Wikwemikong Board of Education Special Education

ProgramPresentation to Community Members of Wikwemikong

October 9, 2014

Special Education Resource Teachers

Roselynda Francis B.A. (Hon.), B.Ed. Special Education SERT K-6

Nelson Wood, B.A.,(Hon) B.Ed.

Special Education

SERT 7 - 12

Stephanie ToulouseR.E.C.E.Resource Teacher 18 mths -4 yrs

Special Education TeamSERT

Nelson Wood, Roselynda Francis

Early Childhood Educator – Resource Teachers, and Assistant:

Sarah Assinewai, Stephanie Toulouse , Candace Trudeau

Educational Assistants:

Rachel Maiangowi, Julie Pangowish, Cathy Ominika, Terry Lynn Wemigwans, Miranda Trudeau, Marie Enosse, June Pangowish, Anne Assinewai, Illa Proulx, Francis Trudeau, Brian Pitawanakwat,

Teacher’s Assistants: (2015 focus has been on ELK training)

Lisa Bondy, Adrienne Odjig, Paula Recollet, and Iris Beaudry

Other resources :

Psychological-Educational Testing – Robyn Kaufman

Speech & Language Therapy – Jan Addy

Occupational and Physiotherapy –Derek Debassige & Grace King

Principals:

Mr. Harold Fox, Ms. Mackenzie Sayers, Mr. Mick Staruck, Mr. Mark Gibeault,

Exceptional Pupils in Schools2014-2015 School year

Hub Centre – 69 students with 9 requiring Resource assistance to date

Junior School - 254 students with 35 Exceptional Students

Pontiac School - 167 students with 35 Exceptional Students

High School - 207 students with 58 Exceptional Students

Well over a quarter of our students in the WBE have an exceptionality.

Ministries who assist Ministry of EducationProvincial schools receive the assistance of ministries listed below:Ministry of Children and Youth Services Ministry of Health & Long Term Care Ministry of Community and Social ServicesMinistry of Training, Colleges, and

Universities

Our Federally funded First Nations schools receive funding solely from the Ministry of Education.

Designations of Exceptional StudentsSpecial Education

http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/parents/speced.html

Students who have behavioural, communicational, intellectual, physical or multiple exceptionalities, may require special education programs and /or services to benefit fully from their school experience.

Special education programs and services primarily consist of instruction and assessments that are different from those provided to the general student population.

These may take the form of accommodations (such as specific teaching strategies, preferential seating, and assistive technology) and/or an educational program that is modified from the age-appropriate grade level expectations in a particular course or subject, as outlined in the Ministry of Education's curriculum policy documents. And/or the student may require alternative skills in addition to their regular curriculum.

ELK – Grade 12 IEP states accommodations student needs in order to succeed

Individual Education Plan (IEP) is developed within 30 school days of new school year. Teacher along with Educational Assistant, Parent, and SERT develop this plan. An Individual Placement and Review Committee meeting determines a student’s placement. It outlines the exceptional student’s needs and resources they may require so that they can demonstrate their learning within the classroom. It is to be updated every term and parent is to be sent a copy. Students 16 years old and up are encouraged to be aware of their learning accommodations.

•Hub Centre – Special Education

Individual Program Plan (IPP) is developed by a team of Educators, Professionals and family members that incorporate a child’s interests and strengths into the childcare programs to improve the child’s skills and enhance their overall development.

IPP is to support and assist a child to participate in a Hub Centre Program

Toddler & Preschool ProgramsResource Teacher/Educational Assistant help children directly in the classroom with stretches, resource supports and one-on-one work.

Special needs children may have behaviour concerns, Speech and Language Errors, or a formal Diagnosis. Currently we have 9 identified. All children regardless of identification are encouraged to participate in every part of the program and activities.Full inclusion is an important component of the Wikwemikong Hub

Centre philosophy. Children learn to respect and help each other by observing educators working together to support all children in the program. With the use of pediatric equipment children learn to develop self help skills and school readiness skills along side their peers.

Therapy assessments and weekly therapy sessions can be offered directly in the centre .

Special Education Childcare Wikwemikong is the only community to offer

Physiotherapy, Occupational therapy and Speech Therapy directly in the schools. This is less traumatic on children and allows for better communication with therapist and the child’s family.

At the Wikwemikong Hub Centre a Family Engagement component was added to Resource teacher duties this year to catch referrals at beginning of year so children can be put on lists to reduce waiting time to be seen.

Educators also learn directly from therapist and implement supports with direct instruction and support from Resource Teacher and Resource Teacher Assistant in the classroom each day.

Other childcare centres in the area on average have 1 to 2 special needs children spaces available each year due to only having a consultant available once a month.

Junior School Gr. JK – 4 Resource Room

Intensive Behavior Intervention (IBI) specifically for autistic (ASD) school age children facilitated through the parent and Child Care Resources in Sudbury also used our Resource Room- 1 student was currently participating in 13 months, 4

days/week for 6 hrs. with 1 day in classroom with an autistic student ending in March 2015

- The goal is to reintegrate the child back into the classroom with little to no support. Reintegration period will have access to ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis)

Classroom for exceptional students includes carpet area for therapy, small group areas, individual work areas, & smartboard resources

Five (5) Educational Assistants, all five are one-on-one with students, as well two (2) EAs work with small groups in grades 2 through 4 in math and/or language

JUNIOR SCHOOL FIELD TRIPGroup of students who have IEPs and work with EAs had the opportunity to go to Espanola Complex for a three-Friday swimming program.

