Home-Based Education

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Part II: Saskatchewan's Goals of Education

Part III: Accessing services & supports provided by Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools

Part IV: Checklist of responsibilities

Parents
Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools

Part V: Websites and phone numbers

Part VI: Additional schooling options

Current distance learning options
Saskatoon Catholic Schools Cyber School

Part VII: Curriculum Development Themes

Science
Social studies
Mathematics
English language arts

Part VIII: Forms

Educational plan for home-based education
Notification of a home-based education program

Part I: Student enrolment policy

Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools Home-Based Education Policy

(ICD)

Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools shall coordinate a registered home-based education program for Catholic electors.

Rationale

Parents/caregivers are the primary educators of their children; therefore, parents/caregivers may choose to direct the education of their children through a registered home-based education program.

Authority

The Education Act, Section 85(m)

Saskatchewan Learning Home-Based Education Regulations

Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools Parent Home-Based Education Program Handbook

Guidelines

Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools will administer home-based education as per the Provincial Home-Based Education Regulations.

Procedures

Program supports provide by Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools will be reviewed and approved on an annual basis by Executive Council.
Each home-based educator will receive a copy of the approved Parent Home-Based Education Handbook when registering with Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools.

References

Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools Educational Commitment:

To assist parents in their Christian responsibility as primary educators of their children
To be attentive to the specific needs of each student
To respect the dignity of each student and to acknowledge the right to education
To encourage the development of each person’s God-given talents

Forms

Notification of a Home-Based Education Program
Home-Based Educational Plan
Annual Progress Report

Date Approved

June 14, 1995

Date Amended

February 2002

December 2002

June 2004

Outside of Saskatoon

For Catholic families living in Biggar, Viscount or Humboldt, please ensure that you are registering with the correct school division.

Biggar

Grade K-9 - register with Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools, St. Paul's RCSSD #20

Grade 10-12 - register with Sunwest School Division #207

Viscount

Grade K-8 - register with Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools, St. Paul's RCSSD #20

Grade 9-12 - register with Horizon School Division #205

Humboldt

Grade K - 8 - register with Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools, St. Paul's RCSSD #20

Grade 9-12 - register with Horizon School Division #205

Part One - Student Enrolment

Part II: Saskatchewan's Goals of Education

Goals of education in Saskatchewan direct efforts to develop the potential of all students in the province. Education should affirm the worth of each individual and lay the foundation for learning throughout life.

Students benefit from exposure to learning in a variety of situations. Attainment of the goals is a venture the school shares with the student, the home, the church, and the community. Although the degree of school responsibility will vary from community to community, the school has some responsibility for each goal.

A body of knowledge and a range of skills and attitudes are necessary to function in a changing world. It is intended, then, that education will enable Saskatchewan students to do the following to the best of their abilities:

Basic Skills

1. Read, write and compute

2. Acquire information and meaning through observing, listening, reading, and experiencing

3. Process information through intellectual and technological means

4. Solve problems by applying basic principles and processes of the sciences, arts, and humanities

5. Communicate ideas through written and spoken language, mathematical symbols, and aesthetic expression.

Lifelong Learning

1. Seek and value learning experiences.

2. Act as self-reliant learners.

3. Base actions on the knowledge that it is necessary to learn throughout life.

Understanding and Relating to Others

1. Act on the belief that each individual is worthwhile.

2. Base actions on the recognition that people differ in their values, behaviors, and lifestyles.

3. Interact and feel comfortable with others who are different in race, religion, status, or personal attributes.

4. Develop a sense of responsibility toward others.

Self-concept development

1. Perceive themselves in a positive way.

2. Appreciate their own abilities and limitations.

3. Set and work toward personal goals.

4. Assess praise and criticism realistically.

5. Present themselves with confidence.

Positive Life-Style

1. Practice appropriate personal hygiene, engage in sufficient physical activity, and maintain a nutritionally balanced diet.

2. Avoid harmful use of alcohol and other drugs.

3. Cultivate interests that may be the basis for personal development and leisure pursuits.

4. Recognize the importance of productive activity.

5. Display initiative and pursue tasks diligently.

6. Maintain a safe and healthful community.

7. Respect and seek to enhance the environment.

8. Appreciate beauty in its many natural and constructed forms.

10. Express oneself creatively.

Spiritual Development

1. Seek an understanding of the purpose and worth of humane existence.

2. Develop a knowledge of God.

3. Respect family, religion, and culture in a pluralistic society.

Career and Consumer Decisions

1. Develop an awareness of career opportunities.

2. Develop interests and abilities in relation to vocational expectations.

3. Adapt to shifts in employment patterns and technology.

4. Make informed consumer decisions.

Membership in Society

1. Assume responsibility for their own actions.

2. Work with others to achieve individual and group goals.

3. Participate in the democratic processes of government and perform the duties of citizenship.

4. Respect the rights and property of others.

5. Act with honesty, integrity, compassion, and fairness.

6. Develop a sense of national pride and acknowledge the need for international understanding.

7. Work toward greater social justice.

8. Assume responsibility for dependent persons in a manner consistent with their needs.

9. Respect law and authority.

10. Exercise the right of dissent responsibility.

Growing With Change

1. Work toward immediate and long-term goals.

2. Base actions on an understanding that change is a natural process in society.

3. Select workable alternatives in response to changing conditions.

4. Develop confidence in making decisions that involve risk.

Part Two - Saskatchewan's Goals of Education

Part III: Accessing services & supports provided by GSCS

To access certain services or supports, parents/caregivers are asked to contact the board designate.

Board designate

Lana Bauer

Co-ordinator, Home-based education

659-7012

lbauer@gscs.sk.ca

Correspondence School Courses

Please register with board designate.

Services

Home-based educators may access the following, with permission from board designate and principal:

driver education
band (costs incurred by parent)
learning resource centre
extra-curricular programs (costs incurred by parent)

Available resources

Please request from board designate.

SchoolArt Show (Mendel Art Gallery)

Organized by a Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools home-based educator parent. Please notify board designate.

Annual reimbursement

Paid once per year in June as established by Director of Education
Students must be registered by Sept. 30 and must submit Educational Plan and Annual Report
Must have returned all borrowed materials

Saskatoon Civic Centres

A parent designate (selected annually) will book swim and skate times for Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools home-based students. Parent designate is to notify board designate of dates and times.

Standardized Achievement Testing

Referral to board designate and Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools educational psychologist.

Consultative Services

Please contact board designate.

Career Guidance Services

Please contact board designate.

Part 3 - Accessing Services and Supports

Part IV: Checklist of responsibilities

PARENTS:

Accept full responsibility for the education of the student.

Registering a Program

complete “Notification of a Home-Based Education Program” form (prescribed by the minister),
complete an “Educational Plan” – must include philosophical approach, broad goals for math, language arts, social studies, science and religious studies, means of assessing and reporting educational progress,
requested available resource materials

Reporting School Progress

indicate on educational plan preferred means of annual progress reporting:

a) portfolio – which may include

i) detailed summative report for each broad goal

ii) samples

iii) summative report and samples

b) test results from a normed standardized achievement test

c) educational assessment
file report with board designate by end of school year (conference or mail)
return borrowed resources
notify board designate of intent to continue/discontinue home-based education

GREATER SASKATOON CATHOLIC SCHOOLS:

Provide registration and monitoring of programs.

designate is registering authority for board: for 2007-2008 contact Lana Bauer. Phone: 659-7012 Email: lbauer@gscs.sk.ca
provides consultative service
communicates necessary information
provides written notification that the home-based program has been registered
makes referrals to educational psychologist
provides career guidance

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