Eastern Township School Board

Case Studies

Eastern Township School Board

May 11, 2009

The Eastern Townships School Board (ETSB) is one of Quebec’s nine English-speaking boards. The ETSB serves close to 7000 students in: 20 elementary schools, three secondary schools, one alternative secondary school, two vocational education centres, two adult education centres, and one centre of excellence. Massey Vanier High School has a student population of about 1000 and 100+ teachers and support staff.

Background: ETSB was the first education institution to pilot Prelude. This was the result of a happy sequence of events. It started in August 2006 when H. Esbin, Prelude’s creator, was invited to attend a National Life Work Centre conference at the Memramcook Institute. Phil Jarvis, NLWC’s VP of Global Partnerships, had been a Heliotrope advisor since 04. At the conference, Esbin met two Quebec educators, Sandra Salesas and Suzanne Dery. Sandra is the Provincial Coordinator for GOAL [Guidance Oriented Approach to Learning]. Suzanne Dery was the Pedagogical Counsellor and GOAL Consultant with the Eastern Townships School Board. Both immediately saw the value of Prelude within the GOAL Program. In November 06, Suzanne and Sandra collaborated with P. Jarvis to introduce Prelude at a one-day teacher’s training session. This led to a Prelude pilot at Massey-Vanier High School in 07. Sandra and Suzanne have continued to support Prelude’s use and provide invaluable advice. They’re both educational visionaries and pioneers.

Program: Secondary I [Grade 7]; Secondary V [Grade 11]

Location: Cowansville, Quebec

Websites: Eastern Township School Board; Massey Vanier High School

Description: Prelude was introduced on a pilot basis within the Eastern Townships School Board in 2007. In 2009, ETSB incorporated Prelude as part of an overall strategy in reducing dropout rates. It will be played by all Secondary I students and then again in Secondary V. The goal is for students to build self-esteem, to better understand themselves and each other, and to create a more positive school environment and culture. Gail Klinck, a MVHS Teacher, has facilitated and/or trained teachers to use the game since 2007.

Photos:

This is a short video clip featuring a Grade 7 team creating their weTag…