SRB Student Services: Guidance, Student Success and Special Education School Council Presentation Tuesday, September 13, 2011

The Role of Student Services To provide support and counselling to students in the areas of academics, educational choices, career goals, and personal concerns To act in a consultative and supportive role to parents and staff

Guidance: Educational Counselling Course selection Timetable issues Pathway planning based on interests, abilities and goals Post-secondary application process Financial assistance (e.g., scholarship information and OSAP)

Educational Counselling (cont’d) Online course registration Night school and summer school registration International students and exchange students

Guidance: Personal Counselling Listen to personal concerns Explore alternatives and/or solutions Make referrals to the Learning Support Teacher, Student Success Teacher, or OCDSB Learning Support Services staff Offer community resources when needed Youth Services Bureau Rideauwood Addictions Counselling

Guidance: Career Counselling Explore career options with students Assist in the research of post-secondary destinations (e.g., college, apprenticeship, and university) Promote experiential learning opportunities –such as Co-operative Education, Focus Programs, Specialist High Skills Major, Dual Credits Program and Take our Kids to Work Day Provide career planning presentations to grade 11 and 12 students

Co-operative Education Students earn high school credits while gaining valuable work experience Allows students to “test-drive” a career 110 hours = one credit Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP) enables students to acquire on-the-job training in a skilled trade

Our Guidance Staff 2.5 guidance counsellors for just over 900 students: (based on student enrolment; subject to change **new distribution this week) –Edie Bonisteel (A-I) –Mary Anne Mayhew (J-O) –Mark Mullins (P-Z) One half-time guidance secretary: –Norine Arbuthnot

NEW THIS YEAR! SRB will have a Masters’ candidate in our guidance department –Masters’ in Educational Counselling –Will be here every Wednesday and Thursday –Will meet with every grade 9 student to introduce him/her to the guidance department Any concerns raised will be shared with the appropriate guidance counsellor

The Referral Process Referrals are made through our guidance counsellors and/or as part of our weekly multi-disciplinary team meetings Parent/guardian consent is required for referrals to the psychologist, social worker, or other members of Learning Support Services –Except for in the case of counselling, where a student 12 years old and up can give consent Interventions are short-term May involve referrals to community based supports and services

OCDSB Professional Support School Psychologist School Social Worker Itinerant Educational Assistant (IEA) Learning Support Consultant (LSC) School Resource Officer (SRO) Spiritual Care Worker Multi-cultural Liaison Officer (MLO) Public Health Nurse

Student Success Program Additional support for students who are at risk for academic failure Proactive approach Includes academic help at lunchtime, credit rescue and/or credit recovery Credit rescue and credit recovery can only be accessed through our referral process

Special Education Supports and services for students who have been assessed as having special learning needs Individual Education Plans (IEPs) are developed annually for students who require ongoing support instructional, environmental and/or assessment accommodations –approximately 20% of our school population have IEPs

Special Education (con’t) A student who is struggling academically, and not being successful through traditional means may be a suitable candidate for an educational assessment done by the Learning Support Teacher SRB is one of three high schools that has a specialized program for students who have severe learning disabilities –Applications are made to a central committee

In Summary Our goal is to support student learning and achievement