MAIN OFFICE (RECEPTION)

A staff member is on hand throughout the day to assist students and direct them to the appropriate staff member and/or service.

SCHOOL BASED TEAM

Referral by staff

Most of the support programs available to our students can be accessed through the School Based Team.  Members of this team include representatives from each of the available programs, counsellors, and a representative from administration.  Each program dictates which members of the school based team are required to collaborate to make a decision.  Generally the more complex the issue the larger the number of team members involved in the decision-making and planning process.  Because of the graduation implications of placing a student on a Modified Individualized Education Plan, accurate assessments, careful case review, expanded collaboration, and parent involvement are important components of this decision. 

COUNSELLING SERVICES

Counselling can be set up either by appointment or on a "drop in" basis.

The counselling service has four main objectives:

1.   To assist students dealing with specific needs and/or concerns which may be affecting academic performance and/or school relationships

2.   To encourage communication between the counselling staff and parents, teachers, and community agencies

3.   To provide students and parents with information regarding vocational trades, training programs, post-secondary education, and bursaries/scholarships related to both

4.   In conjunction with Career Programs Staff, continue to assist students with career awareness, career exploration, and career preparation

BEHAVIOUR SUPPORT

Referral Required

District Designation Required

Teachers specially trained to support students with moderate to intensive behavioural needs are available to staff and students.  Their primary role is to make sure designated students have a specific plan in place to address their behavioural needs.  Determining which students qualify for this support is based upon intensity, frequency, and/or duration of problematic behaviours.

LEARNING ASSISTANCE/LEARNING CENTRE

Referral Required

The Learning Assistance program is designed for students who need additional academic support. 

Learning Assistance Teachers are available to:

• Assist in the development of Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) for students with Learning Disability and Gifted designations

• Provide academic support for identified students

• Provide in-class support

• Assess students' strengths and weaknesses

• Invigilate curriculum-based assessments

• Adjudication of provincial assessments for students requiring accommodations

• Consult on strategies and adaptations for student success

• Consult with students, parents, teachers, administration, and School-Based team (SBT).

INDIGENOUS SUPPORT SERVICES

Appropriate Criteria Met

This program is available to students who identify as having Aboriginal ancestry (First Nations, Inuit, Metis). It is designed to provide holistic support based on the four directions of the medicine wheel to address the cultural needs unique to this group of students:

-  Students can access social-emotional (East), spiritual (South), and physical (West) support through connections to Aboriginal advocates and the Elder in residence in the Gathering Room

-  Academic (North) support is provided in our Aboriginal Learning Centre by teacher-tutors for both core and elective courses

Support is offered on a drop-in as-needed basis or as a support block; a support block is not a course offering but may be assigned through a referral process. Students must complete an ancestry verification form to access these services.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNING

Appropriate Criteria Met

English language support is available to students for whom English is not the first language.  Support will be available to assist students and staff in making adaptations to their program, in class or by pull-out, or to assist students in achieving graduation requirements.  ELL classes available include L1 (Foundations), L2 (Introduction to Academic Language, L3 (English Language Development-Intermediate) and L4 (English Language  Development-Advanced). Support blocks and classroom support are also available.

SPECIAL EDUCATION SUPPORT

Referral Required

District Designation Required

At Rutland Senior Secondary School we are fortunate to have one of the best resource programs in the district.  Three specially trained teachers along with the largest number of Certified Educational Assistants in the district, provide support for our students with special education designations.  Students qualifying for this have designations such as physically dependent, an intellectual disability, a physical disability, chronic health impairment, or autism spectrum disorder.  Resource components of the student program include:

-  Cutter’s Edge, which provides a work environment for our students,   

-  assisting in the operation of our school store,

-  helping in the preparation of nutritious meals for the school lunch program,

-  life skills and community outings.

DISTRICT SUPPORT SERVICES

Referral Required

School District 23 provides a wide range of specialized support services for district schools.  At Rutland Senior we have access to the following services:

-  School Psychologist

-  Reading Specialist

-  Behaviour Specialist

-  Teacher for the Hard of Hearing

-  Teacher for the Visually Impaired

-  Physical and Occupational Therapist

-  Speech-Language Pathologists

Accessed through the School Based Team, these specialists are available to students when there is a need for specific assessments, assistance with identification, and collaborative services. 

Our objective at Rutland Senior Secondary is to be inclusive, integrate students, and to do whatever we can to provide the necessary supports so that this may occur.  If you would like additional information on our Support Services, please consult with one of our administrators, learning assistance teachers, or school counsellors.