Princess Anne Elementary is one of two schools in School District 68
with an elementary Life Skills class.
The Life Skills class offers a separate classroom setting for students
with intellectual disabilities whose learning needs cannot be met in an
integrated class. The students may
also have various other conditions such as autism, dyspraxia, cerebral palsy,
etc.
The goal for Life Skills students is that they become as independent as
possible, in as many domains as possible. Each
student has an Individual Education Plan that is based on his or her unique
learning strengths and needs. The
main focus of an I.E.P. is usually on communication, social behaviour ,
academic, self-care, daily living and community awareness skills.
Students learn functional skills such as shopping, meal preparation,
hygiene, laundry, dishwashing, and practical applications of math, reading, and
writing. The intermediate students are involved in school service jobs
such as shredding, recycling, and helping with the milk program.
Many students with special learning needs have sensory integration
difficulties. This means that they
process information from their senses differently and therefore need to get that
information in different ways. In
order to help these students process information more easily, we have various
swings, balls, music, lights, pictures and other sensory rich equipment or
activities for use in the classroom throughout the school day.
Most Life Skills students are non-verbal or are learning to communicate.
While some are using speech, others are learning to communicate with
pictures, speech devices, or sign language.
PHOTO GALLERY OF OUR STUDENTS AT WORK
