HCMS Staff Meeting
Welcome to our March staff meeting — celebrating students, aligning new initiatives, and building momentum together as a team.
Celebration
Friday's Feast & Concert
This Friday marks our celebration of completing another reporting term at HCMS. We come together to celebrate student success through food, music, and community. This Friday's event will feature student-led music performance showcasing the incredible talent and dedication of our learners. The event will also feature a teacher performance with Orville and Felipe.
Student Success
Recognizing academic growth, attendance improvements, and positive contributions across all grade levels. Please be prepared to speak briefly - 1-2 minutes and announce any awards you are giving out,
Music Performance
Students will perform pieces they've been preparing, demonstrating growth in confidence and artistic expression. Music performance will feature classroom presentations and individual performances. Please take note that in June each class will be featuring a presentation. Students in k-2 will be in classrooms during the concert.
Keynote on Attendance
Orville Councillor will deliver a keynote address centered on the importance of consistent attendance and its direct link to student achievement and wellbeing.
Please encourage all students and families to attend. This is a powerful opportunity to strengthen our school community and honor the hard work happening every day at HCMS. Send home promotional class posters and letters to your families latest Wednesday. Promote student prizes and family prizes.
Individualized Literacy Plans
Every student at HCMS deserves a clear, intentional pathway to grade-level literacy. Our Individualized Literacy Plans (ILPs) are designed to ensure that no learner falls through the cracks.
Reportable Goals for All Students
Each ILP includes specific, measurable goals aligned to grade-level reading and writing benchmarks. These goals are:
- Individualized — tailored to each student's current reading level and learning profile with identified next steps
- Reportable — tracked and documented for progress reporting to families and administration
- Actionable — connected to daily classroom instruction and intervention supports, including delivery of lessons and closing of gaps.
Key Expectations
All classroom teachers must have an updated ILP on file for every student. Plans should reflect current assessment data and be revisited at minimum every reporting period.
Goal: 100% of students working toward grade-level literacy with a an actionable plan on reaching grade level fluency.
Coaching and Mentoring: All teachers who need support will have access to HCMS literacy coaches.
Mathematics
Symphony Math & School 21 Classroom Instruction
Our math programming continues to strengthen through Symphony Math and the School 21 Classroom Instruction model. Both platforms are being used to target grade-level math competencies across the school. Both are program requirements for all classroom instruction. They do not exclude other approaches but they must be included as essential components as they are programs from the community for all students and programs viewed as exemplary intervention programs by our tribal advocacy organization Nishnabi Aski Nation.
Symphony Math
Adaptive, research-based program that builds number sense and problem-solving skills through structured, sequential learning pathways tailored to each student's level.
School 21 Instruction
Classroom-based instructional framework emphasizing collaborative learning, real-world application, and student-led problem solving aligned to grade-level standards.
Teachers should ensure both programs are being used consistently and that student progress data is reviewed weekly to inform instruction.
New Initiative
Spring Math Initiative — Grades 1–4
In addition to Symphony Math, HCMS is launching a pioneering Spring Math Initiative for students in Grades 1 through 4. This initiative introduces supplementary classroom math programs designed to accelerate numeracy development during the critical spring term.
Identify Gaps
Use winter assessment data to pinpoint specific numeracy gaps in Grades 1–4.
Deploy Programs
Roll out targeted math programs alongside Symphony Math for daily classroom integration beginning in April.
Monitor & Adjust
Track student progress bi-weekly and adjust supports to ensure measurable growth before year-end.
This is a pioneering effort at HCMS. Teachers in these grade levels will receive additional resources and planning support to ensure a smooth and impactful launch. Let's make this spring count for our youngest learners.
Lesson Planning at HCMS
Effective lesson planning is the backbone of quality instruction. At HCMS, we are committed to ensuring that every classroom experience is intentional, standards-aligned, and culturally responsive.
1
Clear Learning Objectives
Every lesson should begin with a clearly stated learning goal that students can understand and work toward.
