TAKING CARE FROM THE INSIDE OUT
COMMUNITY PARTNERS
CONTACT
COMMUNITY RESOURCES
Connect aims to nurture collaborative and caring relationships with mutual respect between students, staff, and community members. Opportunities for social engagement and development are embedded within our Charter. The collaborative nature of our classrooms allow students to develop and apply communication skills for working with others, and interacting with various members of our community both in and outside of the classroom. Another way students are supported to develop social relationships is through clubs, electives, and community initiatives, bringing together and creating opportunities for comradery over shared interests. Outdoor and off campus experiences provide opportunities for students to appreciate the world outside of the classroom and to develop social, leadership, and stewardship skills. During off-site outings, students interact with one another through structured and unstructured play and activities. Creating memories together outside of the school walls allows students to connect, form friendships and lasting memories.
Educators are in a good position to notice when students require emotional support, and are often the first point of contact for students experiencing difficulty at school. Connect staff strive to meet students where they’re at with understanding and care, recognizing that at any given time a student may rely on adult help for emotional regulation. Developing positive emotional health is foundational to student success and overall well-being. We aim to prevent risk, offer support, teach skills to cope with difficult or overwhelming feelings, and encourage self-advocacy. Guided programs, including a school-wide initiative called THRIVE, that align with our school’s philosophy around mutual respect, allow opportunities for student wellness, development, and community building among various grade groups. Connect also supports emotional health through external partnerships. We have developed relationships with school psychologists, counselors, health and wellness centers, and social agencies to support families and healthy child development. Our students have access to a variety of emotional wellness resources that can either be provided by the school, or referred to you.
Students’ academic performance and their emotional / mental health are closely linked. Staff at Connect work closely with students to build relationships, teach mindfulness and help students work at recognizing their strengths while challenging them to meet their goals. If students feel strong mentally, they are empowered learners. It is important at Connect to respect the diversity of each student’s unique strengths and individual goals. Mental wellness builds student capacity using a strengths-based approach that recognizes and develops talents so that students can positively engage with their peers, community as well as academics. If students are self-aware and have strategies that they can use for self-regulation, self-efficacy and self- advocacy they can, in turn, use these skills to feel confident to tackle any academic challenges that they may come across.
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.
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.