1. •Parental involvement is essential in your child's education.
2. •Learning involves developing personal values and positive attitudes, as well as knowledge and skills.
3. •Students’ needs require different adaptations in instructional strategies, assessment and evaluation.
4. •Students must take responsibility for their progress and learning.
5. •Learning requires attention and a willingness to work hard.

1. •Teachers address different student needs.
2. •Teachers use a range of instructional strategies based on sound learning theory.
3. •Teachers persevere and make every reasonable attempt to ensure sound learning for every student, reflecting the standards of practice for the teaching profession as defined by the Ontario College of Teachers.
4. •Teachers have high expectations for all students.
5. •Teaching occurs in contexts that link schoolwork to everyday life.
6. •Teachers, students and parents work together to help students meet the expectations specified.

1. •The curriculum is adapted to accommodate the strengths, needs, and backgrounds of individual students.
2. •The curriculum guides students to make connections through constant inquiry.
3. •All of the activities and experiences that contribute to students’ achieving the expectations is considered part of the curriculum.
4. •The curriculum demonstrates connections among people, ideas, events, and processes to prepare students for a changing world.

1. •Assessment involves the use of a wide variety of tools to ensure the evaluation of student’s achievement is as accurate as possible.
2. •Achievement levels will be reported to parents and students with discussion as to what is required of students to achieve the expectations set for their specific grade.
3. •Assessment is a continuous, complex process that is an integral part of teaching.
4. •Reporting describes the student’s progress towards achieving the expectations and includes the next steps planned for the student's learning and suggestions of how parents can support the next steps at home.

1. •All students can learn.
2. •All students learn in a supportive environment.
3. •All students learn differently.
4. •All students benefit from opportunities to grow and learn.
5. •Learning is interactive.

1. •To promote the continuous progress of each unique child and the right of every pupil to an educational program suited to his/her needs, The RCI Independence Centre supports the following special education goals:
2. •To foster a positive and realistic self-concept in all pupils;
3. •To make effective utilization of resources available to our school so those exceptional pupils may be identified and appropriate programs provided;
4. •To provide, within the means available, a wide range of special education programs and services so that each individual’s unique needs can be accommodated;
5. •To promote the integration of exceptional pupils in regular classes, whenever possible, where it meets the pupil’s needs;
6. •To encourage the active involvement of parents in decision making concerning special education programs and services for their children; and
7. •To cooperate with all community agencies so that the best possible support services of the community can be utilized.

1. •The RCI Independence Centre provides a continuum of special education programs and services.
2. •Each pupil should be educated in the most enabling environment.
3. •Each pupil should have access to a variety of learning environments that meet his/her specific needs.
4. •Each pupil is considered an integral part of the school community.
5. •Each pupil with special needs will benefit from integration within the regular school community.

1. •the degree of curriculum modification required for success;
2. •the availability of instructional, human, and physical resources; and
3. •the positive benefits for all students involved.