2
Differentiated Strategies
Plans must reflect differentiation for diverse learners — including accommodations outlined in ILPs and IEPs.
3
Assessment Integration
Include formative check-ins within every lesson to gauge understanding and adjust in real time.
4
Cultural Responsiveness
Incorporate Indigenous perspectives, land-based connections, and culturally relevant materials wherever possible.
Lesson plans are expected to be completed and available for review. If you need support with planning, reach out to your team lead or administration. Lesson plans are not Day At A Glance summaries.
Land-Based Learning
Land-Based Curriculum Units
Land-based education is central to our commitment to culturally grounded learning at HCMS. These curriculum units connect students to the land, language, and traditional knowledge systems that are foundational to First Nations education.
Team Planning Approach
Land-based curriculum units are developed collaboratively through team planning sessions. This ensures that:
- All staff contribute their expertise and ideas
- Units are cross-curricular and holistic
- Indigenous education partners and Elders are consulted in the design process
- Logistics — including outdoor learning spaces, materials, and safety — are addressed in advance
- Next planning unit will coincide with Spring Hunt.
- More information on Land Based Curriculum Planning will be provided this week and next week.
Team leads: Please schedule your next land-based planning session and share your draft unit outlines with administration by the end of March. We will need a team lead for grades 1-2, 3-4 and 5-8.
Professional Development
NAN Conference Presentations
HCMS is proud to be represented at the Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) Conference with two powerful presentations that highlight our school's commitment to Indigenous student wellness and success.
Walking In Balance
This presentation explores how HCMS fosters holistic wellness — mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual — for Indigenous students. It highlights the programs, partnerships, and practices that help our learners walk in balance each day.
Morning Star: Supporting First Nation Students
The Morning Star presentation focuses on the specific supports and strategies HCMS uses to uplift First Nation students — from culturally responsive instruction to community partnerships and wraparound services.
These presentations are a reflection of the incredible work happening across our school. Thank you to everyone who contributed to making these sessions possible.
Professional Development
Morning Star Pedagogies — Visual Handouts
The Morning Star Pedagogies provide a culturally grounded framework for Indigenous education at HCMS. These visual handouts are designed to support staff in integrating key principles that foster holistic student development and academic success, ensuring every student feels seen, valued, and empowered.
Land-Based Learning
Connecting students to the land, traditional knowledge, and seasonal cycles for holistic understanding.
Seeking Balance
Building trust, belonging, and community through genuine relationships with students and families.
Holistic Student Wellness
Supporting mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual health as interconnected aspects of well-being.
Cultural Identity & Language
Affirming Indigenous identity and integrating traditional languages into daily learning experiences.
Matriarchal Pedagogies
Bringing community voices and Elder wisdom into the classroom for rich, authentic learning.
We encourage all staff to utilize these handouts as practical reference tools to deepen their daily practice of culturally responsive instruction and support our First Nation students.
Conference Travel
Matawa Conference — Travel & Logistics
Staff attending the Matawa Conference should review the following logistics carefully to ensure a smooth and enjoyable trip.
1
Monday — Day of Departure
Please confirm your flight schedule with Michelle Smith well ahead of time. Don't wait till next Monday. Monday will be a ½ day.
2
Conference Sessions
Attend all scheduled sessions, meet on time for breakfast and lunch. We will all sit together as part of the Marten Falls delegation. Please gather insights to bring back to HCMS. Please consider sharing your learning at our next staff meeting.
3
Stay in Thunder Bay
Accommodations have been arranged in Thunder Bay. Please confirm at hotel your stay has been booked.
4
Social Outings
Enjoy planned social outings with colleagues — a great opportunity to build team connections outside the classroom. We will look at planning a dinner together and a bowling outing.
Please be mindful of this being an Education Conference for our entire staff.
New at HCMS
New Initiatives at HCMS
We are excited to introduce two new initiatives that reflect our school's growing commitment to student well-being and cultural empowerment.
