2020-2022 - Navigating a School Story

Prior to 2019, Woodward’s school story was based in inquiry and inquiry-based learning. The roots of this focus are still firmly entrenched at Woodward. Classes are often engaging in the inquiry process and are mindful of their prior learning when exploring new projects or curriculum.

As a staff moving forward and looking to meet the different needs of our learners, we hoped that our new vision would be equally sustainable.

During the 2019-2020 school year, Mr. Cameron and the Woodward staff began asking questions about our current students and their needs.

We started with the 4 key questions for learners:

• Can you name two people in this setting who believe you will be a success in life?
• What are you learning and why is it important?
• How is it going with your learning?
• What are your next steps?

We found that our students feel cared for in our community and they were able to learn about their interests and passions. They were also able to share a lot about their learning.

During the same time, staff and teachers participated in conversations about the changing dynamics of their classrooms and our students. These conversations were also opportunities for staff to connect around similar passions and pedagogical interests.

After our initial scans, two paths started to open for our new focus at Woodward.

1. Literacy – developing deeper reading and writing skills
2. Social Emotional Learning – developing self-awareness and self-management skills necessary to succeed at school.