Attendance Overview
Each school must have an attendance policy and the principal is responsible for investigating all student non-attendance according to the Administration Guidelines.
Any absenteeism will have an impact upon the student. Chronic absenteeism will usually be an indicator of academic failure and may have a direct negative effect on all areas of a child’s emotional, social development and subsequent adjustment in future years. While enforcement of attendance laws for students of compulsory school age may be a priority, attendance issues at any age must be addressed.
Attendance Counsellor
· Investigates attendance conflicts related to student, parent and school;
· Acts as a liaison among community agencies, home and school;
· Coordinates supervised alternative learning for excused pupils;
· Prepares Education Act charges and documentation, representing the board in Provincial Offences Court as required;
· Coordinates service teams to support families;
· May perform other duties as assigned by the superintendent of schools and program which may include facilitating the home schooling process.
Social Work Overview
The Near North District School Board Social Worker attempts to increase students’ readiness to learn by addressing social and emotional challenges that children face. The school social worker operates as a link among the school, the students, their families and the community’s social services. The social worker works with students in their schools, while focusing on family and community factors that influence their performance in school.
There are four major areas of school social work practice:
1. Identification of students at risk.
2. Early intervention to reduce or eliminate stress within/between individuals/groups.
3. Problem-solving services to students, parents, school personnel, or community agencies.
4. Work with various groups in school to develop coping, social, and decision-making skills.
The Social Worker may do individual counselling, group counselling, consult with other professionals in a multidisciplinary team setting, provide referrals when necessary and liaise between the school and home to assist in meeting a child’s potential.
Social Worker
· Addresses social and emotional challenges;
· Links the school, students, families and community social services;
· Counsells students in their schools while focusing on family and community factors that influence school performance;
· Provides referrals when necessary.
Counselling Overview
This is a voluntary counselling service for students K – grade 12. Those referred should be students who have needs beyond school resources. Duplication of service will be considered in consultation with CDC (e.g. outside counselling services).Referrals are done through a collaborative team meeting with the Principal and/or Resource Teacher(s) and the Counsellor. Referrals are reserved for school based counselling around social, emotional or behavioural issues that may be interfering in the child’s ability to meet his or her academic potential. CDCs provide support to various schools across the region. Crisis Intervention is provided as needed and is the primary reason for the necessary flexibility in Itinerant CDC schedules.
Child Development Counsellor
· Provides counselling for students in a 1 to 1 or group setting at school;
· Provides strategies and programs for principals and teachers in dealing with social, emotional and behavioural concerns;
· Acts as a liaison between community agencies, home and school;
· Collaborates with school teams and community partners in planning for "at risk" students;
· May perform other duties as assigned by the principal of special education or superintendent of schools and program.