Creative Outreach for Youth At Risk July 2012. John Chisholm Alternate School - history and...
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Transcript of Creative Outreach for Youth At Risk July 2012. John Chisholm Alternate School - history and...
Creative Outreach for Youth At Risk
July 2012
John Chisholm Alternate School - history and background
• In operation for many years and has had many transformations– Originally a school for students with intensive
needs– Morphed into a high school for those who
struggled in regular setting or were unwelcome in regular setting
– Students used to be able to graduate from JC
• Spring of 2008 a review of the needs of the program was conducted including all stakeholders – Staff at JC, staff at high schools and elementary
schools, students, parents, city police, mental health, public health, justice/corrections and public safety, social services.
Results?
• Program goals:– 1. to provide a range of options (layers of
supports) that provide students with what they need to be successful
– 2. provide high quality learning opportunities for development of the whole person
– 3. provide opportunities for positive relationships with adults and peers
Structural Changes Occurred
• JC became a school under the umbrella of RVCI – Principal at Riverview Collegiate Institute (RVCI)– Vice Principal at JC– Total FTE at JC is 6.0– This allowed for sharing of more resources –
staffing, shops, materials, programming (students could take regular high school classes at RVCI while receiving the needed supports from JC)
Circle of Courage Philosophy
Development of Outreach
• Outreach consultant hired – Full time, teacher, with masters in related field (psychology)
• Purpose was to try to push the kids back into their regular school– Find them earlier – middle years or sooner– Put supports and interventions in place at home
school
Outreach Staff – 2.0 FTE
• JC teachers began to work in regular classrooms – Referral was made to JC from an elementary school– Rather than pull the student out, the JC Outreach
teachers go in– Teach the class so that the teacher can build a
relationship with student– Spend 1-1 time with student at the school – direct
and indirect support– Involve the student in some of the Outreach
Activities organized by JC
Creative Outreach Activities
• Meant to build on interests and skills that youth have
• Not a punishment/reward system• Constant coaching taking place during
outreach• Mastery, independence, belonging and
generosity are all filled through Outreach
Other Activities
• Canoe building• Archery• Art• Bike reconstruction• Various shop activities –small motors,
woodworking, model building• Paddle making• Shovelling walks • Fitness activities – hiking, canoeing, walking
• AND THANKS Don for arranging and allowing this to occur—canoeing this spring, transition to HS and Worms taking John to AEP every day 5 PM for shop, etc, etc, etc. I may not say it enough to folks in yours, Worms, and Krista’s positions with JC/Outreach, BUT I sure appreciate it as an elementary-in-school-admin…..
• Hello Mike, • We spoke very briefly on the phone the other day, thanks for straightening everything
out where BOB needed to be!• We’ve never had the opportunity to meet, but I just wanted to give out a big thank you
for working with BOB this past year, as well as the great report that you sent in. • It was probably the highlight of the year (and previous years) as far as giving him praise
& highlighting his strong areas, this is not the norm with most other report cards, so it felt really great (and for BOB too)J BOB is definitely a unique intelligent individual, I can’t tell you how glad I am that he got to spend some “school time” doing work that he loves, in a positive stress fee environment, it really seemed to bring out the best in him.
• Keep up the good work! BOB seemed to relate to you very well & had great things to say, his time there seems to have truly made a difference.
• • Have a great summer• Sherri – BOB’s Mom•
Home School Responsibilities
• To understand and support the need for the outreach programming
• To realize its not a reward or punishment system
• To continue to accept and love all of the children in their schools!
• To continue to try to build the capacity within their own schools to fill the Circle.
Students Who `Stay`
• Each year there are about 10 students whose home is JC
• Many become the extension of the VPs arm– Significant behaviors that are too risky to have in
regular building– Extensive team involvement – Justice, Police, Mental
Health, Social Services, Addictions, John Howard etc.
–Always with the goal of re-integration!
Students Who ‘Visit’
• Usually established as a 6 week plan– The sending/home school remains responsible for
sending work, marking, reporting etc– Sending school remains responsible for PPP– Student and team establish a goal for attendance,
behavior, health, safety to be accomplished in the 6 weeks.
– Regular reviews that are lead by the home school team
Referral Stats from 2011-2012
• 52 students referred and arrived• Non compliance – 5• Non compliance and attendance – 7• Attendance - 40
Where are they now?
• Not attending anywhere – 17 (hanging around but not enough to be considered attending)
• At JC as of June 28 – 16 (many will transition back in September to home school
• Back at home school – 6 (transitioned back during the year)
• In custody – 4• Working – 2• Other divisions – 7
JC is still a ‘school’• Students can still achieve credit for their courses.• Course recovery often takes place at JC.• Responsible for creating a Learning Improvement
Plan (LIP) as a ministry requirement.• Responsible for having a School Community
Council (SCC) as a ministry requirement.• Has a decentralized budget for supplies, materials,
PD etc. (supplemented by their very generous superintendent)
General Results from the Shift to Push In vs Pull Out Model
• Average age of JC student has decreased – far more middle years students now.
• Schools are beginning to realize their responsibility for ALL students.
• Administrators are beginning to find their own creative outreach opportunities.
What Next?
• Each year the focus has shifted in an attempt to respond to the needs of students and schools – attendance issue has to be tackled!
• Continue to help teachers and admin understand the value of keeping challenging students in their building – long term goal of filling the circle and the payoff to society
• Continue to find unique ways to meet the needs of our most vulnerable students.