Programs and Courses
School Handbook
Heritage Features
We offer specialized and focused programs in the following areas:
Guidance and Counselling
Family Life Education
Resource Program
Library
G.A.T.E. (Gifted And Talented Education)
Should you have any questions about these programs, and your child(ren)'s use of them, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Guidance and Counseling
The Guidance and Counseling Program is developmental, theory-guided, and structured in its orientation. It takes the form of whole class guidance, group guidance, group counseling, and individual counseling. The major thrust is preventative in nature and primarily concerned with meeting the normal developmental needs of all students. The program includes educational, career and personal-social guidance and counseling.
The counsellor's main function is to develop in the child a greater maturity in self-understanding, interpersonal relationships and communication, problem-solving and decision-making, understanding human development, social awareness, and acceptance of responsibility. Direct service is provided to children with special needs related to their social and emotional growth.
Parents and teachers work with the counsellor to create a positive environment for the child.
The Guidance and Counselling programs include: orientation, problem-solving, student helper, personal safety, Family Life, Sexual Abuse Prevention, self-esteem, and conflict management.
Family Life Education
Family Life Education is a developmental program which includes the teaching of facts as well as skills and encourages the development of attitudes conducive to self-understanding, healthy interpersonal relationships and a successful family life.
Different aspects of the program are introduced in grades K, 2, 4, and 5.
In grades Kindergarten, two and four, the main topic is Sexual Abuse Prevention. In Kindergarten, the program is entitled "Better Safe Than Sorry" and in grades 2 and 4, it is "Feeling Yes, Feeling No".
In grade Five, four main topics are explored:
The importance of families
Relationships and responsibilities
Promoting positive life style practices
Human growth and development
A parent orientation meeting will be held each year providing parents with more detailed information about these programs.
Resource Program
The Resource Program aims at facilitating and supporting programming for children with exceptional needs within the mainstream of education.
The prime purpose of the resource teacher is to enable children with learning disabilities to receive assistance in terms of revised teaching methodology and classroom arrangement so that they may progress adequately personally, socially, and educationally, without being removed from the mainstream of the education system.
The resource teacher's main function is to determine the needs of children perceived by the classroom teacher as having significant learning problems. The resource teacher is seen as a consultant and helper who assists the classroom teacher in programming appropriately for children who encounter academic problems.
Library
The Heritage School Library has approximately nine thousand items including books, kits, records, filmstrips, magazines. There are a number of computers available in the library for student use in searching for books or other information electronically. Students are allowed to take books out for one cycle and return their books before additional books are issued.
The Library Technician is available in the afternoons. Volunteers who work in the library, keep it open from 8:45 A.M. to 3:30 P.M. every school day.
Classes are scheduled into the library where the students are taught library skills and introduced to a variety of books. Individual students are free to borrow books or to do research anytime during the day.
G. A. T. E. (Gifted And Talented Education)
Goals and Objectives
The goals and objectives of the G.A.T.E. Program at Heritage School are to provide:
an advanced learning environment that will assist a gifted child to become a happy, confident, productive person.
an opportunities for gifted children to practice and to excel in decision-making, reasoning, creative endeavours, communication skills, and specific interests.
a wide range of stimulating activities which incorporate multi-media and multi-disciplinary approaches.
a positive environment in which the gifted student can develop productive relationships with peers.
Methods
The following methods are used to develop these ends:
technology exploration and enrichment
presentations with guest speakers
audio-visual materials
small and large group activities, discussions and projects
use of Bloom's Taxonomy and Renzulli's Enrichment Triad Model
on site study groups
workshops
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