Twelve students with their EA and SERT learned swimming safety and had aquatic exercise.

Students enjoyed this and we hope to do this again this year!

RESOURCE ROOMS & PLC (PROFESSIONAL LEARNING COMMUNITY) TIME

Each school has manipulatives, learning toys, and literature to assist Educational Assistants in providing the essential tools and assistive devices for the students.

PLC Time is every Wednesday • Educational Assistants along with

the SERTs from JK – 6, 7-12 and Resource Teacher from Hub learn and train together

• Guest speakers or educational material geared to special needs students/exceptional students is presented

• Our aim is to train EAs and TAs so that they can recognize exceptional students needs and assist them in their learning

EAs acquire certification through trainers that facilitate workshops during our PLC time & Professional Development Days

‘Cause it’s not my fault Presentation by E. Allan Mountford, B.A, B.P.E., B.Ed., M.Ed.

A full-day workshop on Applying a Neurobehavioural approach to the behavioural and learning challenges of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Disorder (FASD)

Teaching Strategies – Geneva Centre for Autism Model for Effective Intervention

PONTIAC SCHOOL RESOURCE ROOM

Room is for Educational Assistants to work one on one with students or small groups whose Individual Education Plan (IEP) states that the student requires EA withdrawal resource assistance

Occupational therapy for exercises/fine motor skills

RESOURCE ROOM ACCOMMODATES LEARNERS GIVING THEM TOOLS AND STRATEGIES TO ENSURE THEY SUCCEED!

Language assistance eg. Word Q program (text to speech) or remedial help in phonics

Food preparation, measuring and social interaction

Alternative subjects eg. Social skill work, self-help personal skills

Special Education Programs

Classroom activities at the high school in the life skills/resources rooms consist of skill development that would best prepare students

with skills needed for living outside of the school environment.

High School Life Skills Room Routines and establishing set times for activities is

the first step in having a successful school year for our students.

One of the biggest focuses is to prepare the students for the real world in which social skills are a part of daily life.

“Circle time” starts us off every day. Students use this time to interact with each other and staff. They take turns discussing events from the evening before or of things of interest to them.

We also have walks and visits in the school and out in the community. This is done to increase the varied social interactions our students need in the real world.

High School Life Skills Room sets the stage for…

Inclusion in the school and community is another focus we have here in the life skills room. When possible we have students attend a full class with other students depending on subject. This includes at times field trips with that class and at other times maybe attending field trips with different classes.

Within the community we visit people and utilize real life environments to help with socializing. To get our students comfortable in our community and well acquainted with their surroundings we visit the Youth Center, Andy’s grocery, community events, school sporting events, as well as the many business such as the Dollar Store.

Transitioning students

• We plan for the student to leave the school with the best transition plans for that individual student

• In some cases planning co-ops for them to get experience in a possible work place

• In others we plan by slowly

transitioning them into the community through networking with other agencies such as Community Living, Police station, Nadmadwin Clinic, and Nursing Home.

High School Life Skills Room Resources

We make available to the students as many resources as we can to make sure we meet the many different needs of our students.

Resources available to the students within the class.

Smart Boards which allow for larger font size and hands on learning. A tablet for individual student use with apps help students learn at the touch of a screen.

High School Life Skills Room Resources

Students require everyday living skills use of a stove, washer, and a dryer to ready them for as much independent living as possible.

Second Level Services offered at school

Psychological-Educational Testing – Robyn Kaufman contract with WBE 2013/2014

◦ 20 students assessed, 12 Junior School, 4 Pontiac School, 4 at High School◦ Hub does not offer educational assessments but can refer to Infant

Development or Children’s Community Network.

Speech & Language Therapy – Jan Addy through Wikwemikong Health Centre◦ Approximately 95 students JK – Gr. 12◦ Hub Centre currently has 9 students receiving therapy and classroom

visits.

Occupational and Physiotherapy –Manitoulin Physio Centre, Derek Debassige & Grace King through Wikwemikong Health Centre 2013/14

◦ 2 Initial Assessments at Hub Centre◦ 16 Initial Assessments Junior combined◦ 7 Initial Assessments at Pontiac School◦ 7 Initial Assessments at High School◦ Follow-up appointments will occur this year with few referrals

SEAC – Special Education Advisory Commitee

Follow most provincial guidelines and meet quarterly to ensure special education needs are discussed and addressed in the community. - 4 Principals- 3 SERTS- Director of Education- Mary Jo Wabano, Wiky Health Centre- Judy Black, WHC- Diane Jacko, Nadmadwin- Jacqueline Hopkin, Community Living- Joanna Pheasant, Child & Family Resource

Centre- Rolanda Manitowabi, Rainbow Lodge - Jan Addy, Speech & Language, WHC- Parent Reps: Debbie Fox - Derek Fisher, Ontario Works- Derek Debassige, Manitoulin Physio Centre

Meetings rotate at each school and parents are welcome!

Parent involvement is welcome

Parent’s Night & Open House nightsSERTS are available to meet with

parents.

Scheduled IPRC Meetings held once a school year.

This presentation was made by the Special

Education Department

Miigwech!