Admission & Program Overview
Admission to Sea to Sky Alternate School (SSA) is facilitated through an internal referral process aligned with School District No. 48 procedures. Referrals must be initiated by the School-Based Team (SBT) of the student’s current school, or the school most recently attended. The referring SBT is responsible for submitting relevant documentation and background information to the Howe Sound Secondary School & Sea to Sky Alternate School SBT for collaborative review and decision-making.
Sea to Sky Alternate School operates within the district’s commitment to inclusive education by providing a supportive, trauma-informed learning environment for students with complex needs, including concurrent mental health and substance use challenges. The SSA program is designed to support students who require an alternate pathway to education due to social, emotional, and behavioural barriers to learning.
SSA is not intended to serve students whose primary needs are best met through significantly modified programs, including those requiring full-time Education Assistant support or life skills-based programming, such as students with moderate to profound intellectual disabilities.
Eligibility for SSA requires that appropriate external agencies are actively involved in supporting the student and that collaborative planning is occurring between school, family, and community partners. At a minimum, the student and caregivers must show a willingness to engage with community services, supported by SSA staff as needed. It is expected that the student’s current or most recent school has implemented and exhausted a range of interventions, accommodations, and programming options prior to referral. As such, Sea to Sky Alternate School is considered a specialized placement option when other in-school supports and pathways have been unsuccessful.
The goal of Sea to Sky Alternate School is to support students in developing the academic, personal, and self-regulation skills necessary for engagement in learning and future success. Where appropriate, reintegration into a mainstream educational setting remains a desired outcome; however, it is recognized that alternate pathways may continue to be the most appropriate placement for some students.
Senior students (Grades 10–12) may be considered for cross-enrollment opportunities at Howe Sound Secondary School, allowing them to access a combination of courses at the SSA site and courses at HSS, determined through an SBT consultative process.
Students enrolled in Sea to Sky Alternate School may work toward graduation with either a Dogwood Diploma or an Adult Dogwood Diploma, consistent with Ministry of Education and Child Care graduation requirements. These credentials support a range of post-secondary pathways, including university, college, trades training, and entry into the workforce.
Please note that submitting registration papers does not mean that a student will be admitted to the SSA program.
If you are interested in Sea to Sky Alternate School, please contact our vice-principal, Dave Dallman at [email protected].
