Our School Plan Progress 2019-2020

Improving Student Learning

The Abbotsford School District’s Strategic Plan reflects our public commitment to BC’s new curriculum by working together to continuously improve learning for each student.

School Goals

Under the Framework for Enhancing Student Learning, all Abbotsford School District schools are required to develop a long term plan to improve student achievement, one that maintains a balance on the intellectual, social and career development of students. Each year, each school develops an annual plan and sets individual goals to improve student achievement. 

Bradner Elementary School Goals

PDF Downloads: 

PDF icon BradnerSchoolPlan2018GoalSetting.pdf

PDF Downloads: 

PDF icon BradnerSchoolPlan2019.pdf

All Bradner students are learning to use the target as a way to assess their learning and communicate their needs with their teachers. Yellow- I need a lot of help to do this, Green- I can do this independently but still make some mistakes, or have some questions now and then, Red- I understand and can do this, Black- I am an expert! I am confident enough to teach someone else.

Below, you can see some examples of student self assessment.  Teachers have been working hard to create clear learning criteria that students can reference when assessing their growth. They can share their assessment as simply as with a colour coded target stamp, with a rubric, or through written or oral reflection. 

Teachers also make sure to set clear learning targets everyday. These can be specific to a lesson or activity , or broader, reflecting growth over a  week, a unit or a term. Using "I can" statements helps make the target easy for the students to understand, and gives a frame of reference for their self assessment.

Intellectual

Our students will learn key academic skills - like reading, writing and math - to encompass the knowledge and processes associated with intellectual development. As learners and meaning-makers, students take subject-specific concepts and content and transform them into a new understanding. 

Our celebrations of learning

FSAs are just one measure of student achievement. This year we had a small sample of grade 4 students. The results show we are doing well, but need to keep working to reach that lowest 20%

Bradner reading data for grades 1 - 3 over the past 3 years

Report Cards show similar trends, with an average of 78% of students Fully Meeting or Exceeding in Reading in first term.

Our second term data shows us that 80% of our students are fully meeting or exceeding reading expectations with another 11% moving forward at the minimally meeting level. 9% continue to struggle below grade level, for a variety of reasons.  Our teachers and learning support specialists are working hard to ensure all students are progressing in reading. Some of the supports in place include in class supports and access to "right fit" books, small group pullout for direct reading instruction, big buddy reading partner time, counselling, and supports for self regulation. Bradner teachers are continuing to receive professional development on best practices for teaching reading, and we are all working to learn more about teaching our most at risk students.

In math, 87% of Bradner students are achieving Fully Meeting or Exceeding Expectations. Bradner teachers are currently attending professional development workshops, and sharing ideas about how to engage even more students, and provide the critical practice needed to continue to improve all students' numeracy skills

In second term, Bradner students continue to see success in numeracy, and we have seen a small increase in the number of students who are exceeding expectations. In our classrooms the teachers are excited about the new Number Talks strategy, that allows for students to share their thinking, and learn to use different methods of problem solving.

Reading Buddies, small group instruction, flexible seating, literacy games, independent, and one on one support are only some of the many ways students experience reading opportunities at Bradner. Our grade 4 and 5s are excited to participate in the Public library's Reading Link Challenge, and we have nearly 100% participation in this high level reading event!

Numeracy is off to a great start in Kindergarten, with a wide range of opportunities to work with numbers. From coding our Bee Bots, to comparing the quantities of sugar in our favorite foods, building patterns, and daily "number talks" about how we work with numbers, Bradner students are getting real world experiences in which to practice their math skills.

Students practice and apply reading, writing and numeracy skills in a variety of ways that incorporate both technology and more traditional mediums. Our classrooms and new STEM lab challenge students to use their skills to ask questions, collaborate and test possible solutions. Real world inquiries give meaning to the skills we are developing!

Human & Social

Our students will study personal and human social skills and as they relate to students' identity in the world - both as individuals and as members of their community. We are learning that personal and human social skills encompass the abilities students needs to thrive as individuals, to understand and care about themselves and others, and to find and achieve their purposes in the world. 

Our celebrations of learning

Bradner Elementary is very much a community. With a population of just over 100, students regularly and easily mix between grades when on the playground, and families are closely connected. Staff are used to, and comfortable with working together with parents, and planning school wide activities that build school spirit and a strong sense of community. Our PAC supports us in providing many experiences for students that extend learning beyond the classroom.

