Student Services

It is important to understand that all counselling at LVR follows all district and provincial guidelines, legislation, and codes of ethics around confidentiality and reporting requirements. All counsellors must inform students that they are required to disclose information if there is a credible threat of a client harming themselves, harming someone else, or expressing suicidal ideation. These measures are designed to address student safety. Additionally, each teacher in our school is aware of their duty of care, which means reporting any concerning child welfare issues. Again, this is in support of student safety. 

LVR currently has two full time teacher counsellors who support students with their school planning, post-secondary aspirations, scholarships, work experience, and social emotional learning. This is an increase in counselling time from last year, even though we have 200 fewer students in the school. LVR counsellors are not clinical psychologists and therefore do not conduct personal/clinical counselling services to our students. They are a referral based service where they refer to outside agencies for clinical counselling and more intensive support. 

Referrals to outside counselling can be made either with the assistance of a school counsellor, or by the student, or a parent directly to the practitioner of their choice . We will be making contact information accessible to students and parents on the school website. Students will be able to connect with the appropriate practitioner to set up appointments. LVR is happy to provide space in the building for these appointments, but some service providers will prefer to use their own facility. The referred counselor will inform students of their appointment date, time and location.  

Other Supports:

Along with the counselling support mentioned, LVR has four EA’s, two full time Inclusion Support Teachers and a Youth and Family Worker to support students academically, socially and emotionally.  These supports are being provided directly in classrooms, working with students, as well as in Rm. 205. I and Ms. Klassen, will also be supporting the team in Rm. 205 to help adequately address the needs of all students. 

Over the past two to three years, the district has increased training for all staff in order that we all can work together to best support our students. Our district mental health and addictions coordinator, Javier Gonzalez, participates on a provincial level advisory committee through the Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions. Javier has spearheaded an initiative to provide School District #8 teachers and staff with extensive training in the areas of mental health. Some of the training that our staff has participated in includes Trauma Informed Practice, EASE Training, Trauma Focused Schools, Mental Health Literacy, Teach Mental Health and Social and Emotional Learning awareness. The impact of this training will significantly increase our ability to address the social, emotional, and mental wellness of our students. 

I think we can all agree that creating a sense of belonging and care amongst staff and students will lead to better outcomes for our students both in and out of the classroom. LVR is moving towards a HUB model of providing support to students which will include not only mental health support, but also nutritionists, nurse practitioners and doctors.