Inclusion awarded
Posted By NATHAN TAYLOR, THE PACKET AND TIMES
Posted 7 months ago
Educators at an Orillia school who realized they could do better than the status quo and do more for special-needs students have been recognized for their efforts.
Fourteen staff members, including teachers and educational assistants, at Orchard Park Public School received an Inclusion Excellence award from Simcoe Community Services' public awareness committee. The award was presented Monday during the Simcoe County District School Board's special education advisory committee meeting in Midhurst.
With the support of school board administration, Orchard Park intensified its focus last fall on academics for special-needs students.
"We made a significant shift in our program delivery," explained principal Sally Potts.
Largely, the focus used to be on life skills, and the students would learn about cooking and spend time doing recreational activities, like bowling. Those activities are still part of the programming, but academics have been given a higher profile at the Calverley Street school, where more than 50 special-needs students attend.
As a result, Potts said, there's been a significant improvement in the students' reading and writing skills.
"It's the belief that all children can learn, given the right amount of support and time," she said, adding the students are integrated into the regular classes where it's appropriate to do so.
"They're a real part of our school community, whereas, in the old days, these kids were segregated and sometimes marginalized," she said.
Including the special-needs kids in the classrooms is good for the other students, too, she noted.
"You get less teasing and you've got kids understanding that everybody is different and everybody has something to offer," Potts said.
Potts nominated her staff because of their professionalism and willingness to accept and deliver the change in direction.
"I'm incredibly proud of their dedication to these children and that they see the potential in these kids," she said.
The students, as well, deserve to be recognized for their ability to adapt, she added: "That's a big leap for people who are used to doing things a certain way, and the kids are so proud of themselves."
This is the third year the public awareness committee of Simcoe Community Services has given the award. It is to honour teachers or other professionals in the school system who go the extra mile to ensure the inclusion of students with disabilities, said Reet Skelton, volunteer and public awareness co-ordinator.
Committee member Steve McEown said it's "wonderful that we include people with intellectual disabilities in the school system."
