Purpose:
The purpose of the provincial demonstration school is to provide a specialized residential school program for students with severe learning disabilities in the area of reading. The provincial demonstration schools provide highly individualized instruction, counselling, social skills and self-advocacy training as well as parent education, to enable students to function effectively when they return to their home schools.
Mission:
- Students are only admitted to provincial demonstration schools when they are educationally at risk and admission outweighs the separation from the family
- The provincial demonstration schools provide our students with a sense of belonging which helps them to accept their learning disabilities and become confident learners
- Every student should have a clearly defined, individualized plan from pre-admission to re-integration and follow-up
- Students should be actively involved in the planning and implementation of their program
- Our students are best served by a team approach involving the student, parents, teacher, residence counsellor, support staff, and school board
- Student needs must determine the teaching methods, materials and assistive technology used in provincial demonstration schools to help our students develop greater independence
- An important function of the residence program is to reinforce the academic program and assist students in developing organizational, self-advocacy, and social skills
- Every student must be encouraged and appropriately prepared to be involved in community activities, developing their strengths as well as supporting their needs
- Our staff must actively pursue professional development in the field of learning disabilities, including technological developments
- Large numbers of students are supported through resource services and teacher education. The services should precede, and may preclude the need to seek, admission to our residential education programs
- School Councils provide an important forum for sharing information and enlisting the input and resources of parents, students, and community partners
If you have any questions please email me at anne.truaisch@ontario.ca or post a comment below.
