Elk Island Catholic Schools includes Catholic school in the communities of Sherwood Park, Fort Saskatchewan, Camrose, and Vegreville. Through inclusive programs inspired by the Gospel, Elk Island Catholic Schools welcomes all students and provides an equal opportunity for all students to achieve success according to their unique potential within the context of the most enabling learning environment.

Programming for students with Autism/Pervasive Developmental Disorders-NOS/Asperger’s syndrome is offered within the regular classroom setting. At the Senior High level, our Student Centers are usually an integral part of a student’s educational programming.

Each school has a Special Needs Team that follows a collaborative team-oriented approach in determining student needs, developing school and community based interventions, and creating an Individual Program Plan. Parents are considered to be valuable members of the school’s Special Needs Team and are strongly encouraged to play an active role in the development and implementation of their child’s program.

The Special Needs Facilitator provides support, direction, and leadership for special education programming in each of the division’s school.

The division provides for access to itinerant consultant support for students with sensory disabilities and with specialized programming needs. This level of support is reviewed on an annual basis, through each students IPP.

School psychological services provide direct support to school staff and parents in assisting students who have special needs

The division has an inclusive behavior consultant, a child development consultant, and consulting psychologists to assess, consult, and follow-up on student progress.
In addition, our school counselors provide developmental guidance instruction, responsive services, and individual student planning and school community support services.

Elk Island Catholic Schools is also an active, supportive member of the Student Health Initiative Partnership in all of our school communities. These partnerships have provided enhanced access to programs and services designed to better meet the needs of students and their families.

As a result of these partnerships and other collaboration initiatives, the division has established a referral network that enables school to access specialized services (psychiatry clinical psychology, family counseling, etc). If you have questions about your child’s needs, please contact a member of your school’s Special Needs Team (i.e. the Special Needs Facilitator, the Classroom Teacher(s), the School Counselor, or the School Principal).