🧠 Mental Health Initiative
HCMS is expanding mental health supports for students and staff. This includes increased access to counselling services, wellness programming, and proactive strategies for creating safe, supportive classrooms. Our goal is to normalize conversations about mental health and ensure every student has access to the support they need. The plan will be to integrate mental health curriculum in each grade.
🌿 Indigenous Food Sovereignty
This initiative connects students to traditional food systems — including harvesting, preparation, and the cultural significance of Indigenous foods. Through hands-on learning and community partnerships, students will develop a deeper connection to the land and to healthy, culturally meaningful nutrition. This program will be introduced in grade 7-8 and may be modified for grades 5-6. We thank Fiona for helping support the onboarding of this program.
Both initiatives align with our vision of holistic, culturally grounded education. More details and implementation timelines will be shared in the coming weeks.
Anderson Teacher Impact Summaries
The Anderson Teacher Impact Summaries provided valuable insight into both the challenges and strengths of our current delivery model. Here is what emerged from your feedback.
⚠️ Challenges Identified
Most teachers expressed significant challenges with the online delivery model, particularly for:
- Students who don't attend regularly — inconsistent attendance makes continuity and progress extremely difficult in a virtual setting
- Younger students — these learners require substantial hands-on support during sessions that is hard to replicate online
These are real barriers that we must address collectively to improve outcomes.
✅ Positive Highlights
On the positive side, most staff expressed appreciation for the ability to access professional clinicians through the Anderson partnership. Key benefits noted:
- Direct access to specialized expertise
- Professional development through observation and collaboration
- Enhanced support strategies for complex learner needs
Looking Ahead
Possible Outcomes of Impact Summaries
Your feedback from the Anderson Impact Summaries is shaping the next steps. Here are the possible outcomes we are exploring based on what you shared.
1
Hybrid Delivery Adjustments
Exploring a blended model that combines online clinician access with increased in-person support for younger students and those with attendance challenges.
2
Attendance-Linked Scheduling
Aligning Anderson sessions with attendance data so that sessions are scheduled when students are most likely to be present and engaged.
3
Enhanced In-Class Supports
Providing additional educational assistants or co-teaching support during online sessions to help younger students stay focused and participate meaningfully.
4
Expanded Clinician Access
Building on the positive feedback to increase the frequency and scope of clinician consultations available to all teaching staff.
We value your input and will continue refining these approaches. More updates will follow as decisions are finalized.
Energizing Week
ABA Visits — Orville & Felipe
We are thrilled to welcome Orville and Felipe for their upcoming visit. We also welcome our ABA (Applied Behaviour Analysis) visits at HCMS. This promises to be an energizing week packed with hands-on support, classroom walkthroughs, and collaborative problem-solving.
Energizing the Team
Orville and Felipe bring fresh energizing school and afterschool instruction. They exemplify expert guidance, and contagious enthusiasm that elevate both staff confidence and student engagement.
Classroom Collaboration
Expect in-class support and continued modelling of ABA strategies, and one-on-one consultations to address specific student needs and classroom challenges. Please prepare to engage with our ABA team so they can maximize supports.
Strong Finish Before Break
Let's use this visit as a catalyst to finish strong before the break — maintaining routines, reinforcing positive behaviours, and celebrating student progress.
If you have specific students or situations you'd like Orville and Felipe to observe or support, please submit your requests to administration before their arrival.
Let's Finish Strong
Thank you for your dedication, creativity, and commitment to every student at HCMS. Together, we are building something extraordinary. Let's carry this momentum forward — supporting one another, celebrating our wins, and staying focused on what matters most: our students.
🎉 Celebrate
Join Friday's Feast & Concert with dedication and commitment to lift up all our students and to highlight your amazing strengths as our HCMS team of superheroes for all in the community to see.
📋 Prepare
Reflect on benefits of ILPs & embrace lesson plans designed to engage and deliver
🤝 Collaborate
Connect with Orville, Felipe, Brenda and the ABA team to build a well balanced and culturally relevant education experience for all your students
💪 Finish Strong
Maintain momentum going into break