Walkerton’s Sacred Heart High School is one of two schools across the province to receive a very prestigious award.
The school has been awarded the Doctor Bette M. Stephenson Recognition of Achievement Award from the Education Quality and Accountability Office. (EQAO)
This is the first year the award has ever been given out.
It recognizes Sacred Heart High School’s efforts over the years — which have led to measurable improvements on the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test.
The award was presented last night to Principal Murray Kuntz, English teacher Susan Sakal and Parent Council Co-chair Jackie Dally at the University of Toronto.
Superintendent of Education Jerry Casey calls the award a feather in the high school’s cap.
Casey says it recognizes a real team effort from staff at all grade levels who have placed such an important emphasis on literacy.
Grade 10 students must successfully pass the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test in order to graduate.
Because it is a high stakes test, Casey says students take the test very seriously.
Last year — 88 percent of the grade 10 students who took the test passed.
The award was handed out by Doctor Bette Stephenson herself — a former Minister of Education.