The Learning Services Department ensures all students have equitable access to learning, and opportunities to pursue the goals of their educational programs.

Students with special needs are students who experience a variety of barriers to learning including intellectual, physical, sensory, medical, emotional, or behavioral nature; have a learning disability; or has special gifts or talents.

Learning Services Frequently Asked Questions for Students and Families

Learning Services Teachers

Specialist teachers are assigned to Argyle to provide support for the teaching and learning of all students identified as having special needs. They provide assistance to classroom teachers, Education Assistants (EAs), and Autism Support Workers (ASWs) and as appropriate, provide direct instruction to a full range of students with learning and/or behaviour needs. Their role includes the following:

• Assisting teachers in planning, adapting and modifying programs, including instructional and assessment techniques that may include Level B assessment
• Facilitating the implementation of curriculum/programs for students with special needs
• Assisting teachers/EAs/ASWs in developing materials for students with special learning needs
• Supporting teachers/EAs/ASWs in developing the skills to differentiate instruction
• Providing direct instruction to students identified by the School-Based Resource Team (SBRT)
• Developing IEPs, including plans based on functional assessments of behaviour.  IEPs are reviewed once a year.

Service delivery consists of a variety of both school-based and district-wide programs and services.  These are assigned so that each service is available to a family of schools (a secondary school and its feeder elementary schools).  Services are readily accessible through the Administration and the School-Based Resource Team.  Our Family of Schools (FOS) teacher leader is assigned to our FOS to assist classroom teachers and schools with developing curriculum and instruction to meet the needs of all students. 

For more information, please explore our Learning Services Handbook: Inclusive Education 44: Learning Services Handbook

Individual Education Plans

It is not necessary for students without a Ministry identification receiving regular Learning Services to have an IEP. For some students without an identification, whose needs are ongoing, individualized, and exceptional, it may be in the best interests of the student to use a Teaching to Diversity checklist or a Student Support Plan (SSP). the SSP process follows exactly the same process as the IEP - the only difference is that the student has no formal Ministry Special Education identification.

IEPs will be developed without delay upon identification of need, and will be reviewed yearly.  At Argyle, Case Managers contact the parent/guardian to review the students' current IEP, usually in the fall of each school year, or as student needs change.  The parent/guardian will be invited to contribute to the development of an IEP. Whenever possible and appropriate, the student will also be invited.

Argyle Learning Services - General

Administrator: Laura Ames - lames@sd44.ca


Learning Support

Alex Kelsch - akelsch@sd44.ca

Learning Services Centre

Tiffany Drew - tdrew@sd44.ca
Transition Planning Handbook for Grades 10-12 Students with Special Needs

Gifted
Laura Ames - lames@sd44.ca 

Choices

Choices provides secondary school-based support for at-risk youth across the North Vancouver School District.  In this way, students with social, emotional, and behavioural challenges who struggle in a traditional school setting receive the additional support they need to learn and develop a sense of place within their local school community.

Isla McCarl -  imccarl@sd44.ca 
Youth Engagement Worker: tbd

Choices Handbook

Education Assistants

Education Assistants (EAs) work under the direction of a teacher to support the teacher, curriculum differentiation and individuals or small groups of students. All schools have EAs assigned for this purpose.

Some EAs have additional training and skills in the areas of: Sign Language (Sign Language Interpreters); Autism (Autism Support Worker); Behaviour (Behaviour Support Worker); Learning (Learning Support Worker) and Work Experience (Work Experience Facilitator). These staff are assigned to each school at the beginning of each school year, based on the type and level of student need in the school at that time.

They will work with individual students or with groups of students as appropriate to the needs of the school and in accordance with decisions made by the school principal in discussion with the School-Based Resource Team.
 

District-Based Services

School Psychology Services

School Psychologists provide consultation to teachers and support for students who demonstrate diverse learning needs. The Psychologist will collaborate and consult with school personnel to assess the learning situation for a referred student and make recommendations for appropriate programming. Occasionally a psycho educational assessment is required and the School-Based Resource Team will prioritize referrals for full assessments.   Click here to learn more

Speech and Language Services

Speech and Language Pathologists provide assessment, consultation, and direct therapy to students who have speech difficulties and to those who have both expressive and receptive language difficulties. They also provide Augmentative and Alternative Communication (A.A.C.) support to our students who need significant assistance to enhance their ability to communicate. Services are accessed through the School-Based Resource Team.  

Hearing Services

Resource Teachers for the deaf and hard of hearing provide direct or consultative services for students who have a diagnosed hearing loss. They can help plan alternate teaching strategies, provide information on assistive listening devices and liaise with community agencies and support groups. Resource Teachers for the deaf and hard of hearing also provide district and school-based in-services on hearing loss and related issues. Click here to learn more.

Vision Services

Students who are blind or with low vision require unique adaptations to their learning environment. The Vision Resource Teacher provides alternate material, assistive technology and teaching strategies to assist the regular classroom teacher in the management of the program for these students. This also includes orientation and mobility training for students who need this. Hearing and Vision services are accessed through the School-Based Resource Team. Click here to learn more.

Community-Based Services

This includes a variety of services that may change over time according to the requirements of students and schools. Services routinely include:

• Occupational and Physiotherapy, Music Therapy
• Community based instruction including supported work experience
• Special Education Technology (SET BC)
• Provincial Outreach Program for Autism and Related Disorders (POPARD)
• Provincial Outreach Program for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (POPFASD) services
• All services are accessed through the SBRT.