At Bradner, we celebrate our student community onthe first of every month. At this time, students are recognized for showing themselves to be SMART Bradner Bulldogs (Safety, Manners, Attitude, Responsibility, Thoughtfulness) in a variety of ways. Students of the Month are recognized for their positive student attributes, and Bulldog awards are given to students who have been caught demonstrating virtues. We also recognize students who have participated consistently in our Home Reading Program. We then enjoy a Monthly Highlight video compiled from photos of the past months events. Remember: When you are a SMART Bradner Bulldog, anything is possible.

Just two weeks into the start of the school year, students participated in learning about and then participating in the Terry Fox Run.  It ws a community event for the school, with many parents and staff running alongside students to honour the memory of Terry Fox, and raise money to fight cancer.

In a school deeply rooted in tradition, it was fun to start a new one this year, and students challenged themselves to show compassion for others by bringing donations for the food bank during the Thanksgiving season. We kept track of our donations by adding featheres to Tom the Turkey.

Ms. Justin leads the school in an assembly prior to Orange Shirt Day. At this assembly, students were helped to understand the reason for the day, and built some empathy for residential school survivors.

Bradner students participated actively in preparation for our Rembrance Day Ceremony. Students prepared presentations of poetry, music and art, at a classroom level, and were then lead through a solemn school wide program by grade 5 leaders. The beauty of the music, and the thoughtfulness of the poems and artwork demonstrate a willingness and interest in connecting with the history that is so much a part of us all. Student learning in the classrooms springboarded off of this assembly experience and deep conversations were heard in all classrooms about the role we can play in working towards world peace.

Division 1 (grades 4 and 5) worked hard in November to complete "Culture Projects" This was an opportunity for each student to explore their own heritage. Students worked independently or in small groups, to research, andthen share their learning. The experience gave students the chance to interact with members of their family and explore such things as foods, fashion and arts. The project ended with a "fair" where students shared their learning with the rest of the school, and memebers of the Bradner community.

10 grade 5 leaders participated in the annual Youth Character Forum that was held this year at Eugene Reimer. The focus was courage and students shared about what courage looks like, and when it is needed. They heard some first hand stories from young people who have faced fears, and are moving forward with courage. It was a great opportunity to build empathy and compassion as well as an understanding of the important role courage plays in overcoming many different kinds of obstacles that life throws at you. These students will now share some of their learning at our next Bulldog Assembly, with the rest of Bradner students.

Each month we celebrate student achievement and successes! Below are the Bradner Smart Bulldog Star Students for the 2018-2019 school year.

Careers

Our students will succeed in a much different future from the one we envisioned 10 or 15 years ago. It is our responsibility to prepare all children for success in whatever life path they choose, connecting learning opportunities with future career possibilities. We know that real-life experiences - like community involvement, gaining business knowledge, and hands-on-learning - build better students and life-long citizens. 

Our celebrations of learning

Bradner students are regularly contributing to their community through a variety of fundraising efforts. From the Terry Fox Run, to a clothing drive to raise money for Children's Hospital, and Jump Rope for Heart, raising money for the Heart and Stroke Foundation, we are working hard to help students see how they can make a difference in their world.

Teamwork is what it's all about! Bradner students love their sports, and there are plenty of opportunities here to participate in your favorite. Our PE program gave every student the chance to try out tennis this fall. We host intramurals, and have participated in the West Abbotsford Rural schools competitions in cross country, soccer, skittleball, and handball, with more to come. 

Field trips and presentations are two ways for students to connect with the community around them, and the many roles and responsibilities that exist. We planned a whole school trip to the Eco Dairy, where students learned about the latest technologies in dairy farming. Division 1 enjoyed a morning of woodworking, with a visit from Home Depot.  Divisions 1, 3 and 4 travelled together to take advantage of our public library, and tour the Police Station, Fire Station and Reach Museum.

We have made hands on learning a priority at Bradner, and with the completion of our Learning Commons, we were able to get a STEM lab up and running. Students explore different hands on problems, such a building bridges, erecting towers, and coding ozobots. In the classroom, you can find students building Rube Goldberg Machines to explore energy transformation (gr 4/5), using lego to demonstrate what they know about erosion (gr 2/3), or building words with letter beads to decorate their class Christmas tree (K), and many other hands on learning activities.