On September 18th, Loretto Catholic Elementary School hosted a parent information night for families of Catholic elementary students in Niagara Falls. This event was designed to help families access special education supports in our community, as well as program information for infants to 6 years of age through specialized play-based programs and parent support opportunities, support for our international students and families as they navigate the school setting, and local doctors.
Students were invited to join the evening and play in a safe space while parents spoke with representatives from a variety of community organizations that support students with special needs.
Carrie Shellhorne, an Educational Resource Teacher at Loretto Catholic Elementary School, was inspired by a similar concept that was presented to Educational Resource teachers through the Student Support Department hosted at White Oaks Conference Centre last June. She and colleague Rita Mancuso Tropea led staff at Loretto Catholic in creating an informative and engaging evening for families.
"(The session in June) was a great learning opportunity for us as educators, but many of our families sometimes receive a ‘diagnosis' when they become aware that their child is not meeting developmental milestones,” said Mrs. Shellhorne. “At that point, knowing which supports are available in the community and which supports are provided within the school environment is important for families, so that when we say that we want to bring in ABA (Applied Behavioural Analyst), or behaviour or speech and language supports, our families can put faces to the roles listed on the forms that we are asking them to sign. Families trust us with their most precious gifts, they need to know that we are here to support them, but more importantly that we want to work with them and the community agencies that are assisting them as they navigate their child's education.
Elementary and secondary school are very different, there are many different pathways that can be taken for our students. Graduation is a milestone, but there is anxiety attached to every option, whether your child has learning needs or is exploring options that will get them to university, college, and/or the workplace. This event was a great way to not only bring awareness, but to build community and reinforce Niagara Catholics mission of inspiring all to reach their full potential in mind, body and spirit."
We are grateful to Mrs. Shellhorne and Mrs. Mancuso Tropea for their leadership on this project, and the staff at Loretto Catholic Elementary School who supported them in creating this outstanding event for families. Thank you to the members of senior staff and trustees who attended the session, staff from Saint Michael and Saint Paul Catholic high schools for also attending to talk to parents about the transition to high school, and Loretto Catholic students who served as greeters at the event.
Thank you as well to all the community partners who participated in the event. Niagara Catholic is truly fortunate to have such strong ties to the community and we are grateful to your teams who took time from their evenings to support students and families.
And thank you to the families who attended the Agency Evening. We appreciate you taking the time to learn more about the programs and services available to you and your children throughout their education.