We are committed to assisting students with the preparation for, and the adjustment to change as they adapt to a variety of settings in an effort to reduce or avoid some of the anxiety that they may experience. The Education Act requires school boards to provide a transition plan for all students on an Individual Education Plan.
Entry Planning
Our goal in planning for the entry to school is to help children adjust quickly to a school setting, enjoy learning, and develop a positive attitude towards education. A good start to school improves a child's chance of success from entry to graduation. Parent(s) or guardian(s) are encouraged to participate in the early registration process.
Early registration gives principals an opportunity to meet parents and the child and determine if there are special needs or issues that can be addressed at the outset and setting the stage for success. For children with special needs, entry to school is complex and requires careful planning and coordination.
Successful entry to school planning involves sharing information and coordinating resources with the following team:
- parents and/or guardians;
- providers of preschool programs and services; and
- Board staff.
Entry planning meetings assist with early identification planning. A Program Support Teacher from your child's school will speak to the Family of Schools Student Service coordinator to arrange the meeting. All relevant Board staff and community agencies will be invited to attend. During the meeting, participants will:
- share copies of relevant assessment results and/or reports;
- share the child's pre-school and/or present school file;
- identify the strengths and needs of the child; and
- develop a written plan.
The transition from elementary school to high school is a time of celebration - new challenges and opportunities await for our students. We recognize that students enter Grade 9 with different strengths, interests and goals. For this reason, students can select a variety of different programs that provide learning opportunities both in and out of the classroom. These programs will best meet an individual's needs and help students make choices to achieve a destination pathway that complements an individual's talents.
To prepare for this transition, Secondary Program Support teachers and/or Guidance Counsellors meet with the elementary school team to discuss future goals, strengths and a student's complex needs. This team includes:
- parent(s) or guardian(s);
- student;
- classroom teacher;
- Program Support Teacher;
- principal and/or vice-principal.
This meeting is essential to ensure that an Individual Education Plan's curriculum related goals, learning expectations, supports and accommodations are consistent with the actions documented in the transition plan. Parent(s) or guardian(s) are encouraged to participate in the Grade 9 information sessions hosted by the secondary school to engage in discussion with Program Support Teachers, Guidance Counsellors, Student Success teachers, subject-specific teachers, principals and vice-principals.
Planning for Post Secondary and Beyond
Life beyond high school requires transition planning to look ahead to the future and to prepare for adulthood. It is a coordinated partnership involving the student, parents and guardians, teachers, and depending on the post-secondary pathway, community agencies, adult service providers and post-secondary institutions. Consideration must be given to such things as:
- living arrangements,
- post-secondary education opportunities,
- financial supports,
- community programs,
- employment services,
- health care, and
- recreation and social activities.
We offer these resources and links as a potential starting point to help support students and families as they transition to post-secondary education. Although we have made an effort to include a wide variety of resources, this is not a finite list. The DCDSB does not represent or speak on behalf of any other organization and specific information and questions should be directed to the organization itself.
Parent Session: Is it ever too early to start planning?
Video of presentation that was shared during parent/guardian information session on April 20, 2021