Migizi Wazisin Elementary School joins the Model Schools Literacy Project
LONG LAKE #58 FIRST NATION (February 18, 2021) – Long Lake #58 First Nation and the Martin Family Initiative (MFI) are very pleased to announce that Migizi Wazisin Elementary School has joined the Model Schools Literacy Project (MSLP). In November 2019, First Nation schools from across Canada were invited to apply for the Project as Cohort 3 schools.
“We are really excited to work with the Martin Foundation. This program will be great for both students and teachers. Looking forward to learning and implementing ways to fill the gaps for those who need it and to build stronger foundation teaching skills for our teachers. We have so many students who have the potential to achieve higher levels in academics. I believe this program is a step in helping us educators build strong, confident, proud Anishnawbe students.” – Teri Fortier, Literacy Lead at Migizi Wazisin Elementary School
The purpose of the Model Schools Literacy Project is to ensure that First Nations students read and write well enough by the end of Grade 3 to support continued school success.
This is because reading proficiency by age 9 or 10 years predicts high school graduation – in schools around the world.
“At Migizi Schools we are always open to new ideas and especially proven methodology that works. We look forward to the learning opportunities, growth and success that our children will gain through the Model Schools Literacy Project.” – Claire Onabigon, Education Director, Long Lake #58 Education Authority
For the next six years, Migizi Wazisin Elementary School and the community will continue their ongoing initiatives in early literacy and work in partnership with MFI and the other partner schools. Each school day will begin with 100 minutes of reading and writing for Kindergarten to Grade 3 children. Through innovative use of technology, teachers and principals will be engaged in group professional learning and will work with the other schools and the Project team across time, distance and First Nations.
“Literacy is important for the simple reason students will find greater success at school as they learn to read and then turn those reading skills into a tool for learning. At Migizi Wazisin Elementary School we have taken positive steps to improve the literacy skills of all students. Acquiring high-interest reading materials with indigenous cultural content has served to help students make connections to their life experiences. A balanced literacy program including read alouds, guided reading, shared reading, independent reading and word studies, has been the focus in the school. One targeted skill that teachers have been working to improve is reading comprehension. A reading strategy in all parts of the literacy program is focused on monthly. These include activating and using background knowledge, questioning, predicting, making inferences, summarizing, and visualizing. Teachers use every opportunity to incorporate reading into a student’s daily routine and this starts with the morning message. By using a common experience like this in each classroom, each day and making this a consistent activity throughout the students’ whole educational experience, learning to read has been made the major emphasis. Success in learning has been the connection made to success in reading.” – Cheryl Dunk, Special Education Coordinator at Migizi Wazisin Elementary School
About Long Lake #58 First Nation
Long Lake #58 First Nation is an Anishinaabe (Ojibway) First Nation in Northern Ontario, located along the northeast shore of Long Lake and adjacent to the town of Longlac, ON. Nestled between lakes and dense forests, Long Lake is a place of breathtaking beauty.
At the present time, there are approximately 1400 members registered to Long Lake #58 First Nation with about 450 members living on-reserve. The leadership of Long Lake #58 has been and continues to support education. Their deep commitment to providing quality programming is realized every day when we enter the schools. The community enacted their jurisdictional rights to the governance of education in 1997. Notices were given and the children were receiving their education in the community in September 1998. The elementary school was built and officially opened in 2000 and the high school was constructed and opened in 2013.
More information about Long Lake #58 First Nation can be found by visiting longlake58fn.ca
About Migizi Wazisin Elementary School
Migizi Schools have a vision that strives to provide all learners with skills and support to become healthy, resilient, proud Anishinaabe who build a future for their families, community and nation. Our core values are to develop the skills required to become a confident lifelong learner who overcomes personal challenges. We nurture and support our learners academically, socially, emotionally and culturally in a safe and caring environment. Migizi schools use the Seven Grandfather Teachings, The Medicine Wheel, Ceremony, Language, Culture and Tradition to continue building a proud Anishinaabe nation of learners.
Migizi Wazisin Elementary School is committed to providing quality education with a focus on First Nation culture and academic success. Education programming is deeply rooted in the Medicine Wheel and Seven Grandfathers. Cultural programming, Outdoor Education, Land-Based Activities, Seasonal Camps, Literacy, Numeracy, Social Development and Technology are key focus areas of the curriculum. In the fall of 2020, Long Lake #58 First Nation launches its history curriculum to be taught to its approximately 125 students from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12.
More information about Migizi Wazisin Elementary School can be found by visiting longlake58fn.ca
About the Martin Family Initiative
The Martin Family Initiative (MFI) walks hand-in-hand with Indigenous Peoples as they lead the co-development of new approaches to education and well-being, weaving community-based knowledge together with the most current research and evidence-informed methods to ensure that Indigenous children, youth, and communities have the tools they need to reach their highest potential.
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For more information about the Model Schools Literacy Project, please visit: modelschools.themfi.ca and for the Martin Family Initiative, please visit: themfi.ca.
Media Contact:
Lucie Santoro
Director of Administration, Communications and Stakeholder Relations
Martin Family Initiative lsantoro@themfi.ca 514-982-3911