The Special Education staff, in conjunction with classroom teachers and other educational personnel, have a commitment to the following objectives:.

• encompass a growth mindset;

• integrate the student’s voice to inform the development of the IEP;

• incorporate evidence informed strategies and goals in the IEP to drive instruction and assessment;

• empower students, educators, and parents about the importance of well-being through self-advocacy, resiliency and perseverance;

• build on strengths and interests in order to meet the differentiated needs of every learner;

• provide differentiated, timely and tiered interventions; supported by a team approach that responds to individual student learning

• needs including persistent learning difficulties; and

• enable capacity building and knowledge mobilization;

Then all students, families and educators will discover potential and achieve success. We have a variety of classroom programs and services that considers all pathways and life skills options.

Learning Strategies:

Learning Strategies, (GLE) is an open level credit that is available to all students with an Individual Educational Plan (IEP) from grades 9

to 12. Each grade level focuses on a variety of learning outcomes ranging from improving work habits and independence to transi-

tions to post-secondary education. Throughout each course, taught by our highly specialized Special Education Resource Teachers, our

main goal is to help students develop and apply a range of strategies to improve their learning and achievement particularly in literacy,

numeracy, communication and planning skills.

Intensive Program

The Intensive Program provides fewer transitions and courses to assist students in achieving academic, social and emotional success. Some students remain together in the class for non-credit courses in Literacy, Numeracy, and Life Skills. In addition, students can be integrated into one, two or three credit-bearing courses per semester, depending on their ability and readiness. While in the classroom, the students are supported by a Teacher as well as Support Staff. The ultimate goal for our students is to work at their own pace and acquire credits if they can, and graduate with

either an Ontario Secondary School Diploma, Ontario Secondary School Certificate or a Certificate of Accomplishment.

ASD Program

We have two highly specialized non-credit ASD programs at Thornhill Secondary School. One of the many highlights of our program is our dedicated life skills room. This unique environment provides functional, transferable skill attainment and development for students to use in community and home settings. Classroom Teachers and Support

Staff develop and implement structured and individualized programming that supports each student’s strengths and needs.