Philip E. Layton School offers a variety of programs that cater to the individual needs of our students. All students follow an education program approved by the Quebec Ministère de l’Éducation et de l’Enseignement supérieur (MEES) complemented by Braille instruction, sensory stimulation, augmentative communication, activities of daily living and a host of physical education activities.

Ministry programs offered at Philip E. Layton

• Quebec Education Program
• CASP Education Program
• Educational Project Report | 2023-2027

Academics

Mackay Centre School offers a variety of programs that cater to the individual needs of our students. All students follow an education program approved by the Quebec Ministère de l’Éducation et de l’Enseignement supérieur (MEES).

Ministry programs offered at Mackay Centre School

• Quebec Education Program
• CASP Education Program
• Educational Project Report | 2023-2027

Language & Communication

Literacy instruction in the language classes have several components. Teachers seek to increase children's awareness of print as communicative and functional. They read theme-related stories and give children opportunities to illustrate and enact them. Teachers and speech pathologists also embed phonological awareness activities in storytelling, circle time, etc.

Phonological awareness involves knowing and being able to "play with" the sounds of language. As training progresses, children are gradually taught to make the link between sounds and letters; a skill required for decoding.

Social interaction is an important part of the language classes and is supported by classroom teachers as well as other professions. Themes that relate to interpersonal skills are utilized.

In the classroom, children participate in a variety of interactive groups: whole-class, small-group and pairs. Music therapy at the preschool level are organized to allow children opportunities for practice at peer requests, sharing, giving each other positive feedback.

A weekly social skills group is also facilitated by the school psychologist and speech-language pathologist. In these groups, games, circle activities, pictures, stories, and role plays are used to teach children how to interact positively and how to negotiate and resolve conflicts with peers.

Our Augmentative Communication class combines the resources of the school and the Rehabilitation Centre. The primary focus of the classroom is communication. All the students involved use alternative or augmentative forms of communication, i.e. picture symbols, switches and voice output aids.

Physical Education

Most students at Mackay receive 90 minutes of physical and health education instruction per week. As with all other elementary schools in Quebec, the overarching goals of the physical and health education program are dictated by the Quebec Education Program.

What distinguishes the Mackay physical and health education program is its use of an abilities-based approach. This approach looks for the unique functional skills every child possesses and tries to select games, sports and activities that match these skills. Students with physical disabilities are encouraged to use whatever specialized equipment allows them greater mobility, fitness and independence. Ambulatory students, including deaf, have speech or language disorders and reverse integration students have the opportunity to explore their own abilities, while being sensitized to the abilities and needs of others.

Most students at Mackay Centre School receive 60 minutes of swimming per week. The overall goals for all students are to develop skills related to comfort, safety, swimming, fitness, and games. Students with physical disabilities will have individual objectives set based on their comfort, movement and fitness abilities. Ambulatory students follow the Canadian Red Cross Preschool Swim and Swim Kids programs.

Satellite Classes at Royal Vale and Westmount High

Some students at Royal Vale High School are integrated into the regular program for some of the courses. These students are supported by two teachers of the deaf and one interpreter.

The satellite class at Westmount High School is for Mackay students of the Physically Disabled Department who are of high school age. The purpose of the satellite class is to provide students with the services they need within a regular high school setting. We offer an adapted educational program which covers most secondary courses. Our students participate in many of the school activities at Westmount High School.

Students at Mackay Centre and Philip E. Layton Schools participate in a variety of activities and events during the school year. Some examples include:

• Terry Fox Run
• Halo Race
• Défi-sportif
• Overnight camping at Camp Massawippi and Camp Papillon

A Unique Learning Experience

Are you interested in having your child experience a different learning environment? The English Montreal School Board and Mackay Centre are continuing the joint venture, begun in 1973, in which a limited number of children in Grades Pre-k to Grade 5 will be given an opportunity to attend Mackay Centre School for one year. They will learn alongside the Physically Disabled and Deaf children at the Mackay Centre School.

Full day Pre-Kindergarten, an average of 10 students per class, computer lab, Smartboards in every classroom, swimming program, bussing, on site nurses, librarian, breakfast program, and lunch supervision (with fees).

Who Can Attend?

• Children who have English eligibility.
• Children ages 4 to 11, living within the English Montreal School Board boundaries.

Applying for the Reverse Integration Program

• The application for the upcoming year will be posted here at the end of January.
• Complete and submit the form along with supporting documentation by the due date.
• An information session is held in March for parents and candidates along with one or two trial days depending on your child's age.

For more information, or if you have any questions, please contact the school at 514-483-0550.

Educational Services

• Resource Teachers
• Phys. Ed. and Swimming Teacher
• French Specialist
• Braille Specialist
• Teachers for the Deaf
• Interpreter Technician
• Language Specialist

Rehabilitation Services

• Occupational Therapy
• Physiotherapy
• Orientation & Mobility Specialist
• Speech & Language Pathologist
• Vision Rehabilitation Specialist
• Rehabilitation Technician
• Special Education Technicians
• Préposés aux bénéficiaires
• Psychologist
• Nurses
• Social Services (Human Relations Agent)

Itinerant Services

Itinerant teachers work with students with visual or hearing impairments who are integrated into the regular school system. Itinerant teachers offer support to these students and their teachers and other support staff to ensure that the needs of these students are met

School Library

The School Library provides library and information services to students, teachers and the school community. It strives to develop the skills necessary to meet the lifelong informational needs of students, while encouraging them to develop a never ending love of reading.

The librarian works with teachers to achieve the outcomes of the school's curriculum. Resources include an organized, current and diverse collection of books, magazines, audio-visual materials, games and reference materials.

The librarian organizes special events to promote reading including, author and illustrator visits, storytellers, "I Love to Read" week and two annual book fairs.

Computers & Classroom Technology

Computers are used by all students from Pre-kindergarten at 4 years of age to seniors at 21.

Our students use a variety of programs: word processing, presentations, animation, drawing, manipulation of graphics and games that teach strategies, logic and creativity. The computer activities are planned in conjunction with classroom themes or projects which allow students to do research on the Internet. The students work on LEGO robotics projects in a number of classes. iPads are also used for various projects and photography.

Each classroom has its own smartboard and computers which are networked for the internet and printing. Classrooms also have access to iPads for special projects.