Meet MJ!
Thank you to Vesna Hozjan, a parent at OKM, for sharing this beautiful account of MJ's adventures with his classmates on their Lake O'Hara Trip last year.
We hope you can take a moment to read it as it expresses heartwarming gratitude for the inclusion and care from the students and staff on the trip:
Meet the MBSS ASL Class!
Ms. Abney's American Sign Language 11 class from Mount Boucherie Secondary (MBSS) recently went to visit the three Kindergarten classes at Shannon Lake Elementary. The MBSS students chose a children's story to interpret into ASL and then sign for the Kindergarteners. They also taught the young learners animal signs and the ABCs afterwards.
Meet the Raven Theatre players!
Jo Ward (Drama Teacher, Rutland Senior Secondary) runs the Raven Theatre and goes out of her way to include not only students on a resource caseload, but anyone who wants to try out theatre! This past holiday season, the production of The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane featured a number of students with diversabilities in both stage and production roles , including Nick Chessner, Brooklyn Voxland, E-man and Alex Forty. Productions at Raven Theatre allow all students to apply their unique skills, whether they love to be in the spotlight or working the spotlight. Raven Theatre aims to provide learning opportunities for students in a safe, inclusive and creative environment. In each class, from Drama 9 up to Acting 12, students are expected to actively listen, fully participate, and support each other through kindness and connectivity in order to build and maintain the ensemble. In order to nurture the ensemble, students are encouraged to recognize the needs, strengths, and challenges of others as well as identify their own individual learning goals. Click here to learn more and watch for upcoming productions!
Meet Trextan!
Trextan worked with Vision Resource Teacher Tonya Ribalkin Zanon and Braillist Lisa Belding to use a Mountbatten Brailler for the first time! This work is a huge step forward and will lead to more inclusion in the classroom as Trextan reads and writes in a different format. Trextan is in Grade 2 and the work on resources like Braille and other ways to ensure inclusion is supported by a large team including Teacher Desiree Reimann, CEA Cheryl Wagner, RT Chantelle Leblanc, and PT Tasha Carmichael.
Meet Terra and Felicia!
Meet Brayden!
Brayden Sears and his awesome teachers found ways to meet this young learner where he's at and he is thriving by using his skills, and unique ways of learning, to be an amazing helper at his school.
Meet Ben and Jashan!
Meet Jolene!
At Rutland Middle School, staff work to make sure everyone has the opportunity to participate in seasonal activities such as skating. Jolene and her mom were able to join her class on their skating trip and they had a great time!
Meet Jayden!
Throughout Central Okanagan Public Schools, holiday concerts are inclusive events where ALL of our young learners share their joy for learning songs and dances with their families. Jayden was having a ball joining his classmates and the enthusiasm showed, even at this dress rehearsal. The support and cheering of classmates encouraged their best performance!
Meet the WHEELS team!
SD23’s WHEELS Transition to Employment Program & Services provides opportunities for participants to develop work-related, transferable skills in a community based environment while providing services to the public.