Student Supports at HCOS

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 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 barrier,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 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 orreading, written output or organizational challengeschallenges.
• C-pens are available to borrow through the Learning Commons and at Community ConnectionsConnections.
• The Student Support Center with online EAs (education assistants) to support literacy and numeracynumeracy.
• AXIS is, a faith-based subscription resource with videos that invite conversations on tough topics (anxiety, pornography, divorce etc.) for teens and their familiesfamilies.
• "Hello Anxiety" and Group Counselling areCounselling: 6-10 week, counsellor-led options forprovided through Learning Groups where Grade 8-12 students grade 8 - 12 to learn to manage their anxietyanxiety. are provided through Learning Groups.  Check out "Virtual Voices" as well!
• 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 through the Learning Commons (request form here), and is a good typing program for students with reading & spelling challenges
• Dyslexia Games are a series of consumable therapy workbooks available through the Learning Commons.
• HCOS also has sensory, behaviour, reading and written output supports available at Community Connections
• Speak to your teacher or GA about accessing online assessments (DORA, ADAM or Gibson test) to evaluate literacy, numeracy and cognitive abilities. 

Learning Services Support

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. 

It typically takes up to a year for students to work through applicable in-house supports HCOS offers and where needed, they are considered for additional professional supports or assessments in their subsequent years with HCOS. This is after their teacher has had time to assess the student needs and the impact of our in-house supports. 

We always continue to 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.