Alternative Suspension
Building resilience one youth at a time
The YMCA Alternative Suspension program aims to reduce future suspensions and disciplinary sanctions by offering participants an opportunity to turn their time away from school into a positive experience that encourages personal growth, the development of social skills and autonomy.
The Program
Suspension is often seen as a failure for both the student and the school. Alternative Suspension aims to make the student’s time away from school a success, both personally and academically. The YMCA Alternative Suspension program is a resource offered to secondary schools to support students, who are experiencing challenges at school, towards a positive reintegration of the classroom setting. The Alternative Suspensions Program has 3 steps:
1. Cool down
Students find themselves in a new and structured environment, putting a stop to the downward spiral.
2. Reflection
The program encourages students to reflect during one-on-one meetings and group workshops.
3. Commitment
Students are motivated to make changes that will have a positive impact on their school experience
Participants Goals
To cope with the crisis constructively, gain knowledge as well as personal and social skills
To become aware of problematic behaviours and their root causes and discover the resources that are available to them
To take a step back from school and identify what empowers and motivates them
To catch up on schoolwork
Contact
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