Toronto District School Board EmeryWestviewJefferys Seneca College Seneca

Toronto District School Board Emery/Westview/Jefferys Seneca College Seneca @ York University Faculty of Education

History York Faculty of Education and Westview Centennial Secondary School Family 5 schools 1991 -92 11 schools by 1994 -95

Current Scope Partnership initiatives impact 23 schools, directly engage approximately 3000 students from the neighbourhood, involve 9 faculties at York, Seneca@York, the Office of the Ombudsperson, the Y. U. Art Galleries, 12 community groups and constitute over 20 different programs

Partners 2007 -2008 York University Toronto District School Board Toronto Catholic District School Board Seneca College of Applied Arts and Technology Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities York University Faculty Association Jane-Finch’s Caring Village Community Organizations Four private donors

Mandate • To enhance academic opportunities and access to post-secondary education and training for students living in the Jane & Finch community • To provide opportunities for teacher candidates and practising teachers to increase their skills and knowledge in urban education

Partnership Paths • Pre-Service Bachelor of Education Path • Post-Secondary Path for elementary and secondary school students

Opening the Doors to Post Secondary Education “My goal has always been to attend university but I was a bit nervous. After being part of this experience I have greater confidence university is the right place for me. ” • To make intentional the aim of post secondary education • To engage students from JK to grade 12 and their parents • To make York campus a familiar part of the community • To afford a taste of post secondary in high school • To help young people identify strengths & set goals

Post-Secondary Path Programs A variety of programs which will assist students to overcome systemic barriers: • Race • Ethnicity • Gender • Economic Means • Social Class • Postal Code • Status or length of time in Canada

Our Schools/Our Students 1 • More than 160, 590 children are growing up in high poverty neighbourhoods • 400% increase in immigrant families living in poverty between 1999 and 2001 More than 311, 500 immigrant families are living in high poverty neighbourhoods Poverty by Postal Code (2004) The United Way of Greater Toronto and the Canadian Council on Social Development

Our Schools/Our Students – TDSB 2 • Approximately 280, 000 elementary and secondary students • Over 150 nationalities and 80 languages • 25% of elementary students were born outside Canada • 43% of secondary students were born outside Canada • Approximately 50% ESL Donna Quan, System Superintendent, TDSB Intergovernmental Committee for Economic and Labour Force Development, 9 th Annual Meeting, May 2006

Our Schools/Our Students – TDSB 3 • 109 TDSB schools fall within the 13 priority neighbourhoods; 20% of those schools fall within the Jane-Finch community • Students in low income neighbourhoods are less likely to achieve provincial standards in reading and writing • Students in low income neighbourhoods are less likely to receive the extra curricular, nutritional and cultural supports students in more advantaged neighbourhoods marginalization Quan, 2006

TDSB Learning Opportunities Index The LOI is • A measure of “cultural capital” in a school population based on 10 statistically valid and reliable measures • Ranks each school from most needy to least needy (Elementary: 1 -473; Secondary 1 -107)

Programs for Parents/Caregivers Home and School Learning at Firgrove Model School

Programs for students in Post Secondary Westview Alumni @ York (WAY) Mentoring

Programs for Elementary • Summer Arts • Higher 5 • After School programs • Triangle of Hope • Festival of the Arts

Programs for Middle School • Promoting Excellence • Math Experience Camp • Summer Arts

Programs for Grades 9 & 10 • Readers to Leaders • Mentoring School of Nursing Schulich School of Business School of Kinesiology Justice Department • Promoting Excellence

Programs for Grades 11 & 12 • Advanced Credit Experience • York/Seneca Summer Science & Technology

Impact “I used to think about going to university, but I never actually understood what it meant, financially or academically. ” ACE Participant, 2003

Impact – Promoting Excellence “ The program made me feel like I had a chance. . . that maybe I could pass high school, maybe I might be able to go to college, maybe I could have a different life. ” Promoting Excellence, 2006

ACE - Impact 2003/04 -15 students contacted All enrolled in PSE All intend to continue beyond present level Most are at least one semester “behind” but had the confidence to return

Impact - ACE “ACE (Advanced Credit Experience) has taught me some of life’s great lessons: selfreliance, independence, taking initiative and overcoming barriers. ” ACE Student, 2003 22

Impact - YSSSTP “Through the Summer Science and Technology Program, I found my strengths and weaknesses. The impact of the program on my life has been immeasurable and has allowed me to gain confidence and motivation to pursue my dream and to overcome any challenges that I encounter in both my academic and personal life. ” YSSSTP Student, 2004 1

Impact – YSSSTP 2 “. . . I got excited. Excited to become who and what I want to become. For the first time in my life I got excited to go back to school and excel. . YSSSTP gave me the inspiration I never possessed, for school, for my career, for my life. ” YSSSTP Student, 2006

The Westview Partnership Jackie Robinson Westview Partnership Coordinator Faculty of Education, York University 4700 Keele St. Toronto, ON M 3 J 1 P 3 (416) 736 -2100 x 70323 jrobinson@edu. yorku. ca