Introduction+to+YRDSB

__**Mission Statement**__
 It is YRDSB's mission to "unite for the purpose of inspiring and preparing learners for life in our changing world community". York Region's vision is to have a staff which is collaborative, creative, and each member must have the urge to grow professionally. They value excellence, equity, diversity, inclusiveness, dedication and commitment, new ideas, and spirit. York Region feels that we are all responsible for our words and actions and are willing to respond to the ongoing needs of their staff and community.

York Regions Mission Statement may be found [|here]

__**Literacy**__
 It is important to include the York Region District School Board's statement and position on literacy, as this is a fundamental priority for this school board. The YRDSB has placed a significant focus on literacy, and it is very important that you, as a new teacher, know the YRDSB's position on literacy before beginning work in this board. The YRDSB's position statement on literacy is very detailed and thorough, therefore the full text has been included as follows:

"The overall priority for the York Region District School Board continues to be improved literacy achievement in all subjects and programs for all our students. Literacy involves the development of a continuum of skills, knowledge and attitudes that prepares all of our students for life in our changing world community. It begins with the fundamental acquisition of skills in reading, writing, listening, speaking, viewing, representing, responding and mathematics. It becomes the ability to understand, think, apply and communicate effectively in all subjects and program areas in a variety of ways for a variety of purposes." (Planning for Continuous Improvement).

One of the most important details to notice about the above position statement is the YRDSB's statement that "improved literacy achievement in all subjects" is their "overall priority". It is very important that a new teacher applying to the YRDSB knows and understands the level of importance that is placed on literacy in this board. A common mistake in regards to literacy is that it exclusively includes reading and writing; however from reading this above position statement, it is clear that the YRDSB thinks of literacy as “reading, writing, listening, speaking, viewing, representing, responding, and mathematics.” It is important to know these things for interview preparation, as well as beginning to work in this board.

The YRDSB has identified three main focus areas to improving literacy. It is important to be aware of these action plan components, as they are fundamental in knowing how, as a teacher, you can improve student literacy. The three main focus areas are as follows: >  YRDSB's literacy statement retrieved from http://www.yrdsb.edu.on.ca/page.cfm?id=ITP000001
 * 1) "Delivering assessment-based instruction that is differentiated"
 * 2) "Engaging parents, families and communities in collaborative and reciprocal relationships for the purpose of intentionally improving student achievement and success"
 * 1) "Promoting healthy and respectful schools" (Planning for Continuous Improvement)

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 __**Map **__



The York Region District School Board spans a wide area and services many communities, both urban and rural. Below is a map of the region with the high schools in the region indicated on it. A legend is also provided so that each high school can be individually found.

 Original map retrieved from  http://www.region.york.on.ca/nr/ykregion/extpg/finance/AnnualReport2001/map_york_region.asp

For more information about each individual school and its school boundaries please visit: http://www.yrdsb.edu.on.ca/page.cfm?id=S00000005&t=3

__Demographics__
The York Region District School Board is one of the third largest school boards in Ontario. It has approximately 113 00 students, 10 00 staff members, and 192 schools. Since 1999, the YRDSB has opened 73 new schools and done a number of major renovations/additions to 38 existing schools. **Two new schools** will be opened in 2009 and **nine schools will be opened between 2010-2012**. Good news for us new teachers!

York Region is a rapidly growing area of development with a culturally, ethnically, and religiously diverse group of people. It has a large immigrant population; the number of students who speak a non-official language at home has grown by 152% since 2001.

Students of the YRDSB achieve well above the average in all province-wide testing.

from 02-03 to 07-08** || **Provincial Increase from 02-03 to 07-08** ||
 * **Level** || **YRDSB Increase
 * Academic || 14 % || 9 % ||
 * Applied || 21 % || 13 % ||

 All data and statistics from the Director's Report from the YRDSB website (http://www.yrdsb.edu.on.ca/page.cfm?id=BDS090010).

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">__**Specialty Schools**__
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; color: rgb(92,92,92);"> Bill Crothers Secondary School opened in Markham in August 2008. The school is a unique, character-focused learning enviornment for students who are motivated by sport, athletics and the pursuit of healthy, active living. Admission is by application and will be open during the 2009-10 school year to students throughout York Region who are going into Grades 9 to 11.
 * Bill Crothers Secondary School**

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Arts Unionville at Unionville H.S. is a four year intensive high school Arts program for which students must audition. This specialized arts program is be available for students of Dance, Drama, Visual Arts, and Music. Students are awarded an Arts Unionville Certificate upon completion of the eight-credit package.
 * Unionville High School**

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">__**YRDSB Hiring**__
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> The York Region District is the fastest growing school board in Ontario, serving the needs of more than 111,000 students at 192 elementary and secondary schools. YRDSB is always looking for teachers who “unite in our purpose to inspire and prepare learners for life in our changing world community” and can offer teachers ongoing professional and personal support programs, leadership, benefits packages and leading-edge curriculum (www.yrdsb.edu.on.ca/page.cfm?id=RJ0000100). The no-cost application is available online at [|www.yrdsb.edu.on.ca] and it is required that applicants are in good standing with the Ontario College of Teachers. New teacher hiring occurs in late April or early May of every academic year and continues through until September. As new schools will be opening in September of 2009, YRDSB has confirmed that new teachers will be hired this year, although exact numbers have not been disclosed. It is important to note that in Ontario, publicly funded school boards, provincial school authorities and demonstration or private schools are responsible for all hiring that occurs across the province.( http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/teacher/employ.html#employment ) For more information regarding hiring and the new teacher application process in York Region, visit [|www.yrdsb.edu.on.ca] and search under JOB OPPORTUNITIES.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">__**Student Success Rate**__
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Overall, York Region District School Board students are performing above the average Ontario student in all areas of the EQAO. 2007-2008 grade 9 math results for the Board were divided into the separate streams. The applied program maintained its highest success rate of 41% since 2005-2006, compared to the province's 34%, whereas the academic program continued its steady excel to 84%, up 3% from last year, compared to the province's 75%. The March 2008 grade 10 literacy test yielded similar results from the past across both the Board and the province. Of the 95% of students that participated in York Region, 88% succeeded, compared with Ontario's 84% success of the 93% that participated.[ <span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">1] <span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'sans serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"> <span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'sans serif','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"> <span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">[1] <span style="font-family: 'sans serif', Times, serif;">School, Board and Provincial Results. <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; line-height: 115%; letter-spacing: 0.6pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">August 12, 2008. Education Quality and Accountability Office. January 30, 2009. [|http://www.eqao.com/results/]   <span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'sans serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"> Change 0 of 0 [|<< First] [|< Previous] [|Next >] [|Last >>]
 * EQAO Results**