We are all about inclusion.
Inclusion is a fundamental principle that we embrace in our school. It means creating a supportive and respectful environment where everyone feels valued, regardless of their differences. By promoting inclusion, we strive to break down barriers, challenge stereotypes, and create a sense of belonging for all individuals. At Woodland Star, students learn to appreciate and celebrate diversity, developing empathy, compassion, and a deep respect for others.
Inclusion also means providing equal access to opportunities and resources, promoting fairness, and creating a more just and equitable society. Ultimately, inclusion is about recognizing and valuing the unique contributions and perspectives that each person brings to the table, creating a rich and diverse community where everyone can thrive.
What learning support looks like at WSS:
- During our core classes, we have a core teacher and a co-teacher to ensure that all students can access the content. The co-teacher’s role is to help differentiate and scaffold learning, particularly for those with mild learning needs or who are gifted and need to be challenged further. Our enrichment courses are designed to stretch students in their areas of passion, interest, and talents, particularly providing an opportunity for gifted students to thrive.
- For students who require a higher level of learning support, we offer 1:1 teaching with a dedicated teacher to help them integrate into the classroom and access an individualized curriculum. Our floating learning support teachers and 1:1 learning support teachers are all guided and supervised by our Learning Support Coordinator to ensure that students receive the support they need to succeed.
- Students with specific learning needs are provided with an Individualized Learning Plan (ILP), which highlights their needs to their teachers and enables them to make necessary modifications and accommodations to help the student grow as much as possible.
- During language time, students with reading needs participate in targeted reading groups with a teacher to help them improve their skills.
- In addition, we offer services through external providers, including Speech Therapists, Occupational Therapists, and Physical Therapists, Play Therapists, Mental Health Specialists, Educational Psychologists, and Applied Behavioral Analysts to ensure that our students have access to the resources they need to succeed.
Although we are not a “special needs” school, inclusion is an important aspect of our school and we believe it benefits all learners to create environments that celebrate diversity and promote understanding and acceptance of different perspectives and ways of learning. We are keen on maintaining a healthy balance of neurotypical and neurodiverse students in our classrooms so that the needs of all learners are met.
