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12 - The Oakville Beaver, Friday June 13, 2008 www.oakvillebeaver.com Catholic students are on top of the books By Tina Depko OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF COURTESY HALTON CATHOLIC DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD DATE: CANLAN ICE SPORTS OAKVILLE WWW.ALEXCORRANCEMEMORIALFUND.COM KEEPING IT SIMPLE CLOTHING Grade 10 students in the Halton Catholic District School Board have demonstrated they are above average when it comes to literacy. The results for the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test Results for 2008 were released this week, with 92 per cent of students in the Catholic board passing the test. This was well above the provincial average of 84 per cent. It is an important accomplishment, according to Rick MacDonald, superintendent of education, curriculum services with the Halton Catholic District School Board. "I think this speaks well for the board and we're extremely proud of the results," he said. More than 2,200 students in the region's seven Catholic high schools wrote the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test in March. The Halton Catholic board's success rate is up three per cent from last year's success rate of 89 per cent. The increase reflects the dedication of the high schools, MacDonald said. "I think the teachers and the principals deserve praise, as well as the central office staff because they are providing support to the schools," he said. "It is a concerted effort, from senior administration to the classroom teachers. Everybody in the system embraces the concept of student improvement." MacDonald said that the students' success is also reliant on solid instruction in younger grades. "We have to remember that these students are in the system from kindergarten to Grade 12, so I think we have to congratulate our elementary teachers and principals as well," he said. This year's breakdown of students successfully completing the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test in Halton by school is: Assumption (Burlington) 93 per cent, Bishop Reding (Milton) - 88 per cent, Christ the King (Halton Hills) - 92 per cent, Holy Trinity (Oakville) ­ 92 per cent, Notre Dame (Burlington) ­ 91 per cent, St. Ignatius of Loyola (Oakville) - 94 per cent and St. Thomas Aquinas (Oakville) - 90 per cent. The Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test is a mandatory requirement in provincial high schools. The test consists of multiple choice, short essay and long essay questions in various categories, such as reading and writing. While some parents and educators have voiced concern against standardized testing, MacDonald said it is an invaluable tool in tweaking the curriculum to ensure students are up to provincial literacy standards. "The test is used to measure the curriculum, so I "It is very useful to determine what students need to know and what areas they are deficient in so that we can recognize those areas and we can put school improvement strategies in place to correct that." Rick MacDonald, Catholic school board superintendent think it is an accurate measure," he said. "For our purposes, it is very useful to determine what students need to know and what areas they are deficient in so that we can recognize those areas and we can put school improvement strategies in place to correct that." The Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test for Grade 10 students was introduced in 2003. Students must pass the test in order to receive an Ontario secondary school diploma. The test is marked on a successful/unsuccessful basis according to criteria established by the provincial Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO). Students who are unsuccessful in their first attempt can retake the exam the following year or complete an Ontario Secondary School Literacy Course offered by their school. "That class is on their schedule and as long as they pass that course, that fulfills their requirement," MacDonald said. Grade 10 students in the Halton Catholic board have consistently performed above the provincial average since the test's inception in 2003. Past success rates compared to the provincial average are 83 per cent to 77 per cent in 2003, 87 per cent to 82 per cent in 2004, 92 per cent to 84 per cent in 2006, and 89 per cent to 84 per cent in 2007. The Halton Catholic board ranked No. 1 when it compared to its counterparts in the Greater Toronto Area. Peel District School Board came in at 85 per cent, while the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board had 86 per cent of their students pass. York Region reported a success rate of 90 per cent in its Catholic schools and 88 per cent in its public schools. The Toronto District School Board had 80 per cent of its students deemed successful, while 81 per cent of Catholic students passed. Meanwhile, the Halton Public District School Board fared well, with a 90 per cent success rate. As for next year, MacDonald said it is onwards and upwards for the Halton Catholic board's test results. "We've set a goal for a two per cent increase, which is a tall order, but I think we can do it," he said. A Taste of Country WITHIN CITY LIMITS SDRD . #6 Country Breakfast Sat. & Sun. 8am-1pm Dutch Mill #5 DUNDAS AS MILL GROV E WATERDOWN>> #6 Country Market & Garden 533 Millgrove Sideroad, Waterdown 905.689.7253 www.dutchmill.on.ca