Special Programs
Bridges is a satellite program within the Saskatoon Public School Division and is affiliated with Mount Royal. Bridges is a temporary placement for young people between the ages of 14 to16 who are not successful within the regular school setting for a variety of reasons. Our focus is on academics, lifestyles and social skills. Placement at Bridges is by referral only.
English
As A Second Language (ESL)
Welcome!
Mount Royal welcomes all students aged 14 – 21 whose first language is not English. Qualified and experienced teachers, educational assistants and support staff work hard to ensure that all students are successful.
Did You Know?
Language development takes time. Learning language is not like learning math or science, where a student can memorize rules and formulas. A student’s social language, that is, the language necessary to hold a basic conversation in English, will develop first. Academic language is required for success at school. It may take a student between 5 to 7 years to develop language equal to Canadians of the same age.
The speed at which a student develops an additional language will be affected by his or her age, aptitude, prior education, effort and attendance.
Placementof Students
School counsellors and ESL teachers consider a student’s language ability, age, prior schooling and future goals when determining placement in school programs.
ESL Instruction
Students whose English is not yet strong enough to be successful in regular classes will be placed in one or more periods of ESL Instruction. ESL classes will focus on reading, writing, math, science and social studies. The goal of these courses is to prepare students for regular classes.
Depending on student need, the following classes may be available:
ESL Math – This course is intended to prepare students for regular level math classes by ensuring that they understand the basics and the vocabulary necessary for a regular math class.
Read to Succeed – This course is a credit class that assists students to improve their vocabulary and writing.
ESL 10 A and B – This two credit course helps to prepare intermediate level students for a regular English course. Students learn proper sentence and paragraph structure, essay writing, novel study, vocabulary and grammar at a more advanced level. Learning strategies and Canadian culture are also explored.
ESL Support
Students who need extra help in completing their regular class work may be placed in one or two periods of ESL support.
Practical Classes
In addition to ESL classes, students may be placed in classes like physical education, cooking, or art. By giving students some work that they can do by following others, we hope they can improve their language more quickly and learn more about the Canadian school system and Canadian culture.
Credits
Students must obtain 24 credits to complete high school. Many of these credits come from required classes, while others may be obtained through choosing elective classes. Students and parents should consult the Course Selection Guide for information on specific classes. ESL class is a non-credit class, but may be required for students whose first language is not English.
There are special considerations for students who are interested in attending university or technical college. Therefore, students should speak with a counsellor or ESL teacher before making a decision about which classes they need.
Extra-curricular Opportunities
There are many opportunities for students to participate in extra-curricular activities and clubs. Extra-curricular clubs are a great way for students to continue to improve their language and learn about Canadian culture. Students can read the Course Selection Guide or ask their teacher for more information.
Open Door Partnership
The staff at Mount Royal work closely with the staff at the Open Door Society to assist students. The Settlement Support Worker in Schools (SSWIS Worker) is in the school regularly to provide support for teachers and students. Furthermore, the Open Door provides homework help two days a week from 4 PM to 6 PM. Click on the link for more information.
http://www.sods.sk.ca/
Parent Teacher Interviews
Parent-teacher interviews are held two times a year. Teachers enjoy meeting parents at this time. They can answer any questions parents have about their child’s progress. Parents may also contact a teacher at any time during the school year to arrange an interview.
Attendance Policy
Parents should call the school at 683-7800 to let the teacher know about any absences. A student who has too many absences may be asked to discontinue.
More Information
For more information on our programs and services for ESL students, please contact the school at 683-7800. One of our ESL teachers, Mr. Pat Barry, or Mrs. Shauna Tilbury, would be happy to speak with you.
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Special Education Resources on the Internet (SERI) is a collection of Internet accessible information resources of interest to those involved in the fields related to Special Education. This collection exists in order to make on-line Special Education resources more easily and readily available in one location. This site will continually modify, update, and add additional informative links |
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Students with hearing losses receive individual instruction in the subject areas of the regular academic program, as well as, in speech, language, and auditory training.
Students who experience significant difficulty with reading, spelling, and / or mathematics are eligible for resource support. The resource teacher and classroom teachers work together in developing strategies to help such students.
The teachers include T. Hodgson and D. Johnson
This four-year program for special needs students is designed to assist students to prepare for independent living in the school, home and community focusing on functional academic skills, independent and social living skills as well as career and employment skills.Each classroom has a lower teacher/pupil ratio and teacher associate, which lends itself to individualized programming and one-to-one assistance. Students in Grade 9 and 10 have the opportunity to enroll in the many and varied classes within the school as well as participate in volunteer work placements at charitable organizations. During Grade 11 and 12, focus is placed on integration into the community through employment and career options. This program is accredited by Saskatchewan learning and requires 24 credits for graduation.
The teachers include N. Janis, C. Fritzke and C. Novakovski
Assistance is provided at Mount Royal Collegiate so that orthopedically handicapped students can participate to the extent of their abilities. Students requiring this service should make early contact with the Student Services Department.
Our cultural advisor asissts students, staff and community members to better appreciate diversity by sharing knowledge and encouraging inclusion. The cultural advisor canbe contacted at the school.
The Re-Entry program is offered to students that have had difficulty achieving success in the regular school setting. Students in the program will work individually in a variety of subject areas in order to achieve a credit. Re-Entry teachers use a flexible and individualized approach that allows students to proceed at their own rate of learning. These classrooms maintain a low student to staff ratio in order to adequately assist students.
The Re-Entry classrooms are also available for students in Grades 9 through 12 whose educational progress has been disrupted by family relocation or other factors. The focus of the program is short-term academic support to prepare students to re-enter the regular academic program.
The teachers include S. Taylor and H. Alexander
The Royal Centre program offers an alternative to withdrawal from school, and an alternative to entering the school term at a non-traditional time without waiting until the beginning of the next semester. Students may enter the program at any time during the school semester and work on credit high school programs at the regular or modified level. Students work on a modularized, self-paced program coordinated by an on-site teacher who is supportive of academic and personal issues.
Students are encouraged to commit to positive personal and educational development in an inviting and relaxed setting. The long-term objective is to have students re-integrated into the traditional program at Mount Royal Collegiate in the following semester.
The Student Services Department provides a program that focuses on the needs of the student through personal counselling, educational counselling, and career development. Activities include individual and group counselling and class presentations. The four counsellors are each responsible for a different grade.
Specific equipment and aids are used to assist the student with the regular program. Other program components include orientation and mobility, communication skills and daily living skills.
Just Read is a K - 12 initiative whose foundational belief is "the more a person reads, the better the person reads". Just like practice improves performance in any sport, practicing reading improves a person's reading and writing. Just Read is a district-wide program to increase student independent reading, particularly at-home reading. The rationale is direct: students need to read widely to consolidate skills and explore the world that lies within books. Just Read involves the entire school and neighborhood community in an active action research effort to ensure that all students are reading independently.