Inclusive Education

Inclusive Education Programs

At CG we have highly-trained and experienced staff to look after our students with exceptionalities. Our school is equipped with flat-entry doorways for accessibility, automated doors, as well as a handicapped washroom. We also offer several specialized programs to accommodate a wide range of needs:

Triple I and PUF programs:

Program Unit Funding is available for students identified with speech, gross motor and fine motor challenges in Early Childhood Education. Student progress is closely monitored through an Individualised Program Plan and supported by staff members and specialists. Students involved in the PUF program are fully included within the classroom.

Triple I programming is available for students with diagnosed complex needs, such as (but not limited to) severe neurobiological disorders, global development delays, etc. Supports can include 1:1 EAs, individualized program plans, alternative communication methods, social interactions, inclusion within the classroom, language-rich environments, technology assistance, sensory breaks, gross motor development opportunities, and working with our specialists such as SLPs and OTs.

Sensory Rooms

Students who require sensory breaks throughout the day are supported within the Sensory Room. The Sensory Room includes calming visual, physical and tactile activities.

At CG we have a total of 4 sensory rooms / alternative play spaces. These rooms are furnished with items to help students regulate their emotions and provide movement to center their energy. Some of these items include:

swings
trampolines
spinning chairs, rocking chairs, bean bag chairs
other alternative seating
"dark" room with low-light
bubble tube
noise-cancelling headphones
soft music
weighted blankets
tactile objects such as stress balls, feathers
manipulative objects and fidgets

We acknowledge that students have multiple sensory needs and therefore we also provide classroom-based activities and items that aid in regulation; such as noise-cancelling headphones, sensory bins, calming kits, etc.

Inclusion Advisory Committee

The Christina Gordon Inclusion Advisory Committee was created in 2019 and is a sub-committee under the Christina Gordon School Council.

The Inclusion Advisory Committee is composed of Teachers, Educational Assistants, Administrators and Parents. They meet monthly to discuss how to make Christina Gordon School even better and more inclusive.

Our Mission Statement is "Leading the way by creating positive school experiences for children of all abilities."

Our committee members for the 2023/2024 school year are:

Karla Power (Chairperson)
Kim Lemay (Vice Chairperson)
Jessica Kenney (Secretary)
Gillian Holloway
Sandra Gomez
Cagney Edwards
Marcie Falloon
Cara Payne
Jennifer Africa
Mary-Lynn Luco
Kali MacDonald
Andrea MacPherson
Crystal Roberts
Jenna Locke
Tanya Drover

For more information, please view our Member Bios Page.

We invite all staff and parents who are interested in joining the Inclusion Advisory Committee for the 2023/2024 school year to reach out to our Chairperson Karla Power at karla.power@fmpsd.ab.ca

Some of the projects that the committee has worked on is:

Education
-Creating a special days calendar and providing education for special days (ie Down Syndrome Awareness, Autism Acceptance, etc.)
-Creating and sharing educational resources and videos for staff, students and families
-Visiting classes to discuss and read books about Inclusion

Implementation
-Requesting more fidgets and sensory tools such as swings for students who need them
-Working with the Fundraising Committee to order more inclusive titles for the Learning Commons and Inclusive Toys for the Early Learning Classes
-Planning for and raising funds for the Inclusive Playground

Participation
-Working in collaboration with the school to offer sensory-friendly areas or options for school-wide events.
-Hosting events such as a Sensory Sock Hop and Sensory Saturday
-Hosting an Inclusive Classroom Contest
-Hosting an Inclusion Fair

Community Engagement
-Planning Fundraisers for the Adaptive Bike Program Wood Buffalo You Can Ride 2, Wood Buffalo Special Olympics and the Gross Motor Room

Accessibe Parking

Accessible Parking is available at our school. We have designated spots in our staff parking lot. Additionally, families with school-assigned permits can drop off students with special needs in our bus loop directly in front of the school. If you are interested in securing one of these permits, please contact the front office.