The Montcrest Learning Principles

This is the continuation of the story of the creation of the Montcrest Learning Principles. If you are curious about the past iteration and work, please read, If Culture Eats Strategy for Breakfast, what’s for Lunch?

What is gained in the creation process is of equal, if not more significant, importance than the product. This sentiment was shared in the story of creating the Montcrest Commitment to Equity and Inclusion and continues to be true for our Learning Principles. We would like to tell you how we crafted this cultural cornerstone.

As is typical at Montcrest, we have been intentional throughout the past two years to get to this point. We have been informed by the voices of our learners, families and the internal team contributing to the work. With the changes in leadership and the impact on the community through the pandemic, we knew it was necessary to recommit to a cultural common ground as a foundation. The Learning Principles are not a replacement but an articulation of what we believe about learning as we strive towards our vision, uphold our mission and live our values.

Our current Principles and emerging Practices are also deeply connected to our current strategic plan. As a school, we are trying to do two things - foster an inclusive community and empower personalized learning. We appreciate the interconnectedness of the two and know that they must be built simultaneously, not sequentially, just as it was with our Commitment to Equity and Inclusion.

We would like to introduce the second version of the Montcrest Learning Principles. The descriptions were crafted through an appreciation of community perspectives and an understanding of current research. There has been a streamlining to simplify from the first iteration with further clarity where there had been confusion previously. Our Learning Principles have gone back through a process of consensus where the internal team has expressed if they understand each principle, can live with each principle and would defend it in public. This new Temporary Fixed Position version is paired below with student quotes obtained through student workshops conducted in the 2022/23 school year.

The PEOPLE Principle

What do our students say?

“We want to be able to talk while we work so we can collaborate.”

“We need to take a mental health break when we are stressed.”

“Learning happens in your head, heart and body!”

The CHALLENGE Principle

What do our students say?

“The content of learning needs to be important to us.”

“Parents, teachers and friends help us learn.”

“I learn best by moving, like rocking while reading.”

“I take my time. I can concentrate with a lot going on around.”

The WONDER Principle

What do our students say?

“We ask questions.”

“Making mistakes is a part of learning.”

“Thinking of new ways to solve problems.”

The EQUITY Principle

What do our students say?

“I get a sense of great learning when teachers are moderating the discussion by giving each student a chance to talk and push them further to elaborate their opinion.”

“We learn best when we learn in our own way.”

The CONTEXT Principle

What do our students say?

“You can basically learn anywhere.”

“We need quiet spaces.”

“We can help create our own environment.”

“We can learn outside or when we go to new places.”

What Next?

Sharing our Learning Principles in this format is only the beginning! To repeat a quote,

“The real learning impact comes when Learning Principles are translated into Learning Practices, then into the necessary Teaching Practices to support the learning, then Leading Practices to support the teaching. It’s basic logic, a simple if-then syllogism: If we are living this principle, then here’s what we’ll see our learners doing, here’s what our teachers will be doing in support and here’s what our leaders will be doing to sustain this culture of ‘learning, teaching and leading on principle’.” (Kevin Bartlett, 2020)

As an internal team, we have already begun using our principles as part of our planning and decision making processes. We have student workshops ready to engage classes in unpacking the what and why of the Learning Principles. Based on feedback, we hope to engage students in the development of new graphics for each Principle. We would also like to spend time with parents and family members in similar workshops to provide feedback and help with the development of the Practices. Please look out for more information about these sessions through the Mirror.

If you are curious to participate or learn more, please reach out to Gerry De Fazio or another member of the Leadership Team.

We give thanks to,

• The classes who participated in the workshops during the 2022/23 school year.
• The students who gave informal feedback on the emerging Principles on the wall in Patti MacDonald’s office.
• The faculty, staff and leaders who participated in the wordsmithing.
• The parents who gave feedback during the CGC parent workshops and the feedback working sessions.
• Kevin Bartlett, founder of the Common Ground Collaborative, for his ongoing support and feedback through this second iteration of the Montcrest Learning Principles.