RRHS students celebrate success

By Ken Johnston
Editor

Last Monday evening two English Classes celebrated their first semester accomplishments at the annual Rainy River High School Portfolio Night.
Students brought parents and friends to the school where they shared a supper in the school gymnasium. Afterwards four students were selected to either read or have one of their literary works read. They were Brandon Hanson, Hillary Brown, Randall Jack and Mike McDonald. That was followed by a trip to their classrooms where parents and friends had the opportunity to read and comment on their complete portfolios.
Teacher Jennelle Lowes explained that the students work intensely on a very intense three week long unit in which they create a collection of different writing styles. “This is to help prepare them for the (mandatory) Ontario Grade 10 literacy test.”
The different pieces in their final portfolio include a descriptive essay, expository writing, poetry, newspaper articles and a narrative, to name a few. Lowes said one of the most enjoyable parts of the unit is the “I Am...” poems. “My kids used a novel called “Touching Spirit Bear” which helps teach you how to express who you are.” Hillary Brown’s poem “I Am a Granddaughter” nearly had people in tears at the Portfolio night.
The other teacher that works with the grade nine students is Laura Armistead. Lowes said that they both teach the same unit with very little variation with the exception that one class is Academic and the other Applied (i.e. General or Advanced). “We use the same guidelines but some assignments vary,” explained Lowes.
Students do a writers’ survey at the beginning of the unit and a writers’ reflection at the end of it. “It is amazing to see how much they have grown as writers when it is over,” said Lowes.
All high school students in Ontario have to pass a grade 10 literacy test before they can graduate from grade 12. They can defer it for up to one year but have to take it. Lowes said that their success rates, since beginning the portfolio program, have improved every year. “Our deferral rates have gone down every year and pass rates have gone up. In fact, last year we had a 100% pass rate. I think that is unprecedented in the province.”
Lowes said that the portfolio program has caught the eye of other schools noting that, “We have done workshops for the entire board of education and for Robert Moore School.” She believes Robert Moore now has a portfolio program but does not think that Fort or Atikokan High Schools have instituted one.
At last Monday’s celebration, the parents and friends wrote many positive comments and that pleases Lowes and Armistead. “Part of portfolio night is to celebrate their (students’) success but it is also to bring the parents into the loop.” said Lowes.