High School Outreach
As part of Bedford & Forsyth Education Centres, the Halifax Regional Centre for Education has established the High School Outreach program (HSO). HSO staff work with identified high school students who are experiencing school avoidance related to social anxiety and/or a general anxiety disorder.
Students need strategies and skills to build resilience for navigating institutions like school (both secondary and post-secondary), the world of work, and the myriad of social settings they will encounter in their lives.
The focus of our HSO team is to reconnect students not currently attending their home school with education through supportive practices and with the expectation of transitioning the student to one of the following options:
• HRCE Alternative High School BFEC (either campus) either part time of full time
• Home High School for regular program
• Home High School to enroll in Nova Scotia Virtual School
• High School of Choice for regular program
• High School of Choice to enroll in Nova Scotia Virtual School
The HSO team (Teacher, Social Worker, Coordinator) works with students and families during instructional hours to re-engage with academics, mental health and other community support as required.
Students will focus on one course at a time with their Outreach teacher who will program for both direct instruction and independent work through google classroom. Direct Instruction will take place for a minimum of 2 hours a week at an agreed upon location in the student’s community (i.e homeschoool, BFEC campus).
Students are expected to complete additional hours of independent practice each week. This allows time for students to engage with mental health appointments and focus on personal well-being.
High School Outreach and Junior High Re-engagement Referral Information
The following documents provides information and referral forms for schools (HRCE log in required):