Language & Communication

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.