Offers of Service

Re-education Counsellors

Provides individual assessments to students experiencing learning, socio-emotional and/or behavioural difficulties; makes recommendations pertaining to the student’s functioning at school; will refer students and families to the appropriate external agencies. Counselors also offer consultations to individuals or groups, which include students, parents, teachers, and school administration.  He/she can also plan, implement, and deliver prevention programs (e.g., violence prevention).

Guidance Counsellors

Guidance counsellors counsel students on education and career goals. They provide information to students, parents and staff regarding career exploration and planning, education pathways and post-secondary programs. Working with students one-on-one or holding career guidance workshops in class, they use assessment tests and interviews to help students define their interest and identify their abilities. They provide support to students with course selection, academic pathways, graduation requirements, post-secondary applications, summer job search, résumé, financial assistance, and attendance problems. They also coordinate 'drop-out prevention' and 'elementary-secondary transition' initiatives at the school. They participate in the multidisciplinary team with other student services professionals, school administrators and teachers and may provide individual counseling for students dealing with personal issues that impede their academic success.

Occupational Therapists

Occupational Therapists, OT (or « ergothérapeute » in french) support students within the academic environment by improving a child’s participation in their daily occupations by improving their abilities, modifying their environment, or adapting their activities. The OT achieves this goal by supporting both the student as well as the school environment (teacher, support staff, etc.).

OT services are offered following a RTI 3-tiered approach, meaning that they will promote and support the use of universal best-practices that could help most children in the classroom (Tier 1). When needed, the occupational therapists will offer more individualized interventions (Tier 2 and Tier 3). OT services are prioritized for preschool and cycle 1 students, however, can be available to all elementary students depending on the school needs.

OT offer of services is separated into 2 categories, either “regular services” including in-person visits weekly or bi-weekly, or “on-request services” meaning services will be offered only after a pertinent request is received.

Psychoeducators

Psychoeducators detect, evaluate, help, and guide students experiencing social maladjustments.  They create conditions conducive to the development of their autonomy by intervening on the attitudes and behaviours adversely affecting their learning and social integration and/or by supporting the school team in doing so. A psychoeducator provides coaching, guidance, and support to school teams and to parents by supporting the implementation of the IEP (individual education plan) and the IP (intervention plan), participating in Ad Hoc meetings, supporting school administrations in the validation and coding process, and can be called upon to offer training to school teams and colleagues.

A psychoeducator plays an active role in promoting violence prevention programs through Safe School Assessments and other school projects. They work in collaboration with external psychosocial agencies (CSSS, hospital, CALAC, etc.…) and are sometimes part of external and internal committees.

Psychologists

School psychologists apply their expertise in mental health, development, learning, and behaviour to help promote student success.  More specifically, we provide evaluation services for students in academic difficulty, make recommendations for intervention and offer brief counselling as well as prevention and promotional services.  With a goal of helping students reach their full potential, we work in collaboration with families, teachers, administrators, other professionals from our school board as well as external agencies.

Re-adaptation officers

The re-adaptation officer provides education and information to students, parents and staff related to substance use, abuse, and gambling. These services include promotion of healthy alternatives, group activities such as guest speakers, classroom visits, individual counseling, and assessment. The re-adaptation officer also links with different outside agencies to better service the students, parents, or staff. The re-adaptation officer is located at the high schools but also available for the elementary schools (on-call basis).

Social service officer

The Social Service Officer (SSO) serves as an integral part of both the Student Services team and the broader Complementary Services team at Alexander Galt. The primary goal of the SSO is to collaborate with staff to identify and implement the most effective strategies for supporting students in their social, emotional, and academic development.

The SSO works closely with individual students, providing tailored tools and interventions aimed at improving their overall functioning. Many students who are supported by the SSO have diagnosed mental health conditions, such as anxiety or depression, which can create additional challenges. The SSO helps students learn to manage these difficulties, fostering their personal growth and well-being.

