Student Success at Tommy Douglas Secondary School

The Student Success Teacher and Student Success School Team play a vital role in supporting the success of all students at Tommy Douglas Secondary School.  

• The Student Success Teacher works toward supporting students’ academics and social well-being.  We work very closely with various departments including Guidance and Special Education to support students in their academics and general achievements.  While we work very closely with staff to support students, we also connect with parents and guardians in order to enhance the support both at school and at home.

• The Student Success Team is made up of various educators from across departments including members from the administration team, Guidance, Special Education, ELL teachers, CYW, Alternative Education, and the Literacy teacher, etcetera. 

• We mentor student-led programs that enrich and promote healthy school experiences, such as The Peer Tutor Program, Teen Titan Mentors, Boyz to Men and an MLSE Anti Bullying Huddle Up initiative. 

Student Success Program at Tommy Douglas Secondary School:  

While every student has individual needs and strengths, and so we attempt to build individualized programming, the Student Success Teacher is specifically engaged to provide the following services:

Student Advocacy

• Meetings with students, staff, parents to determine needs of students, create and implement action plans to support students.

• Communicate with staff through at-risk meetings and /or emails based on TLPs and referrals.

• Assign caring adults to all students identified in risk situations.

Transitions

• Grade 9 Day planning and activities - Let’s Connect Day

• Connect students with Teen Titan Peer Mentors

• Grade 9 Camp

• Transition Learning Plans - connect grade 8 teachers with grade 9 teachers

• Outline plan for Senior Cohort Funding

• Connect graduating students with possible post secondary pathways

Direct Instruction

• Credit Rescue/Salvage with individual students or small groups

• Exam Prep workshops

• One on one or small group support with coursework, assignment completion etc.

• Support ELL students with additional literacy lessons 

• Credit Recovery with individual students and or small group

Monitoring

• Review June Promotion Meetings and Taking Stock Report and update student tracking list

• Code students 999 in Teach Assist

• Follow up with Guidance regarding Summer School course completion and flag discrepancies and required timetable changes.

• Use interim and mid term marks to update caring adults and develop action plans and implement interventions

Staff and Community Development

• Mental Health Awareness preparation and connecting with community partners

• Presentation to Staff regarding process for failure reports and Credit Recovery referrals

• Pass the Torch semester transition

• Bully Prevention Awareness Week

Contact Information

The Student Success team works out of room 106 & 108.

Rosella Mottola: rosella.mottola@yrdsb.ca

Student Success Teacher

Michael Sinukoff: michael.sinukoff@yrdsb.ca

Student Success Teacher

Hani Barento: hani.barento@yrdsb.ca

CYW