At Maple Lane, we aim to foster a school environment where diversity is celebrated, and every student feels a strong sense of belonging. We believe that when students take pride in their identities and feel acknowledged and represented within their school community, they are more likely to thrive academically and intellectually.

Maple Lane is a smaller school which allows for greater opportunities to connect as a community, through events, assemblies and celebrations. However, looking at some of the available data from the Middle Years Development Instrument (MDI) and Student Learning Surveys, it appears that student sense of belonging is below what we would expect. In the case of the MDI, which was conducted with grade 5 students in 2022/23, student sense of belonging was slightly below the district average. The Student Learning Survey, conducted with grade 4 and 7 students in 2023/24, revealed that although most students indicated a positive sense of belonging at school, 15% viewed their belonging negatively. This raised questions among our staff as to whether our students are feeling valued and represented at school. Many have noted that they have provided support with using appropriate and respectful language and felt that more teaching in the areas of equity, diversity and inclusion was needed.

Our actions this year:

• Formed an equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) committee with broad representation on staff
• Conducted initial student interviews with students to learn more about their thinking about belonging
• Engaged in whole staff professional learning with Destine Lord (Anti-Racism Consultant)

Our next steps:

• Use newly developed district belonging assessment tool to survey the school to form a baseline
• Develop a plan with the EDI committee to implement ways to celebrate diversity in our school
• Work with Destine Lord on an ongoing basis
• Survey students again to reveal any change in student sense of belonging that is a result of our actions