In addition to working with students, the SSO also acts as a crucial liaison between the school, parents, and external professionals, ensuring that student needs are addressed comprehensively both in and outside the classroom

Social workers

Our role is to help individuals, families, groups and communities to enhance their individual and collective well-being. It aims to help people develop their skills and their ability to use their own resources and those of the community to resolve problems.

Social workers are lighthouses, rather than a lifeboat. We do not rescue, but instead help others to find their way to shore, guiding them by example.

As social workers, we:

 ●       Help guide you with decisions, not to make them for you.

●       Seek to understand, empathize, and encourage, not criticize.

●       Speak up and advocate.

●       Share knowledge and provide resources.

●       Meet you where you are.

●       Focus and build on strengths.

●       Believe in the human capacity to grow and change.

We persist when others give up. We believe in growth when it doesn’t appear attainable. We advocate for those society neglects. We see people as the human being they are.

School social workers are the link between school and community in providing services to students, families and school staff to promote and support students’ academic and social success. They can provide crisis intervention, help with conflict resolution and anger management, help children develop social-emotional skills, work with parents to support their children’s school adjustment, they identify and report child abuse and neglect situations and act as a liaison with the community services when needed.

Social workers are empathetic, patient, and resourceful professionals who change lives daily, empower young people, solve problems, support families, foster resilience, and restore hope.

Special Education Consultant

The Special Education Consultant provides consultation and support in addressing and meeting the educational needs of at-risk students and students with handicaps, social maladjustments, or learning difficulties by providing: 

●       resources and information concerning adapted ministerial education programs, and differentiation, adaptation or modification of the QEP;

●       resources and information concerning MEQ policies, reference frameworks, and pertaining documents concerning students with special needs;

●       information and follow-up support concerning pedagogical approaches and strategies;

●       training, in-service workshops, or support to student/teacher needs in the field of special education, such as effective classroom interventions, integration, inclusive education, IEPs.

The ETSB Special Education Consultant works collaboratively with administrators, resource teams, and professionals to engage in solution-focused problem-solving to optimize students' success.

Speech Language Correction Officer

A Speech and Language Correction Officer (SLCO) plays a key role in implementing intervention plans developed by Speech-Language Pathologists. These plans are aimed at preventing, screening for, and addressing issues related to speech, language, and hearing in students. The SLCO is responsible for ensuring that these interventions are carried out effectively, helping students overcome communication challenges.

In addition, the SLCO provides guidance and support to teachers and other staff members, helping them understand the nature of each student's communication difficulties. This allows for adaptations in teaching methods and instructional materials to better meet the needs of the student.

Speech-Language Pathologists

Speech-Language Pathologists conduct observations, screenings and/or assessments to identify a student’s strengths, needs, as well as the nature of their speech, communication, language and/or literacy difficulties. To help the students achieve their full potential, they develop specific intervention goals, may provide therapy as well as facilitate and support access to Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC). The S-LP works in collaboration with parents, school teams and any other person/agency involved: providing coaching, guidance, and support.

Spiritual Care and Community Involvement Animators

The Spiritual Care and Community Involvement Animator aims to foster the students’ autonomy and sense of responsibility, their interpersonal relationships as well as their feeling of belonging to the school and the community. Activities may address issues pertaining to worldview, citizenship, and social responsibility. In accordance with the Education Act, this service is offered to elementary and secondary students. Activities facilitated by Spiritual Life Animators may include:

•      Remembrance Day & other thematic activities

•      Anti-bullying workshops and awareness campaigns

•      Facilitating ‘Wellness Weeks’ or activities focused on overall wellness

•      Literacy and Academic based initiatives

•      Transition activities between elementary & secondary schools

•      Community outreach & collaboration with community organizations

•      Community involvement: Getting students active and involved in their school

         community to engage students & motivate them to come to school

•      Crisis intervention (grievance counseling)

•      Individual counseling

•      Facilitating programs

•      Workshops to help students develop resilient thoughts, mindfulness, anxiety relief,  

         emotional intelligence, self-compassion, impulse control, and essential life skills.