District Programs

District programs are offered by the Vancouver School Board and are held here at Sir Charles Tupper Secondary School.

Visit the Vancouver School Board’s website at http://www.vsb.bc.ca/programs/secondary-students to learn more about what the district has to offer.

If you have questions, please contact the school office at (604) 713-8233.

Tupper Mini School

Please visit http://tuppermini.wikispaces.com/ for more details.

ESL Literacy

English as a Second Language (ESL) courses are provided for students needing English Language Instruction. Students can take as many as 5 ESL courses in English, Math, Science, Social Studies and Writing. ESL students are integrated for the remainder of the time in courses including Physical Education, Art and other elective areas. Testing occurs regularly and, if space permits, students are promoted as soon as they are able to move to a higher level of English instruction.

For more information, contact Ms. S. Ringdahl by calling the school at (604) 713-8233.

 

The Beginning Level

Students who have had little or no English language instruction take two English 1 level courses: ESL 1 ENGLISH and ESL 1 WRITING. Although these two courses have different content and often different methods of teaching, they are similar in that they emphasize a beginning use of English. Students are introduced to the very basics of the English language: its sounds (listening and repeating), basic vocabulary, word order, sentence and question formation, simple tenses, and spelling. Students learn their first 1000 words in the context of practical, everyday life topics necessary for getting along in their new English-speaking environment.

The Beginning level student also takes two content courses in Socials and Science, ESL 1 SOCIAL STUDIES and ESL 1 SCIENCE. These courses introduce ESL students to the geography, history, and government of Canada, British Columbia, and Vancouver in particular. ESL 1 SCIENCE presents a modified Science 8 program using simplified language structures.

The Intermediate Level

Students who have had some English language instruction but are not yet reading at a grade 6 level take two English courses: ESL 2 ENGLISH and ESL 2 WRITING and a Social Studies course ESL2 SOCIAL STUDIES. While the content and teaching methods of these two courses may vary, the emphasis is on English language use at an elementary level. Students are ready to learn hundreds of new words as they gain an understanding of many new tenses in the context of more difficult readings. Generally speaking, student? progress from controlled writing activities to free writing as they develop more understanding of both language and sentence structures in communicating meaning.

 

The Transitional Level

As second language learners gain proficiency using English and become integrated into mainstream courses, they require language support only in English and Socials. These students who are in transition between ESL English and Tupper’s regular programs take TRANSITIONAL ENGLISH, TRANSITIONAL SOCIAL STUDIES, and an ELC (English Language Center) course. The curricula parallels the Grade 9 English and Socials programs and introduces students to the academic expectations of mainstream courses. Transition students are ready to learn to read between the lines, understand implication and inferential language, attempt creative writing, and respond to more sophisticated language use. These students have approximately 4000 words in their repertoire and continue to meet hundreds of new words each month.

ESL Literacy Pre-Employment Program (ELPP)

The goals of this program are to prepare students for successful future employment while continuing to develop their academic potential for entry into Adult Education. The ELPP program is designed for ESL and literacy students who, for a variety of reasons, are not making sufficient academic progress to graduate by age 19.

Pre-requisite: Referral from the Central Screening Committee of the VSB.

For more information, contact Mr. S. Coderre by calling the school at (604) 713-8233. There is also more information provided by the Vancouver School Board at http://www.vsb.bc.ca/programs/english-second-language-esl-pre-employment.

Check out our ELPP Website at http://tupper_elpp.xtreemhost.com/ for more information.

Tupper Young Parent Services (TYPS)

Also known as the Team Mums program

TYPS is a Vancouver district Alternative Program offering a self-paced learning program as well as special services for teenage mothers (or fathers) wishing to continue their high school education. Emma’s YWCA Day Care (on Tupper site) looks after the babies while students attend school. Students may be enrolled in regular grade classes or follow District or locally-directed classes. There is a full-time and part-time teacher who collaborate to develop a full or part-time learning plan for each student. A young parent’s room is staffed by a Youth and Family Worker who provides personal and academic support, problem-solving, advocacy, and access to outside resources.

Placement: To be eligible, the student must have the child living with them, be under 19 years of age and live in Vancouver. The student is self-referred or referred via a worker, a counsellor, or other advocate to Sir Charles Tupper Secondary School.

For more information, contact Ms. A. Hollands or Ms. C. McGillivray by calling the school at (604) 713-8233. There is also more information provided by the Vancouver School Board at http://www.vsb.bc.ca/schools/tupper-young-parents-alternative-program.

Life Skills Program

The Secondary Life Skills Program is a small supportive class for students with Moderate to Severe Intellectual Disabilities and/or Autism. Students in this program have unique learning needs. Each student has an Individual Education Plan (IEP). Upon graduation, students are awarded a school leaving certificate. Class composition includes 1 teacher, and 2 support workers.

Placement: Students are appropriate referrals to the program when they meet the Ministry criteria for Moderate/Severe Intellectual Disabilities or Autism and have special learning needs that cannot be met in the regular classroom. Students across the District are referred to the Program by their School-Based Team which includes administrators, teachers and counsellors. Placements are decided by the Central Screening Committee of the Vancouver School Board.

