What it Means:
A student attends Sea to Sky Alternate School every day as their main school placement.
How it Works:
The student’s daily schedule is centered at the SSA location.
Supports are individually tailored with a focus on well-being, connections, and academic engagement.
Students work with SSA teachers on coursework and personal learning goals.
Purpose:
This option is designed for students who benefit more from the supported, flexible, and relational learning environment at SSA than being in a larger mainstream class.
Where appropriate, transition into the mainstream program remains a desired outcome. However, it is recognized that the day program may continue to be the most suitable placement for some students.
What it Means:
A student works on their courses outside the physical SSA site, meeting with a designated teacher to achieve academic goals in a flexible and individualized way.
How it Works:
Outreach is a satalite program of SSA. Students may receive instruction and support through a combination of off-site or community-based meetings, independent coursework, and regular check-ins with their designated teacher.
Purpose:
This pathway supports students who require even more flexibility — whether due to life circumstances, mental health, attendance challenges, or additional health needs — while still receiving structured teaching and credit progress.
Where appropriate, transition into the day program remains a desired outcome. However, it is recognized that the outreach may continue to be the most suitable placement for some students.
What it Means:
A senior student (Grade 10-12) is enrolled at both HSS and Sea to Sky Alternate School (SSA).
This means students can access courses at the alternate program and others at Howe Sound Secondary that may require specalized equipment or space, such as Trades and Shop classes.
How it Works:
Students attend SSA for targeted supports and alternate learning while completing credits.
They also attend Howe Sound Secondary for selected classes that fit their graduation pathway or interests.
Purpose:
Cross-enrolment lets students access supports at SSA and wider course options/social environments at HSS, helping them progress towards a Dogwood Diploma.
Please see the HSS Course Selection Guide for additional course options for cross-enrolled students
All SSA students are enrolled in Learning Strategies and Self Efficacy, a foundational course designed to help students understand how they learn, not just what they learn.
This course is essential to our program because alternate education is not just about credit recovery — it is about identity recovery. When students strengthen their self-efficacy, they increase attendance, task completion, persistence, and long-term planning. By explicitly teaching learning strategies alongside self-belief, we empower students to take ownership of their education and future pathways.