephototoseemorephotosfromsomeofmy21schoolvisitssincetheNewYear.FebruaryisAfricanHeritageMonth.ItisatimewhenwecelebratethehistoryandrichAfricanNovaScotiancultureofourprovince.Ialwaysenjoyvisitingschoolsandjoiningintheircelebrations.WhyisitimportanttorecognizeAfricanHeritageMonthPerhapsIcanrelyonthewordsofsomeonewithfargreaterexpertiseinthisareatoillustrate.AfewyearsagoIhadtheopportunitytohearDr.NaimAkbarspeakatanAfro-centricLearningConference.Dr.AkbarsaiditisimportantthatwerecognizethecontributionsofpeopleofAfricandescentsayingstudentsofAfricandescentshouldknowtheycomefromalegacyofexcellence.AfricanHeritageMonthisaboutcelebratingthislegacyofexcellencebydrawingattentiontothehistoryjourneyandcontributionsofpeopleofAfricandescent.ItisimportantforallstudentstoknowabouttheextraordinarycontributionsandachievementsofAfricanNovaScotianslikeViolaDesmondDr.BurnleyRockyJonesGeorgeElliottClarkeandElJones.Andtherearemanymanymorewhohavemadetremendouscontributionslocallyprovinciallynationallyandinternationally.Itisequallyimportantthatourstudentscanseethemselvesreflectednotonlyinthecurriculumweteachbutalsointhepeopleweemploy.TheGoverningSchoolBoardhasmadeitaprioritythatourschoolsystembereflectiveofourdiversecommunity.Eachofourcollectiveagreementsallowsforsomepreferencetobegiventodiversitycandidateswhenwehirestaff.TheGoverningBoardhasalsodirectedstafftofullyimplementArticle10.18oftheLocalNSTUCollectiveAgreementinregardtothehiringofAfricanNovaScotianandMikmaqteachers.Thisyearmarksthe30thanniversaryofAfricanHeritageMonthinNovaScotia.ItisperhapsfittingthatthethemeforthisyearisRisingStarsCelebratingOurYouth.WhenvisitingschoolsIcanseethepridestudentsofAfricandescenthavewhentheirschoolscelebratetheircultureandheritage.Itgivesthemafeelingofconnectednesstotheirschoolandasenseofbelonging.Wewantallstudentstofeelthiswayeveryday.ThisiswhyitissoimportanttocelebrateAfricanHeritageMonth.Letstalkabout...AfricanHeritageMonth DiscoveringOpportunitiesDOisasapilotprograminthreejuniorhighschoolsacrossNovaScotiaincludingGrahamCreightonJuniorHigh.TheprogramissimilartothehighschoolOptionsandOpportunitiesO2programinthatitfocusesonimprovingacademicpotentialandhelpingstudentsbecomemoresuccessfulintheirlearningenvironment.Studentsareexposedtodifferentcareeropportunitiesandthegoalisforstudentstocompletetheprogramwiththeconfidenceandsupportsnecessarytobesuccessfulinhighschool.Midwaythroughthefirstyearstudentssaytheyarereallyenjoyingtheexperienceandaregladtheyareintheprogram.TheyhaveparticipatedinaservicelearningprojectinsupportofFeedNovaScotiaattendedcareerfairsandcompletedworkshopsinbakingcookingandlifeskills.TheyhaveattemptedtomasterteamworkintheTowerofPowerworkshopsdeliveredbytheCentreforEntrepreneurshipEducationandDevelopmentandexaminedtheimpactofdecisionsmadebyyouththroughsessionswithNovaScotiaHealthandWellness.Theclassplanstobringtheseteamworkandproblem-solvingskillstotheupcomingDestinationImaginationchallengebeingheldattheendofMarchandtheyarereadytotakeonanychallengethatcometheirway.TheyarelookingforwardtoanupcomingcrosscurricularprojectthatwillenrichtheirlearninginScienceMathEnglishandSocialStudiesastheyfocusondevelopingaGreenEnergyExpoattheirschool.RecentlythestudentsandstaffoftheDOProgramatGrahamCreightonsharedtheirstorywiththetwootherpilotschoolsaswellasstafffromtheHRSBandDepartmentofEducationandEarlyChildhoodDevelopment.Insmallgroupstheydeliveredanumberofpresentationsthatreflectedlearningthathadbeenmeaningfultothem.Andthentheyworkedwithalocalcheftocateraluncheonforallparticipants.Studentsareproudoftheirlevelofengagementtheyareshowingconfidenceinthemselvesaslearnersandleadersintheschool.AsacohorttheyhavemadeapositiveimpactonschoolclimateandthecurrentGrade8sareeagerlylookingforwardtobeingpartofDOinSeptember2014.FindthisreportontheSuperintendentspageonwww.hrsb.caInFebruaryallhighschoolmathematicsteachersaswellasallelementaryclassroomteachersresourceteachersprincipalsandviceprincipalsattendedprofessionaldevelopmentoneffectiveinstructioninmathematics.GradesPrimaryto3teacherswhoarecurrentlyimplementingtherevisedmathematicscurriculumattendedaconferencestyledaywheretheychosesessionsbasedontheirlearningneeds.Sessionscoveredarangeoftopicsincludingdevelopingnumbersenseassessmentdifferentiatedinstructionmathstationstechnologyandusingmathtoolssuchasrekenreksandnumberbalancestodevelopunderstandingofconcepts.Teachersofgrades4to6continuedtolearnabouttherevisedcurriculumtheywillbeimplementinginSeptember2014.Theylearnedabouttheimportanceofdevelopingyoungmathematiciansbyprovidingopportunitiestosolveproblemsandcommunicatetheirthinkingandhowtohelpstudentsdevelopunderstandingsofmultiplicationanddivision.HighschoolmathematicsteachersstartedtheirdaywithacommonsessionontheimplementationofthehighschoolmathematicscurriculumandthenewGrade11mathematicscoursesbeingimplementednextyear.Teachersthenchosewhichsessionstoattendfromavarietybeingofferedontopicssuchastrigonometryfinancialmathtechnologyintegrationandproblemsolving.Toimprovestudentachievementandpersonalsuccess.Tomaximizeexemplaryteachingpracticestosupporthighqualityinstruction.2 Providingahighqualityofeducationforeverystudenteveryday3Toachieveequitablelearningopportunitiesforallstudents.Webelieveitisessentialtoknowasmuchaswecanaboutourstudentsandthecommunitiesweserve.OneofthewayswedothisisbyencouragingallparentsandstudentstoidentifytheirancestryandAboriginalidentity.Bydoingsoithelpsusbetterunderstandourdemographicsandhowwecanbestsupportourstudentsandschools.Self-identificationisvoluntarybutitdoesassisttheboardindetermininghowresourcesandpersonnelareallocatedtobestsupporttheachievementofallstudents.Inthefallof2013theboardaskedschoolstofocusonincreasingthenumberofparentsguardianswhocompletedtheself-identificationformfortheirchildren.OurDecemberdatarevealedthatwehaveself-identificationinformationfor75percentofourstudentsand74percentofnewgradeprimarystudents.Thisisasignificantincreasefromthe44percentreportedinSeptember.Thenextstepfortheboardistomergeself-identificationdatawithstudentachievementdata.Thisworkisnowunderwayandshouldprovidearichnewsourceofinformation.Asalwaysthefocusisonsupportingstudentachievement.Themoreweknowaboutourstudentsthebetterweareabletosupporttheirneeds.Self-identificationisimportanttoourschoolsystemandtoourstudents.Tolearnmoreabouttheimportanceofself-identificationclickontheimagebelowCommunicationismosteffectivewhenitistimelyandrelevant.Agoodexampleiskeepingparentsguardiansinformedonhowwelltheirchildisdoinginschool.Morethaneverteachersarecommunicatingwithparentsthroughavarietyofmeansincludingphonecallsemailwebsitesandtwitter.Nolongeristhereportcardtheonlyformofcom-municationbetweenhomeandschool.AnimportantcommunicationtoolforparentsandstudentsisiNSchoolNovaScotiasStudentInformationSystem.Nowparentscangetreal-timeaccesstotheirchildsgradesassignmentsattendanceandteacherscommentsthroughtheInternetusingtheStudent-ParentPortalPowerSchoolwebsite.HerearesomestatisticsontheuseofPowerSchoolintheHRSBSept.32013Feb.172014Totalsigninsbyparents496419Totalsigninsbystudents524460Totalsigninsbyparentsandstudentscombined1020879Numberofstudentswhoserecordswereaccessed23101ParentscanaccessinformationabouttheirchildrenatanytimeoncetheyhavesigneduponthePowerSchoolwebsite.Tolearnmoreviewa5-minuteonlinedemonstrationvideoathttpinschool.ednet.ns.caportal.TousePowerSchoolparentsandstudentsneedanAccessIDandPassword.Theseareprovidedbytheschoolthestudentattends.Forparentswithmorethanonechildinthesameschooloratdifferentschoolsallchildrencanbelinkedtothesameaccount.TobuildengagementsupportandconfidenceinHRSB. THEQUESTIONTweetyourresponsetoElwin_LeRouxElwinsQuestionElwinsQuestionTheMinisterofEducationandEarlyChildhoodDevelopmentisaskingNovaScotiansforinputonwhatisworkingwithpubliceducationandwhatneedsimprovement.WhatisonesuggestionyouwouldmaketothepaneloverseeingthisreviewTweetyourresponsetoElwin_LeRouxSomeanswersmayappearinfuturereports.BesuretouseelwinsQTheHRSBPayrollDepartmentwillproduce10040T4andT4Aslipsthisyear.OnaveragePayrollsendsandorrespondstoalmost1350emailinquirieseachweek.Onanygivenday15000studentsareloggedontothepublicwirelessnetworkattheirschoolsusingtheirowndevices.DidyouknowFindthisreportontheSuperintendentspageonwww.hrsb.ca4InJanuaryAmyMacLeodprincipalofAshLeeJeffersonElementarywasnamedoneofCanadasoutstandingprincipalsbyTheLearningPartnership.Shewasoneof40principalstobehonouredthisyearandtheonlyonefromNovaScotia.Candidatesforthisawardarechosenusingthefollowingcriteriacharacteristicsofoutstandingprincipalsevidenceofpartnershipswithparentsandcommunityapersonalstoryillustratingsuccessfulchangeandinnovationthatresultedinimprovedstudentachievementandcorrespondinglettersofsupport.Amyisknownasaninstructionalleaderandforbuildingstrongrelationshipswithstudentsstaffandparents.Sheexemplifiestheboardsmissiontoprovideahighqualityeducationforeverystudenteveryday.Amyhasworkedinanumberofschoolsasateachervice-principalandnowasaprincipal.InearlyFebruaryshetookanewleadershippositionintheSchoolAdministrationDepartmentfortheremainderoftheschoolyear.AspartoftheoutstandingprincipalsprogramAmywillparticipateinanexecutiveleadershiptrainingprogramattheUniversityofTorontosRotmanSchoolofManagementinlateFebruary.CongratulationsAmyOccupationalHealthandSafetyFacesoftheHRSBIn2012theHalifaxRegionalSchoolBoardrecognizedasignificantincreaseinthenumberofworkplaceinjuryclaimsasreportedthroughdataavailablefromtheWorkersCompensationBoardWCB.IncollaborationwiththeWCBstaffdevelopedaplantocreateandsupportaself-sustainingcultureofsafetythroughouttheorganization.Thefirststepwastoidentifywheresafetyknowledgeandprocessgapsexistedwithineachdepartment.AcommitteeofemployeesorDoerswasstrucktoidentifystrategiestocreatethisshiftinculture.ThecommitteeevaluatedHRSBsafetysystemsbytouringschoolsitesandattendingJointOccupationalHealthandSafetymeetings.Approximately1800staffprincipalscaretakersmaintenancestaffeducationalprogramassistantslearningcentreteachersetc.andservicecontractorsweresurveyedtogainabetterunderstandingofthecurrentstateofemployeeworkplacesafetyknowledge.Subcommitteeswerestrucktodevelopprotocolsforcommunicationshazardidentificationincidentinvestigationreturntoworkandparticipatoryergonomics.WorkshopsessionsincludedGettingStartedMakingitWorkHazardIdentificationIncidentInvestigationCommunicatingSafetyandParticipatoryErgonomics.Thisyeartheboardhasobservedareversaloftrendsshownbyareductioninthenumberofinjuriesandasignificantreductionintimelostandbenefitspaid.Thismeansfeweremployeesaregettinginjuredandthosewhoaregettinginjuredaregettingbacktoworksooner.Whilethenumbershavenotyetbeenfinalizedthedecreaseinthecostoflosttimeinjurieswillresultinsignificantsavingstheboardcanreinvestintheclassroom.Everyonewins.HRSBstaffhaveengagedinaWCBWorkplaceCoachingworkshopandhaveaskedtoattendfutureWCBpresentationopportunitiestosharetheexperienceofoursuccessesandchallengesthroughoutthissafetyculturechangewithintheHRSB.