Student Supports at HCOS (page for families)
Families at HCOS have many opportunities and freedoms when shaping their learning environment to best fit their own child's needs.
They can build learning around the movement a child needs, the time of day that they learn best, the topics that interest and motivate them, and projects that showcase their strengths and abilities. They 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.
Students at HCOS also have access to a wide array of in-house supports, with little to no cost or barrier, through their teachers, GAs and the Learning Commons or Learning Groups.
In-house support options also include such things as:
- Audiobooks, hi-lo books, read-along or read aloud books available through the Learning Commons
- Read&Write (speech to text, text to speech) is available for free, and is a good support for those with reading or written output challenges
- C-pens are available to borrow through the Learning Commons and at Community Connections
- Student Support Center with online EAs to support 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 are 6-10 week, counsellor-led options for students grade 8 - 12 to learn to manage their anxiety are provided free of charge through Learning Groups. Check out "Virtual Voices" as well, for another great supportive program!
- Susan Barton, (10 levels) Orton Gillingham-based reading program is available free through the Learning Commons
- Touch-Type Read and Spell is available for free, and is a good typing program for students with reading & spelling challenges
- Dyslexia Games are a series of consumable therapy workbooks available for parents download at home. HCOS has a license to reproduce and the link above takes you to the Sophie page that houses them. It is recommended that these books be printed on 24lb paper and coloured printer ink is not needed.
- HCOS also has sensory, behaviour, reading and written output supports are all available at Community Connections
- You can speak to your teacher or GA about accessing online assessments to evaluate literacy, numeracy and cognitive abilities.
Additionally, your students’ teacher (and GA, for those in the Grad years) have access to a team of supportive Learning Services consultants who provide specialized advice and insight on student needs. If they wish, families can request to be included in the teacher’s meeting with an LS Consultant.
It typically takes a year for students to work through all the in-house supports HCOS offers and where needed, they are considered for additional professional supports or assessments in their subsequent years with HCOS, after their teacher has had time to assess the student needs and the impact of our in-house supports.
If a family wishes to communicate more of their learning needs to their teacher or GA, they can complete the Learning Support Request Form.
We always work to keep in mind that our primary student supports are an individually-shaped home-learning environment with an invested, well-equipped parent and teacher partnership.