• Five Goals
• About
• History

The Five Goals are what gives SAGE its purpose and direction. They represent the common values that unite a diverse group of families and help us to create a community. More importantly, they provide a rich context in which to teach the Ontario Curriculum in a manner that brings the meaning and value of education home to students.

Goal 1

To ensure parents and teachers form an active partnership in a learning community.

1.1 Objectives

• Create an atmosphere in which all parents feel free to contribute ideas and skills.
• Use parent participation on a regular basis as an integral part of program delivery.

1.2 Strategies

• Require active parent participation, e.g. working with students, support services, special events, executive/committee work.
• Have teachers facilitate parent involvement.
• Have executive committee that ensures parents understand their commitment.
• Organize family socials, parent education nights.

1.3 Benefits

• Increased adult-to-child ratio means more individual attention for students.
• Increased parent involvement expands pool of resources to enrich educational program.
• Better teacher/parent communication.

Goal 2

To use innovative teaching methods to deliver the Provincial curriculum.

2.1 Objectives

• Use teaching methods which foster a child’s interests and love of learning.
• Use a variety of teaching methods and styles to deliver the core subjects.
• Focus on each child’s abilities and strengths.
• Encourage a child’s sense of ownership and accomplishment for their learning.

2.2 Strategies

• Integrated, holistic learning.
• Individualized learning.
• Experiential learning, e.g. learning through play.
• Multiple learning styles, e.g. kinaesthetic, visual.
• Blend structured teaching, learning centres and child-initiated study.

2.3 Benefits

• Innovative teaching methods enhance a child’s development, socially, physically, and intellectually, and allow discovery of the world around them through experiment and experience.
• Child-led learning allows the child to share responsibility for future educational success.

Goal 3

To create a strong sense of co-operation and community between families, children and school.

3.1 Objectives

• Foster a caring, respectful, and safe environment for learning.
• Foster a learning environment where co-operation is valued over competition. To celebrate diversity within the community.
• Create a positive and respectful working relationship with the larger community.

3.2 Strategies

• To implement a school-wide model of conflict resolution and anti-racist/anti-bullying programs.
• To implement community building projects e.g. plant-a-tree initiatives, fundraising for food banks, open houses.
• Exposure to different cultural experiences e.g. foods, customs, traditions and different groups in community e.g. seniors.

3.3 Benefits

• Children learn to support their peers in the learning process.
• Children learn how to deal with conflict in an effective manner.
• Children feel a connection to a larger community beyond their immediate family.
• Children learn an appreciation for the diversity of their community.
• The Innovative program is more visible in community.

Goal 4

To incorporate global education into the school community.

4.1 Objectives

• Implement a strong environmental science (ecology) program.
• Foster student awareness of ecological and social responsibility.
• Foster social responsibility and awareness so that children can be active citizens in their community.

4.2 Strategies

• School wide recycling/composting program.
• Environmental audits, garbageless lunches.
• Celebrate international days, e.g. Earth Day, World Food Day.
• School wide units, e.g. Black History, Peace.

4.3 Benefits

• Children are directly involved in activities that are environmentally friendly..Children learn that classroom materials e.g. paper are a product that comes from nature and should be conserved.
• Children learn they can contribute to the development of an equitable and healthy community.
• Children recognize that they can make a difference.

Goal 5

To foster an appreciation of the arts and recreation.

5.1 Objectives

• To foster children’s creativity, imagination and self-expression.
• To develop an appreciation of different forms of art – music, literature, visual arts, developmental drama, theatre, oral tradition.
• To use art as a learning tool within core subject areas.

5.2 Strategies

• Incorporate music, song, simple instruments, and movement.
• Provide opportunities to explore art through field trips, class visitors, and guest artists.
• Provide opportunities to explore different arts e.g. pottery, painting.
• Incorporate art forms into lesson plans; e.g. drama, dance, art journal.
• Encourage a physically active learning environment e.g. games, dance, hiking.

5.3 Benefits

• Artistic learning supports a well-rounded intellectual development.
• The arts provide a positive way for children to express their emotions and physical energy.
• Children understand that the arts are another way of communicating meaning.
• Children are exposed to alternative teaching methods (right brain vs. left brain thinking).