Wednesday October 14, 2015 www.saobserver.net $1.25 GST Included
Pumpkin pose Four-year-old Kaitlyn Nelson investigates the pumpkins on display for Thanksgiving at De Mille’s Farm Market on Sunday.
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Boy no longer sent to quiet room education: School district officials says locked calming rooms used only as a last resort. By martha Wickett ObServer STAFF
Jackie Graham is pleased following a meeting with school district staff last week. Graham had raised alarms concerning the use of a ‘quiet room’ at South broadview elementary to modify her son deacon’s behaviour. deacon is seven, in Grade 2, and has down Syndrome. Graham said there is no behaviour plan or individual education plan in place yet for deacon, “but at least we were able to come to the table and have some really important discussions and talk about where we go from here. The school has agreed to our re-
quest that this room not be used for deacon. That was what I was hoping to get out of it.” She said it was good the school didn’t say the room was the only option. “We still have a lot of things to work out. There still are hurt feelings and so on but at least we’re working in a positive direction.” She emphasized she feels badly for the teachers at the school “as I know this has nothing to do with them.” deacon will be undergoing a behavioural assessment, she explained, which will provide some insight on next steps. Graham said the quiet room was used for her son the week of Sept. 21 over four days before
she learned about it. She said she learned when she was called by staff to pick up her son because “the quiet room wasn’t working.” She describes the room as about nine by seven feet, “about the size of a walk-in closet.” A photo taken of the inside shows a mat and a bean bag chair with a blanket, all on the floor. The school district issued a news release after Graham’s concern was raised in the media, stating that some students have a behaviour plan “developed by a team of people including the teacher, learning resource teacher, principal, education assistants
This week A near-miss has parents wanting more crosswalk enforcement, safety measures. See A3. Top-level cross-country skier Alysson Marshall decides to retire. Find out why on A17.
See schools on page A2
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Controversy: Deacon Graham, with his mother Jackie, will be returning to South Broadview Elementary.
Index Opinion ....................... A6 View Point ............ A7, A8 Life & Times ............... A9 Sports................A17-A19 Arts & Events ... A21-A23 Time Out................... A24 Vol. 108, No. 41, 48 pages