Student Services
Internal
Services
Our Student Services team assist students, parents, and staff with a wide range of supports. Our team works to help students with both academic and emotional needs. When a child has been diagnosed with a mild-moderate or severe need, students, parents, and our staff will provide accommodations, modifications and other supports. We work collaboratively to support students by creating an Individualized Program Plan that will help guide their growth throughout each school year. We also refer some students to our external community services for Speech Language support, Occupational Therapy, and Mental Health services when required.
Intake
If you are wondering if Connect is the right fit for your family. Our office staff, administration, and the student services team is happy to answer any questions you may have around supporting your child.
IPP
When students have a specific physical, emotional, or academic diagnosis, our school is required by Alberta Education to create and uphold an Individualized Program Plan. This program plan is a collaborative document between home and school that is specifically generated with the student’s strengths and areas of need outlined. We work together to generate goals, accommodations, and sometimes modifications to programming that will support the student’s progress. Please contact Abby Saadeh, our Inclusive Practices Coordinator if you have any further questions in regards to IPP’s.
Counselling Services
At Connect Charter we have adopted the teacher-counsellor model with support from our administrative and student services teams. Some of the ways we can support a student are:
- To promote personal, social, and academic development
- To assist students in coping with life’s demands and developing positive self-esteem, individual responsibility and accountability, and other skills necessary for positive citizenship
- To provide accessible and confidential short-term counselling support to students and their families
- To promote communication and mutual support between school, home, supports and outside agencies
- To provide support and guidance to students as they explore educational paths
- To facilitate referrals to community resources
Peer Mentorship
The Peer Mentorship program was established to foster healthy relationships and create positive attitudes towards school for all students through peer mentoring. It ensures that everyone feels successful, wanted, and accepted. In order for students to participate in the Peer Mentorship program as a mentee, teachers and parents will identify students who would like to participate because they are seeking a friendship and/or academic support. If a student is interested in becoming a mentor, they will have to attend an initial information meeting and fill out an application. Here is a link to the Peer Mentorship program for more information.
Programs
English Language Learning
Students may come to our school identified as English Language Learners, or they may be identified by teachers and their school file upon arrival. Alberta Education requires the ESL Proficiency Benchmarks to be completed for these students. These benchmarks are completed during each reporting period. Cumulative information from classroom assessment and the ESL Proficiency Benchmarks will determine what supports will be put in place for the student. Should you have any further question in regards to the ESL Proficiency Benchmarks, please contact your child’s teacher, Abby Saadeh our Inclusive Practices Coordinator or a member of our Administration.
- ESL Parent Guide (7-9)
- ESL Summary – Benchmarks (7-9)
- ESL Parent Guide (4-6)
- ESL Summary – Benchmarks (4-6)
Social Thinking, Zones of Regulation, and Superflex
Connect Charter School has adopted the Zones of Regulation, Superflex, and Social Thinking programs in Grades 4 and 5 to help students understand their emotions and how behaviours cause reactions that impact themselves and others. The goal of these programs is to help students build a variety of skills that promote empathy, self-awareness, and positive experiences.
Literacy and Numeracy Support
Alberta Education describes Literacy and Numeracy as a shared responsibility among all educators. Although specific knowledge and skills are taught primarily in Language Arts and Mathematics, every subject area teacher is responsible for further developing, strengthening and enhancing literacy and numeracy skills. demands.
If a student requires additional literacy or numeracy support, teachers will provide accommodations and modification support within the classroom first. If students require more additional support, they may be placed in a literacy or numeracy intervention group for 6-8 weeks. This intervention group is typically comprised of 3-4 students and helps them to develop specific skills in identified areas of need.
High School Preparation
Please find detailed information around high school registration and preparation here.
Space
Mountain View Room
The Mountain View Room is the office space of our Student Services team. Some ways the MVR is used:
- A place to request and/or receive additional academic/socio-emotional support
- Small groups can go to this area for a quiet place to work
- Monitored space for assessments
- Cool-off area for students who need a break
- Supervised club meeting space
Assessment
There are multiple levels of assessments that can be used to inform us more about a student. There are formative and summative assessments that teachers will use in the general classroom. However, if we are looking for more specific information, we will use the BADER or Fountas and Pinnell literacy assessments and the Key Math Assessment. If there are any further needs that require exploration, families may also seek external resources.
External Services
Our school works closely throughout the year with RCSD (Regional Collaborative Service Delivery) and external Psychologists to support students with Speech, Occupational Therapy, and Mental Health services. These services are obtained as students are identified throughout the school year by their teachers and parents/guardians. The Student Services team also obtains information from parents/guardians for the referral. Parents/Guardians will need to provide consent for support. A member of the RCSD team will determine whether the student will be approved. Psychological Assessments are facilitated collaboratively by the parents, teachers, and Student Services Team.
Community Resources
Click here to download a comprehensive list of student and parent resources.