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, every school will also set individual school goals to assist them in achieving progress. 

W.J. Mouat School Goals

WJ Mouat's School Plan for Success

We continue to explore enriching our classrooms through differentiated approach, our focus is not just on the content courses, but on the competencies of thinking, communication and social & personal responsibility.  With that in mind we are striving to provide students multiple opportunities to explore areas of interest and to demonstrate their learning a variety of ways while contributing positively to the school and their community.  By encouraging and supporting staff to embrace risk and innovation we hope our students will follow to allow them to make the most of their learning, curiousity and discovery.

For 2019/20 our strategies are:

  • Implement a variety of common assessments at grade 9
  • Each teacher will develop, implement and assess one demonstration of learning project and/or product in one class each semester. 
  • Collaboratively develop three common assessments, one test, one project rubric and one presentation rubric at the grade 10 level each of which are organized in a way that is visibly differentiated and accessible for all students.
  • Continue to explore and refine our definition and understanding of “differentiated instruction” and its integration into classrooms. 

PDF Downloads: 

PDF icon WJ Mouat School Plan 2019_2020.pdf
PDF icon 2019 2020 School Plan Poster.pdf

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

Kwantlen Science Challenge

This year, as in year's past, our science department worked with a group of young scientists to compete at Kwantlen Science Challenge in the Fall.  Our deligation had a strong showing and presented their learning journey to our entire staff at a staff meeting in November.  

Youth Philanthropy Initiative

Each year our Planning 10 teachers mentor groups of students through the Youth Philanthropy Initiative.  The winning groups earn a cheque on behalf of the charity they choose to represent.  It is a tremendous example of developing social responsibility in the classroom.

This January, we had another successful YPI Semi-final presentation.  Our semi-finalists advocated on behalf of "SARA for Women," "Fraser Valley Child Development Center," and "Riverside Overdoes Prevention Center." The winning group from Ms. Koloska's FCLE 10 class "Riverside Overdoes Prevention Center" with presenters: Kaitlyn McGillivary, Bella Gray and Jessica de Kort will go on to compete in the YPI finals on May 30th.  WJM Character is proud of the dedication and hard work that each group put into their presentations and we look forward to seeing what the next round of grade 10 students has to offer. 

Student of the Month

Each month at WJ Mouat, we select a grade 12 student from a list of teacher nominations.  The criteria for this honour includes commitment to studies, contribution to school life and an example of the character traits we espouse at Mouat.  Kihomi was chosen for the month of November, 2018 for her excellent contributions in the classroom, as a leader and as an athlete.  

AquaVan Visits Mouat

In October we hosted Aquavan, an organization that brings ocean education to schools, youth groups and communities coast to coast.  Our students an opportunity to expore science in a hands-on fashion.  Several classes throughout the day visited the exhibition and learned about a variety of ocean life in a hands-on interactive format.  

Visual Arts Collaboration Project

Extended Day Art students refine their collaboration and communication skills while co-creating projects, completing plans, growth goals and reflections on their art process.

Students become app creators using MIT-developed App Inventor, where they collaborate, design, and create a Halq’emeylem language app reflecting a theme of their own choice; many choose family or nature.

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

Grade 9 Transitions

One Friday a month Mouat brings all of the grade 9 students together in an effort to help them transition to life at high school.  This October, we hosted Mike Smith, who spoke to them about stress management, giving them a series of "life hacks" to help them cope with everyday worries.  

Clubs At Mouat

Each year, Mouat sponsors a list of clubs for students to be involved in.  These opportunities give students with a variety of interests to meet new people while exploring activities they are passionate about.  The following is a list of clubs for the 2018/19 school year.

Benevolent Nerds
HawkZine School Newspaper
Guitar Club
Connections- Prayer group
Chess Club
Dance Club
Key Club
GSA Club
Slam Poetry Club
Book and Film Club
Scholarship Club
Swim Team
Improv Club
Green Team
Drama club
Girls Club
Wrestling

All Athletes Forum

Each year we gather all our student athletes to hear a positive and inspiring message from a guest speaker.  This year's forum will be hosted in April. We are thrilled to welcome former CFL Player JR LaRose as a guest speaker.

JR LaRose is a 2011 Grey Cup champion, a proud member of One Arrow First Nation and an ambassador for Aboriginal peoples. He is an accomplished speaker who has facilitated over 400 presentations throughout Canada and the United States since 2008. A proud family man, JR’s path to success has been a long and hard-fought journey. Growing up in low income housing in Edmonton’s inner city didn’t exactly set JR up for success, but it did give him the drive to succeed. This is the 6th All-Athletes Forum, an occasion that brings all of our student-athletes together, celebrating their decision to take part in school sports, and provides them with a strong message.

Student Leadership & Mentoring

Each year our leadership teachers and senior leadership students contribute to the life of our school outside the classroom.  As a group they plan and execute such events as school assemblies, We Are Hawks week, Family of Schools day and the Grad Fashion Show.  In addition, they are a an imporatant part of mentoring our grade 9 students, helping host parent evenings and Meet the Teacher.  Recently, a group of leadership students visited our two middle school feeders and presented to the grade 8s about the ways they can begin to prepare for their first year at Mouat.  This past September, a large group of leadership representatives took part in CSLC (Canadian Student Leadership Conference) in Edmonton, bringing back many new ideas on how to connect students to their school. 

Mouat Aboriginal Feasts

Our Aboriginal program hosts a regular Monday feast that brings together both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal students to celebrate culture and enjoy good food.  On February. 4, 2019, alumnus Jacob Firlotte (re-signed with Winnipeg Blue Bombers) spoke at our Aboriginal Feast about the Moose Hide Campaign. The Moose Hide Campaign is a grassroots movement of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal men taking a stand against violence towards Aboriginal women and children. 
 

Aboriginal Program Alumni Speak Out

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

Certifying Tomorrow's Sign Makers

Mouat's own Mr. Liversidge and the work he does in his program has recently been highlighted in SignMedia, a national publication dedicated to the sign making industry.  His students, as a part of his Graphic Design course, are earning certification in the sign-making industry.  Here is an excerpt from the article:
"One person addressing this challenge [of finding the next generation of sign makers] is David Liversidge, who heads a sign design program at W.J. Mouat Secondary School in Abbotsford, B.C., and is a member of Sign Media Canada's editorial advisory board (EAB). He has been working with SAC in recent years to develop a certification program for his students."

"To my knowledge, it is the first of its kind for the sign industry in Canada," he says. "The idea is for the kids to earn a document they can then take to a sign shop as certification of their training and abilities."

For the full article click here.   https://www.signmedia.ca/publications/de/201811/index.html

Work Experience

We run two cohorts of work experience students helping them acquire the skills and confidence they need to pursue employment.  Each of these students completes a work placement as a part of their training.

My Blueprint

We are working toward having all of our students using My Blueprint as a way of documenting their journey through the career curriulum and as a resource for career paths in the future.  Currently, this software is used exclusively to gather assignments for the Grade 9 and Grade 12 career requirements.