Student Services Department
OVERVIEW
The Student Services Department at AISB is a school-wide department that consists of specialist staff coordinating and/or teaching in one of three areas for students who:
1. Require support in English language acquisition;
2. Require assistance through remedial teaching because of mild-to-moderate low-for-age attainments; and,
3. Require additional programming for exceptionality because of high educational achievement.
The Student Services Department team consists of ten faculty members. These specialists provide direct teaching and support to students, and consultation services and training to homeroom, core subject and other specialist faculty members.
Student Services has three program components:
· Learning Skills and Academic Support Program
· English as an Additional Language (EAL) Program
· Enrichment Program
ADMISSIONS
· Students with Special Learning Needs
While staff and specialists provide support for students with learning needs, AISB does not have the resources or programs to support students with major learning disabilities or physical challenges. Any educational, emotional or physical needs must be noted in detail in the admission application. Families must provide any available academic or psychological evaluations and reports of extra academic support the applicant is receiving. The school may require families to provide further information prior to a final registration decision. Failure to disclose such information may result in revocation of an offer of admission. Just prior to commencement or early in the student’s placement, further assessments will be undertaken for the purposes of program development and planning.
· Students with English Language Acquisition Needs
All non-native English speaking students applying for Grades 6-12 must pass an English proficiency test to gain admittance to the school. Students entering Grades 6-8 are assessed to assist in program development and placement. Depending on the test results, a student may be required to enroll in one or more of the Secondary School's EAL courses. Students with English language proficiency needs seeking registration in Grades 9 – 12 will be required to demonstrate that their entry English language level meets the school’s required English language levels and that their ability and potential to acquire and learn English are very good.
In the Secondary School, a student who is unable to make satisfactory progress may be involuntarily withdrawn from school upon recommendation of the principal and the student's teachers.
· Students with Enrichment Needs (Gifted Learners)
The school provides programs for students with enrichment needs. The opportunities include class placement considerations, classroom accommodations and differentiated instruction, and enrichment activities. The Enrichment Program extends and adds to the regular curriculum of the school by providing academic extension and additional learning opportunities to the identified students. Eligibility for the Enrichment Program is verified through screening, standardized and informal assessments, consultation with the student's teacher and discussions with parents. This is followed by formal identification of the student's eligibility through the consideration of student performance against criteria and specific measures. During admissions families are asked to provide all available academic or psychological evaluations and reports of academic extension the applicant is receiving.
ADMISSION TO AND DISCHARGE FROM PROGRAMS OF THE STUDENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT
Students are admitted to the Programs of the Student Services Department based on screening results, consultation with faculty members and families, and the availability of resources. Screening will commence after a written referral has been submitted to the divisional meetings of the Student Services Department and consideration given to it by the faculty members of this team. Referrals are made on the appropriate form and can be initiated by either faculty members or families.
Discharge from the Programs of EAL, Enrichment or Learning Skills/Academic Support is based on decisions made about progress, longevity in the program, requests for discharge, and/or factors related to individual need and circumstance. Post-testing will generally precede or accompany any decision to discharge a student from the program(s).
ASSESSMENT (Further Information)
The screening of students for access to the Programs of Student Services will occur in tandem with, or after the receipt of a written referral to the Student Services Department. The screening assessments will consider all or some of the matters of physical environment, social and emotional interactions, instructional and academic factors, and non-school issues.
Assessments will include the administration of both standardized and non-standardized testing materials, the gathering of anecdotal and observational information and/or the consideration of matters documented in previous school or medical records. This investigation of the student's need for assistance will be wide-ranging and may involve faculty members, other professionals from outside the school, and family members. Should a full psycho-educational evaluation be necessary, this is discussed with the family, permission is sought for this evaluation, and arrangements for the evaluation are made.
PROGRAM ACCOMMODATIONS/MODIFICATIONS
Programs of instruction in grade-level (homeroom), core subject and specialist classes will necessarily be adapted for students in receipt of the Programs of Student Services. Modifications or accommodations will be expressed in one or more of the following approaches:
- The number of items the student is expected to learn or complete is reduced;
- The time allocated and allowed for learning, task completion or evaluation is decreased or extended;
- A decrease or increase in the level of support is offered by staff or peers;
- Instruction is offered using a variety of identified methods;
- The skills level, problem type or conventions on how the student may approach learning is adjusted;
- The way the student can respond to instruction or complete tasks is modified to capitalize on the student's skills and abilities/talents;
- Goals and outcome expectations are adjusted; and,
- Different instructions and resources are offered to meet the needs of the student's individual goals.
Faculty members will be assisted by Student Services Department staff to design accommodated/modified programs of instruction to identified students. They are required to differentiate curriculum content, instruction mode and outcome expectations for these students.
Kevin L. Bateup-Bryan
Student Services Coordinator
