Here’s Why This High School in Burlington Was Recently Recognized

Published May 13, 2019 at 10:23 pm

A high school in Burlington was recently recognized for its efforts in supporting student achievement.

A high school in Burlington was recently recognized for its efforts in supporting student achievement.

According to a recent press release, M.M. Robinson High School has received the 2018 Dr. Bette M. Stephenson Recognition of Achievement​ – a program that launched in 2009 – for its success in achieving curriculum expectations on EQAO (Education Quality and Accountability Office) assessments during the last three years, along with fostering students’ passion for math.

Schools that are recognized through this program have used information, including EQAO data, to create action plans based on their specific circumstances, and, as a result, have noticed improvements in student achievement. 

The criteria for the award changes every year, and in 2018 the criteria was ‘Approaches to Math Learning That Made a Difference’ in order to celebrate schools that supported students’ passion, which led to academic success in math. 

“The staff at M.M. Robinson High School are dedicated to focusing on empowering students in their learning,” Rebecca Newcombe, Acting Principal of M.M. Robinson High School, said in the release. 

“Our leaders in math and science, Maggie Warneke and Steve Tolton, have been instrumental in creating an engaging project-based program. The department’s focus on increasing student confidence in problem solving while also continuing to build strong relationships with students has led to this high level of achievement.” 

It was noted that the high school exhibited strength and growth in student attitudinal and behavioural data from EQAO questionnaires. 

In addition, it was also revealed that there were improvements over three years in EQAO results for both Grade 9 applied and academic math. 

However, this isn’t the first time the Halton District School Board has been recognized in regards to EQAO. Back in September of 2018, it was announced that that school board achieved the highest results ever in grade three reading and grade six reading and writing on EQAO assessments in the 2017-18 school year.

The award is named in honour ofthe former minister of education and former minister of colleges and universities in Ontario – Dr. Bette M. Stephenson. 

Dr. Stephenson is also currently Director Emeritus on EQAO’s Board of Directors. 

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