Aboriginal Student Support Program
Students of Aboriginal backgrounds have access to a teacher and an Aboriginal support worker for extra help and special projects.
The Sooke School District ensures that Aboriginal students receive a quality education that fosters a strong sense of pride, confidence and knowledge of their heritage. The district its proud of its Aboriginal Enhancement Agreement, based on Agoriginal Ways of Knowing, Sense of Belonging, Language, Achievement. We have one part time teacher and one support worker at Saseenos.
Aboriginal students make up approximately 15-20% of our students. Some live on the T’Souke nation, but most live off reserve. Many of our students are non-status or Metis.
The following services are offered to Aboriginal Students & Parents
- Academic Support / Reading Recovery
- Cultural Awareness
- Academic Enrichment
- Early Literacy support
- Craft Demonstrations
- Celebration of Aboriginal Student Success
- Community Activities
D.A.R.E.
Grade 5s participate in the DARE program. Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) is a police officer-led series of classroom lessons.
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Corporal Darcy Greenwood, R.C.M.P. liaison and instructor
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The D.A.R.E. program is more than just drug prevention education; it teaches students good decision making skills to help them avoid high-risk behavior to ensure they grow up healthy, safe and secure. Prior to entering the D.A.R.E. program, officers undergo 80 hours of special training in areas such as child development, classroom management, teaching techniques, and communication skills. DARE opens dialogue with the police, and officers serve as strong role models for our youth.
Daily Physical Activity
Our school provides 30 minutes of daily physical activity for all students in grades 1 to 5 and 15 minutes for Kindergarten students. Each Gr. 1-5 class has 90 minutes total of scheduled physical education per week. Classroom teachers provide students with the remaining activity time through a variety of indoor and outdoor activities in which every student has an opportunity to participate. Daily Physical Activity (DPA) works alongside other B.C. Government initiatives, such as the Healthy Schools Network, Action Schools! B.C, the School Fruit and Vegetable Snack program and revisions to guidelines for the sale of food and beverages within schools, all of which are tackling B.C’s obesity and healthy living challenges.
Gr. 5 Leadership
Our Gr. 5s volunteer for many responsible tasks around the school. These include office and lunchroom monitoring, master of ceremonies at assemblies, reading public address announcements, recycling, putting up the flag, AV equipment set up, big buddies to Kindergarten students, and other jobs.
Big Brothers and Big Sisters Teen Mentorship Program
Saseenos Elementary and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Victoria (BBBSV) are partners in delivering a school-based teen mentoring program as developed by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Victoria. The program matches mentors, most likely from Edward Milne Secondary School, with 15-25 of our students who have mentoring needs as identified through the school. The program ends in May or each year and resumes in the fall.
The following applies:
· Volunteers are screened and approved by BBBS of Canada Child Safety
Standards
· Matches meet for weekly mentoring visits of about one hour.
· Match activities take place on the property of the school.
· Contact between mentors and students is only within the program at school.
· The mentor’s role is to be a companion, a positive role model, a friend, a listener,
and a resource or guide. Volunteers do not take on the role of counselor,
teacher, or authority figure.
· The first 15 minutes of each session may involve a literacy activity.
· Students may be invited to BBBSV sponsored events
· The school supports BBBSV fundraising efforts by promoting a clothing drive.
Mrs. Baty is the school liaison.She will monitor each student’s experience in the program, the arrival and departure of mentors, ensure that designated spaces are available, etc.
Quinn Hoffman is the Teen Mentoring Coordinator ph. 250-475-1117 ext. 53 or email at quinn@bbbsvictoria.com.
Roots of Empathy (pending year to year)
Roots of Empathy (ROE) is an evidence-based classroom program that has shown dramatic effect in reducing levels of aggression among school children by raising social/emotional competence and increasing empathy. At the heart of the program are a neighbourhood infant and parent who visit the Kindergarten classroom every three weeks over the school year. In this experiential learning, the baby is the "Teacher" and a lever, which the instructor uses to help children identify and reflect on their own feelings and the feelings of others. This "emotional literacy" taught in the program lays the foundation for more safe and caring classrooms, where children are the "Changers". Research results from national and international evaluations of ROE indicate significant reductions in aggression and increases in pro-social behaviour, including empathy.
Fruit and Veggie Program
We are excited to be part of the Fruit and Vegetable Program which exposes students to a variety of tastes. Two times per week on alternate weeks the students will receive a prepared snack of a fruit or vegetable during mid-afternoon. The snack is not meant to replace the foods the student normally eats at school.
Milk Program
Saseenos offers a nutritious white and chocolate milk two days per week through the BC Dairy Foundation Elementary School Milk Program.
Safe Arrival
See PAC page
W.I.T.S.
The WITS Programs bring together schools, parents and communities to help children deal with bullying and victimization. WITS teaches students to “Walk away, Ignore, Talk it out, and Seek help” if they are confronted with an aggressive situation. In essence, they learn to use their WITS.
http://www.witsprogram.ca/schools/
Other Programs mandated by the District
Bullysmart
CARE (personal safety program taught to Gr. 1)
Talk About Touching (personal safety program to Gr. 4)