Student Support
Resources to support students.
- Adjudications and Supports for Learning Services (LS) Students Writing Grad Assessments
- Student Success Centre
- Student Supports at HCOS
Adjudications and Supports for Learning Services (LS) Students Writing Grad Assessments
In British Columbia, there are 3 assessments required (Grade 10 Literacy, Grade 10 Numeracy & Grade 12 Literacy). In order to graduate with a Dogwood, this is a provincial requirement, however, when your student decides to write is flexible.
There are generally 2 times that students write: January and June. This is the Ministry of Education Site for the Provincial Grad Assessment Schedule
Each year, Grad students are sent links from the school to sign up for assessments. If your students requires supports when writing, when you sign-up for the assessment, please make sure to identify that your son/daughter has an Individual Education Plan (IEP) in Encom and the requested adjudications (supports) are noted and approved on the IEP. If you have any questions about the IEP, please speak to your Grad Advisor or Learning Services Consultant.
Some of the support/adjudications require advanced arrangements.
Location
If your student needs a separate setting, (due to anxiety, using a scribe etc.) you, the parent, are responsible for finding this location (ie. church, library, school). When looking for a place, please arrange to have an adequate amount of time for the assessment to be written and ensure that the location has good wifi.
Invigilator
If you are in a separate setting, you will also need to find an invigilator - this needs to be a current or retired teacher (going rate is approximately $120 for 3 hrs). All information for the separate setting needs to be collected and ready prior to registering for the assessment.
Timing
Assessments must be started between 8 am and 4 pm Monday to Friday
Scribe
In-person Scribe:
If your student needs a scribe, you are responsible for finding them and compensating them. A scribe is simply there to write down what your student says and cannot provide any additional assistance. To read the full guidelines regarding scribes from the Ministry of Education, please look here.
Speech to Text and Text to Speech:
If your son/daughter plans on using Read and Write:
- They are NOT required to have a separate space as long as they use their headphones
- You must use your HCOS email address and the official version of R&W provided through HCOS - please make sure your son/daughter has practiced and is comfortable using this on their own. Please ensure that an account through HCOS has been set up ahead of the assessment.
A few other notes:
- Your student can re write their provincial assessments up to 3 times - the highest score will be taken
- Their results are a stand alone score, it does not affect their current English or Math courses
Student Success Centre
Student Success Centre (SSC) is an Online-based universal support provided by an EA in Literacy or Numeracy and is offered to students needing assistance in grades 5-12. It is important to note that you do not need a referral for this, you may access the SSC at any point throughout the year.
- academic courses - comprehension, higher level thinking, step by step instruction
- executive functioning (organization, planning, time management)
- course pacing and accountability
- navigating Brightspace, Study Forge and Encom
- building confidence due to anxiety or insecurity
- motivation
SSC Workshops:
Check out the SSC link and the school blog regularly for updates for our free drop-in weekly workshops. Topics change each month, offering students even more learning opportunities to build skills such as proper citation, essay writing foundations, provincial assessment preparation, note taking and more!
Meet the SSC EA Team:
Taryn McPherson SSC Coordinator- Literacy/Executive Functioning EA |
Carlee Bouillion Literacy, Numeracy and Executive Functioning EA |
Lucinda Beshay Math and Science EA |
Andrea Heidema Literacy, Numeracy and Executive Functioning EA |
Lucinda Beshay - Science and Numeracy EA
Booking calendar for Zoom: https://calendly.com/lucinda-beshay-ea
Support in learning such as:
- Grades 5-12 Sciences, including Life Sciences and Anatomy & Physiology, Chemistry, Physics, Earth Sciences
- Grades 5-12 Mathematics, including Literacy Foundations, Workplace Math, Pre-Calculus
- Coursework Support (lessons, practice questions, assignments, projects, labs)
- Executive Functioning (breaking down work into smaller steps, organization, time management, goal setting)
- Skill Building (study techniques, test strategies)
- Preparing for the BC Numeracy Assessment (Grade 10)
Lucinda’s Strengths: Strong academic background in Science and numeracy, strong background in psychology in listening to students and in highlighting the strength of students with different abilities, and extensive experience with students middle school, high school, and university age.
Get to know Lucinda: Lucinda is a former HCOS graduate (2017) and UBC graduate (2021); she is thrilled to join HCOS once again, this time as part of the SSC team. For Lucinda, returning to HCOS feels like coming full circle; she is excited to contribute to the very environment that played a crucial role in her own education. Her passion for working in academic settings is complemented by her diverse experiences, where she had the privilege of supporting students emotionally and academically, thus helping them to thrive and succeed. Outside of work and studying, Lucinda enjoys playing the piano, going to the gym, serving at her church's youth group, and reading a book with her headphones on.
Andrea Heidema -Literacy, Numeracy & Executive Functioning EA
Booking calendar for Zoom: https://calendly.com/andrea-heidema-ea
Support in learning such as:
- Reading comprehension
- Additional support in math & humanities
- Science Comprehension (biology, earth science ,environmental science)
- PE courses: PHE, Active Living, Fitness & Conditioning, Outdoor Education
- Elective Courses (Eg. music, WEX, food studies, photography etc.)
