Welcome to School District 68's Aurora Learn@Home Program.

An Overview

Our Aurora Learn@Home program provides a flexible means for learners on Gabriola Island to complete their elementary school years outside of the traditional classroom setting. Learners in our program have access to the entire elementary curriculum.

All of our elementary programs are led by a BC Certified teacher who is responsible for the planning, teaching, assessing, and reporting for the course. Parents are invited to work cooperatively as home-instructors under the direction and guidance of School District 68 teachers.

Learn@Home programs are teacher directed and involve frequent interaction between student and teacher, including lessons, presentations, and scheduled face-to-face meetings. Unlike correspondence courses which often see students working in isolation, Learn@Home programs offer students opportunities to interact with fellow learners and their instructor during online and site-based activities.

About Aurora

In August 1999 a proposal was submitted to the Nanaimo School District to support home learners on Gabriola. The proposal was successful and the centre started in September 2001 as a one year pilot project. After an extensive review by parents, children, the teacher and District staff, the program was approved by the School Board Trustees, as a regular program of the Nanaimo School District.

Aurora is a unique approach to education which combines home, school and community. A prominent feature of student learning time at the Aurora Learning centre is the weekly Kid Meeting where the children bring forward their ideas for school activities and solve problems as a group. ALC days often include workshops offered by parents and community members, as well as theme days where students bring in projects from home to share with the group.

Course & Program General Information

The Aurora Learn@Home program:

  • Is designed for students in Kindergarten to Grade 7 who live on Gabriola Island or reside within self-funded transportation distance to the designated learning sites.
  • Focuses upon the individual needs of the learner while encouraging parents and teachers to work as an educational team.
  • Teaches towards the Ministry of Education's prescribed learning outcomes.
  • Provides students with opportunities to gather at the Aurora Learning centre for group instruction and peer interaction.

Program Features:

  • Co-planning of an individualized Learning Plan for each enrolled child
  • Three formal reports written by the program teacher, and a minimum of two informal reports each school year
  • The use of SD68 district resources
  • Supports the use of alternative resources for meeting learning outcomes
  • Expects regular and on-going co-planning between the parent the teacher respecting the needs of the child
  • Completion of formal reports and reporting of grade level standing

Parents and teachers will work to...

  • Develop a written individualized Learning Plan for the child.
  • Maintain documentation of the child’s growth and learning using a student learning portfolio.
  • Ensure that the variety of learning resources and district materials are kept sound and secure so that all learners can have access to this resource.
  • Ensure that through registration, co-planning and regular evaluation and reporting, the learning program complies with the Ministry of Education requirements.
  • Meet at least once each reporting period and more often as necessary to support the child.
  • Plan with other program parents and the program teacher for facilitation of in-service sessions for parents on topics such as: the District Resource Centre collection, student assessment tools, and instructional methodologies.

Funding Information

All school-aged learners of Canadian citizenship are funded 100% for Learn@Home programs.

Resources

Aurora Learn@Home students have access to the following resources,

  • Activities at Gabriola Elementary school, such as gym, music, sports and library.
  • Access to school and district resources and the District Resource Centre via the Learn@Home contact teacher.

For Additional Information

For further information please contact Mr. Scott Saywell, District Principal (E-mail: ssaywell@sd68.bc.ca, Phone: 244-8240 or 1-866-740-2037 [free long distance]), or look for additonal contact information on our Contact Page.