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What is our school story?
School District 22 Alternate Programs are comprised of three different alternate programs to meet a variety of students’ needs; The Vernon Alternate Programs consist of The ALPs program (Vernon), Crossroads Learning Center (Lumby), and The Open Door Education Center (Vernon). Our sites are located on the unceded territory of the Okanagan/Syilx Nation.
Alternate programs allow an opportunity for students whose needs are not being met in a traditional school to have a second chance at their education. The smaller class sizes, lower student-teacher ratio, individualized, self-paced programming, enhanced services and focused programing on social-emotional learning and regulation provide our students with the supports they need.
Collectively the programs serve approximately ___ students from grade eight to grade twelve and _____ adult learners wanting to work toward graduation or to upgrade courses for post-secondary entrance or career advancement. Student success is focused through a collaboratively designed personalized student learning plan for every student. The plans are created with student input to ensure they align with personal educational goals and re-engagement in their education and learning.
Our mission is “to create opportunities for flexible learning and personal growth in safe, inclusive communities”.
Alternate Learning Program
CrossRoads
Open Door
School Mission Statement
To create opportunities for flexible learning and personal growth in safe, inclusive communities.
School Wide Goals/Inquiry
Increase Student Engagement
1. ALP Goal – to increase student engagement and foster a positive sense of community and to increase a sense of both individual and community identity.
2. CrossRoads Goal – to increase student engagement and create a positive sense of community
3. The Open Door Goal – to boost ALT student engagement by actively promoting increased attendance at The Open Door
Our programs offer individualized learning plans for our students. This personalization allows for success and for individual students’ needs to be addressed. We aim to provide a space where students can experience the educational process in a supportive and positive environment.
We offer:
*Self-paced and specialized class instruction through online and paper based curriculum with flexible hours and programs
*Small class sizes
*Personal growth and individual responsibility is stressed
*Enhanced support services based on individual needs
*Grade 8 -12 courses using either paper-based curriculum OR computer guided instruction combined with direct one on one and small group teaching support by specialist teachers
*Elective opportunities for students to gain graduation credits
Overall Areas of Success:
*Good implementation of social-emotional programming
*Greater course completion rates with linear options
*Self-referral process often equals greater success in program (as opposed to district placement). Supports students who have anxiety related mental health concerns
*Blended program options (e.g., Gateway & Employ) support students’ success in real life work experiences and training
*Multiple options for success based on individual needs (ALT programs have the capacity to make this happen)
How can we increase student engagement? Research points to the need for structure and flexibility in the ‘school’ and self-paced, personalized learning opportunities.
*Provide structure but allow necessary room for flexibility and individualized education
*Allow students the opportunity to be in school for longer hours each day
*Provide alternate students’ choice – packaged/paper-based curriculum or online courses
*Provide opportunities for elective cohorts and hands-on learning opportunities
*Support the mental health of our students
*Ensure equity of access to learning opportunities and supports – school counsellor and food/lunch program
*Build and develop culturally significant learning opportunities
What is our school story?
School District 22 Alternate Programs are comprised of three different alternate programs to meet a variety of students’ needs; The Vernon Alternate Programs consist of The ALPs program (Vernon), Crossroads Learning Center (Lumby), and The Open Door Education Center (Vernon). Our sites are located on the unceded territory of the Okanagan/Syilx Nation.
Alternate programs allow an opportunity for students whose needs are not being met in a traditional school to have a second chance at their education. The smaller class sizes, lower student-teacher ratio, individualized, self-paced programming, enhanced services and focused programing on social-emotional learning and regulation provide our students with the supports they need.
Collectively the programs serve approximately ___ students from grade eight to grade twelve and _____ adult learners wanting to work toward graduation or to upgrade courses for post-secondary entrance or career advancement. Student success is focused through a collaboratively designed personalized student learning plan for every student. The plans are created with student input to ensure they align with personal educational goals and re-engagement in their education and learning.
Our mission is “to create opportunities for flexible learning and personal growth in safe, inclusive communities”.
Alternate Learning Program
CrossRoads
Open Door
School Mission Statement
To create opportunities for flexible learning and personal growth in safe, inclusive communities.
School Wide Goals/Inquiry
Increase Student Engagement
1. ALP Goal – to increase student engagement and foster a positive sense of community and to increase a sense of both individual and community identity.
2. CrossRoads Goal – to increase student engagement and create a positive sense of community
3. The Open Door Goal – to boost ALT student engagement by actively promoting increased attendance at The Open Door
Our programs offer individualized learning plans for our students. This personalization allows for success and for individual students’ needs to be addressed. We aim to provide a space where students can experience the educational process in a supportive and positive environment.
We offer:
*Self-paced and specialized class instruction through online and paper based curriculum with flexible hours and programs
*Small class sizes
*Personal growth and individual responsibility is stressed
*Enhanced support services based on individual needs
*Grade 8 -12 courses using either paper-based curriculum OR computer guided instruction combined with direct one on one and small group teaching support by specialist teachers
*Elective opportunities for students to gain graduation credits
Overall Areas of Success:
*Good implementation of social-emotional programming
*Greater course completion rates with linear options
*Self-referral process often equals greater success in program (as opposed to district placement). Supports students who have anxiety related mental health concerns
*Blended program options (e.g., Gateway & Employ) support students’ success in real life work experiences and training
*Multiple options for success based on individual needs (ALT programs have the capacity to make this happen)
How can we increase student engagement? Research points to the need for structure and flexibility in the ‘school’ and self-paced, personalized learning opportunities.
