Inclusion Support Programme

The Inclusion Support Programme enhances academic achievement by facilitating the implementation of additional opportunities & resources for improved learning. The three pathways through which this occurs are by:

  • Working directly with students
  • Supporting teachers and staff
  • Partnering collaboratively with parents.
  1. In working with students directly, the programme:
  • Works with individual students to develop learning strategies (via consultation, student workshops, courses)
  • Helps students understand their accommodations and/or learning needs
  • Guides the provision of learning accommodations where appropriate documentation is provided
  1. In supporting teachers and staff, the programme:
  • Formally communicates student needs to teachers through the development and sharing of student support plans.
  • Assists with the implementation of student accommodations in the classroom which includes the implementation of an online accommodations submission form and supervision of the Accommodations Center
  • Works closely with the Lower School Support team to create a smooth transition for students entering MYP
  • Collaborates with school psychologist to provide teachers with training sessions on various learning supports topics
  • Oversees the team of teachers who lead course substitutions to help close learning gaps and support transitions between grade levels.

These course substitutions include:

Grade 6 to 8 Math Workshop: The Math Workshop course exists to strengthen a student’s success in the Grade 6, 7 and 8 math courses. It has a small class size that allows for more personal attention from the teacher. The goal of the course is to support students with their current (Grade 6, 7 or 8) math class topics. This is done by pre-teaching upcoming topics to increase the students’ confidence, providing further instruction on grade level topics, and by supporting students as they complete investigations, assessments and homework.

Grade 6 to 8 Literacy Workshop: The purpose of the Literacy Workshop is to accelerate and advance a student’s literacy skills in both reading and written language to impact their success in all subject areas. This goal is facilitated through direct, explicit instruction around reading comprehension and written language. 

Grade 9 Learning Strategies: Taught by an Inclusion Specialist, this Ontario Secondary School Diploma course focuses on learning strategies to help students become better, more independent learners. Students learn how to develop and apply literacy and numeracy skills, personal management skills, and interpersonal and teamwork skills to improve their learning and achievement in school, the workplace, and the community. This course helps students build confidence and motivation to pursue opportunities for success in upper school and beyond.

NOTE: Decisions to recommend students for these courses are based on:

  • (for current students): an assessment of current and/or previous student success that includes review of current data and consultation with teachers, administrators, counsellors & parents.
  • (for new students): admission test results and an interview with the principal. The principal makes the final decision to add a newly admitted student to one of these courses.
  1. In partnering with parents, the programme:
  • Communicates with parents about the academic support resources available for their children as students at CDNIS
  • Collaborates with parents of students who have academic needs to develop a support plan which is inclusive of strategies and a plan for improved success
  • Reviews support progress development with parents
  • Provides opportunities to learn about supporting their child as a learner (eg. parent workshops)
  • Educates parents of the resources available to their child as a learner in transition (Lower school to MYP, MYP to DP)