- Goal setting and encouragement
- Support with organization, and time management
Andrea’s strengths: executive functioning support, goal setting and accountability, planning and time management, proofreading, research skills, middle school math, upper level science (biology, earth science, environmental science)
Get to know Andrea:Andrea was born and raised on Vancouver Island, where she lives now with her husband and two school aged children. Her love for homeschooling began a few years back when she had the opportunity to teach her son through HCOS. Her favorite part of homeschooling was the flexibility that she had to explore and encourage his particular interests, and spending time diving deep into areas he loved. Andrea has worked with children in a variety of settings for almost 20 years. She graduated from Camosun College in 2008 as a Community Support Worker & Education Assistant. She loves making connections with her students, helping them grow in confidence and meet their learning goals. In her spare time she loves to be near the ocean, exploring the beach or fishing with her family. She also enjoys gardening, baking and curling up with tea and a good book.
Carlee Bouillion - Literacy, Numeracy & Executive Functioning EA
Booking calendar for Zoom: https://calendly.com/carlee-bouillon
Support in learning such as:
- English
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Creative Writing
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Christian Studies
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Humanities
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Career Courses: CLE and CLC
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PE courses: PHE, Active Living, Fitness & Conditioning, Outdoor Education
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Elective courses Eg. music, WEX, Foods etc.
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Support with organizing, planning, time management, and motivation.
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Additional support: math grades 5-11, science comprehension/questions
Carlee's strengths: essay writing (planning, structuring, drafting), poetry writing and analysis, story writing and analysis, reading comprehension, citing sources, editing, proofing and polishing, pre-calculus 10 &11.
Taryn McPherson -SSC Coordinator - Literacy/Executive Functioning EA
Booking calendar for Zoom: https://calendly.com/taryn-mcpherson
Support in learning such as:
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English
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Science comprehension/questions
-
Christian Studies
-
Humanities
-
Career Courses: CLE and CLC
-
PE courses: PHE, Active Living, Fitness & Conditioning, Outdoor Education
-
Elective courses Eg. music, WEX, Foods etc.
-
Support with organizing, planning, time management, motivation
-
Additional support: math gr 5-10 and science 5-11
Taryn's strengths: goal setting, planning and organizing, scheduling (time management); test preparation; research skills; writing skills and proofing; middle school maths and sciences; upper-level sciences (biology and some chemistry).
Get to know Taryn: Taryn McPherson moved from Ontario to BC in 2009, and for 13 years, she called BC home; family brought her back to Ontario in 2022. When the weather cooperates, she loves gardening, hiking, camping and road-tripping; otherwise, she enjoys a good book, puzzle, or cup of tea with a friend. She is passionate about sharing her love of learning with others and helping her students reach their greatest potential. She is encouraged, knowing that no matter what life throws at her, she never has to tackle life alone (Philippians 4:12-13).
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For more information, please look at: https://grad.onlineschool.ca/resources/student-success-centre
Student Supports at HCOS
Families at HCOS have many opportunities and freedoms when shaping their learning environment to best fit their child's needs.
They can build learning around the movement a child needs, the best time of day to learn, the topics that interest and motivate them, and projects that showcase their strengths and abilities. Parents can arrange a learning space where their child is comfortable and has the quiet or stimulation they require.
Additionally, where needed, families can work with their teacher to set their child up for success by planning for additional time for an assignment or assessment, or agreeing on an alternative way to access information (e.g. through an audio book or video rather than text) or to show their learning (e.g. a presentation rather than an essay). Your teacher may also suggest curriculum options that would better fit your child or family. If a family wishes to communicate more of their learning needs to their teacher or Grad Advisor (GA), they can complete the Learning Support Request Form.
Students at HCOS also have access to a wide array of in-house supports, with little to no cost or barriers, through the Learning Commons or Learning Groups as well as through teachers and GAs.
In-house support options include:
- Audiobooks, hi-lo books, read-along or read-aloud books are available through the Learning Commons: Sora.
- Read&Write (speech to text, text to speech) is free and is a good support for those with reading, written output or organizational challenges.
- C-pens are available to borrow through the Learning Commons: Search Portal and at Community Connections.
- The Student Support Center offers online EAs (education assistants) support for literacy and numeracy.
- AXIS, is a faith-based subscription resource with videos that invite conversations on tough topics (anxiety, pornography, divorce etc.) for teens and their families.
- "Hello Anxiety" and Group Counselling: 6-10 week, counsellor-led options provided through Learning Groups where Grade 8-12 students learn to manage their anxiety. Check out "Virtual Voices" as well!
- Susan Barton (10 levels) is an Orton Gillingham-based reading program available free through the Learning Commons: Search Portal.
- Touch-Type Read and Spell, is a good typing program for students with reading & spelling challenges is available for free through the Learning Commons (request form here).
- Dyslexia Games are a series of consumable therapy workbooks available through the Learning Commons: Search Portal.
- HCOS also has sensory, behaviour, reading and written output supports available at Community Connections.
- Online Assessments to evaluate literacy, numeracy and cognitive abilities (DORA, ADAM or Gibson test) are available by speaking to your child's teacher or GA.
Learning Support
Additionally, your student's teacher or GA has access to a team of supportive Learning Support Coaches (LSCs) who provide specialized advice and insight on student needs.
It typically takes up to a year for students to work through the applicable in-house supports HCOS offers. If your child continues to struggle after their teacher has had time to assess needs and the impact of our in-house supports, your child can be considered for additional professional supports or assessments in their subsequent years with HCOS.
We always keep in mind that your primary student supports are an individually-shaped home-learning environment and a strong partnership between invested, well-equipped parents and teachers.