ST. PATRICK SCHOOL EMBRACES DIVERSITY
Dear Parents and Guardians,
In recent years St. Patrick School has been enriched by numerous diverse cultures that have joined our school community. A recent survey conducted earlier this year indicates that numerous cultures at St. Patrick School are diverse in origin and global in reach, spanning 5 continents and 31 countries. Our cultural richness mirrors to some degree the diversity found across the Peel region and the GTA in general. Many of our students, particularly students who have been at St. Patrick School for many years, are being educated in a much broader, culturally enriched and diverse environment than we as parents, when we were in school, would have been exposed to. The multi-culturally diverse nature of our school creates wonderful learning opportunities for all.
The development of our School Diversity Plan, Embracing Diversity, is clearly a positive step in recognizing that diversity exists within our school. We as school community (staff, parents, students, church) are invited to examine our interactions and pedagogical practise in order to ensure an equitable and inclusive learning environment is available to all students and families belonging to our school. Our plan acknowledges the following:
Ø cultural and ethnic diversity within our school community;
Ø a single approach to learning may be both limiting and non-inclusive;
Ø a deeper understanding of the interplay between culture and learning will enrich learning for all;
Ø while our motivations as a staff and community may be sincere and well intentioned, we may not always be cognizant of our personal biases and that our actions may be inadvertently non-inclusive.
In the spirit of our faith and our commitment towards excellence in education, we are called and challenged to move toward more equitable ground for all. As a staff and school community we will begin to examine issues of equity, inequity, race and exclusivity in the schoolyard, hallways, classrooms, staff rooms and office, as well as in the broader community. We will consciously weave diversity into the fabric of our school. Through self-examination, as well as a closer look at curriculum materials and purchases, pedagogy, school policy and procedures, student leadership, involvement of community partners, and staff development, we will come to a greater awareness of how to create a more inclusive learning environment for all. We invite all members of St. Patrick School Community to join in our journey.
Sincerely,
Eric Fischer, Principal
Cultural Heritages represented at St. Patrick School
A survey conducted earlier this year indicates Cultural Heritages at St. Patrick School (parental place of birth) are diverse in origin and global in reach, spanning 5 continents and 33 countries.
EUROPE
Croatia, England, Greece, Germany, Hungary, Iceland. Italy, Ireland,Malta, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Switzerland, Ukraine, Yugoslavia
ASIA
India, * Iraq *, Jordan, Philippines, Sir Lanka, Syria, Vietnam
AFRICA
Egypt, Ghana
NORTH AMERICA
Canada, Jamaica, Trinidad Tobago, United States
SOUTH AMERICA
Brazil, Columbia, Guyana, Peru, Uruguay
** = significant number of students’ parents who were born
outside of Canada (more than 30)
Total student school population = 334 students
ST. PATRICK SCHOOL
Embracing Diversity Within Community
A Multi-pronged Approach
AN EXAMINATION OF FAITH
The Roman Catholic Church - the largest branch of Christianity - says there are a total of 1.086 billion baptized members around the globe. This figure is expected to exceed 1.1 billion in 2006, with rapid growth in Africa and Asia. What a unique opportunity for us at St. Patrick School in realizing that a snap shot of practicing Catholicism around the world exists in our school and indeed our classrooms. Beyond simply celebrating the multiple cultures within our school, we will consciously examine Catholicism embracing the diversity of worship, in communion with Rome and the Vatican, within our Catholic Community.
STUDENT LEADERSHIP
Student leadership is evident throughout our school: Youth Faith Ambassadors, Student Parliament, Membership on our Safe Schools Committee, DPA Ambassadors, PALS leaders and the Harmony Movement. Within each of these groups, students reach out to the student population at large. Each of these student groups, within the context of their roles will explore, identify, and celebrate aspects of diversity within our school community. In modeling and celebrating our diversity through student leadership, students as a whole will come appreciate, value, and be more inclusive with all members of the school community.
SCHOOL COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS
As school community we will invite community partnerships that will seek to further support all students, affirming their own cultures, while respecting fellow students’ cultures. Our Artists in the school program will seek to invite presentations that promote diversity. We will bring in diverse role models to work with students. Through the Harmony Movement, our Grade six students will partake in a diversity leadership program. Students will develop leadership skills while also positively affecting social and attitudinal change in our school community.
CURRICULAR & CROSS CURRICULAR
Students need to see themselves in a positive light as they engage in curriculum. Clearly, many of our curriculum materials need to embrace diversity and be more reflective of the students that interact with the materials (textbooks, music, sports etc.). As a staff we need to identify various forms of bias in learning materials and help students to detect bias in reading materials (both overt and covert). Library materials should be bias-free, inclusive material. Efforts will be made to ensure students feel that their culture and identities are affirmed in an equitable way within the library collection. We will put a plan in place to begin to purchase appropriate material reflective of a diverse student population. As a staff, we will pursue professional growth opportunities that focus on high yield, inclusive teaching strategies.
SCHOOL CLIMATE
Are our students reflected on our school walls, and in our halls and classrooms? Is the language used in our school policies reflective of the students it is intended to serve? As we begin to answer these questions, efforts will be made to create an inviting atmosphere that recognizes each individual as equally important (flags, murals, posters, curriculum, and speakers). We will improve the visibility of diversity in our front entrance. We will also review the application of progressive discipline, through the Catholic Code of Conduct, to ensure respect for diversity.
STAFF DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES
As a staff, we will collectively engage in activities that embrace an examination of diversity. As an initial step in raising awareness, we will explore decision-making through the use of a ‘diversity lens’. A greater understanding and willingness to view decisions through this lens will increase awareness and confidence in embracing strategies to build a more inclusive vibrant, caring faith community.
WELCOMING NEW CANADIANS
For newcomer students with limited English, becoming part of oa new school community can be overwhelming. As such, St. Patrick School has dstablished an Ambassador Program that helps to support and assist new comers to our school community. Our ESL teacher will pursue communication with parents in languages that will help them support their children's growth in their new environment. Where appropriate, parents will be linked up with appropriate Board and or community resources. The degree to which parents become involved in the school community will be a measure of their comfort level and sense of belonging. Recognizing barriers and active engagement in breaking down barriers for parents from diverse backgrounds is essential if our desire is for them to become full participants in our school community.
