Education Week in Ontario began on a high note today, with students from more than 900 Ontario schools singing the same song at the same time.  

On the first Monday of May each year, students in music programs across Canada perform a concert. Education Minister Leona Dombrowsky attended a concert at Yonge-Dundas Square in downtown Toronto.

The week-long celebration is an opportunity for students and educators to showcase all of the excellent work and accomplishments in the province’s publicly-funded schools.

Local schools and boards will be hosting events throughout the week to demonstrate students’ academic, athletic and creative abilities — and to celebrate the gains Ontario students are making in student achievement:

• In 2008-09, Ontario’s graduation rate increased to 79 per cent. This represents an increase of 11 percentage points – or over 52, 500 additional students – compared to 2003-04.
• In 2008-09, 67 per cent of Grade 3 and Grade 6 students met the provincial standard in reading, writing and math. This represents a 13 percentage point increase since 2002-03.