First Place Intermediate Program
About Us
The First Place Program provides a stable, non-rotary classroom setting for students who face significant challenges in attending school. Our focus is on improving attendance, closing academic gaps, building resilience, and preparing students for a return to their community high school.
Program Highlights
Small, Non-Rotary Classes: Minimal transitions with a high adult-to-student ratio.
Supported Learning: Students work at their own pace towards academic curriculum, improving literacy and numeracy skills and closing academic gaps in learning.
Social and Community Engagement: Physical education, field trips, group activities, and arts are essential parts of the school week.
Van Transportation: Provided.
Who We Help
The program is designed for students who:
Struggle with chronic attendance and have not re-engaged despite previous interventions.
Find traditional school environments overwhelming or noisy.
Have difficulty with transitions between teachers, classrooms, or activities.
Experience significant learning gaps, academic anxiety, or challenges in feeling safe and connected at their current school.
Are motivated to attend school and open to trying a new approach.
Have families willing to collaborate with program staff.
Important Info
Pre-Application Requirements:
Students must have received support through all levels of tiered intervention before applying.
A referral to the school social worker or psychologist and attendance counseling interventions are required prior to consideration for a First Place placement.
Not a Clinical Treatment Program:
The program addresses school-based barriers to engagement.
Students with significant mental health needs should seek community-based treatment.
Barriers external to school conditions, such as technology addiction, substance use disorders or high conflict relationships are unlikely to be impacted by admission to First Place.
Students remain enrolled at their community school, and are shared in Aspen.
LST requirements, assessment, and the OSR remain at the community school.
How to Apply
1. Identification:
Ensure all levels of tiered intervention have been provided through discussions with an in-school multidisciplinary team.
Identify a primary support member (psychologist or social worker).
2. Consultation:
Consult with First Place Social Worker, Courtney Fleming, via email: [email protected].
Discuss the program with the student and their family.
3. Application:
Complete the family application available on the First Place website. School staff may assist in this process.
Submit the school application along with additional documentation (e.g., report cards, attendance records, assessments, IEP) [email protected]
Applications are reviewed quarterly. Deadlines are posted on the website. Continue engagement efforts while awaiting feedback.
4. Review Process:
Applications are reviewed quarterly. Placement decisions are based on fit and availability. Students may be offered a virtual or in person interview as part of review process
Referring schools will receive feedback after each review cycle.
5. Trial Period:
Students offered a placement begin with a trial period. If chronic attendance or participation issues arise that do not improve with ongoing support by the First Place team, the community school and family will be contacted to discuss next steps.
6. Completion:
Students remain enrolled at their community school while participating in the First Place Program. After successful completion of the program, the team supports a transition to the community school.
First Place Secondary Program
About Us
The First Place Program provides a stable, non-rotary classroom setting for students who face significant challenges in attending school. Our focus is on improving attendance, closing academic gaps, building resilience, and preparing students for a return to their community high school.
Program Highlights
Quiet, non-rotary program: One teacher, one educational assistant and twelve students .
Supported Independent Learning: Students work at their own pace toward Grade 9 and 10 credits.
Social and Community Engagement: Includes physical education, field trips, group activities, and arts as part of the school week.
Van Transportation: Provided.
Who We Help
The program is designed for students who:
Struggle with chronic attendance and have not re-engaged despite previous interventions.
Find traditional school environments overwhelming or noisy.
Have difficulty with transitions between teachers, classrooms, or activities.
Experience significant learning gaps, academic anxiety, or challenges in feeling safe and connected at their current school.
Students are motivated to re-engage with school and try a different program.
Caregivers are supportive of application and willing to work with the school team.
Important Info
Pre-Application Requirements: Students must have received support through all levels of tiered intervention before applying. A referral to the school social worker or psychologist and attendance counseling interventions are required prior to consideration for a First Place placement.
Not a Clinical Treatment Program: The program addresses school-based barriers to engagement. Students with significant mental health needs should seek community-based treatment. Barriers external to school conditions, such as technology addiction, substance use disorders or high conflict relationships are unlikely to be impacted by admission to First Place.
Students remain enrolled at their community school, and are shared in Aspen. LST requirements, assessment, and the OSR remain at the community school.
How to Apply
1. Identification:
Ensure all levels of tiered intervention have been provided through discussions with community school multidisciplinary team.
Identify a primary support member (psychologist or social worker).
2. Consultation:
Consult with First Place Social Worker, Courtney Fleming ( [email protected].) to explore goodness of fit for program
Discuss the program with the student and their family.
3. Application:
Complete the family application available on the First Place website. School staff may assist in this process.
Submit the school application along with additional documentation (e.g., report cards, attendance records, assessments, IEP) to [email protected].
Applications are reviewed quarterly. Deadlines are posted on the website. Continue engagement efforts while awaiting feedback.
4. Review Process:
Applications are reviewed quarterly. Placement decisions are based on fit and availability. Students may be invited for a virtual or in person interview as part of this process.
Referring schools will receive feedback after each review cycle.
5. Trial Period:
Students begin with a trial period. If chronic attendance or participation issues arise and do not improve with support, the community school and family will be contacted to discuss next steps.
6. Completion:
Students remain enrolled at their community school while participating in the First Place Program. Successful completion of the program supports a transition back to the community school or alternative placement at the end of Grade 10.