Student Support

The students at The Harbour School are diverse group of exceptional individuals. THS is dedicated to ensuring that our students and whole school community benefit from the many contributions made by culturally, linguistically, neurologically, and academically diverse students and teachers

To meet the needs of this community, the academically advanced and twice-exceptional learners among them, we have robust Learning Extension and Learning Specialist Support programs.  These are overseen and enacted by specialists, and the programs are carefully crafted to meet the needs of the students, wherever they areon their academic journeys.

Unlocking the best requires understanding our students’ individual differences and providing the structure for them to thrive in an engaging environment. The Harbour School is not a one-size-fits-all approach, and it shows in our approach to Student Support.

To ensure that students receive the support they need, each grade from Grade 1-6 has one certified special educator as part of their team, the Learning Specialist Teacher (LST).  The Learning Specialist Teacher works directly with qualifying students as well as collaborates regularly with the rest of their grade level team to provide input on differentiation and expertise in terms of academic and socio-emotional needs. Even as they are “case managers” for students with Individualised Education Plans (IEPs), it is important to note that they function as members of their grade level team as the resident expert on differentiation, accommodation, and child development, and they work with all grade level students.

Our Learning Extension team is dedicated to supporting the needs of academically advanced and twice-exceptional learners by supporting their academic and socio-emotional/ behavioral needs. This program works in conjunction with parents and teachers in arranging for academically challenging instruction, extracurricular and school-based activities, and alternative curricula, as well as supporting parents in their journey to access resources to assist students to meet their highest potential. This program is divided into two components: Full Steam Ahead (FSA), which focuses on mathematics, and the Literacy Extension and Acceleration Project (LEAP), which is centered around reading and written expression.