BC Provincial

School for the Deaf:

Town Hall Meeting

Parent, Student, Community Consultation

Facilitator:______

Table: Parents

Parents:

The parent-child relationship is the most important relationship in the development of the whole child. When school and parent work together, all areas of a child’s development (social, emotional, psychosocial, cognitive, physical) may grow, supporting the child to develop to their full potential.

  1. Do you feel you have a shared role in your child’s learning ?
  2. Are you included in decisions made at the school that effect your child’s education ?
  3. How can the school support parents in supporting their child’s learning at school ?
  4. Which methods of communication work best for you ? (email, phone calls, newsletters, meeting, website, etc)

Language and Communication:

At the heart of child development, is language. Access to language, language role models, academic language and social language with peers is key to development of the whole child.

  1. What does a Deaf/Hard of Hearing student need to function successfully in the school environment ?
  2. Are you satisfied with your (your family’s) ability to communicate with your child in Sign Language?
  3. What are the key supports to developing language skills of Deaf/Hard of Hearing students ?
  4. Do your children socialize with deaf/hard of hearing peers outside of school ?
  • What social activities have been successful ?
  • What are the barriers to accessing friends and social activities ?

Caring & Respectful Schools:

Social consciousness creates change in our society and community. Social morality is developing and diversity and acceptance for all is no longer considered something to work toward, but something to be expected. In order to establish and maintain this, schools must set a standard whereby care and respect for all is modelled every day.

  1. Do you feel BCSD staff provide experiences that help students feel safe and cared for? Please consider some of the following areas when answering:
  • Clear communication in order to express concerns (Is there a staff person who your child is comfortable approaching?)
  • Opportunities to develop problem solving skills
  • Encouragement in developing assertiveness skills (to be confident in expressing needs)
  • Anti bullying knowledge and strategies
  1. Is the school environment at BCSD respectful of personal difference? Please consider some of the following:
  • Respect given to all communication styles (e.g. ASL, English, use of C.I. &/or hearing aids, augmentative communication etc.)
  • Respect for students with physical differences & learning styles
  • Aboriginal and other cultures
  1. Considering the examples above (and any others you may have): Are there areas where the school could incorporate new/more strategies to make it more safe and caring for the students and their families?
  • Please also consider what makes you as a parent feel safe and cared for when you are at the school or contacting the school via phone, email, text etc.

Learning Opportunities:

As the education system transforms to meet the needs and demands of society and the workforce, schools need to redesign and implement new programs. The 21st Century skills (core competencies) identified by the BC Education Plan provide a guide to initiating this change in schools.

  1. How do the core competencies relate to the experience of a Deaf/Hard of Hearing learner in today’s classrooms ?
  2. What existing courses/programs at BCSD do you feel support students to develop these attributes ?
  3. What courses/programs do you feel should be created to support the development of these attributes ?
  4. What resources, partnerships, or programs do you feel BCSD could utilize or develop to support the development of these core competencies ?
  5. BCSD is a school within a school model. What do you perceive to be the advantages and disadvantages of this model ?

Transition Planning:

Transitions into and out of schools can be an exciting and yet anxious time for students and parents alike. Students need to enter with a purpose and graduate with purpose and vision for the future.

  1. What processes helped support your child to transition into BCSD (elementary or secondary) ?
  2. How could we improve that transition process for students ?
  3. Are you satisfied that school is preparing students for a job in the future?
  4. Are you satisfied that school is preparing students for post-secondary education?