For more information, visit the Vancouver School Board’s website at http://www.vsb.bc.ca/programs/life-skills-secondary for more details or contact Ms. R. Evans by calling the school at (604) 713-8233.

Language Assistance Program

The Language Assistance Program (LAP) is a district program for students who have severe language learning disabilities which impact so significantly on their social, emotional and behavioral interactions that they require a specialized placement. Emphasis is placed on a meaningful, quality education that gives students the opportunity to improve their ability to function independently in an English speaking society. 15 students in the program are supported by a teacher and School and Student Support Worker (SSSW).

LAP referrals must come to the Screening Committee and must include psychological assessment and speech and language assessment, Individual Educational Plan (IEP) an reports from pertinent community agencies/specialists. Students are appropriate for the placement in this program when they: meet the Ministry criteria for learning disabilities (Q); have language learning needs which impact on their social and emotional interactions; require a protected setting that emphasizes the development of social skills and improved communication skills; need modified academic subjects; require community-based instruction; have ability on non-verbal measures of cognition within average range.

For more information, visit the Vancouver School Board’s website at http://www.vsb.bc.ca/programs/language-assistance for more details or contact Ms. M. Ulman by calling the school at (604) 713-8233.

Learning Support Program

The Learning Support Program provides a two year secondary program offering an adapted/modified core curriculum, remediation and strategies for Grade 8 and 9 students identified as needing learning support. There is one teacher per 15 students. The goal of the program is to teach core academics, and assist students to develop learning strategies to cope with areas of weakness while encouraging social awareness and self-esteem. The students are integrated into electives, and into academic subjects (whenever possible and appropriate). Each student has an Individual Educational Plan (IEP).

Placement: Students are appropriate for placement in this program when they meet the Ministry criteria (Q) and do not have any significant behavioral difficulties. They are ages 12-15 and in grades 8 and 9. Students across the District are referred to the Program by their School-Based Team which includes administrators, teachers and counsellors. Placements are decided by the Central Screening Committee of the Vancouver School Board.

For more information, visit the Vancouver School Board’s website at http://www.vsb.bc.ca/programs/learning-support-program for more details.

Or for further information, contact:

Grade 8: Mr. A. Beddoes by calling the school at (604) 713-8233
Grade 9: Ms. A. Binder by calling the school at (604) 713-8233

GENESIS Broadway

Program Description:

The Genesis programs address the needs of students who have an extended history of non-engagement in school. The program focus is to meet and respond to the individual needs of our students with an emphasis on developing academic skills and vocational preparation. It is individualized and self-paced and designed to meet the academic, vocational, personal and social needs of each student.

Student Profile:
Age/Grade: students ages 15 through 18 at Grades 8 to10 levels.

Application Process:
Referrals are made through a MCFD/VSB screening committee. The program is year round and continuous. If no space is available a waitlist is in operation.

Program Capacity and Staffing:
2 Staff – 1 Teacher and 1 Dare Worker/Tutor. Each Genesis program enrolls a maximum of 20 students.

For more information, visit the Vancouver School Board’s website at http://www.vsb.bc.ca/programs/genesis-broadway for more details.

For more information, contact:

Mr. S. Lutes

329 E. Broadway
V5T 1W5
Vancouver, BC

Phone: (604) 872-7530

Tupper Alternate Program (TAP)

Prerequisite(s): Completed referral form to be forwarded to the YFW at Tupper Alternate. Referrals are accepted anytime and are processed as spaces become available.

Tupper Alternate Program has been created to maximize opportunities for success in academic and personal growth. Our program focuses on continuing studies for grade 8s, 13 years of age, who have had only limited success or are not ready to engage in a large secondary school setting. Often this is due to academic, social, family or behavioral issues.
Characteristics: two classrooms within the school to allow for the growth of a school culture by maintaining on site connections to teams, clubs, resources and the active support and guidance of school administration; staffed by one teacher, a youth and family worker, and an alternate program worker; all
academic subjects taught by TAP staff; students are integrated into the larger school for physical education and electives with the emphasis of returning to the larger school for grade 9; flexible learning environment that includes opportunities for interactive classroom teaching and a variety of educational programs to meet student specific needs.

For more information, visit the Vancouver School Board’s website at http://www.vsb.bc.ca/programs/tupper-alternate-program for more details or contact Ms. A. Krickan by calling the school at (604) 713-8233.

ACE-IT Programs

For more information, visit http://www.vsb.bc.ca/programs/ace-it-programs or contact Ms. D. Mavety or Mr. J. Lam at (604) 713-8233.

Career Preparation Programs

For more information, visit http://www.vsb.bc.ca/programs/career-preparation-programs or contact Ms. D. Mavety at (604) 713-8233.

Secondary School Apprenticeship

For more information, visit http://www.vsb.bc.ca/programs/secondary-school-apprenticeship or contact Ms. D. Mavety or Mr. J. Lam at (604) 713-8233.