ISA takes a holistic approach to wellbeing using multi-tiered interventions called ‘response to intervention.’
If a parent has any concern about their child they can contact the Key Worker (preschool), Classroom Teacher (elementary) and Advisor or Head of Grade (middle and high school). For specific academic concerns in middle and high school you can contact the subject teacher directly and you can find who they are by looking at your child’s Powerschool timetable. In Middle and High School dynamic academic feedback is regularly available through the Powerschool system to help you keep up to date with progress in classes.
Parents can also contact our school counsellor, Valerie DeGraw, for help with kindergarten to Grade 12 holistic care. She is available for a quick chat or more focused care regarding social, academic, and wellbeing interventions or referrals. Heather Barker, our high school careers counsellor, primarily works with Grades 9 to 12 on finding the right post-secondary pathway.
We have regular meetings for learning and wellbeing with our student support teams. Often when a child is feeling unhappy, it is not just one thing; we make sure to consider academic, physical, social and wellbeing together. Our school nurse, Frances Sibbett, also joins our wellbeing teams.
Our learning support team Hannah Powell for Elementary, Ulrika Atkinson for Middle School and Jo Lockhart for High School assist with academic help and inclusion for learning variabilities. They can also assist with IEP's, learner pathways, and access arrangements for exam accommodations.
In Scotland we have access to additional support from outside agencies particularly the National Health Service via Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) , Community Child Health (CCH) and Social Work. Our school nurse helps families access these external services and our counsellors and nurse can also assist with private referrals.
Advice for Course Selection, Post Secondary Options and Careers
Our high school University and Careers Counsellor, Heather Barker, helps students make the right choices for their pathways and placements leading to university, college, and careers options. She works with students as well as running general information sessions for families regarding the accredited high school diploma, IGCSE and IB options, and articulation pathways. In addition we host universities, visiting experts and careers talks.
Our K-12 school counsellor, Valerie DeGraw, helps grade 6-8 middle school students and families make course selections when they join ISA, along with assisting families and students with transitions for social, emotional, and academic success.
Useful Wellbeing Websites and Helplines for Support
SAMH - supporting mental health in Scotland
CAMHS Resources- Child and Adolescent Mental Health
Childline UK - Support for Students
Parentline UK -Support for Parents