Colt Program
The Colt Program serves secondary students who require support due to pregnancy or parenting responsibilities. This program serves 17 to 20 students at a time and is located at Richmond Secondary School. It is staffed by 1 teacher, 1 coordinator and 3 daycare specialists. Requests for service from this program are made by district staff, parents, and students and should be directed to Marni Maitland at Richmond Secondary. The average length of time students spend in the Colt Program is two to three years, the goal being to reconnect them to a more typical setting as soon as possible. For further information, please contact Marni Maitland at 604-668-6400.
Aboriginal Students
Within the Richmond School District there are approximately 250 students with First Nations ancestry attending Richmond schools from primary to Grade 12. The students come from all parts of North America. However, the majority come from the prairie provinces and all regions of British Columbia. They represent a diversity of cultural backgrounds and socio-economic status. First Nations families are located in all areas of the city the Richmond. The Richmond School District has 2 Resource Teachers and a Youth Support Worker providing support to First Nations students. Their support is provided on request and includes:
• providing individual instruction which focuses on changing attitudes in order to improve regular daily attendance
• ensuring a supportive, encouraging presence for students
• promoting cultural and social activities
• working to strengthen intercultural understanding
• consulting with administrators, teachers and Learning Services Department personnel to develop programs that meet the educational needs of First Nations students
• developing cultural programs to meet the needs of First Nations learners
The students are encouraged to have the confidence to ask for help, to find success and to continue with their education.
First Nations studies are developed in schools when requested to foster in-school cultural enrichment. Building and maintaining a positive self-concept for First Nations students will always remain the predominant focus of the program.
Requests are made directly to the First Nations Teachers, Mike Akiwenzie at 604-668-6068 and Lynn Wainright at 604-668-6559.
Hospital/Homebound
The Hospital/Homebound Program serves secondary students who require support because they are away from school due to hospitalization, and/or illness for periods of two weeks or longer. The Hospital/Homebound office is located at the Brighouse Learning Services Office. Requests for service are made by direct referral from parent or school. The goal of the program is to maintain a strong link between students and their schools.
For further information, please contact Patti Silver at 604-668-7808.
Horizons
Horizons is an interministerial, interdisciplinary service for adolescents at risk of educational failure ages 13 to 18 whose behaviour makes them physically, emotionally, and/or cognitively unable to attend community schools. Broadly applied, this means social and emotional issues, or truancy problems, have led to academic troubles. The service combines academic and social/emotional skill development with therapeutic support to address the individual needs of each adolescent. Therapeutic, social/emotional, and educational intervention is included in the educational plan for each student. Intervention is provided in two forms: an outreach service and a sheltered learning environment, in coordination with other community resources. Although many community partners are involved in this relationship, there is a strong day-to-day partnership with Touchstone Family Association.
Station Stretch
Station Stretch, the larger of our alternate settings, serves, on a semestered basis, 40 students. It is staffed with 3 teachers, 3 Adolescent Alternate Program Workers, and a Youth & Family Support Worker. The Grade 9 and 10 students who attend Station Stretch are committed to successfully completing the core academic courses to the Grade 10 level in order to qualify for reentering the main secondary schools for Grades 11 and 12. For further information, contact Mark Kato, Head Teacher at 668-6204
Community Outreach
Community Outreach is a service for Richmond youth who are not currently enrolled in school, under 19 years of age and interested in exploring educational opportunities within our school system. Youth can self-refer or are referred by community agencies, parents, teachers, or other Ministries. Some agencies with which Community Outreach teachers work include the Youth Intervention Program (R.C.M.P.), Richmond Mental Health, Richmond Youth Service Agency, as well as the Ministries for Children and Families. In seeking an educational program, Community Outreach teachers work as a team with the youth to:
• engage in ongoing assessment of their strengths and needs;
• work with school staff to explore options within the school system;
• develop plans to enter school according to individual needs; and
• provide continuous support throughout the year to schools, youth and families. Educational options could include regular classes in a secondary school, part or full-time schedules, or District Programs. Community Outreach teachers collaborate with each youth, school staff and community agencies that may be involved to support a successful return to educational pursuits. For further information, please contact Chris Brodie at 604-668-6078 or Michael Jaswal at 604-668-6143.
LAND (Language Acquisition & New Directions)
The Language Acquisition and New Directions (LAND) program is an English language program for newly arriving, 17 and 18 year old students who are at Level One or Two English language proficiency. In British Columbia, all students must leave the regular school program after they reach 19 years of age. Students who are 17 and 18 years old and at Level One and Two ESL will be unable to acquire enough English quickly enough to be able to graduate by 19 years of age. Consequently, the LAND program is meant to provide an intensive language experience where students can acquire English quickly and practise it in an employment-like setting.
The program is characterized by ESL classes in the morning and a teacher supervised, work experience placement in the afternoon. The work placement allows students the opportunity to practise English in a meaningful context, learn about Canadian culture and acquire work skills and related English language. All LAND program students may also take regular mathematics and depending upon their language ability, other subjects.
When students have acquired enough English, they can attempt to complete Secondary School Graduation as adult students or they can enroll in community college transfer programs which could lead to transfer to major universities. If rapid ESL acquisition is made, students will have the option to enter the regular school program at any time throughout the school year.
On completion of LAND, students will receive a work experience certificate that they can use in future job searches.
This new and unique program is being offered at Richmond Secondary School. For further information, please contact Tony Carrigan at 604-668-6560 or Cheryl Morgan at 604-668-6400 .
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