*Provide structure but allow necessary room for flexibility and individualized education
*Allow students the opportunity to be in school for longer hours each day
*Provide alternate students’ choice – packaged/paper-based curriculum or online courses
*Provide opportunities for elective cohorts and hands-on learning opportunities
*Support the mental health of our students
*Ensure equity of access to learning opportunities and supports – school counsellor and food/lunch program
*Build and develop culturally significant learning opportunities
Data Summary
Data Summary
Scanning
Numeracy/Literacy Assessments
Student Survey Results
Academic Achievement
Scanning
Numeracy/Literacy Assessments
Numeracy:
-Provide workshops to help students prepare for the provincial numeracy assessment
Results
Literacy:
-Provide workshops to help students prepare for the provincial literacy assessment
Results
Student Survey Results
ALP
To assess, staff will:
-Review of bi-weekly student review meetings with an emphasis on trends with attendance and engagement
-Use student survey of engagement and sense of community Please see the 2022/2023 data from our ALP student survey on this link.
At School, how many adults do you feel care about you….I feel safe at school….I feel like I belong…..
ALP Survey Results
Do the adults care about you?
“the teachers are great i love it here”
“they help us out with food & clothes and anything else we need”
“they always answer my questions and listen to what I’m saying”
“always help and listen to what me/other students have to say”
“I feel like I’m able to speak freely and not be lectured all the time”
What are the highlights of my year at ALP? …
“the people I’ve met”
“learning the periodic table and gaining a lot of friends”
“how easy and laid back it is it creates a positive atmosphere makes easier to want to work”
“Actually showing up”
What works well at ALP…
“I am able to work at my own pace.”
“the teachers”
Open Door
To asses, staff will:
-track ALT students’ participation in TOD activities.
-Track and update whether or not ALT students are meeting attendance and course completion expectations in the ALT contact log.
-Use student survey of engagement T
The Open Door Survey Results (Select this link to access survey results)
Tell us about your experiences relating to school culture and student safety at the Open Door.
“Open Door has been the most safe and encouraging learning environment I’ve ever been to. My grade school experience wasn’t always welcoming. You guys take time to care and I appreciate it because my teachers have been my role models for life itself I think they just didn’t realize how much impact they can have on a kid.”
“The understanding is really what I needed. I love my distance learning as that’s how I function best. Having friendships with my teachers makes me feel comfortable and encourages me to work more. I never felt stupid at Open Door.”
“Having a quiet work space”
How is your experiences with staff at the Open Door?
“The teachers and principal are caring and go above and beyond for their students”
“They are patient and helpful”
“As an adult going back to get my high-school diploma I have felt like an equal and it has been a great experience”
What are the highlights and/or personal successes from your year at the Open Door? What could we do to make things better?
“Honestly I could have done better. Some things happened this year that have been hard and I feel like it’s hard every year… I need to make school more a priority so I’m excited for Fall 2022 to get started again and get grinding on my math to graduate.”
“I completed my math 10-12 and doing my physics which has helped me to advance in my career”
“When I lost a family member a couple months ago I had endless support from staff. They are incredibly understanding of mental health issues and emergencies.”
CrossRoads Survey Results (Select this link to access survey results)
Academic Achievement
Course Completions
CrossRoads Course Completion
*9 out of 11 students improved their course completion by attending CrossRoads
*On average, students improved their course completion by two times
The Open Door Course Completions
| 2019/2020 | 2020/2021 |
| 200 | 118 |
*Approximately 21 Students graduate each year
ALP Course Completions
| 2019-2020 | 2020-2021 |
| 84 | 37 |
Focusing
Alternate Program Goals
Teacher Led Development
Focusing
Alternate Program Goals
We will continue the focus of engagement into the 2022-23 school year.
ALP
Goal 1: to increase student engagement and foster a positive sense of community
Goal 2: to increase a sense of both individual and community identity
CrossRoads
Goal: to increase student engagement and create a positive sense of community
The Open Door
Goal: to boost ALT student engagement by actively promoting increased attendance at The Open Door
Teacher Led Development
-School based pro-d sessions around improving student engagement
-Social-emotional workshop and training
Developing a Hunch
Student Engagement
Developing a Hunch
Student Engagement
Increasing Student Engagement
Research has found that programs that prove to be the most effective include multiple support strategies. The most promising including – case management, mentorship, relationships and a sense of belonging, social and academic engagement strategies, and individualized support.
Alternate programs that provide a safe, supportive educational environment that is flexible and student centered are more successful. We need to remember that “all students can learn and succeed, but not on the same day in the same way” (William Spady).
Learning
Our Focus
Learning
Our Focus
We will continue to focus on increasing engagement into the 2021-22 school year as the COVID pandemic had a greater impact on our at-risk learners. Many proposed/planned engagement opportunities were not possible under current ECP guidelines.
According to literature “student success in alternative schools is linked to self-esteem, greater autonomy, a sense of belonging, positive feelings about school, better attendance and improved behaviour” (Hemmer, Madsen, & Torres, 2013).
Taking Action
Learning Goals
Taking Action
Learning Goals
ALP Goal 1– to increase student engagement and foster a positive sense of community
*Implement daily social emotional learning lessons/discussions
*Implement bi-weekly elective courses
*Start Family Fridays
*Prioritize student social and emotional well being
ALP Goal 2– to increase a sense of both individual and community identity
*Daily social emotional learning classes with focus on developing a greater sense of self
*Exploration of personal interests through elective courses and non-academic school activities
*Connection with local indigenous leaders
CrossRoads Goal – to increase student engagement and create a positive sense of community
*Provide volunteer opportunities in community (ie. Food bank)
*Provide elective opportunities to students
The Open Door Goal – to boost ALT student engagement by actively promoting increased attendance at The Open Door
*to provide ALT students with activities and opportunities that allow them to connect with TOD staff, services, and community.
*to invite ALT students who aren’t attending and working on a consistent basis will be in to work with staff on a one-to-one basis.
