Two Laval schools are awarded for academic improvement
Awards handed out at the Garfield Weston Awards for Excellence in Education
Both Phoenix Alternative School and Laval Liberty High School were recognized at the Garfield Weston Award ceremony held at the Sofitel Hotel in downtown Montreal last Tuesday.
Phoenix Alternative was awarded first place and $3,000 in the <@Ri>Improvement in Academics<@p$>category. Laval Liberty was runner up in the same category, winning $1,000.
The awards were handed out by the Fraser Institute, an independent think tank and policy research group that has offices across the country. They recently opened a bureau in Montreal last September.
Peter Cowley is the director of school performance studies at the Institute. "The work that schools do is extraordinarily important," he said. "Student's results are not just based on how rich a family is, or a child's race, what schools do matters. They deserve congratulation."
The awards were handed out on the basis of six years of data that compiled the report card results of 466 secondary schools across Quebec. Laval Liberty and Phoenix Alternative won because they demonstrated the fastest and most consistent improvement over the last five years. Only the best schools in Quebec were invited to participate in the award ceremony.
Phoenix Alternative
Cowley is quick to point out that improvement is not limited to high performance. "If you look at Phoenix Alternative, it's not a high performing school," he said, "but it's getting better!"
The alternative school caters to students who wish to finish their high school or CEGEP studies in a secure and guided environment. Every semester is kicked off by a two day orientation trip where students and teachers can get to know one another. The school provides smaller classes, weekly meetings with students and regular guidance. The teachers place heavy responsibility on the students to complete their work.
Principal Jennifer Kurta's message on their website reflects the deep dedication these teachers have shown their students: "All families can also become more than the sum of their parts and ours is no different in this respect either. There are drawbacks which are of course immensely outweighed by the benefits of being part of such a family. The Phoenix Family is life-long."
Laval Liberty
Charles Chagnon, Vice-Principal of Laval Liberty High School feels that their achievement may have something to do with the high school's concentration programs. Students can choose to concentrate on a topic of interest, be it sports, music or theatre, for example. In order to remain in their concentration students have to maintain an average of 75%. Chagnon estimates that one third of Laval Liberty's students are in a concentration program. He also hands it to the school's teachers. "The school wouldn't be winning the award without those teachers who go the extra mile," he said. Chagnon feels the most important kind of education is found in simple gestures: "To continue to give time to the students, to listen to their needs on a one-on-one level."
Quebec schools need to step up
Cowley pointed out that the schools who took home these awards represent a minority phenomenon in Quebec, and that not many schools show steady improvement rates.
He believes the potential for success lies in the attitudes of administrators and educators.
"You've got to believe you can improve. If you think some years you have a good class and some years you have a bad class, you won't win a Garfield Weston award."
Cowley believes it is vital to create a system where schools can be recognized and awarded for their achievement, to keep everyone on their toes. "I had a teacher say to me 'I've been teaching for 30 years and this is the first time that somebody has congratulated me.' Imagine!" He said.
You've got to believe you can improve. If you think some years you have a good class and some years you have a bad class, you won't win a Garfield Weston award.
@Ci: Student's results are not just based on how rich a family is, or a child's race - what schools do matters. They deserve congratulation.
PHOTO DIGITALES: Laval Liberty_podium
PHOTO DIGITALES: Phoenix Alternative_podium
Météo: Laval, 4 juillet 2008 / 25°C
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Steven Guilbeault - 
