School Learning Focus for the 2025/26 school year  

We will strengthen students’ reading comprehension across all grade levels by providing targeted instruction, strategies, and supports so every learner can become a confident, capable reader. 

Evidence-Informed Rationale   

Our focus on reading comprehension is informed by both quantitative and qualitative data. School and district data show that many students—especially English Language Learners and those with interrupted schooling—are not yet meeting literacy expectations. Student voice and classroom observations also highlight challenges with understanding texts and their confidence in reading. 

Reading is a key predictor of overall academic success and supports learning across all subject areas. Strengthening reading comprehension also helps build students’ confidence and sense of self-worth, enabling them to engage more successfully in their learning. 

Priority Learners  

Our focus on literacy education has been shaped by the needs of several priority learner groups within our school community. A significant proportion of our students (over 60%) are English Language Learners (ELL), many of whom are new to Canada. These learners often require additional support in developing foundational literacy skills, alongside acquiring English as a new language. 

These combined factors—language acquisition, adjustment to a new educational system, and gaps in previous schooling—have directly informed our approach to literacy instruction and intervention. 

Baseline Data   

Progress will be monitored using Richmond Formative Reading Assessment (RFRA) data, along with SPARK results for Kindergarten and Grade 1 students, ensuring we are closely tracking early literacy development and overall growth in reading comprehension. At the end of the 2024/25 school year, Literacy Data from our spring school‑wide assessments indicated that 10% of students were Emerging and 27% were Developing in Reading Comprehension. These results guided our focus for the 2025/26 school year.

Action Statement 

Teachers will take a targeted and collaborative approach to improving reading comprehension. This includes implementing guided reading and small group instruction, as well as providing pull-out support for students requiring additional intervention. 

We are investing in updated literacy resources, including new guided reading sets for primary students and additional novels and reading sets for intermediate learners. Teachers will engage in ongoing professional learning, supported by mentorship in literacy, and participate in school-based professional development. Primary teachers are using literacy centers and guided reading groups, while intermediate teachers are using the new literacy resources in their book clubs.

Staff will also regularly analyze reading data and engage in collaborative discussions to monitor progress, identify student needs, and adjust instruction to better support all learners. 

Intended Impact

We expect to see more students becoming proficient, confident readers who can understand and engage with a range of texts. We will be looking at our reading data from SPARK and the Richmond Formative Reading Assessment in June 2026 to assess growth in Reading Comprehension and determine next steps.

As their literacy skills improve, we anticipate increased success across the curriculum, with students better able to access and engage in learning in all subject areas. 

Evidence of Impact 

Improvement in student learning will be demonstrated through multiple sources of evidence. We will monitor growth in reading comprehension using Richmond Formative Reading Assessment results, SPARK data for Kindergarten and Grade 1 students, as well as student voice. Progress will also be reflected in FSA results for Grade 4 and 7 learners. 

In addition, we expect to see improved overall performance across all curricular areas, as increased reading comprehension supports success in all aspects of learning. 

Alignment Statement  

This focus directly aligns with the District Strategic Priority 1, Success for All Learners, to improve literacy and numeracy outcomes. By strengthening reading comprehension across all grade levels, we are supporting students in developing the foundational skills needed for success throughout their K–12 education. Improved literacy enables students to access learning in all subject areas, contributing to overall academic achievement.