Programs and Services
Academic Programs
- English program (junior kindergarten – grade 8)
- Middle French Immersion program (grades 4 – 8)
- Autism program (kindergarten - grade 8)
- English Literacy Development (ELD) System Class (grades 6 - 8)
- Instrumental Music program at the intermediate level (grade s 7 & 8)
Classroom Organization
Featherston has 18 homeroom classrooms:
- 1 Full Day Kindergarten class
- 4 Autism System Program classes
- 6 Middle French Immersion classes: 4 junior classes & 2 intermediate classes
- 8 regular program classes: one grade 1/2 class, one grade 3/4 class, one grade 5/6 class, one grade 7 class, one grade 7/8 class, and one grade 8 class
- 1 ELD System Program class
Special Education and ESL Programs
We have a Special Education Support Team consisting of one Learning Support Teacher (LST) and one Learning Resource Teacher (LRT) who oversee the individual needs of all special education students, and provide advice and programming support for all students who are identified through the IPRC process. Our Support Team works closely with classroom teachers in developing student IEPs (Individual Education Plans) and academic support in the classroom. We also have English as a Second Language (ESL) teachers who support all students who are identified as ELL or ELD learners.
Students requiring additional supports and/or services are referred to the Learning Support Teacher (LST) and/or the in-school special education team by their classroom teacher. The in-school team follows a tiered approach of interventions and works closely with the classroom teacher to assess the needs of the student and determine a course of action which may include further observation or assessment, accommodations and/or modifications, classroom support, and/or referrals to our multi-disciplinary team. Our in-school team is always available to assist classroom teachers with planning for the needs of all students. We are also consistently enhancing our use of assistive technology to enable every student to access the curriculum.
Our support staff members follow an inclusive model of program delivery to support special education and English as a second language students. Our support staff works collaboratively with classroom teachers in a co-teaching model to ensure that the needs of all students within the classroom are being met. This model ensures that students remain in their language-rich classroom learning community; learning from, with, and alongside their peers. This approach is consistent with the Ministry recommendations from the Expert Panel Report on Special Education, “Learning for All”.
Clubs and Activities
Students are given the opportunity to develop and demonstrate leadership and citizenship through participating in organized activities. Competitive and recreational athletic sports include cross-country running, touch football, soccer, basketball, volleyball, and track and field. Other activities include: Hackergal, intermediate band, choir, games club, chess club, diversity club, knitting club, tech club, environmental club and compost club.
Students are also provided with a rich array of activities within their school day:
- sports events and tournaments, assemblies and special performances, spirit days
- character events , field trips to various locations in the National Capital Region, skating at local rinks, and the Terry Fox Walk
Safe Schools Initiatives
Featherston is committed to maintaining a learning environment which allows every student to reach his/her greatest potential within a safe and caring atmosphere. We value character traits such as respect, responsibility, empathy, and cooperation.
We have an active Student Well-Being Committee at Featherston Drive. It promotes our district's character traits and exit outcomes across all grades. Our school-based committee plans activities that promote students making positive choices and reinforce appropriate conflict resolution skills. This initiative integrates concepts related to Safe and Caring Schools and Bullying Prevention.
We are also pleased to be part of an initiative with Me to We, which has provided us the opportunity to students and staff in restorative justice a consistent model of expectations and routines is in place across all grades. Our staff continues to reinforce our Code of Behavior to guide positive student behavior. The goal is that of sending consistent messages for student expectations while helping to build positive experiences at the school.
Our school Code of Conduct was developed with input from students, parents, and staff. Each year, students review the Code of Conduct and staff consistently work with students to empower them to live by the code, both in and out of the classroom. The development of these life skills is intended to serve our students well in the future.